#rebeccas-reading-room — Public Fediverse posts

Learning On Our Own Time

“It is not that we learn, and then live. We learn because we live.”

Mary Catherine Bateson

There’s a quiet shift happening all around us.  In living rooms and libraries, in the corners of cafés and the glow of laptop screens, people are finding their own ways to learn . And it is not for degrees or credentials, but for meaning. For connection! For joy!

At Rebecca’s Reading Room, I’ve long believed that reading is more than an escape. It’s a way of thinking, of seeing, of being present in the world. Lately, I’ve been noticing how many of us are building what might be called personal curriculums. Perhaps that phrase feels too formal for what it really is. Which is a return to curiosity, to learning in our own time.  

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us forward.”

Anaïs Nin

In a world that moves quickly and often demands our attention in a hundred directions, this slower rhythm of learning feels almost radical. It invites us to pause and ask ourselves: what do I want to understand more deeply? What calls to me right now? What might I discover if I simply give myself permission to follow wonder wherever it leads?  

For me, this year isn’t about setting a syllabus or completing a list. It’s about dwelling with books, ideas, and conversations that awaken something within. Sometimes that means returning to a familiar poem or reading a passage aloud just to hear how it feels in the air. Sometimes it means opening a new book without knowing why, only that it found me at the right moment.  

As the Reading Room moves into 2026, I hope it continues to be a gathering place for those who feel that same profound impulse: to learn not to achieve, to grow not to accumulate, and most of all to understand the beauty of learning.

“I am still learning.”

Michelangelo, at age 87

We don’t need permission to learn deeply.  We don’t need a classroom to pursue beauty, truth, or clarity.  All we need is curiosity, presence, and the willingness to begin, again and again.  

Welcome to a new year of learning…

Rebecca

#2026 #Learning #MorningReflection #RebeccaSReadingRoom

At The Yard, Salisbury — A Morning with Penguins

HOW PENGUIN BOOKS GOT ITS NAME — AND STARTED A PUBLISHING REVOLUTION

It was a bright August morning when we wandered into The Yard, a tucked-away coffee shop in Salisbury that felt like a secret shared among friends. The scent of espresso mingled with freshly baked muffins, and the walls featured book covers — rows of orange, blue, and green Penguins, those timeless companions of readers everywhere.

As we sipped our coffee (and yes, the hot chocolate was extraordinary), I remembered a story that began nearly a century ago — one that changed how the world reads.

In 1935, Allen Lane, managing editor at The Bodley Head, stood on a train platform in Exeter after visiting Agatha Christie. Searching for a good-quality paperback for his journey back to London, he found only cheap, flimsy magazines. That moment sparked an idea that would transform publishing: books should be both affordable and beautifully made — quality literature priced like a daily newspaper.

Lane envisioned a series of paperbacks that would bring fine writing to everyone, sold not just in bookshops but in railway stations and corner stores. A young secretary, Joan Coles, suggested the name ‘Penguin,’ friendly and memorable. Lane sent 21-year-old artist Edward Young to the London Zoo to sketch the bird that would become one of the most beloved emblems in publishing history.

What many readers don’t realize is that the earliest Penguins were colour-coded — a design both simple and brilliant. Each colour represented a different genre: orange for fiction, dark blue for biography, red for drama, green for crime, black for serious non-fiction, purple for essays, and grey for world affairs. Together they formed a mosaic of modern reading — bright, confident, and accessible. When we looked at the colourful covers on The Yard’s walls, we were really looking at the visual history of how reading became democratic.

The literary establishment was scandalized. Serious literature, sold beside the morning paper? But readers had the final word. Hemingway, Christie, and Maurois found new homes in satchels and coat pockets across Britain. Within a year, millions of Penguins were in circulation — proof that good books belong to everyone.

As I looked at those covers in The Yard, I realized that the Penguin revolution wasn’t just about paperbacks. It was about trust — the belief that ordinary people deserved access to extraordinary ideas.

In a quiet corner of Salisbury, over coffee and conversation, I was reminded that revolutions don’t always begin with noise. Sometimes, they start with a small bird and a bold idea.

Until the next page,

Rebecca

#books #PenguinBooks #RebeccaSReadingRoom #Salisbury #TheBodleyHead

The Life of a Book — From Launch to Legacy

Every book begins with an idea — a spark born from the knowledge, memory, and imagination of an author. To me, that is a sacred undertaking. Before it becomes a physical object or a digital file, a book is first a gesture of trust: an author setting their private reflections into words, then offering them to strangers.

And then comes the launch.

The publishing world moves with astonishing energy. Months before release, advance copies are sent to reviewers, publicity machines start humming, and interviews are booked. On the day of publication, the book enters a marketplace filled with noise and expectation. Tables in bookstores, bright graphics online, glowing blurbs — all meant to draw the reader’s attention in those critical first weeks. It is a frenzy, one that can feel both exhilarating and overwhelming.

But what happens when the frenzy fades?

Here is where I believe the truest life of a book begins. A book may no longer be “new,” yet its ideas remain. Sometimes it waits on a shelf until the right reader finds it. Sometimes it lingers in memory — not just as words, but as the experience of where we were when we first opened it. A quiet afternoon in a sunlit garden. A long flight. A sleepless night. Books live on not only in their pages, but in the time, place, and circumstance that frame our encounter with them.

The afterlife of a book may take many forms. Rereading — discovering that the same story has changed because we have changed. Conversation — talking about a book with others, bringing its ideas back into circulation. And remembering — not just the story itself, but the personal moment we shared with it.

In Rebecca’s Reading Room, this afterlife is as important as the launch. I follow new trends with curiosity, but I resist being caught in their urgency. The true question is not “What is everyone reading now?” but “What continues to speak, long after the launch is over?”

Every book carries both a birth and an afterlife. And in that afterlife, we often find its deepest meaning.

Wherever words are gathered, there is a chance for sanctuary. This is my hope for Rebecca’s Reading Room — that it may be a place of quiet companionship with books, poetry, and ideas, a place where the afterlife of stories is honoured and their voices continue to be heard. Thank you for stepping inside the Reading Room with me. May we find, together, the joy of words that endure.

Until the next page…

Rebecca

#books #Legacy #MorningReflections #RebeccaSReadingRoom

Toasting the Professor

As in years past, January 3rd is a special evening. Don and I joined other J.R.R. Tolkien fans from around the world in raising a glass to toast the birthday of this much loved author, J.R.R. Tolkien, at precisely 21:00 (9:00pm) local time. I have chosen a special combination of cranberry juice and soda for the occasion.

The toast is simply “The Professor”.

J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the classical mythological world of The Hobbit, The Lord of The Rings, and The Silmarillion, created a collection of legends set in a fictional universe.  He once said that “War deepened and sobered my imagination and stimulated my love of fantasy.”  The months in the trenches of WWI made a lasting impression, which is reflected within his writings.  Even so, J.R.R. Tolkien did not yield to despondency.  His response was to embrace life as a remarkable adventure to be experienced abundantly and completely.

In today’s tumultuous world, Tolkien’s narratives offer an escape to fantastical realms where courage and hope prevail. His stories remind us of the strength found in friendship and the potential for personal growth. His writing reflects deep philosophical and moral questions, encouraging us to contemplate our values, choices, and the nature of power and its consequences.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

#Birthdays #books #Fantasy #JRRTolkien #literature #RebeccaSReadingRoom #theHobbit #tolkien

An Unburnable Book

In 1953, a limited run of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s iconic dystopian novel, was produced with an asbestos binding. The idea was to render the books unburnable, which responded to the novel’s central theme of censorship and the destruction of literature in a future where books are outlawed and actively burned.

200 Unburnable Books were published – signed by Ray Bradbury.

The irony of using a material associated with fire resistance to bind a book about the dangers of burning literature is striking and highlights the novel’s critique of society’s anti-intellectualism. (Remember that the dangers of asbestos was unknown in 1953.)

But the irony continues…

According to a July 31, 2018 article in Open Culture, col­lec­tors want these books and will pay upwards of $20,000 to possess an “Unburnable” book.

The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.

Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

#bookReview #books #Dystopian #Fahrenheit451 #FictionSalon #RayBradbury #Reading #RebeccaSReadingRoom

“Down deep we all hug something. The great forest hugs its silence. The sea and the air hug the spilled cries of sea-birds. The forest hugs only silence; its birds and even its beasts are mute.

 Emily Carr, Klee Wyck

On the Ferry from Vancouver to Victoria, British Columbia

I am travelling via BC Ferries from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay) on a cool day with overhead clouds and a stiff breeze. Being a passenger on BC Ferries is an adventure! From the moment I step on board, I am embarking on a journey filled with breathtaking views, fresh sea air, and the excitement of exploration. The diverse routes offered by BC Ferries provide travelers with a unique and unforgettable experience, connecting coastal communities and offering a glimpse of the stunning natural landscapes that British Columbia has to offer.

B.C. Ferries offers ferry services that connect the mainland of British Columbia to various coastal destinations, including Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Sunshine Coast. Whether it’s a quick trip across the strait or a longer voyage to more remote destinations, each journey with BC Ferries holds the promise of adventure and discovery.

Advocates for the Coastal Environment and Communities

BC Ferries is not just a transportation provider; it is also an advocate for the coastal environment and the communities it serves. With 25 routes throughout the west coast of BC, BC Ferries plays a crucial role in supporting and connecting coastal communities. These routes provide essential transportation links for both passengers and vehicles, contributing to the connectivity and accessibility of the region.

In 1960, operations began with just two ferries servicing a single route. Since then, BC Ferries has expanded significantly, with 37 ferries now transporting over 22 million passengers and 8 million vehicles annually. This growth reflects the increasing demand for reliable marine transportation and the vital role BC Ferries plays in facilitating travel and connectivity along the coastal region.

Exploring Beacon Hill Park: A Tribute to Emily Carr

My visit to Victoria is to connect with the spirit of Emily Carr. Beacon Hill Park is the perfect setting to connect with the natural landscapes that inspired her art,

Beacon Hill Park, with its lush greenery, vibrant flora, and tranquil ponds, serves as a fitting setting to connect with the spirit of Emily Carr. This iconic park not only provides a delightful respite but also echoes the very essence of the natural landscapes that Emily Carr so passionately depicted in her artwork. From majestic totem poles to the captivating presence of local wildlife, Beacon Hill Park offers a glimpse into the essence of British Columbia’s natural wonders.

“I think that one’s art is a growth inside one. I do not think one can explain growth. It is silent and subtle. One does not keep digging up a plant to see how it grows.”

 Emily Carr

https://rebeccasreadingroom.ca/2024/05/01/on-the-ferry-to-victoria-british-columbia-to-meet-emily-carr/

#BCFerry #BeaconHillPark #BritishColumbia #EmilyCarr #GrowingPainsTheAutobiographyOfEmilyCarr #RebeccaSReadingRoom #Victoria

https://rebeccasreadingroom.ca/2021/09/01/welcome-to-the-launch-of-my-reading-room/

#PoetryInTheEvening #RebeccaSReadingRoom