Understanding the Author’s Life When Reading Fiction Some literary critics believe that a work of fiction must be solely evaluated by using the text available to the reader. Those who
Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man, and the Sea: Part I
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break, it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle
Far From the Madding Crowd: A Commentary
by Donald Wilms Donald Wilms is a teacher at the READ Center and a Past President of the Chesterfield County (VA) Education Association. He did the research and moderated our
Like for Emily Dickenson: It’s Been a “Mouldering Pleasure” Writing Litchatte
FOR EMILY DICKINSON: WHAT PRECIOUS MOULDERING PLEASURE? It has been a pleasure writing Litchatte now for almost five years. I started writing this blog for fun after 30 years of
The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier – A Review by Ann Day
Many of us love a good mystery. Daphne du Maurier never disappoints her readers with her trove of mystery works. The Scapegoat is no exception. Best known as the
Alice Monro said she “Wanted to Do Something Great, Great the Way Men Do”
Written by Anne Sutton – Co-Coordinator of the Classic Book Club (Richmond, VA) Alice Munro was 82 years old when she won The Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013. This
Cliff Edwards, Beloved Founder of the VCU Religious Studies Program Retired After 47 Years
Author: Brian McNeill, of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Public Affairs Department. Original web publication date: 7/20/2020 When I saw a notice that the “Beloved” Dr. Cliff Edwards was
Why did JRR Tolkien say, “I am the Hobbit?”
English actor Martin Freeman acted the part of the young Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, in the 2012 Peter Jackson film. But, John Robert Reuel Tolkien’s actual life (1892 – 1973)
Dead Fly in the Pudding: Classic Book Club Savors the Taste of All the King’s Men
By Murray Ellison – with Commentary from Author, James Evans “Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption and he passeth from the stink of the diddie to