Thoughts about what I’m reading

  • A good story is about relationships

    Someone told me recently that they didn’t like books with any romance. It made me a little sad because everyone needs a little romance. But it also made me a little philoshophical about stories and relationships. Some say there are only seven possible types of conflict used in any story. Person vs. person is obviously…

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  • What Moments Have Changed You?

    This week in our book group, I led the discussion on The Power of Moments, by Chip and Dan Heath. Now, as a student, and lover, and writer of fiction, I usually limit how many non-fiction and self-help books I will read in any given year. Some people are the opposite. They feel that unless…

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  • Can We Enjoy Poems Again?

    Can We Enjoy Poems Again?

    Do you remember studying poetry in school? Do you cringe?  I think two activities have added to our negative feelings about poetry: the deconstruction exercises we do/have done in school where we are asked to take a perfectly crafted and evocative poem, pull it apart, and point out every poetic device so that we can “interpret”…

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  • And speaking of Harry Potter

    And speaking of Harry Potter

    We recently had dinner with a family who are big fans, might I say obsessive fans of the Harry Potter series. I have enjoyed reading Harry Potter myself. I believe J.K. Rowling is a gifted storyteller. So, this may seem somewhat random, even contradictory, and I realize that I’m speaking of what to some is sacred…

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