Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” and the Power of Natural Consequences
Beginning Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” with little to no context, one might wonder where it takes place. The names are not […]
The Very British Childhood of Anglophiles Everywhere
There can be a real thrill in testing out an idea you’ve read about. Is it true? Does it hold up to […]
The Strength that Comes from Stories in Childhood
One of the most memorable reads of 2023 for me was E.B. Sledge’s “With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa.” By […]
Can Watching YouTube Videos Make Your House Cleaner?
There are people who don’t care about little messes and clutter. And there are those of us who long continually for clean […]
Sheldon Vanauken’s “A Severe Mercy” and Our “Appetite for Eternity”
So great is our longing for experience beyond the ordinary crushing tide of mortal time that suburban moms are now resorting to […]
Manic Martyr Moms on Mushrooms
Next up in the trend of “normalizing” and “destigmatizing,” we have moms on mushrooms. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about mothers learning new […]
Lois Lenski’s “Regionals”: Fascinating Stories for Young and Old
Lois Lenski is often remembered primarily as an illustrator. An introduction to her work may come through the amusing picture book series […]
What Grit Is and How to Have More of It
Reading Charles Portis’s excellent little book, “True Grit,” you will likely be entertained. Personally, I did not find it to be as […]
Childless, Childfree, and Being Around Children
As reactionary “trad-isms” and “anti-feminisms” proliferate there are more calls for “every woman to have a child.” Really! This is uttered by […]
Time and What You Do With It
New experiences imbue our time with an intensity that makes a few hours feel like a long stretch of days. A different […]