There is something that pushes me to read and write in the fall. I am not quite sure what it is, but the handful of times I have tried my luck at writing a book, they occurred in the leafy months. Maybe it is the colder weather or the dwindling sunlight. Or, maybe it is the warm sweaters or (for the first time this year) joggers.
Continue reading Unlocking Autumn Creativity in WritingMonthly Archives: September 2024
“The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood: Eeriness, Horror, and Doom
“Yet what I felt of dread was no ordinary ghostly fear. It was infinitely greater, stranger, and seemed to arise from some dim ancestral sense of terror more profoundly disturbing than anything I had known or dreamed of. “ — “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood
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Robin Hood’s Portrayal in Ballads, Songs, and Poems
In many of Robin Hood’s early interpretations in ballads, Robin is quite different from what we know in modern society. In these songs and ballads, Robin Hood is far more blood thirsty and vengeance seeking. That is, he does not take things lightly when it comes to slights of his character and honor. Robin Hood, though more violent, still believes in justice. He stands against those who would do acts of corruption, such as the foresters, sheriffs, and the like. In this post, we are going to take a look at a few Robin Hood’s portrayal in ballads an poems.
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Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Halloween Tree’: Life, Death, and Darkness
We have talked a great deal about Ray Bradbury on this blog. We have discussed his stories, his style, and how the themes of his books have affected so many people. With that said, it can be hard to pinpoint the books we may deem as critical. I have my list. Yet, with such a wide catalogue, which books would you choose? Something Wicked this Way Comes for sure has staying power, as does Fahrenheit 451. Nevertheless, I may point to another book to put in the pantheon of the greats: The Halloween Tree. The novel is about a group of boys on Halloween night who venture through time and history. Joined by their guardian and guide, Mr. Moundshroud, they see many historical accounts of Samhain and early onset Halloween. In this post, we are going to look at the importance of Bradbury’s death-laden novel The Halloween Tree.
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Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Halloween Tree’: A History of Death
We have talked a great deal about Ray Bradbury on this blog. We have discussed his stories, his style, and how the themes of his books have affected so many people. With that said, it can be hard to pinpoint the books we may deem as critical. I have my list. Yet, with such a wide catalogue, which books would you choose? Something Wicked this Way Comes for sure has staying power, as does Fahrenheit 451. Nevertheless, I may point to another book to put in the pantheon of the greats: The Halloween Tree. The novel is about a group of boys on Halloween night who venture through time and history. Joined by their guardian and guide, Mr. Moundshroud, they see many historical accounts of Samhain and early onset Halloween. In this post, we are going to look at the importance of Bradbury’s death-laden novel The Halloween Tree.
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Mark Twain’s ‘A Connecticut Yankee’: Parental Love
As I had read Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, I couldn’t help but think of the many themes in the text. Twain manages to explore a variety of disparate ideas. These include science and technology in an age when superstitions reigned, and the violence of society throughout time. He also analyzes the permanence of history, and even parental sympathies and loved ones. In this post, I would like to examine just one of these themes: parental love.
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Accepting Aging with Poems by Maya Angelou and Shel Silverstein
It’s true about simmering down as you get older. Those wild nights of imbibing in life’s pleasures until the wee hours of the morning are mostly over. Sometimes a wild one pops up on you and you spend days recovering. Aging has a way of negatively impacting our hobbies and interests. In this post, we are going to analyze how writers May Angelou and Shel Silverstein contend with aging.
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The Michigan Dogman: Mystery and History
Have you ever seen bigfoot in the woods? What about the mysterious Michigan Dogman? You can be sure that many people in the Midwest have thought about a hairy cryptid from time to time. Whether that be Bigfoot or another unusual monster is up to the imagination. In this post, we are going to discuss the regionally specific cryptid known as the Dogman of Wexford Country.
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A Look at the Life and Times of L. Frank Baum
In order to understand a novel, we have to understand everything about the book. These factors include the author, the society, and the history to truly understand the nuances and messages we are supposed to take away as readers. In this post, we are going to look at the life and times of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz.
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How History and Politics Shaped The Wizard of Oz
Books are shaped by the world in which they were created. The sociopolitical climate during L. Frank Baum’s day shaped is fantastical novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In this post, we are exploring how a book chocked full of creativity also features some hurtful stereotypes. Understanding L Frank Baum can be tricky. However, the purpose of this post is to shed some light on what was happening in the world during the time of the publication of this book. After all, we cannot simply look at a book in isolation. Instead, we need to look at all the factors, including social, political, and historical, around an author to determine why they created a particular work.
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