Author Archives: chick

A Gate to a Strange Land

Posted on 05/24/2008 by chick

The Gate to Women’s Country by Sheri S. Tepper Grade: B The Gate to Women’s Country takes place in a postapocalyptic world. Forced to eke out a rough living in the lands between “desolations” (vast radioactive areas where nothing will … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading | Tagged | 2 Comments

Unexpected Beauty

Posted on 05/23/2008 by chick

I am grateful for the unexpected. I was waiting for Faithful Reader to finish work so that we could go out to dinner. I looked outside and noticed that the ground was wet, and yet there was blue sky overhead. … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratitude | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Great Library Binge

Posted on 05/23/2008 by chick

It wasn’t my fault! They were selling books at the library, so what was I to do? Just ignore a whole roomful of cheap books? I’ve heard that some people have that ability, but not I. And so yesterday I … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mystery Flower #2

Posted on 05/22/2008 by chick

There’s a shrub growing near the corner of our driveway. It’s not an attention grabber most of the time, but during the spring it decks itself out with these stunning coral-colored flowers. Can you guess what kind of shrub it … Continue reading →

Posted in Mysteries | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Of Flying Peppermint Sticks

Posted on 05/21/2008 by chick

Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers Grade: B Mary Poppins Opens the Door feels a little too formulaic after the other Mary Poppins books, but it still retains some of the magic from the original idea. I love … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading | Leave a comment

Say It Ain’t So!

Posted on 05/20/2008 by chick

I just don’t feel like I have much creativity these days. It makes me worry. And then I worry more when I read quotes like this one by Doris Lessing, recent winner of the Novel Prize in Literature. I keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Posted on 05/19/2008 by chick

The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye Grade: A- The Ordinary Princess is M.M. Kaye’s only children’s book. It is the story of a baby princess who is given the gift of ordinariness by a fairy. When she grows up, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading | 1 Comment

Strikerious!

Posted on 05/18/2008 by chick

Listening to the mourning doves singing in the rain this evening made me think of that famous song by Prince, “When Doves Cry.” As I mentally replayed the song in my head, I paused at this line from the lyrics: … Continue reading →

Posted in Interesting words, Misheard lyrics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Very Last

Posted on 05/18/2008 by chick

It is with both sadness and relief that I write about the last book from the Vonnegut Marathon. Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut Grade: A- In Timequake, a hiccup in the expansion of the universe sets time back by ten years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Vonnegut Marathon | Leave a comment

Remembering

Posted on 05/16/2008 by chick

I have been reading a memoir by M.M. Kaye called The Sun in the Morning. It’s a long book and it feels like it’s taking forever to finish, but I don’t mind. I wish it really could go on forever. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment