Category: books

Wit and Anecdote: The Crème Chantilly of Culture

Scheduled for publication in another 15 years or so, the next edition of the “Oxford English Dictionary” will contain over 600 definitions of the word “run.” To some of us, that figure seems impossible. We run in a footrace, yes, and we also “run to the store” while driving our car, a candidate “runs” for…


Kate Chopin’s Short Story ‘A Matter of Prejudice’: Problematic Preconceptions

Our judgements and opinions affect our actions and emotions and, whether they are favorable or unfavorable, lead us to form prejudices. These prejudices can be detrimental, for they can prevent us from seeing the truth around us. Kate Chopin, most often today considered a forerunner of feminism, addressed something quite different in her short story…


Book Review: ‘How to Innovate: An Ancient Guide to Creative Thinking’

What is the origin of things? Did things come from nothing or from something? Those were just some of the many questions the Ancient Greeks pondered, but it led them to be the first to truly innovate. They saw what was and made them better. Armand D’Angour, professor of classics and a fellow at Jesus…


Book Review: ‘The Intermediary: William Craig Among the Nez Perces’ by Lin Tull Cannell

I am originally from the Northwest, Oregon specifically, but for nearly 35 years I’ve called Virginia home. I will always have a fondness for the Northwest with its majestic mountain ranges, lush forests, deep canyons, and grand rivers. Venturing west in the 1800s from the settled security of the Eastern cities is an adventure only…


Something for Summer Reading: ‘Tarzan of the Apes’ by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The distinction between what is “great” and what is “good” is significant when it comes to literature. “Tarzan of the Apes,” written by American author Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912, is not a great book by any means—but it’s a thumping good read. Even if “Tarzan of the Apes” is just a pulp page-turner, as…


Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for July 22–28

This week, we feature the harrowing story of a Filipina war widow’s courage, and an insightful commentary on the effects of America’s fixation on youth. Fiction A Story of Second Chances ‘The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry: A Novel’ By Gabrielle Zevin A.J. Fikry is a curmudgeon. Life hasn’t panned out how he’d planned. He’s…


Something for Summer Reading: ‘Mr. Midshipman Easy’ by Captain Frederick Marryat

Most readers appreciate a thoroughly entertaining read, and such books can especially delight during the long, hot days of summer. If, as you’re sitting on the beach or near a pool or just in your backyard, you come across a nautical page-turner that includes a little scintillating satire, fantastic farce, and daredevil heroes too dashing…


Page-Turners Transport Young Readers to Distant Lands

Whether or not your summer plans include vacations and traveling, escaping into a book is another way to enjoy the adventures of a journey. These exciting stories transport readers to distant lands, making them perfect to bring along on a road trip or to read instead of embarking on one yourself! “The Horse and His…


O’ Henry’s ‘A Newspaper Story’: The Power of the Press

The press connects us to a community we don’t often acknowledge. It enables us to look beyond our own individual lives to notice the lives and actions of those around us. O’ Henry’s short story, “A Newspaper Story,” shows how a newspaper on a certain day has a power beyond its printed pages to do…


Reasons Why the Written Word Still Packs the Biggest Punch

Parents may be challenged by their child’s homework frustration—“Why do I have to do these writing assignments? I don’t like to write! I’ll never be a writer, so why do I need to learn this?” How can we answer that? Talking about examples of how writing has always helped us, both long ago and today,…