Shakespeare famously wrote in Romeo and Juliet, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." But, is it true? Would you love a character more or less because of their name? Would you love Harry Potter more or less if his name were Snotty McPoodle?
Recently, I've made many literary comparisons between what is happening with the US government and dystopian novels such as 1984, Brave New World, or The Handmaid's Tale. And, while literature certainly turns a mirror on society and can show us our best and worst possibilities, I do wonder, how close are we really to becoming like these fictional stories? To figure that out, I started reading (of course.)
You know the song "To All the Girls I've Loved Before"? The song that goes ... "who travel in and out my door...I dedicate this song." Change "girl" to "books" and that is what today's blog is about. To all the books I've loved before.
I spend a lot of time in airports. So, I appreciate it when airports have art for my eyes weary of looking at fast food chains and rows and rows of industrial chairs. I've seen paintings and sculptures. But, I never imagined an airport would have a display that would send a chill down my spine...
If you read my last blog, you are already aware that I am a Valentine's Day Scrooge. Instead, I prefer to celebrate the little known holiday of "Love Day." In honor of Love Day, here are some of my favorite books with an extra helping of cheesy romance.
With all the rogue sites popping up - AltUSForestService, AltBadlandsNatPark, Resistance_NASA, Rogue NOAA, etc - It got me thinking. I've never been a fan of Valentine's Day. It's a Hallmark-created corporatized holiday that makes people who don't have a Valentine feel bad and people who do feel pressure to be romantic just because it's February 14. I'm all about embracing this sea-change of rebellion against a corporate, money-driven society and going rogue on Valentine's Day!
First it's Monday. ('Nuff said.) The sun is finally out. But, I'm not sure that makes up for the weather being meh (yes, that's the official term for gloomy and dreary) for the last several weeks. If it were a real winter I'd be curled up by a cozy fire right now with my book. Instead, I guess I'll have to settle for the wood-burning fire channel or at least a pretty candle. Perhaps this is why I have not made at far as I would like in my reading goals this year. So, how am I doing? Let's see...
oday, February 12, is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. He is viewed by many as one of the greatest, or maybe the greatest, President in US history. But what made him a great leader? It was at least in part, his ability to verbalize thoughts eloquently, like a writer.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. According to the internet that phrase originated from a guy named Fred R. Barnard, sort of. There's debate about this. Regardless, as a writer, I think I prefer the 1,000 words, generally. Maybe that's why this doesn't sound so crazy to me...
K.L. Kranes 