On a recent trip to New York, one of the places my husband and I passed by on our daily walks was Random House, one of the Big Six in…
The New Publishing Universe
A Writer’s Reflections on Rowing
I had the pleasure recently of rowing a boat in Central Park, New York. While paddling around on the lake, I got to thinking how much rowing is like writing.…
Rebirth of a Masterpiece – Death of a Salesman
Every once in awhile, a piece of writing sets itself apart from the others in its brilliance. The play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, written in 1949, is…
Life Lessons in the Garden
When I was a young girl, I watched my mother plant red salvia and white allysum on both sides of our front walk. At the time, I didn’t appreciate what…
Not Your Typical Fairy Tale
Growing up reading fairy tales and seeing films with a happy Hollywood ending, I expected more or less the same kind of ending when I got married. I soon found…
A Korean Novel Illuminates Mothers Everywhere
It’s still a few months away from Mother’s Day, the day we publicly honour our mothers. I was reminded of mine, when I read the wonderful international bestseller, Please Look After…
A Holocaust Survivor’s Secret of Happiness
I was sent a video by one of my friends, this one from the U.K. online news site, The Guardian. It got me thinking of how much control each one…
Asghar Farhadi’s Film, A Separation – A Universal Film and Story
I saw Asghar Farhadi’s film, A Separation, the week before it won best foreign film at the Oscars. Shot in a very intimate fashion—no panoramic shots of city or country—this film…
This Mobius Strip of Ifs – A Remarkable Book
When I opened the book This Mobius Strip of Ifs by Mathias B. Freese, I had no idea what to expect. The cover gave me no clues, as for starters…
Love and Inner Beauty
On Valentine’s Day, love is in the air. It’s what makes the world go round. We all crave it, we all need it, and we all suffer at times for…