Do we ever really think about what first piques our interest in a particular subject? Whether it’s history or science or literature or society or food, we tend to generalize our initial interest in a topic or hobby – “it was in my early 20s” or “sometime in my youth” or “when I heard aboutContinue reading “Home and Family in Literature and Life”
Tag Archives: Jane Austen
Whom do you love? Virtue vs. villainy in literature
In last weekend’s New York Times book review, Bookends asked, “Can a virtuous character be interesting?” Two writers, Thomas Mallon and Alice Gregory, present their case for which type of literary character makes for more interesting reading: a good person, or a villainous one? Mallon begins his argument for the “villain” with classic examples: Scarlett overContinue reading “Whom do you love? Virtue vs. villainy in literature”
Six Life Lessons from Jane Austen
I’ve loved Jane Austen’s works since I first received “Emma” as a Christmas gift more than 20 years ago. But I only recently began reading essays and books on why we love her stories so much 200 years later, and what they mean to us on a personal level, beyond the basic lit class critiques.Continue reading “Six Life Lessons from Jane Austen”
Happy birthday, Jane Austen
Circa 20 years ago, I received my first Jane Austen book, a copy of Emma, a Christmas gift from an aunt who knew of my passion for reading. At the time, even though I was already reading classics and other advancing literature, I thought perhaps it might be a little above my head. But IContinue reading “Happy birthday, Jane Austen”
My first love: books
Today I headed to down to the Mall for the National Book Festival. I arrived with hopes of getting one of my Nicholas Sparks’ books autographed by the author, but my spirits quickly sagged as I saw six lines of people waiting for him, and was promptly told by an event staffer that Sparks wasContinue reading “My first love: books”
Jenna Sauber 