Month: December 2013

Books Can Save a Life: most viewed posts in 2013

Valorie Grace Hallinan5 Comments

Snow-covered trees

Attractions in 2013

These are the Books Can Save a Life posts that got the most views in 2013.

I was gratified to see three of my most popular posts are about having a family member who suffers from mental illness. Early in the new year I’ll be writing about Susan Nathiel’s new book, Sons of Madness: Growing Up and Older with a Mentally Ill Parent. There is still very little written about the experience of having a mother or father with a mental illness; Susan’s book is an important contribution.

On the twelfth day of Christmas: James Fielden

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lake, close-up of water

I discovered James Fielden’s site more than a year ago. Ever since, I’ve been enjoying his writing, photography and, more recently, his music and audio meditations – all paths in which James explores aspects of spirituality and the inner life. James lives in Los Angeles, where he mixes sound for film and television.

His 23-minute guided meditation, Journey Across a Lake, is a wonderful way to begin the new year.

Photo by James Fielden.

On the eleventh day of Christmas: Michael Cherney

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Children skiing

Today’s selection is not a blog, but an artist’s website, quite simply, one of the most unusual and stunning I’ve ever seen. Viewing Michael Cherney’s photographic Asian scrolls is like taking a journey to a secret, faraway place. See, for example, Five Peaks. Enjoy.

Young skiers photo by Putneypics under CC By-NC 2.0

On the tenth day of Christmas: Brain Pickings

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Deer in snow

7 Essential Books on the Art and Science of Happiness, at Brain Pickings. If you’re not familiar with this site, you’ll want to browse its long, generous excerpts from books by artists, scientists, and other fascinating people. See The Best of Brain Pickings 2013. This is not really a blog, but “a human-powered discovery engine for interestingness” by Maria Popova that has been praised by The New York Times and is included in the Library of Congress permanent web archive.

Photo: Christmas Eve visitors, through binoculars, by A. Hallinan

On the ninth day of Christmas: Bealtaine Cottage

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Cardinal

Bealtaine Cottage is luscious, especially if you like Irish cottages, and midwinter.

On the eighth day of Christmas: The Teacup Chronicles

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juniper berries

The Teacup Chronicles

Because I like good stories about ordinary things, fine photographs, unusual recipes, and anything with “teacup” in the title.

On the seventh day of Christmas: Los Rodriguez Life

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Winter snow scene

Los Rodriguez Life always makes me happy when I visit. Bilingual, so I can practice reading Spanish, and it feels like a grand celebration of family and being alive. There’s gardening, food, travel, photography, music and lots of personality.

I think you’ll enjoy “Fly On.” (Scroll down to the music video.) I love fiddle music.

December morning photo by Putneypics under CC By-NC 2.0

On the sixth day of Christmas: Letters of Note

Valorie Grace Hallinan1 Comment

Cardinal

Letters of Note is, in the words of its editor, Shaun Usher, “an attempt to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos.”

They are the extraordinary words of real people. Here are a few of my favorites:

Our Frank

The Outsiders

We were not found wanting

I am very real

Everything comes to an end

There is a Letters of Note book, too!

Northern Cardinal photo by Putneypics under CC By-NC 2.0

On the fifth day of Christmas: The Quivering Pen

Valorie Grace Hallinan1 Comment

12 Days of Christmas

The Quivering Pen has been my happiest blog discovery of late. It’s a rich, beautifully written site about books, writing, and the literary life by David Abrams, a former Army journalist and author of The Fobbit, a comic novel about the Iraq War.

David is an expansive, passionate reader who writes eloquently about new, backlist, classic, and “lost gem” titles. You’ll find unusual and off-the-beaten-path books to add to your to-read list, and if you’re a writer, you’ll appreciate David’s generous sharing of his own journey and the wisdom of other writers.

I’m looking forward to reading David’s enticing backlist of posts. Among other attractions, he features Trailer Park Tuesday (new book trailers), Friday Freebie (a book giveaway), Sunday Sentence (the best sentences he’s read that week), My First Time (writers talk about virgin experiences in their writing and publishing careers), and Bookstore of the Month.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Song Poster by Xavier-Romero Frias is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

On the fourth day of Christmas: Ephemeral New York

Valorie Grace Hallinan7 Comments

Christmas tree

You could spend hours browsing the photos and traveling back in time at Ephemeral New York.

The photo above is from “Which city park hosted the first Christmas tree?”  New York City during the holidays is transcendent, no matter what the century.

Years ago, I jogged past Carl Shurtz Park every day, but I never knew Peter Pan lived there.

Nine Barrow Street in Greenwich Village bears a version of my husband’s family name, in honor of an inventive Irish blacksmith. I found that out when I read, “A village monument to a 19th century blacksmith.”

There are 75 posts about out-of-date guidebooks.

And 45 posts about defunct department stores.

Many a bittersweet tale, as well:  “The Tragedy of the Loveliest Woman in America” and “Notes Pinned to Babies at the Foundling Asylum.”

You could write a book about each and every post at Ephemeral New York.

Photo: Bain News Service