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Blog Entry 9 of 15 Reading Past Midnight....

Not only is there not enough time to read all the new books, or the classics, there isn't enough time to talk about them with other readers. New books arrive like mushrooms after a spring rain, and keeping up with them seems impossible. In my blog I will try to mix it up with what's new and what's classic - what sustains readers over time. A big part of my reading and writing is my attempt to get back to college and high school readiing lists and re-read the good stuff, instead of feeling guilty about all those Cliff Notes. Books, old and new, spill from my bookshelves, lurk under coffee tables, peer from beneath the bed. They call to me like sirens....come closer...just one more page. Even past midnight. My mission is simple. Keep reading and take the time to think about why the book is a classic. And as new titles arrive to join the ranks of classics, what makes them great? I'll share what I think, what I enjoy. The simple act of writing about a great book makes me look at it more deeply, helps me understand it, rewards me for the pleasure of reading. Let me know your thoughts, your favorites.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~somanybooks

Kick back on papa's porch.

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Contributed by: Irma Sturgell on 11/16/2006

For serious book addicts, a love for the classics brings a desire to know more about the authors who wrote them. Perhaps it is nothing more than our celebrity driven culture manifesting itself as a need to know these authors up close and personal. This is challenging since many of them are long since dead. Yet, that may make getting to know more about them easier. It isn't likely a Grisham fan can tour his home, look at his papers (does he have papers?) or roam his gardens. You certainly won't be sitting on his porch anytime soon.

But you can visit Hemmingway's home, sit on his porch, peek into his office, meet the ancestors of his 6-toed cats, and relax in his garden before you browse the bookstore and retire to his bar for a cool one. The Hemmingway House, in Key West, Florida is a treasure trove for Papa's fans. Ongoing tours, led by knowledgeable guides, offer a fascinating glimpse of a writer in the prime of his life. I've been through the tour twice, with two different guides, and will go again. The guides put their personal spin on the stories, making them interesting, quirky, and revealing. Not a fan of Hemmingway? It's still a great tour and may inspire you to give one of his books another go round. The on-site bookstore offers plenty of memorabilia and copies of all Hemmingway's works as well as a variety of biographies.

Who can dispute the perfection of "The Old Man and the Sea, " his 1953 Pulitzer Prize winner? The book improves with the age of the reader, and like many great classics, becomes a different book when read through the lens of life's experiences. The next time you take the trouble to go to Key West, go for more than Duvall Street. Stop by Papa's place on Whitehead, and kick back on the porch.

Hemmingway House web site:

http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/main_menu.html

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Submitted By: Tabitha Dial

posted on 12/4/2006 @ 8:06:56 AM

Rated Blog Entry

Cool! That must have been a very fun visit.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Irma Sturgell

Centennial , CO

Irma Sturgell has posted 15 blog entries and 2 comments since joining on 4/13/2006. Irma Sturgell 's average blog rating is 5.

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