*** I read and enjoyed H is for Haiku very much.  It was a hit with my kindergartener, and I also bought it as a gift for a cousin’s third birthday.  Wanting to learn more about the women who made it possible, I asked Amy Losak if she’d be up for answering some questions.  She … Continue reading Beauty in the Everyday and Haiku for All – Our Q&A with Amy Losak →

*** BOOK: The Daily Jane Austen – A Year of Quotes EDITOR: Devoney Looser YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2019 REVIEW: *** Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas presents yet?  Because this slim volume is the perfect stocking stuffer for the Janeite in your life.  The Daily Jane Austen has a quote for every … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – The Daily Jane Austen – A Year of Quotes →

This one is perfectly suitable for Halloween.

*** We thought it might be interesting to see what Carol Ward has been up to since we last discussed the Morris-Jumel Mansion.  We went out for lunch at Polpettina, a small Italian restaurant in Larchmont, and caught up about her job at One River School. Here’s what she had to say: *** Tell me … Continue reading Catching up with Carol Ward – One River School →

This book, with a short poem for each letter of the alphabet, is simply lovely.

Currently, an exhibition titled GLENN O’BRIEN: CENTER STAGE, opened at the OFF-PARADISE PROJECT SPACE in lower Manhattan.

*** Robert Girardi recently chanced to see what I’d written about his first novel, Madeleine’s Ghost, some time back, and as he appreciated my words, I asked him if he’d be interested in being interviewed for NewsWhistle. We had a long conversation on the phone about his books, his work, and the past and future … Continue reading Ghost Stories and Ghostwriting – Our Q&A with Author Robert Girardi →

I can’t sleep, thinking of him. He was always so vulnerable. His final decade was, finally, happy.

*** NOVEL: Arthur & George AUTHOR: Julian Barnes YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2005 REVIEW: *** I’ve read a few other books by Julian Barnes–Flaubert’s Parrot and A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters, both considered classics, as well as Talking it Over (and its sequel, Love, etc).  There are certain commonalities in Barnes’ work: … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Arthur & George →

*** We’ve got a few more weeks of summertime left, but it’s definitely time to start thinking about going back to school. Notebooks, new backpacks, first day of school outfits, finding out who your teacher will be and who’s going to be in your class, frantically finishing up that math packet and the summer reading … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Back to School Books for the Little Ones →