April 29, 2011 | Author: Katherine Collom | Category: Interesting discoveries | No Comments »
What are some good novels to read prior to entering college? Well this link features one-hundred books that all high school students should read. To my shame, I realized that I had only read nineteen of those one-hundred novels (although in my defense having read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien really counts as three books, not one). However, I do plan on picking out some of the other novels featured on the list for this summer’s reading. Check out the link and see how many you have read! You can reminisce on the novels you’ve read and pick up some good hints on excellent literature to read in the future. Enjoy! 
April 24, 2011 | Author: Katherine Collom | Category: Interesting discoveries | No Comments »
So sometimes you can’t get what you want until after you’re dead…or at least this is true in the case of famed author Robert Louis Stevenson . Most of us associate the name Stevenson with classics such as Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but little known to many, Stevenson also wrote a series of stories and fables which he requested be published together in one set. And because publishers generally think they know better than the author (and they want to make more money), Stevenson’s publisher refused. Ahhh….but revenge is sweet – even if it comes 120 years later. Check out this article just to see exactly how he got his revenge. I think we could identify this as a classic case of ‘better late than never’ (although I’m sure Stevenson would have found it more gratifying had it actually happened in his lifetime)! Enjoy!
April 18, 2011 | Author: Katherine Collom | Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
One of my favorite books of all time is definitely Steinbeck’s novel Travels with Charley. It wasn’t merely the colorful array of stories that gripped me, it was also the idea of someone fulfilling that restlessness that most of us live with our entire lives. I envied Steinbeck with his awesome truck and built in camper, I envied his wise poodle Charley, I envied his wanderlust. And I nearly cried when I read this article about a critic out to prove the novel’s tale a lie. It’s not that I believe every word written in the book to be factual and true, but I honestly believed that it was never really about the facts; it was an interesting glimpse into important events way before my time (the American Civil Rights Movement for example) and peeks at different characters and interesting people that exist across the expanse of America. Somehow it strikes a chord that someone seems so determined to prove Steinbeck wrong, because in the end it isn’t the right or the wrong, the facts or the fiction, it’s simply a new way to look at a country that is right under our noses.
April 17, 2011 | Author: Katherine Collom | Category: Events | No Comments »
Continuing in the spirit of National Poetry Month, here is a short biography of one of the poetry greats Lord Alfred Tennyson. Tennyson is definitely and imposing poetical figure as well as an unforgettable one. If you’ve never read any of his works (or if you just want to refresh what you’ve read), check out Charge of the Light Brigade. Enjoy!
April 16, 2011 | Author: Katherine Collom | Category: Events | No Comments »
It’s National Poetry Month! Ok, ok, I understand that this isn’t quite as exciting to most people..but check out poetry.org for information and check out this poem by English poet Stevie Smith. I don’t know about you, but I think a good dose of poetry is just the thing to make my day! Enjoy!
