Joyfully Retired

Uncle Fitz’ . . . views on war had not changed since he had taken to the mountains to escape the war with Mexico in the 1840s, and in fact they had deepened: never had the Fenns owned a single slave, and if the Southern states wanted to leave the Union, that was their business; [...]

I’m reading Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. It’s a book of subtle humor and extremely fun to read. I will be reviewing it tomorrow as part of the Classics Circuit. Here are a few sentences from the book: “My age!” said Miss Matty, almost speaking crossly, for her, for she was usually gentle– “My age! Why, [...]

I’m reading a screenplay titled The Big Sleep by William Faulkner. It was taken from a book by the same name by Raymond Chandler. It features the famous detective Phillip Marlowe, played by Humphrey Bogart. Screenplays are a new way of reading for me. Here’s a little clip: MARLOWE Look — you and I want [...]

The world is full of chocolate lovers and I have come to rely on three recipes to help those who invite them for dinner: flourless chocolate cake, steamed chocolate pudding and chocolate bread pudding, which when it bubbles over fills the house with what Mary McCarthy describes in The Groves of Academe as “a rich [...]

“Nothing, ma’am!” I said. And though she went on glaring at me, I was so shocked I couldn’t say anything further. “What do you mean, nothing? You’d better answer me, you stupid little girl, or I’ll pour ink in your ear tonight while you’re sleeping!” Those enticing sentences came from Memoirs of a Geisha by [...]