When people talk about influential pieces of American literature, there are a few titles you can just about guarantee will be thrown into the discussion, i.e. To Kill a Mockingbird, Grapes of Wrath, Huckleberry Finn, and oh yeah, Of Mice and Men (kudos …
Tag: john steinbeck
The Western Flyer: Steinbeck’s Boat Flying Through Time
The compass simply represents the ideal, present but unachievable, and sight-steering a compromise with perfection which allows your boat to exist at all. —The Log from the Sea of Cortez In Port Townsend—a charming, coastal town nestled in the northeastern end …
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Literary America: Ten Places to Visit for National Author’s Day
Mark your calendars and make some plans! November 1st is National Author’s Day. In 1929, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs created the day to honor America’s writers; in 1949, the day was officially recognized by the U.S. Department of …
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Top Ten Summer Readings for 2013
Ahhhh, summer! Finally, some time for a bit of pleasure reading. Got a gift certificate you’ve been hanging on to? (Ha. Mine are gone minutes after they hit my hands.) Or maybe you are just overwhelmed with choices and don’t …
Ten Cocktails for You, From Literature
If you’ve ever hosted or been to a book club meeting, you know that you will discuss the book in question for approximately ten to fifteen minutes before the conversation turns to sex. Why not at least attempt to keep …
Nothing good gets away: Advice from John Steinbeck on Love
John Steinbeck adored his two sons, Thom, the eldest, and John (better known by his nickname, “Catbird”). After a tumultuous divorce with his second wife, Gwyn, the mother of the boys, and a long and usually loving marriage but also …
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Writer’s Spaces, Places, and Advice About Writing
“It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other …
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Eek, it’s Frankensteinbeck! And Other Literary Puns
I came across this fantastic gallery in the Rumpus today and had to share. The artist Timothy Lee Taranto illustrates literature’s most serious authors in a less than serious light. Check out our favorite, the “Vonnugget,” below, and many more. …
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