Tag: novels

• An Unexpected Lounge

  

  reading The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis yesterday evening Today I am writing a short story, my first short story in awhile, an imagined one, and by in awhile, I mean the first one that I set out to write a short story intentionally. I will surround writing with yoga, sitting meditation, and self-massage. I […]

  09/23/2022 12:29 pm

  fantasy, memoir, morningtime, my photography, novels, short stories, wellness, writing process

• An Art Gallery Weekend, A Reflection on Beauty, Luminosity, and Happiness in Art

  

  featured artists, Rich and Shana, this weekend, and me centered Saturday I spent the afternoon at the local Art Gallery and Studio and it’s been a busy, connected time with the artist friends there, and those words don’t always come together in other ways, which I love about this. I had just finished my recent […]

  09/12/2022 12:07 pm

  art gallery, beauty, book reflection, book review, creative process, creativity, fairies, fantasy, friendship, massachusetts, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, naomi navik, novels, pablo picasso, philosophy, poetic, portraits, sketches

• “Hold Me Closer” Britney Spears and Elton John’s New Song, Thrilled About Books in the Night, and My Mom Comes to Visit!

  Aug. 31, 2022 First, I am very pleased with the air at my apartment home as last week I professionally deep cleansed the fireplace we don’t use (and is off)…a real professional will come in time (inclusive), but it is wonderful what a difference it makes. It feels like a whole new landscape or planet […]

  08/31/2022 11:00 am

  art, books, boston, fantasy, fashion, flowers, fun, home, library, lovingkindness, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, monet, morningtime, music, novels, pop music, wellness

• Two Quotes from The Portrait of a Lady: Choose

  

  📖 2) She fixed her eyes upon him, and there was something in their character that reminded him of large, polished buttons; he seemed to see the reflection of surrounding objects upon the pupil. The expression of a button is not usually deemed human, but there was something in Miss Stackpole’s gaze that made him, […]

  08/19/2022 2:32 pm

  wisdom, philosophy, 19th century, novels, english literature, inspiring, henry james

• New Fantasy Novel Found at the Bookshop, A New Poem Sent In, The Fun of a Giveaway I Had Not Won

  

  This is the new book I found Uprooted by Naomi Novik at the bookshop last time, by an author of our time, fantasy genre. I picked it based on the cover first and then the line on the cover: ‘enjoyable fantasy with the air of a modern classic.’ I am currently reading the book (Aug. […]

  08/17/2022 2:28 pm

  beach, books, boston, creative process, english education, english literature, fairies, fantasy, fun, home, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, mythology, novels, poetry, tea, teatime, writing process

• The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, a Brief Book Reflection

  

  ‘A Portrait of Peeko with The Portrait of a Lady’ YouTube video featuring my cat Peeko: https://youtube.com/shorts/cajAJwnrpW8?feature=share * The Goodreads book group is still reading the novel, so I won’t go on too long (I’ll try), but I have completed reading The Portrait of a Lady (with Peeko especially affectionate toward it as never before […]

  08/17/2022 9:31 am

  books, boston, classics, england, henry james, my photography, new york city, novels, peeko

• Morning Sketch from a Field Afternoon: treasures

  

  I drew this sketch this morning, with my morning tea, from a few first sketches I’d drawn yesterday—(it was still a heatwave, so I’d gone back in after a little while even with my water canteen.) I drew with pencil, eraser, and pocket-book in a little spot in nature where I could kneel beneath this […]

  08/17/2022 8:29 am

  art, boston, henry james, literary salon we keep, love, lovingkindness, my sketch, nature, novels, poetic

• Peeko’s First Prose Reading

  He is a cat who seldom appears on film; mostly, he doesn’t allow much of that, and enjoys more stills.

  07/23/2022 7:37 am

  audio, novels, peeko

• A New Start

  It’s 5:04 pm…I begin… * The living-room this morning was a sunlight-theater…I started reading again, wishing to continue the book; Peeko winked at me when I held it up. I think he may like the picture on the cover. *** and I am still beginning 📰😊💕

  07/22/2022 1:31 pm

  english literature, fun, henry james, memoir stories, morning, novels, peeko, uplifting

• A Portrait of Peeko, Reading The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James as Much as I Want To

  

  “What would you like to say to your fans?” I said to Peeko, and snapped this photo.😊🐱^ * The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James is so funny. I’d found myself more irritable overall though when I was following strictly the schedule for the Goodreads group, Old Books, New Readers, and I thought I […]

  07/12/2022 7:27 pm

  19th century, art, creative process, english literature, literary salon we keep, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, novels, peeko, poets, reading, wellness, writing process

• Memorable Quotes from The Portrait of a Lady

  

  (My cat Peeko napping with the lounge-clothing I’d laid out ready to put on after my bath that day.) I am reading The Portrait of a Lady (1881) by Henry James with a Goodreads book group. It’s great so far, especially the dialogue; I’d like to share a couple of quotes that stood out to […]

  07/09/2022 2:31 pm

  19th century, art, benevolence, classics, creative process, english literature, henry james, literary salon we keep, medieval era, novels, peeko, wellness

• Meeting My Nephew who Loves Stories and the Books I’ve Found to Read Myself

  July 2, 2022 8:32 pm (with my sister, my nephew Jordan, and their dog Isabella) I got to meet my nephew today! He’s 4 months old and has already read (heard) so many books! (I’d told him, ‘Me too.’) He goes to the library for story-time and already dances too, and sings sometimes. So he […]

  07/02/2022 8:32 pm

  books, christina rossetti, ed sheeran, fun, henry james, library, memoir, memoir stories, new york city, novels, poets, reading, rest, self portraits

• Stepping Into a Novel Set in 1000 AD Like I’m In It Already

  

  June 13, 2022 A beautifully unfolding novel I find myself at ease in the place and am amused to find myself sharing so many interests with the characters in this historical novel (set in Scotland about 1000 years earlier than our current time): Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King. I share with the characters interests […]

  06/12/2022 6:45 pm

  21st century, angelic, art, australia, beauty, benevolence, books, catholic, classical, classical music, ed sheeran, england, english, english literature, fiction, full moon, garden, inspiration, inspiring, library, love, lovingkindness, medieval era, meditation, missouri, moon, morningtime, music, nature, novels, philosophy, poetic, poetry, poets, reading, scotland, secrets, spirituality, susan fraser king, tea, uplifting, virtue, wellness

• Peeko’s Fiction Pick and Photo Shoot

  

  photos Jun 11, ’22 evening I am reading at a slow, meditative pace the novel, Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King set in Scotland in 1000 AD. I hadn’t seen many historical fiction novels set at this time or place. My cat Peeko (shown above) does no tricks; he poses his own way in these. […]

  06/12/2022 9:17 am

  21st century, beauty, books, catholic, classical music, creative process, english, english literature, fun, home, interior design, library, love, lovingkindness, medieval era, meditation, meditative, memoir, memoir stories, mindfulness, moon, morningtime, music, my photography, narrative, nature, night, novels, peeko, philosophy, poetic, scotland, soulmates, spirituality, susan fraser king, taize, uplifting

• An Intoxicating Book, A Bird Tries to Break into My Window, and More Recent Life Stories

  

  this flower was scented like strawberry and sugarcane 📰📻📚🌸 Intoxicated by A Book and Some Flowers I’d found a book recently called The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, and I noticed before I read the book that it was scented so beautifully like the beach by the sea and a sweetly potent suntan fragrance…I breathed […]

  06/08/2022 7:08 am

  16th century, 21st century, beach, books, boston, edgar allen poe, edna st. vincent millay, england, english literature, fairies, fiction, fun, garden, greece, home, library, literary salon we keep, longing, love, medieval era, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, narrative, nature, night, novels, peeko, plays, poetic, poetry, poets, reading, rumi, sadness, scotland, sea, susan fraser king, tea, uplifting, william shakespeare, yoga

• Books and Art: Sifting Through for the Best of Rumi, Kahlil Gibran Scare, and My Creative Plan for the Day

  

  I do this too…(I liked finding this illustrated at The Boston Fine Arts Museum, my own photo of this artwork I saw there)…with my silver aluminum water canteen and poetry book, and a rock to sit on. Friday, May 27th, 2022 Sifting Through for the Best of Rumi I think I’d really confused and worked […]

  05/28/2022 7:24 am

  17th century, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, abstract expressionism, arab renaissance, art, art museum, artists, azima melita kolin, beach, books, boston, bruce degen, childrens books, classics, creative process, egypt, english, english literature, french, garden, home, Kahlil gibran, lebanon, library, longing, love, may ziadeh, medieval era, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, music, my photography, narrative, nature, new york city, novels, ocean, philosophy, poems of may ziadeh, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, psychology, reading, rumi, sketch, soulmates, spirituality, tea, wellness, yoga

• What? He Likes the Way He Looks

  

  “Yeah and?” —Peeko The bathroom door was mostly closed and I’d opened it to behold the above view… (📷photo by Dan his dad). 🐱 … My two full-length poetry books on the coffee table, Moonflower (2018) and A Little Honey Sweetens The Flame (2021). Peeko doesn’t actually endorse anyone’s poetry though. 🐱😎 … Another mystery […]

  05/18/2022 6:53 pm

  a little honey, boston, charlotte bronte, dreams, fairies, gratitude, home, inspiration, inspiring, interior design, literary journals, literary theory, memoir, memoir stories, moonflower, morningtime, my photography, my poetry books, mysteries, narrative, novels, peeko, poetry, poetry books

• A Note Found and a Bookmark and A Great First Art Show

  

  I found this bookmark in a library book I’d taken out and read yesterday, a slim blue copy of literary insight with a little biography of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. From that book, these lines of a poem by Edna I’d not heard of spoke to me most poignantly: The stone the angel rolled […]

  05/17/2022 7:57 pm

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, angels, art, art shows, artists, books, boston, catholic, charlotte bronte, classics, creative process, creative writing prompt, edna st. vincent millay, english, english literature, fairies, fiction, fruit, gratitude, home, inspiring, interior design, library, literary salon we keep, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, narrative, nonfiction books, novels, peeko, poetic, poetry, poets, psychology, reading, spirituality, t.s. eliot, writing prompt

• A New Pansy Flower, Creative Days, and a Pair of Literary Salon Tuesdays

  

  This purple and yellow pansy flower on my balcony was born just today, and I kissed it gently this morning when I woke and saw it there…😘 and again this afternoon. Welcome to the world. 😊💕🍃 And this ‘Birds’ print chair made me smile when I saw it at the furniture store last week! I […]

  04/27/2022 7:15 pm

  20th century, 21st century, ameen rihani, art, books, boston, catholic, creative, creative process, edna st. vincent millay, egypt, english, english literature, garden, gratitude, Kahlil gibran, kate chopin, literary salon we keep, maine, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, narrative, nature, nonfiction books, novels, peeko, poetic, poets, reading, spirituality, writing process

• Many a Thing…(A Trip to the Antiques Shop)

  

  Tues. Apr. 12, 2022 photo from Tues., Apr. 5th—“Pants by Peeko 🐱,” a perfectly good hemming this time, Peeko helping on his own when I got the pants ready (just ‘loungewear’, shown in previous post.) He was proud of both the task and his own joke: sitting like this holding the pants in place and […]

  04/15/2022 8:56 am

  19th century, 20th century, ameen rihani, antique shop, antiques shop, art, art history, beach, book reflection, book review, books, boston, childhood, dance, dreams, egypt, england, english, english literature, free writing, fruit, fruits, garden, gratitude, herbs, home, interior design, j.r.r. tolkien, Kahlil gibran, kansas, lebanon, literary salon we keep, literary theory, longfellow, may ziadeh, meditate, memoir, memoir stories, missouri, morningtime, my mystical experiences, my photography, narrative, nature, new york city, novels, peeko, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, prose poetry, psychology, reading, tea, wellness, writing process, writing theory

• Morning Tea in Honor of My Grandma on Her Birthday, New Flowers and Poetry

  

  *** Flowers found and brought home this weekend from local garden shop, purple pansies and white fragrant climbing blossoms scented with a little more honey than florally; I received care directions from the garden staff for this potted variety…I will find out the fragrant one’s name today, flowers in time for spring and my grandma’s […]

  04/04/2022 9:04 am

  20th century, 21st century, birthday, books, boston, brooklyn, catholic, english literature, food, garden, grandma jean, gratitude, italian, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, nature, new england, novels, poetic, poetry, poets, reading, sky, sun, tea

• Happy Poetry Month, Gothic Novel Read, Poetry Collection by Jason Preu

  

  two books by Jason Preu upon table, morningtime, captured within bright flashes of sun After I’d completed reading a new poetry book from author Jason Preu, one I’d picked to read first, The Avocado Among Other Fruits and wrote down my immediate impressions, I realized then it is April 1st and so begins Poetry Month! […]

  04/01/2022 12:49 pm

  18th century, 21st century, ann radcliffe, book reflection, book review, books, boston, english literature, fairies, france, fruit, gratitude, home, italy, kansas, literary theory, morningtime, music, my photography, nature, novels, philosophy, poetic, poetry, poetry month, poets, prose poetry, reading, sun, wallace stevens, William Carlos williams

• A Mid-Literary Salon Mystery and then the Cats Close This Post

  

  photo by me taken at the Fine Arts Museum, Boston. I liked this porcelain tea set out of the ceramic pottery. No, I cannot afford to buy it! At the Tuesday literary salon hosted at my home often we’ve enjoyed a segment of ”silent reading.” I’d imaginatively considered for fun if the salon host, May […]

  03/31/2022 8:08 am

  18th century, 20th century, 21st century, ann radcliffe, art museum, boston, edna st. vincent millay, egypt, english literature, fiction, french, gratitude, home, literary salon we keep, maine, may ziadeh, meditation, memoir, memoir stories, museum, my mystical experiences, my photography, narrative, novels, peeko, poetic, poetry, poets, reading, tea, wellness

• Mysteries and Spa Days

  

  Today is Spring Day Six! And Spa Days at Home continues…I’d combed my hair throughout the day on different occasions and with my fingers…and stood out on the balcony letting the daylight touch my skin. Looking out over the railing, I could see a gathering of water on the ground in the forest on the […]

  03/25/2022 10:46 pm

  18th century, art, books, boston, dance, english literature, france, handmade, italy, memoir, memoir stories, music, my photography, narrative, nature, novels, peeko, poetic, reading, sketch, wellness

• Spa Time at Home and a Couple of Phrases to Mend

  

  Feb. 11, ’22, needs improvement 🙂 March 22, ’22 I have taken out my newly-written ghazal poem (on my laptop) ‘tho I’d first thought it might still be too hot to my touch but it wasn’t and was ready to read. Reading it aloud I can see it is almost complete, but just one line […]

  03/22/2022 7:57 pm

  book reflection, books, boston, english literature, frances hodgson burnett, ghazal, home, inspiring, literary salon we keep, meditate, narrative, novels, poetic, poetic forms, poetry, poetry three, reading, self portraits, sky, wellness, writing process, yoga