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Jennifer Graham

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Grace Lapointe | Jan 14, 2022 Edgar Allan Poe was one of the all-time most inventive and versatile authors in American literature. He was also one of the first U.S. writers to support himself through his writing. Born Edgar Poe in Boston in 1809, after his father left his family and his mother died, he was raised mainly in Richmond, Virginia, by the Allan family. He died in Baltimore in 1849 at age 40 from causes that are still unclear. Poe’s stories convey in a few pages what some writers take hundreds of pages to tell. They contain wordplay and symbolism but also anticipate more realistic writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky. Before the formal field of psychology existed, Poe’s stories explored guilt, paranoia, delusions, and obsessions. Poe helped create the overlapping moods and genres of horror, mystery, historical fiction, slipstream, and science fiction and fantasy as we know them today. Known mainly as a literary critic…

Where Once Poe Walked Eternal brood the shadows on this ground, Dreaming of centuries that have gone before; Great elms rise solemnly by slab and mound, Arched high above a hidden world of yore. Round all the scene a light of memory plays, And dead leaves whisper of departed days, Longing for sights and sounds that are no more. Lonely and sad, a specter glides along Aisles where of old his living footsteps fell; No common glance discerns him, though his song Peals down through time with a mysterious spell. Only the few who sorcery’s secret know, Espy amidst these tombs the shade of Poe. H.P. LovecraftSource: AllDayPoetry

Looking for a podcast? There are so many out there these days that it’s good to get recommendations. We found this list from GoodHousekeeping.com of the best ones in 2023 to listen to. Before we start with the programs, what is a podcast? Simply put, a podcast is an audio program, just like Talk Radio, but you subscribe to it on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like. In a little more detail, a podcast is a series of spoken word, audio episodes, all focused on a particular topic or theme, like cycling or startups. You can subscribe to the show with an app on your phone and listen to episodes whenever you like on your headphones, in the car or through speakers.Source: What is a Podcast by thepodcasthost.com So you can listen to a podcast while driving, working out, cleaning house, or simply sitting. It can be a fun and informative way to…

Mer People is the new 4 part docuseries on Netflix with a stranger than fiction story about real life mermaids. The series follows several perfomers as they try to make it in the industry where few professional gigs exist. Mermaid Sparkles is a hopeful living in Arkansas where she’s land locked for the most part. She gets to practice in community pools alongside senior water aerobics class members. Working a day restaurant job, she’s had a dream of becoming a full time mermaid since her father told her about Florida’s famous Weeki Wachee mermaid shows. Weeki Wachee is at a state park with live mermaid shows. It’s been shut down but the mystique continues. We follow Sparkles as she travels around the country to audtition and make it in this half a billion dollar industry. We meet Eric Ducharme a former Wachee performer and founder of MerTailor a foundational mermaid…

Juneteenth National Independence Day, celebrated on June 19th, is the day to commemorate the end of enslavement in the United States. “Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It is also often observed for celebrating African-American culture. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865.”Source: Wikipedia Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia is hosting tours and free programs to celebrate on Saturday, June 17th. Tours are free but signups are required. Don’t miss Oakland Cemetery’s annual Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday, June 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will feature free tours, live music, storytelling, kids’ crafts, and lots more!  Photo credit: Oakland Cemetery Mark your calendars and make plans to head to historic Oakland Cemetery on June 17 for a FREE celebration for the whole…

Jane Austen laid out a road map for finding the right mate in her 6 novels. Decency is a big hit (think Col. Brandon) as well as wit (Mr. Tilney) and charm and mystery (Mr. Darcy). This is a short, fun list for finding the right man. Source: Bookbub.com 16 Things Jane Austen Taught Us About Finding the Right Man By Abigail ChandlerMarch 12, 2020 2 min read Many of us learned everything we know about love from Jane Austen books. Luckily, her books are filled with inspiring romances that readers still aspire to today, as well as cautionary tales about the sort of romance you definitely don’t want. Here are some of the lessons that Jane Austen taught us about finding the right man. 1. Aim high. OK, waiting for your Mr. Darcy might be reaching for the stars. But you can definitely do better than a John Thorpe. 2. Holiday romances work. Your…

Marvelous Monday is here! The concept is simple and stress-free. I’m inviting my tea party friends – readers and friends – to post good things in their life on Mondays. Grab a macaroon and a cup of tea and join us. Or a cupcake. Whatever suits your fancy. Let’s dish! I know it’s not technically Monday, but posting anyway for fun. We thought we’d post Facebook groups we love and enjoy. Things in our feed that make us happy. Please feel free to link to your favorite groups in the comments. We’re obsessed with all things corgi and these groups give us a daily dose of corgi fun. Approving CorgisCheck the group out here. Disapproving CorgisCheck the group out here. CorgiaholicsCheck the group out here. Although we’re a wee bit obsessed with corgis, we’re true cat people at heart. We currently have 2 rescues Zazzles and Binx. We get our daily…

Happy 171st Birthday to Alice Liddell – the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland! Born on May 4, 1852. Interesting that the story’s image of Alice is a matter of dispute. Obviously, it is not the illustration of the original Alice. Carroll sent a photograph of another child friend, Mary Hilton Badcock to the book’s illustrator, but whether or not the artist actually used it is cloudy. A letter Carroll wrote suggests the illustrator did not. Either way Alice Liddell had a life of adventure and helped to establish stories we know and love. You can read more about her life here and the illustration of the story in this article. Alice Liddell (right) with her sisters circa 1859, photographed by Lewis Carroll Liddell aged 7, photographed by Lewis Carroll in 1860

In honor of National Poetry Month and this wonderful time of year, we offer up this beautifully dark poem. Who doesn’t like a little darkness with the light? Spring by Edna St. Vincent Millay\ To what purpose, April, do you return again?Beauty is not enough.You can no longer quiet me with the rednessOf little leaves opening stickily.I know what I know.The sun is hot on my neck as I observeThe spikes of the crocus.The smell of the earth is good.It is apparent that there is no death.But what does that signify?Not only under ground are the brains of menEaten by maggots.Life in itselfIs nothing,An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,AprilComes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers. Source: PoetryFoundation.org

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