Teen Book List, 1973

     As noted heretofore, this is another one of them new years, a time when this column generally looks back to the world of books marking significant anniversaries.  I thought I might start with things which are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary, and now I wish I hadn’t.  The last thing I really need, when consideringContinue reading “Teen Book List, 1973”

Catch the Drift?

     Now, as several scholars (or simply wiseguys on the Interwebs) have pointed out, not every Christmas song we sing or listen to or tolerate in the store, is strictly a Christmas song.  A large number of songs—Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland, Suzy Snowflake, Frosty the Snowman—are technically snow songs, songs about the joys ofContinue reading “Catch the Drift?”

Santa Blogs XXXVII

You fat old mountebank:      Remember me?  I’m the one whose mom kept getting me classic secondhand children’s books like Pollyanna and Honey Bunch and the Dachshund of Doom when what I ASKED for were graphic novels about the zombie apocalypse.  I wrote to my uncle, suggesting he look into collectibles, figuring he was loadedContinue reading “Santa Blogs XXXVII”

Santa Blogs XXXVI

Dear Santa Blogs,      I’ve been checking all over these sno-=covered Interwebs, and I am still confused about the True Meaning of Christmas.  I figured you had nothing better to do, so can you explain, please?                                                                                                   PHILOSOPHER Dear Phil:      On the whole, I would rather deal with a battalion of kids askingContinue reading “Santa Blogs XXXVI”

Ranunculus to You, Mimosa to Nuts

MIMOSA   “Sensitiveness”             Also known as the Sensitive Plant, because it closes its leaves when touched.  According to the Greeks, it was originally a woman named Cephisa who, fleeing from Pan, was turned into a plant.  She still shrinks from the touch of men.  (And women, by the way.)             Some books list “Sensibility” forContinue reading “Ranunculus to You, Mimosa to Nuts”

Obscure AND Famous

     People have had their portraits on postcards for sundry reasons.  Some are so famous that postcard companies print pictures of them, knowing the public will buy famous faces.  Others pay to have postcards printed of them in HOPES of  celebrity.  Sometimes that worked and the people became famous enough that the postcard companies paidContinue reading “Obscure AND Famous”