The fantasy world is mourning the death of Christopher Tolkien, son of J. R. R. Tolkien and steward of Tolkien’s literary legacy. Christopher died on January 15, 2020, at the age of 95. His death was announced by the Tolkien Society and confirmed by his brother-in-law, Daniel Klass. Following his… Read more »
Poet Mary Oliver has died at the age of 83. Her poems have delighted and comforted readers for nearly 60 years, in part because they are so accessible. “Poetry, to be understood, must be clear,” Oliver once said in an interview with NPR. “It mustn’t be fancy.” Oliver’s work won the… Read more »
R.I.P, William Goldman—and thanks for the memories The author and screenwriter William Goldman has died at the age of 87. Goldman is best known for writing the The Princess Bride, which he subsequently turned into a screenplay; the movie has moved beyond cult-classic status to become a cultural icon. Goldman’s first screenplay was… Read more »
Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning and bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy, died Monday at the age of 88. LeGuin is best known for The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, The Lathe of Heaven, and her EarthSea Cycle, beginning with A Wizard of EarthSea, but she also wrote short stories, poetry, children’s books… Read more »
Louisa May Alcott Nov. 29, 1832 – Mar. 6, 1888 I first discovered Louisa May Alcott in elementary school, and I fell in love with her books. I owned two battered copies of Little Women and Eight Cousins, which I read over and over. I added copies of Little Men and Jo’s Boys when I found… Read more »
Today is Elizabeth Goudge’s birthday, and the start of Elizabeth Goudge Week over at The Emerald City Book Review. I’m so glad that Lori decided to celebrate by dedicating a whole week to Goudge, because she’s one of my favorite authors of all time. The daughter of a clergyman, Elizabeth… Read more »
In celebration of William Shakespeare’s birthday, here are a few performances of his sonnets, plus Hamlet’s soliloquy. Enjoy! Michael York reads Sonnet 18 Alan Rickman reads Sonnet 130 David Tennant reads Sonnets 2, 7, 9, 17, 18, 11, 14, and 154 David Tennant – Hamlet’s Soliloquy… Read more »
Much sadness. The BBC reported this morning that Terry Pratchett, beloved author of the Discworld novels, has died. His official Twitter account announced his death with a series of emails: (ETA: The character Death speaks in all caps in the Discworld novels. Also, I am not sure but I suspect… Read more »
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December 10 is a HUGE day for author (and illustrator) birthdays! A very happy birthday to: Emily Dickinson, whose poems continue to inspire and delight. Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkheart trilogy,The Thief Lord, and Dragon Rider Rumer Godden. The Doll’s House charmed me as a child; as an adult,… Read more »
The world of children’s literature lost two well-loved children’s authors last week: Donald J. Sobol and Else Holmelund Minarik. Which of us did not read at least one “Encyclopedia Brown” mystery as a child? For many of us, it was our first introduction to the mystery genre. The series debuted… Read more »
