I just realized that I may not live to see a female president in the United States. I just realized that the America I live in is not the America I thought I lived in. I’m part of a religious community that often laments the state of “the world.” I often hear peple say... Continue Reading →
I recently gave a lesson to the youth in my church and to get their attention, I asked them if they liked a good mystery. I showed them a slide with some of my favorite mystery novels. However, when I created this slide, I realized that I haven't read many mysteries lately. I voraciously read... Continue Reading →
American Housewife (2016), a collection of short stories by Helen Ellis, is the Literary Wives bloggers' pick for this month. It is witty, poignant, hilarious, dark, timely, and accessible. Please see more of the Literary Wives discussion at the following blogs. Naomi of Consumed by Ink Kay of What Me Read Lynn of Smoke & Mirrors Ariel of One... Continue Reading →
I'm teaching a visual rhetoric course at my new university this year. It has been so much fun to create and just as much fun to teach. I have mostly upper-level English majors and minors in the class, and they are delightful, prepared, and interested. Our first few weeks of class focused on Molly Bang's... Continue Reading →
It has been a long time since I’ve cried while reading a book. However, it happened recently when I finished The Light Between Oceans (2012) by M. L. Stedman. I did not just leak a few tears. I sobbed. I found out about the book from a movie trailer. The book is a movie now,... Continue Reading →
What happens when two children who murdered another child together grow up, are released from prison, and then find each other again? That is the premise of Alex Marwood’s thriller The Wicked Girls (2012). My sister Afton recommended it to me, and I’m glad she did. I could not put it down. The book flashes... Continue Reading →
Read previous chapters here. This is the final chapter. Chapter 16 Leda enters the hospital with Diane on her heels. She thinks her daughter is talking to her, trying to calm her, but she does not hear anything. She only sees the reception desk and the long hall beyond the doors that are closed to... Continue Reading →
I started "building" a miniature house in one of the rooms of my basement. I got the idea after reading this book with my six-year-old daughter. The photos are of a real miniature "mouse mansion" that the author built. Amazing! I showed it to my husband. I thought the book was enchanting. He said, "Don't... Continue Reading →
In early April, I visited Valencia, Spain, for an academic conference. I spent a few days there and had time to do a little sightseeing. I haven't yet posted about it, and I wanted to share with you the falles, and the museum that houses the best one from each year, since the early 1900s.... Continue Reading →
