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RACHEL’S READS

Rachel’s Reads – January 2019

As the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes to an end, it is almost as if you can hear the collective deep breath from everyone. The completely immersive exhale of finally having everything done and attended to never quite feels like it lasts long enough. The world ramps up again with resolutions and normality, […]

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Rachel’s Reads – December 2018

As the holidays loom and the end of 2018 draws near, this period of time seems like an especially good one to reflect upon the year gone by and the wonderful books that I read. Since this time is filled with “best of” book lists, or the option to vote in the Goodreads Choice Awards, I […]

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Rachel’s Reads – November 2018

For me, as the night grows longer, the sky mimics it and imbues rich hues of indigo, celestial and midnight blue over our heads. The painted shades seem to be added one stroke at a time, furthering the transition into the deep dark night. The darkness inspires our dreams, and, in turn, allows us to […]

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Rachel’s Reads – October 2018

After writing about my deep love of art in my publisher’s note, I want to take this opportunity to share some wonderful art related books in my monthly column. Art is such a broad topic. It continues to fascinate me, and there seems to be something to suit every taste. Whether describing a famous artist […]

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Rachel’s Reads – September 2018

Growing up, the wonders of Kansas City seemed normal. It was just the place where I lived, with no history or preconceived notions to color my thoughts and experiences. The moment that changed was while I was watching the 1955 movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. I remember hearing the song, “Kansas City,” and […]

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Rachel’s Reads – August 2018

For me, August has always been the pinnacle of summer. The month where, instead of the climbing balmy winds of June and July, the heat of August sits still before the drop into the crisp chill of fall. August makes me want to eke out the last pleasures that summer has to offer and often […]

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Tie The Knot 2018

Making The Perfect Plan  As the shock and wonder of the perfect proposal starts to wear off, the panic of planning the wedding begins to set in. With all of the literature out there on the headache that planning a wedding can be, it seems difficult to almost impossible to figure out where to start. […]

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Rachel’s Reads – June 2018

Summer always seems to hit me like a freight train. The heavy, hot air condenses around me and knocks the wind from my lungs. The stickiness infuses a sense of lethargy and I’m suddenly brought back to a line from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, “the air was oppressive even in the early morning […]

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Rachel’s Reads – May 2018

It’s that time of year again. Between Mother’s Day, Graduation and Father’s Day, the need for meaningful gifts seems to crop up every couple of weeks. Since books make the best gifts, here is a gift guide complete with recommendations for the mom, dad, or grad in your life.  Mother’s Day Mothers: An Essay on […]

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Rachel’s Reads – April 2018

“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” – Plato In honor of National Poetry Month, I tip my hat to this wonderful art form. Beginning in April of 1996, the Academy of American Poets was inspired by other successful celebratory months to create National Poetry Month. It aims to encourage the reading of poems, […]

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Rachel’s Reads – March 2018

Books are my addiction. The beautiful thing about books is that you are never reading the same novel. In each one, there is the opportunity to have an experience you’ve never had before, get lost in the pages or just find a new friend. Even re-reading books feels like catching up with a long lost […]

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Rachel’s Reads – February 2018

It’s the stillness that draws me in.  The winter season is the world without adornment. The trees are bare, the air is chillingly cold and even the green grass has gone dormant. The world seems still as if sleeping under blankets of pristine white snow. For me, the stillness of winter seems to hold all […]

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Rachel’s Reads – January 2018

The changing of one year to the next holds a type of mystical allure. It’s a time of reflection on the year that has gone by and excitement for the promise of a new beginning. As 2017 drew to a close, I felt as if I was in a speeding train watching the world go […]

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Rachel’s Reads – December 2017

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  As I typed that, I couldn’t help but sing the words in my head. It seems that as soon as Thanksgiving passes, the holiday season is also roaring past. Lights and decorations go up as everyone seems to rush to get their shopping completed. For me though, […]

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Rachel’s Reads – November 2017

When I was growing up, it always bothered me that Thanksgiving seemed like the forgotten holiday. Each year, all the stores would put out tons of decorations for Halloween. The minute that Halloween ended, Christmas decorations would fill the shelves and The Jackson 5 could be heard singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” everywhere. […]

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Rachel’s Reads – October 2017

I feel my heartbeat in my ears. The thuds of my pulse seemingly getting louder and faster as I realize that my breath is coming in shorter and shorter gasps. Then my hands start to feel sweaty, and only the chair I am sitting in is keeping me upright as my knees get weak. The […]

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Rachel’s Reads – September 2017

There is a definitive moment every year where I take a breath outside and I just know: fall is finally here. It’s that cool crispness with a hint of morning dew like I just bit into a perfectly ripe Granny Smith apple. As the air invades my lungs, I am taken back to all of […]

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