The Ice Maiden by Hans Christian Andersen

by Carol9 Comments
"The Ice Maiden" by Hans Christian Andersen This is one of the longer works of Andersen and one of the longest fairy tales we've looked at.  It tells the story of Rudy, who we first meet as a little boy selling toy houses his grandfather makes. We learn that both his parents are dead, his mother killed when she fell into a glacial crevice. She had been holding the infant Rudy at the time but he was saved. This was the first "kiss" by the ice maiden who is determined to possess him. It is she whose mighty power can crush the traveller to death, and arrest the flowing river in its course. She is also a child of the air, and with the swiftness of the chamois she can reach the snow-covered mountain tops, where the boldest mountaineer has to cut footsteps in the ice to ascend. She will sail on a frail pine-twig over the raging torrents beneath, and spring...
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Stressed?

by Carol16 Comments
I'm not one who gets stressed out very often. My job is pretty relaxed; my family is healthy and happy; my husband's employed and we are better off then we ever have been; we make time to play games every week, and hang out with friends and family; no catastrophes have occurred lately, or ever for that matter. The Booking through Thursday question today is about resolutions and I noticed as I was reading people's responses, that several mentioned the stress they feel in connection with their blogs or keeping up with reviews. My blog and reading in general is not something I stress out about. If anything, books are an escape from daily life and my blog is just fun. I get to write about whatever I want, whether it be what I'm reading, what movies I've seen, whatever. Sometimes people read my posts, sometimes they don't, but that's not why I do it really. I enjoy it. Yes, I...
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Love Alone

by Carol6 Comments
Today is we celebrate Epiphany, the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ, particularly the visitation of the Wise Men showing God's revelation of Himself to the Gentiles. I wanted to share a poem from a book I just finished reading, Watch for the Light. Love Alone The child we seek doesn't need our gold. On love, on love alone he will build his kingdom. His piercéd hand will hold no scepter, his haloed head will wear no crown; his might will not be built on your toil. Swifter than lightning he will soon walk among us. He will bring us new life and receive our death, and the keys to his city belong to the poor. -Gian Carlo Menotti...
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Old-fashioned, Electronic, Audible – What do you prefer?

by Carol14 Comments
I got my very own Kindle for Christmas this year, which I'm very excited about. the problem currently is that I didn't plan very well. I've got a couple of good old-fashioned books that I'm in the middle of and I need to finish them before I read something on my new toy. The question today, inspired by Wordpress's Daily Post,  is "How do you prefer to read your books?" Are you one of those people who need to hold a book in their hands, feel the pages? Do you prefer e-books and if so what's your reader of choice? Or do you prefer listening to books, hearing a good story while you're driving or doing chores? [polldaddy poll=4341221] For me, I'm looking forward to reading e-books. I'm not a big fan of audio books. I usually only listen to light romances or mysteries while I'm walking the dog or working around the house. It's not my preference, because I tend to get...
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The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett

by Carol14 Comments
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett I love books, I freely admit that, but I am not a collector. Yes, I keep those that are signed, but I don't search for rare books or first editions or whatever. I love books for the contents, the stories, ideas, dramas, not to put on my shelf to impress the neighbors. I love the smell of used bookstores and the look of old hardbacks, but I don't feel that overwhelming need to own them. Bartlett's book is about book collectors in general and one specifically - John Charles Gilkey. What makes Gilkey outstanding in the world of collectors is that he doesn't purchase his books, he steals them, mainly from dealers and libraries. He doesn't see anything wrong with his actions, believing in some strange twist of logic that it's his right to steal them, since he can't afford to purchase them. Bartlett also talks with Ken Sanders, a dealer...
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