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On The Road Book Club - Books & Literature
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A Light Exists in Spring by Emily Dickinson – Rebecca's Reading Room
Spring brings a unique light that awakens the earth and enhances the vibrancy of colours. Greens have a vivid radiance that energizes the spring blooms. As the mist of the new season settles, I feel the gentleness of the serene atmosphere, which invites me to open my arms wide to embrace the beauty around me.…
Celebrating Scrabble Day: A Timeless Game of Strategy and Language – Rebecca's Reading Room
April 13th marks Scrabble Day, a celebration honouring the birthday of its ingenious inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts. This beloved board game, which first emerged in 1938, was born from Butts' desire to create a new twist on an earlier word game he called Lexico. Scrabble combines elements of strategy and creativity, allowing players to compete…
S5 E5: Songs for the People by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper – Rebecca's Reading Room
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s poem "Songs for the People" serves as a poignant call for hope, unity, and resilience in the face of life's struggles. The poem emphasizes the power of music and song to inspire and uplift individuals across generations. She begins with a declaration of intent: she wants to create songs that resonate…
The Historic 1815 Meeting of Byron and Scott – Rebecca's Reading Room
On April 7, 1815, the renowned poets Lord Byron and Sir Walter Scott met for the first time in the offices of publisher John Murray. This significant encounter brought together two iconic figures of Romantic literature, who were both pivotal in shaping British poetry and narrative styles during the early 19th century. The meeting was…
S5 E4: “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson – Rebecca's Reading Room
“Crossing the Bar” is a reflective poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It was first published in 1889, just a few years before the poet’s death. The theme of mortality and the journey from life to death are embedded in these poetic words. “Crossing the Bar” is an extended metaphor to liken death to traversing…
Vincent & Theo by Deborah Heiligman – Rebecca's Reading Room
“The world would not have Vincent without Theo.”Deborah Heiligman, Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers “Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers” by Deborah Heiligman is a profound exploration of the relationship between Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo. Heiligman masterfully weaves together historical facts and emotional depth, providing readers with a vivid…
And Then There Were None – Rebecca's Reading Room
I love going to the theatre to watch live performances. There is an energy that fills the room. This was especially evident when we attended The Metro Theatre’s presentation of Agatha Christie’s play And Then There Were None. The atmosphere was electric as the actors brought the suspenseful story to life, keeping us all on…
S5 E2 Surprised by Joy by William Wordsworth – Rebecca's Reading Room
‘Surprised by Joy’ is a heart-breaking poem written by William Wordsworth when recalling the grief of his daughter Catherine’s passing. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, with the first eight lines describing his initial shock and disbelief, and the last six lines expressing his deep sorrow and regret. Surprised by Joy…
Milestone: First Women’s Magazine Published in 1693 – Rebecca's Reading Room
The Ladies' Mercury (27 February 1693 — 17 March 1693) was a periodical published in London by the Athenian Society, notable for being the first periodical in English specifically designed for women readers. It provided a platform for women to engage with topics of interest and was a pioneering effort in addressing female readership in…
Milestone: Voltaire’s Historic Return to Paris in 1778 – Rebecca's Reading Room
On this day in 1778, the renowned philosopher and writer François-Marie Arouet, aka Voltaire, returned to Paris after 28 years of exile, a few months before his passing at the grand age of 83. His exile was not a surprise, given his outspoken criticism of the French government and the Catholic Church. His writings often…
S5 E3: Finding Comfort in Winter Poetry – Rebecca's Reading Room
Reading poetry in the winter offers a unique comfort, as the cold, often bleak environment outside contrasts with the warmth and intimacy found in verse. The act of curling up with a collection of poems allows one to escape into a world of emotion and reflection, where the themes of solitude and introspection resonate deeply…
My Heart Has Known Its Winter by Arna Wendell Bontemps – Rebecca's Reading Room
Winter is a season of respite, of reading, of contemplation. The quiet stillness prompts reflection, while the chill gives way to melancholy. I find that poetry fills these moments, serving as both a balm and a companion. In the gentle embrace of snowfall, words weave themselves into a tapestry of imagery, inviting deeper thought and…
Thank you 2024, Welcome 2025 – Rebecca's Reading Room
Every Sunday, I head over to Dave’s place, “Dave Astor on Literature”, to meet up with friends and talk about books. Dave’s recent post “The Winter of Our Book Content”, discussed the theme “winter” in books. Winter is a perfect topic for the end of December. But as I am wont to do, my comment…
Sea Fever by John Masefield – Rebecca's Reading Room
Story-telling is the signature of humanity. And the very best stories of all come from our poets. John Edward Masefield was a consummate story-teller. Born in Ledbury in Herefordshire, England on June 1, 1878, he lost his parents at an early age and endured an unhappy education at the King’s School in Warwick. He escaped…
Celebrate National Library Shelfie Day 2025 – Rebecca's Reading Room
Let’s Celebrate Libraries! National Library Shelfie Day occurs annually on the fourth Wednesday in January. It is a great opportunity for people to reflect on the books that have influenced their lives and inspire others to engage with reading and explore the wealth of resources available at libraries. Founded in 2014 by the New York…
Poetry by Georgia Douglas Johnson – Rebecca's Reading Room
Behold! the living thrilling lines That course the blood like madd'ning wines, And leap with scintillating spray Across the guards of ecstasy. The flame that lights the lurid spell Springs from the soul's artesian well, Its fairy filament of art Entwines the fragments of a heart.
S4 E14: Sarah’s Present – Rebecca's Reading Room
The Gifts of Christmas Winter Gift (Photo Credit Sarah Ahmadi) Christmas is a time of gift giving, a moment when we cherish the bonds we share with one another. The gifts that stay fresh in my memory are those that originate from the soul, infused with genuine love and consideration. It's not always the material…
Memory of the World – Rebecca's Reading Room
As the last days of 2024 slip by, I am preparing to enter 2025, a new year of possibilities and opportunities. This is also a time for me to look back on a year full of memories of what has been and reflect on how the events and choices made In 2024 inform the way…
Toasting the Professor – Rebecca's Reading Room
As in years past, January 3rd is a special evening. Don and I joined other J.R.R. Tolkien fans from around the world in raising a glass to toast the birthday of this much loved author, J.R.R. Tolkien, at precisely 21:00 (9:00pm) local time. I have chosen a special combination of cranberry juice and soda for…
Milestone: January 28, 1813 Pride and Prejudice published – Rebecca's Reading Room
I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was published anonymously on January 28, 1813, in London. As…
What Makes a Book Unforgettable? – Rebecca's Reading Room
What makes a book unforgettable? Compelling characters? Uniques narrative style? Powerful themes? Emotional Impact? Rich language and imagery? All of these characteristics create memorable reading experiences. But to be unforgettable, in my opinion, a book must have a thought provoking idea that challenges societal norms - ideas that stretch our critical thinking capabilities. On November…
Milestone: Rio de Janeiro World Book Capital for 2025 – Rebecca's Reading Room
The city of Rio de Janeiro has been awarded the esteemed title of World Book Capital for the year 2025. This prestigious honour, bestowed annually by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, recognizes the efforts and initiatives of the chosen city in promoting books and reading. Rio de Janeiro will engage in activities…
Gutenberg’s Apprentice, A Novel by Alix Christie – On The Road Book Club
March 12, 1455, was a milestone day for Johannes Gutenberg and his world-altering invention of the printing press, a mechanical way of making books. Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg made after his death. (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) A Page from the Gutenberg Bible (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) March 12, 1455, marks a…
A New Chapter for On The Road Book Club – On The Road Book Club
A New Chapter for OnTheRoad Book Club OnTheRoad Book Club embarked on its literary journey on January 5, 2011 with the poignant words, “We are on the road for most of our life…” Today marks an exciting new chapter for OnTheRoad Book Club as it bids farewell to its previous location and welcomes book enthusiasts…
Gutenberg’s Apprentice, A Novel by Alix Christie – On The Road Book Club
March 12, 1455, was a milestone day for Johannes Gutenberg and his world-altering invention of the printing press, a mechanical way of making books. Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg made after his death. (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) A Page from the Gutenberg Bible (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons) March 12, 1455, marks a…
Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe – On The Road Book Club
Between ingenuity and the analytic ability there exists a difference far greater, indeed, than that between the fancy and the imagination, but of a character very strictly analogous. It will be found, in fact, that the ingenious are always fanciful, and the truly imaginative never otherwise than analytic. Edgar Allan Poe, The Murders in the…
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with William Butler Yeats – On The Road Book Club
Happy St Patrick’s Day! This day in 432 is the traditional date when Saint Patrick, aged about 16 is captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland. He escaped after six years and returned to Britain, where he studied Christianity and was ordained a priest. He…
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle – On The Road Book Club
Any story that begins with "it was a dark and stormy night" promises to be a page-turner! Today on November 29, 1918, Madeleine L’Engle was born. I first met her the day I picked up her book, "A Wrinkle in Time." I was eight years old. This book changed the way I viewed our planet…
Milestones: Emily Dickinson – On The Road Book Club
“If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry.” Emily Dickinson On August 10, 1847, Emily Dickinson graduated from Amherst Academy, where she studied English and classical literature, Latin, botany, geology, history, “mental philosophy,” and arithmetic. The study of "mental…
Milestones: Alfred, Lord Tennyson & Dante Gabriel Rossetti – On The Road Book Club
A Gathering of Friends September 27, 1855, Alfred Tennyson read from his new book Maud and Other Poems at a social gathering in the home of Robert and Elizabeth Browning in London. Dante Gabriel Rossetti was one of the guests. As Alfred Tennyson read from his collection, Dante Rossetti was inspired to make a sketch…