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Linda Borromeo
- Oct 16, 2015
- 3 min
Hermenia by the Sea: Meet an Intrepid Lighthouse Keeper's Wife
A lone figure walked along the beach after a fierce storm. With her long skirt twisting in the steady wind, she put up a hand to keep her elegant hat in place. Her gaze turned downward as she searched the beach for treasure brought in by the "northwester." She bent to pick up an object, and it glistened in the sunshine. Hermenia held up a beautiful glass float to add to her collection. In the late 1800s, Hermenia Zauner often combed the beach on an isolated island off the Wa
Linda Borromeo
- Oct 9, 2015
- 3 min
What Hidden Manuscript Would You Most Like to Discover?
The sound of cheering mixed with the tapping of typewriter keys. Seated at a small table, surrounded by the cheerful noise of family life and a game on television, James Herriot put down his heart on paper. With warmth and humor, the colorful people and animals of the storied Yorkshire Dales came alive. His books turned into a publishing powerhouse in the 1970s that continues to this day. The attention focused on the recovered manuscripts by Harper Lee and Beatrix Potter made
Linda Borromeo
- Sep 25, 2015
- 4 min
A Parade of Cats: How a Black Kitten Rescued Mark Twain
It began with a small painting. As legend tells it, Samuel Clemens saw a miniature of Olivia Langdon when he met her brother, Charles, aboard ship in 1867. Samuel instantly fell in love with Olivia's likeness in the tiny painting. Seeing the "real" Olivia for the first time made him sure he'd found his future wife. It took Olivia a little longer to decide she'd found her future husband. But Samuel was persistent. He stayed for 12 hours the next time he called on the family. T
Linda Borromeo
- Sep 18, 2015
- 4 min
The Mirror World of Emily Dickinson and Carlo
Like Alice's adventures through the looking-glass, Emily Dickinson's life is full of contradictions and illusions. I originally intended to write about literary friendships of the two-legged variety, but I became intrigued by a different kind of literary encourager. And Emily's special companion was an especially interesting and endearing one. I knew very little about Emily Dickinson before this week--just the usual: a mysterious, reclusive poet with only one fully authentica
Linda Borromeo
- Sep 6, 2015
- 5 min
4 Ways "Anne of Green Gables" Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams
Lucy Maud Montgomery felt a chill when she opened the door to the clothes room. It was an early spring day on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Although the frost had started to lift, the unfinished room in the attic made her shiver. She stepped inside, seeing the usual cast-offs her thrifty grandmother could not bring herself to discard. Her gaze fell on a hatbox among the jumbled items. She reached out, and then her hand paused. Raw discouragement filled her again as she reme
Linda Borromeo
- Aug 14, 2015
- 3 min
5 Special Places in Literature: Enlightening Lighthouses
Every time you visit a lighthouse, whether in person or online during these times, there are a wealth of stories to discover. And when you open the pages of a book with a lighthouse theme, you'll find the beautiful sentinels of the sea acting as another character in the book. Here is a sampling of five of my own favorite tales featuring lighthouses: 1. Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery Readers of my past blogs know I often think of L. M. Montgomery when making a list
Linda Borromeo
- Aug 7, 2015
- 3 min
Books on the Move: The Traveling Lighthouse Library
Dawn streaked the sky with gold and lavender as Assistant Lightkeeper Bel Sinclair opened the tower door. After finishing her watch at the lighthouse, Bel drew the folds of a cloak tighter around her shoulders. The first hint of autumn nipped along the edges of a new day. A little weary after the demands of the watch, she still felt too restless for sleep. She headed to the lighthouse quarters and went up the narrow stairs. A traveling lighthouse library waited for her on the
Linda Borromeo
- Jul 24, 2015
- 3 min
The Island of Freedom: 'Misty of Chincoteague' and the Annual Pony Swim
"...for Assateague belonged to the wild things, and the wild ponies whose ancestors had lived on it since the days of the Spanish galleon." Perhaps nowhere else in children's literature is the idea of freedom versus captivity for animals so movingly explored as it is in Misty of Chincoteague. Written by Marguerite Henry, the story begins with the strange cry of a stallion locked in the hold of a Spanish galleon. As the stallion tries to free himself and his mares from the con
Linda Borromeo
- Jul 4, 2015
- 3 min
Sojourn at the Lighthouse: Experiencing Life By the Sea
Would you pay money to spend a vacation washing windows, mowing the lawn, weeding, polishing brass and painting objects high above the ground? Your answer might just be "yes." "What's the attraction?" writes Elinor DeWire in Sojourn at the Lighthouse. "It's the chance to experience something unique, something as close to being a genuine lighthouse keeper as you can find in the modern world." Sojourn at the Lighthouse is Elinor's story of her week as a volunteer lightkeeper at
Linda Borromeo
- Jun 26, 2015
- 4 min
Great Books and Movies to Enjoy for the 4th of July Holiday
In between picnics, fireworks, and being out in the midsummer sunshine, the 4th of July weekend is a great time to relax and enjoy a favorite movie or pick up a new book. Whether you are taking time out in a hammock to read or getting together with family to watch a movie after a barbecue, here are some top picks for celebrating this American holiday... Featured Movie: Yankee Doodle Dandy One of the best patriotic movies ever made, Yankee Doodle Dandy is also the most fun. Th
Linda Borromeo
- May 16, 2015
- 4 min
A Most Mysterious Room: Revisiting a Childhood Classic
The Velvet Room is a surprising and wonderful book I never wanted to read again. When I discovered the book at the age of ten, its spare and elegant words drew me in from the beginning. The story seemed to live in a place of its own—a place radiating the magic of old houses, set-apart rooms, and the love of books. It was a story I never thought I could visit as an adult and find that special magic again. But because it was so special to me, I kept the book through college, ma
Linda Borromeo
- May 9, 2015
- 5 min
5 Special Places in Children's Literature: Reading Retreats
Did you have a special place as a child to take a book and read? I loved reading outside and could usually be found under a tree with our two dogs nearby. Literary characters find their own magical places when they want to read a book. Here are my top five choices for the most interesting reading retreats: 5a. Jo's Attic (garret) in Little Women Attics seem to represent something special in children's literature. While brainstorming about evocative places to read, my friend
Linda Borromeo
- Apr 27, 2015
- 3 min
Keep Discovering: The Wonder of Printed Words
Once upon a time, a shy little girl sat reading at her desk in a combined fifth and sixth grade classroom. Bright sunshine filtered through the windows, but she failed to notice it. During an hour given over to silent reading, she’d become lost in the story world of The Swiss Family Robinson. A voyage of discovery...an appeal for help...a thrilling rescue...everything else slipped away. “Linda…” A voice intruded into the wonder of printed words. “Linda!” The tropical island