On New Year’s Eve, I had one goal—to finish the book I was reading before my company arrived so I could welcome 2015 with a completely fresh slate. I know. You’re amazed at how I’ve kept my priorities straight. I assure you, it’s taken years of practice. On Wednesday night, as I donned my paper tiara, … More My Reader Resolutions…ish
The holidays are finally here! That means Christmas parties, family gatherings, turkey curry buffets… Er…okay. Maybe most of us have only experienced that last one through Bridget Jones’s Diary. And sure, Bridget describes Una Alconbury’s annual gathering as a pretty painful experience, but anyone who has followed the adventures of Helen Fielding’s groundbreaking heroine will … More Literary Hunk of December: Mark Darcy
Seventy-five years ago today, Gone with the Wind made its much-anticipated premiere at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta, and fans ever since have been plaguing themselves wondering what would have happened if Rhett gave a damn. There are many reasons why the movie, based on Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, continues to sell out theaters … More Eight Times Scarlett O’Hara Showed Gumption (And Proved She’s the Best Heroine Ever)
When I first read Confessions of a Shopaholic fourteen years ago, I instantly fell in love with Becky Bloomwood. She was two parts Lucille Ball, one part…well…me. I found a kindred spirit in the feisty heroine and completely understood the importance she placed on that Denny & George scarf. A decade and a half and seven … More Becky is Back: Shopaholic to the Stars
When I was in elementary school, I had to do a project on my favorite historical figure. While one of the founding fathers or revolutionary war heroes we learned about in class might have seemed like a more obvious choice, I chose my personal hero, Louisa May Alcott. Sure, George Washington was our first president … More Happy Birthday, Louisa May Alcott!
If you want nothing more than to be called “Sassenach” or “Mo nighean donn”… If the words Mac Dubh and Dunbonnet mean anything to you… If you refuse to play blackjack on principle… If you look at the autumn leaves and wonder which ones most resemble Jamie Fraser’s hair… You may be afflicted with Jamie … More Literary Hunk of November: Jamie Fraser
Obsessive reader that I am, I constantly find myself recommending books to people. Once in a while, a book comes along that I not only want to recommend, but that I want to boast about through a megaphone, handing out copies with a simple, “You’re welcome.” I don’t have a megaphone handy—plus that might be … More Never Too Late: A Must Read
You know a fictional character is a big deal when the internet is buzzing with the fact that it’s her birthday. Outlander fans—overachievers that we are—have been talking for days about the lead up to Claire Fraser’s birthday, so much so that I actually feel like I was supposed to get her a gift. Though … More Happy Birthday, Claire Fraser!
On Tuesday, I will be among the legions of Sophie Kinsella fans rushing to the bookstore to pick up a copy of Shopaholic to the Stars, the latest installment in her amazingly hilarious Shopaholic series. I can’t wait to catch up with one of my favorite heroines, Becky Bloomwood, and see what kind of hijinks … More Literary Hunk of October: Luke Brandon
If you’re a human being with access to a TV or the internet, you’ve probably heard that today is the 20th anniversary of the Friends premiere. As much as we love the Central Perk crew, fictional friendships started touching our lives long before Ross and Rachel ever took their break. Though the dynamics of each … More Best Friendships in Literature
Book Perfume 