Monthly Archives: October 2015
Quick Link: Shakespeare’s Pronunciation
Happy Saturday! I’m always stumbling across cool videos and links on Facebook, but I thought this one was especially relevant. I’ve been reading through Shakespeare’s histories, and this video is really good background information. I’ve always wondered why Shakespeare’s poems never quite rhymed. Even if you aren’t a Shakespeare fan, you should check this one out. Apparently Elizabethan […]
Richard II (in Retrospect)
If I had to pick a theme song for the first two history plays I’ve read so far, it would be “Another One Bites the Dust.” The play begins with a king who has blood on his hands. Once Henry deposes Richard, we see a new king with the same old problem. He’s guilty as well, and his hands are not clean.
Shakespeare’s Histories
One of my long-term goals is to read through all of Shakespeare’s works. Last year I started on his history plays, which was a larger undertaking than I realized. I only managed to read one–Richard II– during 2014. This year, I’m determined to finish three more by January 1. I thought I’d share the process here […]
Eighty-One Percent
That’s how much of 2015 is gone–81.13%, to be exact. Now, I’m not a math expert, but I did a quick Google search to see what percent of my book goal I’ve accomplished. The answer? 68%. Bottom line: I have 16 books to finish in about 11 weeks. So, here’s a look at what’s left […]
Review: NT Live’s Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch
After three hours and twenty minutes (not counting the intermission), it’s official, y’all. Benedict Cumberbatch is my favorite Hamlet. My review is focusing on my own opinions—not the slightly mixed reviews I read of his stage performance. Take it for what it’s worth! I’m no theatre critic, but I do love me some Shakespeare. 1. […]
The Summer of the Great-Grandmother by Madeleine L’Engle
I must never lose sight of those other deaths which precede the final, physical death, the deaths over which we have some freedom; the death of self-will, self-indulgence, self-deception, all those self-devices which, instead of making us more fully alive, make us less. Yesterday I posted an old review of A Circle of Quiet, the first […]
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle
Author’s Note: This is an old review I wrote about A Circle of Quiet. I read it last November, and I thought it was appropriate to post here since I will be posting a review of another L’Engle book tomorrow. November 7, 2014: Every now and then I will read a book that marks an epoch […]
Hamlet
I’d like to add a note to my definition of a classic. I mentioned in one of my previous posts that I think a classic is a book that is widely accepted of being noteworthy. I also strongly believe that a classic book is one that never stops speaking to you–it’s that book you can […]
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Illustrated Version
Yesterday I was tempted to sit down and read this entire book just to enjoy the beautiful illustrations. I’ve been re-reading the Harry Potter books this year, and this was such a wonderful book to receive in the mail. The illustrations are so well done, and they capture the spirit of the book perfectly. I’m […]
Three Reasons to Read the Classics
A few days ago, I wrote a post titled “What is a Classic?” I also mentioned that it was the first post in a two-part series about reading the classics. So, without further delay, here’s part II. We’ve spent some time defining the classics, now let me convince you why they matter. 1. Read the classics to […]
Book Fifty 