Elizabeth Russell's Blog, page 12

The Secret Garden

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden The Secret Garden was the first really difficult book I ever read. At first I made my way through pretty easily, although I had almost no idea how to picture the first chapters that … Continue reading The Secret Garden

How a Life without Quiet has No Pleasure

And How to Find True Peace through Reading We are creatures of habit, used to the things we experience every day, and disinclined to take up those things that would break up our natural routines. We roll out of bed, down coffee, commute to the office, work, drive home, and eat dinner in front of … Continue reading How a Life without Quiet has No Pleasure

3 Steps that Make Reading Easier

We Struggle against the Classics as Ahab against the White Whale “As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote.” Herman Melville, Moby Dick Like Ahab in his battle against the White Whale, Classics are a mystery we would like to conquer, but that often seem beyond our reach. They are … Continue reading 3 Steps that Make Reading Easier

Facing Down the Classics

We Struggle against the Classics as Ahab against the White Whale “As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote.” Herman Melville, Moby Dick Like Ahab in his battle against the White Whale, Classics are a mystery we would like to onquer, but that often seem beyond our reach. They are … Continue reading Facing Down the Classics

The Brothers Karamazov

“For we must love not only occasionally, for a moment, but forever. Everyone can love occasionally, even the wicked can.” Father Zossima, The Brothers Karamazov When I was fifteen, my mother gave me this book for Christmas, but two months later, after she had read it, she told me I was not allowed to read … Continue reading The Brothers Karamazov

Taking the Fairy Tale Blog in a New Direction!

If you haven’t noticed yet, the Fairy Tale Blog has a whole new look and layout. While the reason for this is very exciting, I apologize if you’ve tried to navigate around the website in the past few days – it’s been a bit chaotic! But believe me, it’s been well-worth it. For years now, … Continue reading Taking the Fairy Tale Blog in a New Direction!

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

A twisting, turning, exciting read, this is a 3 on the 5-star Reading System “If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.” Alice in Wonderland Step into a fabulous wonderland, a world of upside down, a world where animals talk, little girls change sizes, and … Continue reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Treasure Island

Written for children and a complex but fast-moving read, this is a 3 on the 5-star Reading System “Fifteen men on the Dead Man’s Chest Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum!” Treasure Island Treasure Island has all of the most marvelous clichés of every Pirate story because it was the first, the original, … Continue reading Treasure Island

Little Women

A simpler read, Little Women is a 3 on my 5-Star Reading System *What is this?* Four sisters and their mother navigate the complexities of domestic life and battle with their own inner demons. With humor and pathos, they question the meaning of femininity, the relationships between men and women, the nature of love, and … Continue reading Little Women →

The Little Prince

A simpler read, this is a 3 on my 5-Star Rating System* *What is this? The simple story of a little prince who lives alone on a tiny planet, no bigger than your backyard, but who treasures a universe in his love of a little rose. Not fully appreciating the treasure he has in his … Continue reading The Little Prince →