Author Archives: dispatchesfromtheformernewworld

A Room With a View

Posted on October 11, 2018

The excited cries and yells of the teenagers echoed down the narrow, winding stone staircase and into our tiny hotel room where we were trying, unsuccessfully, to unpack without bumping into one another. We had just arrived at the Porta … Continue reading →

Posted in Dispatches | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Resistance in World War II

Posted on October 3, 2018

My latest blog for my former professional home, Montgomery County Public Libraries, is a companion piece to my post on Churchill’s V sign. I introduce a selection of books on World War II resistance in Europe and reveal my favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in Shout Out Blog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My Love Affair with Gerard Manley Hopkins

Posted on September 3, 2018

Last Saturday I watched the funeral service for Senator John McCain at the National Cathedral. I really tuned in because I wanted to hear President Obama’s eulogy, but I was soon drawn in by the beauty and dignity of the … Continue reading →

Posted in From The Dabbler Archives | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Darkest Hour, The Suspect V

Posted on August 22, 2018

I finally got to watch the much lauded film The Darkest Hour last weekend. Gary Oldman’s performance as Winston Churchill certainly deserved the Oscar Award for Best Actor. Equally deserving were the creative group who won the Oscar for Makeup. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dispatches | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Fish N’ Chips N’ a Stripper

Posted on July 26, 2018

“Now I can tell you what happened,” whispered my husband Mel when the children had finished eating and gone to play in the other room. He did have a strange expression on his face when he came back from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dispatches | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Travel by Book

Posted on July 14, 2018

In my latest blog for the library I share my recommendations for summer reading, novels set in idyllic vacation spots. Sometimes throwing people together in a new environment upsets the status quo, making for drama, intrigue, and unexpected revelations. Perfect ingredients … Continue reading →

Posted in Shout Out Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Amazing True History of Yankee Doodle

Posted on July 3, 2018

To celebrate the July 4th holiday I reprise the amazing true story of an American patriotic song, first published in The Dabbler on June 3rd 2015. Could it be that Yankee Doodle Dandy started out as a British insult? In … Continue reading →

Posted in From The Dabbler Archives | Tagged , , | 7 Comments