Posted on September 21, 2016 by Abbie Lu

“Losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But, losing your reason for the journey is a fate more cruel.”

Prolific writer Herbert George Wells, more commonly known as H.G. Wells was born Today September 21st in 1866.

His first novel, The Time Machine was an instant success and Wells produced a series of science fiction novels which pioneered our ideas of the future. His later work included novels, history, politics, social commentary, and textbooks and rules for war games. Wells was also known for satire and social criticism.
He laid out his socialist views of human history in his Outline of History.

Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is called a “father of science fiction. Here are a few of his most treasured tales:

“We all have our time machines, don’t we. Those that take us back are memories…And those that carry us forward, are dreams”

“Sometimes, you have to step outside of the person you’ve been and remember the person you were meant to be. The person you want to be. The person you are.”

“If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn’t expecting it.”

What have you learned from Wells?

Sunday Funnies!

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Having recently and finally finished “TSL” I got a kick out of this.

Honoring Roald Dahl

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Abbie Lu

Roald Dahl born today September 13th 1916 in Llanduff, South Wales, of Norwegian parents. Dahl was educated in English boarding schools. In search of an adventure, the young Dahl took a job with Shell Oil in Africa. When World War II broke out he joined the RAF as a fighter pilot, receiving terrible injuries and almost dying in a plane crash in 1942.

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.”

He rose to prominence in the 1940s with works for both children and adults and he became one of the world’s best-selling authors.

He has been referred to as “one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century”. His awards for contribution to literature include the 1983 World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and the British Book Awards’ Children’s Author of the Year in 1990. In 2008, The Times placed Dahl 16th on its list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”

“Good morning starshine the earth says hello….”

Here are two of my favorite’s Dahl Classics!

(Click any picture for more info.)

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

Raold Dahl is a legend. His stories enchant, his charming characters are unforgettable, and his timeless tidbits of wisdom are beautiful and provoking. I’m so happy to be able to honor him on this day.

“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books.”
~Roald Dahl

Which Dahl stories have you cherished and loved?

Sunday Funnies!

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Tribute to Tolstoy

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Abbie Lu

Born today September 9th 1828
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
(Usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy) was a Russian aristocrat and one of the world’s most preeminent writers. Tolstoy become famous through his epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

“We can know only that we know nothing.
And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.” (War and Peace)

Tolstoy’s fictional work includes: dozens of short stories and several novellas such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Family Happiness, and Hadji Murad. He also wrote plays and numerous philosophical essays.

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” (Anna Karenina)

Towards the end of his life, Leo Tolstoy became increasingly interested in a version of pacifist Christianity with support for a strand of anarchist Communism. His exposition of pacifism and non-violence had a profound influence on others – most notably Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
This prompted his non-fiction work;
A Confession and The Kingdom of God is Within You.