Author Archives: lfpbe

Sad News

Posted on February 15, 2016 by lfpbe

Today at Postcards from Purgatory, our thoughts are with this guy, who announced to his social media contacts this morning that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He says that he plans to fight it and I have no … Continue reading →

Posted in Glimpses into Real Life, Pat Conroy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

For Valentine’s Day: Some Not-So-Young Lovers

Posted on February 14, 2016 by lfpbe

Yesterday I finished the full first draft of a novel I’ve been working on for about a year and a half. Last year I posted an excerpt in honor of Mother’s Day, and today I thought it only fitting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bethany's Fiction, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Final Thoughts on DeLillo’s End Zone (by Bethany)

Posted on February 12, 2016 by lfpbe

I won’t be reading all day today, but that’s okay. Life is allowed to intrude on reading sometimes. Reviewing a Don DeLillo novel – even a sort of embryonic, proto-DeLillo novel like End Zone – is a daunting task. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Don DeLillo, Fiction - general, Fiction - literary, Reviews by Bethany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Yarn Along

Posted on February 10, 2016 by lfpbe

Back when this blanket was in its “fancy lollipop” stage, there were a few doubters out there who couldn’t imagine how the lollipop would ever transform into a blanket. It’s still more blob than blanket, but today I made a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Yarn Along | 16 Comments

Some Cryptic Wisdom

Posted on February 9, 2016 by lfpbe

I jotted this note inside the front cover of my copy of The Federalist. Because the cover no longer closes all the way, this phrase peeks out at me when I am crossing the room to pick up my knitting … Continue reading →

Posted in Glimpses into Real Life, Marginalia, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Wrenching the Last Bit of Celebration Out of Christmas of 1997: Thoughts on the First Half of Don DeLillo’s End Zone (by Bethany)

Posted on February 8, 2016 by lfpbe

When I was a senior in college, I asked for and received all of Don DeLillo’s novels for Christmas. Underworld had just been published, so I received that one in hardback and the others in paperback. I read them all … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Don DeLillo, Fiction - general, Fiction - literary, Reviews by Bethany, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Review of Kate Atkinson’s Human Croquet (by Bethany)

Posted on February 7, 2016 by lfpbe

Note: This review deals candidly with the ending of the novel. If you want to avoid “spoilers,” you should avoid reading the second half of this review. After a very slow start, I did end up enjoying parts of Human … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Fiction - Fantasy, Fiction - general, Fiction - literary, Kate Atkinson, Reviews by Bethany, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Read (Almost) All Day Friday

Posted on February 5, 2016 by lfpbe

This photo is called “Here Comes Trouble.” Actually, though, originally I took this RADF photo – – but I wasn’t very happy with it. Darth Vader’s radio is in it, of course – and what’s not to like about that? … Continue reading →

Posted in Read-All-Day Friday, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Yarn Along

Posted on February 3, 2016 by lfpbe

Kate Atkinson’s Human Croquet isn’t quite as bad as its title suggests, but it still isn’t doing much for me – and this is in spite of the fact that it sort of involves TIME TRAVEL. People keep telling me … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Yarn Along | 5 Comments

Holy Democratic Process, Batman!

Posted on February 1, 2016 by lfpbe

This is Emma with her big, beautiful eyes, asking you to please forgive her Mom for not writing a book review tonight. The Iowa caucuses are on: the Democrats look like they’re about to start the Hokey Pokey any minute … Continue reading →

Posted in Cat photos, Glimpses into Real Life | 1 Comment