Classic Literature and the Art of Mixing It Up

This post is the seventh in a series on contemporary popular literature. Classic literature…how do you feel about it? Most days my philosophy is, I want to like it, but it’s not always easy. Some feel - Read more

Portrait of a Young Reader as an Addict

This post is the sixth in a series on contemporary popular literature. There are nothing quite like the sensations that accompany getting sucked into a good book.  It’s probably a bit different for everyone, - Read more

Tour de Cluck: A New Davis Tradition

Click here to learn more about Tour de Cluck and local urban chicken farming. Well, it’s official; the Tour de Cluck is here to stay!  Just this past May I had my first taste of Davis’ very own coop loop, a - Read more

Books for Kids: A Formula that Works

Well, it’s official, I’ve graduated, bringing my long academic career to a close, at least for now.  And as it happens, thinking of endings brings me all the way back to thinking about the beginning.  And - Read more

Page to Screen: Giving Flight or Cutting Wings?

This post is the fourth in a series on contemporary popular literature. So I know you’ve all noticed the massive trend towards making huge powerhouse movie sequel machines lately.  And what better way to go - Read more

Bravo, Tour de Cluck, Bravo!

Not sure what the Tour de Cluck is all about?  Click HERE to find out. [caption id="attachment_3233" align="alignright" width="87" caption="City Council Candidate Rochelle Swanson was seen clucking around - Read more

Literary Mash-ups All Mixed Up

Ed. Note: This post is the third in a series on contemporary popular literature. To help convey the potential of a good literary mash-up, let me set the scene: In Jane Austen’s Regency Era, a girl rigged out - Read more

Vampire Craze: Why Are Corpses Compelling?

Ed. Note: This post is the second in a series on contemporary popular literature. Nowadays, it’s hard to throw a stick in a bookstore (not that any respectable book aficionado would do such a thing) and not - Read more

Join Local Clucksters in Coop Solidarity

What, you ask, is this thing called “Tour de Cluck”?  It’s a day choc-full of all things chicken, focused on supporting urban chicken farming.  Two parts family fun,  one part educational for those - Read more

Unleash Your Imagination

Let’s talk about fan fiction, aka fanfic.  Most people fall into three categories: you don’t know what it is; you know what it is, and think it’s silly; or you are passionate about it.  Like  me. In - Read more