Uncategorized Archives - Karen Keltz

Eddie’s Excuses

keltzster — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 18:55:13 +0000

One of the most fun things about my Swedish Death Cleaning project right now, is finding files of things my former English students have written. Some of my biggest problem students were also endearing and one of those was Eddie K. He hid the fact he couldn’t read by acting out in class and he… Read More »Eddie’s Excuses

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The Emperor of gladness

keltzster — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:16:07 +0000

I kept reading about a fabulous newer author and his new book, so I ordered the book, The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong, to see what all the noise was about. I read it but it was a hard go because it was so sad and depressing. In the midst of all the chaos and destruction… Read More »The Emperor of gladness

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songs for other people’s weddings

keltzster — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:12:03 +0000

Songs for Other People’s Wedding by David Levithan with songs by Jens Lekman The main character of this novel by one of my favorite writers (read Every Day!) is a special kind of wedding singer, one who interviews his clients before he writes a song he will sing at their wedding. A song just for… Read More »songs for other people’s weddings

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two dystopian novels

keltzster — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 18:40:16 +0000

This summer, even though I have been extremely occupied with keeping up the gardening required on our two-acre property, I’ve had time to read quite a few books. Two of them were recommended to me and in turn, I’m recommending them to you if they seem to be something you’d like to read. I’ve noticed… Read More »two dystopian novels

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diversity cinema

keltzster — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 23:28:27 +0000

In my quest to watch as many awards-nominated films as I could before The Oscars, I recently watched Queer. Daniel Craig did a sterling job of acting. I felt the heat with him and could feel the sweat trickling down his back. I felt his sadness at being not needed and his propensity for being clingy.… Read More »diversity cinema

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a complete unknown

keltzster — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 18:53:14 +0000

If you were a young person during the 60’s, then you are going to appreciate watching Timothée Chalamet portray Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. He has captured Dylan perfectly, both in voice and in body—his gestures and facial expressions spot on. As an actor, Chalamet is a wonder. The film took me back immediately… Read More »a complete unknown

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Orbital

keltzster — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 03:10:53 +0000

Review of Orbital, by Samantha Harvey, 2024 Booker Prize Winner I just finished reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey, the book that won the Booker Prize for 2024. The setting for this book is onboard the International Space Station is the space of one 24-hour period. Through the eyes and minds of the six astronauts and… Read More »Orbital

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Karen goes recommendo again, January Edition

keltzster — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:18:46 +0000

Books The Grey Wolf, Louise Penney This was not my favorite of her Surêté Chief Gamache, Three Pines novels. The idea that a group of well-meaning or nefarious people could contaminate a large city’s water supply is certainly plausible. Just from living the past two decades we know anything once unheard of could happen where… Read More »Karen goes recommendo again, January Edition

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thoughts on italy

keltzster — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:25:00 +0000

I’m baaack! It’s been a week since I returned from Italy in a day and some’s worth of plane travel. I may be caught up, at least in chores and errands, anyway. Not sure about the brain. It always lags. We went through a time change in Italy, then we flew through many time changes,… Read More »thoughts on italy

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the trouble with grandma

keltzster — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 02:55:49 +0000

“What are we going to do about Grandma?” my sister Sharon asked. I sighed. Grandma had always been a problem, and something had to be done about her, now that my sister Sharon was moving to Tennessee. Away from the cold, coastal rain and into the humid heat. Away from the town where we grew up. Away from family ties. We sat on the floor in the bungalow’s bare-walled living room among the packing boxes, strapping tape and sacks of packing popcorn, wrapping stemware in dishcloths and towels. I was staying but I sure as heck didn’t want Grandma.

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