Essays & Musings
What We’ve Been Thinking About
Thoughts on books, reading, culture, and the literary life.
the ask@AAR: What’s the greatest kiss of all time?
March 27, 2020Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. (from The Princess Bride)
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The Wayback on Wednesday: (from 1998) Faerie versus Fairy
March 25, 2020by Mary Jo Putney & Karen Harbaugh (a 1998 Write Byte) LLB: I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Irish Magic II. It reminded me of a question I’ve had…
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What are you reading? Watching? Listening to?
March 24, 2020I’ve spent the past two weeks holed up in a rather dingy airbnb with my spouse. (I was exposed to the virus almost three weeks ago and decided to take…
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Sizing up the Series: The Bridgertons (plus a giveaway)
March 22, 2020On April 21, Julia Quinn will publish First Comes a Scandal, the fourth book in her Rokesby series–which is also known as the Bridgerton Prequels. There are eight books in…
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the ask@AAR: What’s your secret guilty pleasure romance?
March 20, 2020I hate the term “guilty pleasure.” (“A guilty pleasure is something that we enjoy, but we know we’re either not supposed to like, or that liking it says something negative…
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Service dog sidekicks…or are they the heroes? (Plus a giveaway!)
March 16, 2020As a veterinarian I’ve had the privilege of tending many exceptional medical alert and seeing-eye dogs over the years. These dogs change lives by enabling their person to thrive.
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the ask@AAR: What are your favorite romances featuring scientists?
March 13, 2020Today, when a friend on Facebook pointed out that you can’t have a pandemic without panic, I was practicing deep breathing. (I’d just read the New York Times.) I had,…
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The Wayback on Wednesday: At the Back Fence Issue #321
March 11, 2020published on October 21, 2008 North and South When it comes to romances on television or in the movies, I prefer mine set in the past. I believe that Darcy…
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Best rom com movie?
March 9, 2020We had a tough weekend here in our house–a family member with a crisis–and last night my husband said, “Let’s watch a light rom com.” So I looked up best…
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the ask@AAR: What’s your go to comfort read?
March 6, 2020Between the coronavirus, the election, the stock market, and putting our house on the market (last kids moved out and we are downsizing big time), I am frazzled. I take…
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The Wayback on Wednesday: A Winning Review Parody
March 4, 2020Reviews Parody Contest 1999 (from December, 1999) Merry Christmas, everyone, and a joyous holiday season to all! Today we announce the winner in our first ever Reviews Parody Contest! First…
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Donate to Romance for Literacy!
March 3, 2020The romance community is running a great fundraiser to support literacy. AAR has a team and we’d love it if you’d donate to make the world a better place!
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