“Candles behind the Wall”: Remembering Barbara J. Elliott
It was with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Dr. Barbara J. Elliott. Though I only met her […]
Better than It Ever Was: Fiction and the Redemption of the World
I’ve heard many people remark recently that they “just couldn’t get into the ‘Little House’ books.” By this, they mean that the […]
Why Orion Taraban is Wrong
I received a droll email from a confused internet user convinced that I was married to Orion Taraban. Perish the thought! Would […]
“Whatever you do, may you carry on all day…”
I remain an ardent fan of Super Great Kids’ Stories. Bringing the timeless art of storytelling to the podcasting genre, the weekly […]
Will There Be Books in Heaven?
I had a wonderful time writing this article for the Stella Maris Center about how to find good books. The short answer […]
A Must-Watch Film: “La Sapienza”
I love a heavy-handed foreign film: subtitles and hitting you over the head with repeated and unrelenting imagery. When a friend recommended […]
Looking for Cheap Thrills? Try Sentence Diagramming
I was fortunate to have a few teachers old enough to remember sentence diagramming, and I got a taste of it in […]
Betty MacDonald’s “Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic”: The Inspiring Fiction of Adults Who Enjoy Children
“Of course the reason that all the children in our town like Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is because Mrs. Piggle Wiggle likes them. Mrs. […]
Just How Boring Are Kids?
It’s not uncommon for people to remark that they could never “stay at home” with children because it is so boring. Just […]
Annis Duff’s “Bequest of Wings”: The Pure and Timeless Pleasure of Good Books
Through another bookish blog I discovered Annis Duff’s “Bequest of Wings: A Family’s Pleasure with Books.” I learned so much, including that […]