I love the beach, but perhaps not for the exact same reasons that other people do. Yes, the sun and water and sand are all lovely. The sound of the ocean persistently crashing against the shore is indeed the most soothing of melodies. And salt water is really great for my hair. However, one of my favorite things about going to the beach, or even to a neighborhood pool, is witnessing the beauty and diversity in the forms of human…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
In my most recent Social Media purge, I finally deleted my account with Pinterest, the glorified visual Search Engine. I can’t even tell you how many Boards or Pins I had saved on there over the years, because it was too painful to even take a last look before making the final deletion. Now, the final straw proved to be political and moral reasons, which prompted me to permanently delete my account; their censorship and data-tracking practices weren’t something that…
Book-to-screen adaptations are always going to be tricky, because the mediums of books and films have very different needs, abilities, and limitations. You can’t tell a story the exact same way in both forms; and if you try, it’s going to be a hot mess. However, I have found that the most successful adaptations are usually when the same writer works on both (and is proficient in both forms). I’m pleased to say that such was the case with Good…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
When I first learned that there was going to be a biopic about J.R.R. Tolkien, I was excited but also extremely apprehensive. Tolkien was a man who might not be easily grasped by today’s culture: a devout Catholic, a loving and faithful husband and father, a survivor of the Somme in World War I, and someone who loved language so much that he invented several of his own, just for fun. Tolkien is criticized for a lack of female characters…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
So, I am definitely someone who loves traditions. I love familiarity and I enjoy having different things to look forward to throughout the year. You might recall my Hobbit-fest tradition. In my book, An Adult-ish Toolkit, I have an entire chapter about the importance of celebrating birthdays. And I put a lot of thought into the planning of holidays and other milestone events. One of my favorite traditions that I have adopted in the last few years is the declaration…
Please note: I have intentionally decided not to include Amazon links (unless something is available exclusively on Amazon). Instead, if you are interested in reading any of the books I mention, I encourage you to check out your local library or independent bookstore. These places (and the communities around them) need your support, and they are generally quite willing to order any book if they don’t currently have it in stock. However, if Amazon is still the more practical choice…
C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series was a hallmark of my youth and, subsequently, is a lens through which I tend to view the world. I’m sure that the books were read to me, but I primarily remember watching the old BBC mini-series, which we would borrow from the local library on a pretty regular basis. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader are some of the most prominent stories that I remember…