What’s the purpose of vacations? I would never have asked myself this question in my twenties. I would have thought it was obvious: you go on vacation to relax. Period. But as I’ve gotten older, and particularly since having a kid, I’ve realized there can be multiple motivations for vacationing. I’ve also learned that everyone […]
england
Activity, Event: Is “Doing” Always Better?
There’s a saying people use sometimes to decide whether or not to do an activity: “When I’m 80, will I be glad I did this event (skydive, go to the theater, leave the house) today?” This question is designed to push the person toward activities that create memories. And while that’s a noble goal, I […]
Death Comes To Pemberley, But Not Jane Austen
Last month, I was disappointed in a failed attempt at Jane Austen imitation, in my post Another Jane Austen Knockoff. This month, I’m impressed by P. D. James’s efforts in Death Comes to Pemberley. The book picks up a few years after Pride and Prejudice leaves off. Darcy and Elizabeth are happily married, with two young […]
Myst-ress Christie
I haven’t written much about the mystery genre yet, and it’s due to the fact that I don’t read mysteries, except those written by the master (or myst-ress) Agatha Christie. Christie’s books are so satisfying that reading another mystery writer seems like a waste of time. I think I’m pretty open-minded about books and genres […]