This morning, I read a fascinating article called, “Cuba for sale: Havana is Now the Big Cake and Everyone is Trying to Get a Slice.” In this article, I learned that Wi-Fi is forbidden in private Cuban homes. Checking emails at an internet cafe can cost nearly a week’s wages, and the wait for a […]
As a child, I remember feeling full of wonder as I looked around my local library. To me, that gigantic room filled with art and words was magical. Authors (and their illustrators) were my heroes; the good ones provoked my emotions, intellect and imagination, and I was in awe. Today, it’s the same. I can […]
By the time you read Margaret Donnelly’s third book, The Path of Lord Jaguar, you become aware of her versatility. You will not find formulaic stories between the covers of a Donnelly novel; unlike some authors, each of Donnelly’s works flaunt unique style and character. Her mind is prismatic, and each of her novels shines […]
If you’ve read any of Margaret Donnelly’s books, you know she believes in the value of a strong female protagonist. Diana Giller of the Pan American Development Bank plays a heroic role in “The Song of the Goldencocks,” and Kemi conquers her evil boss in “The Path of Lord Jaguar.” Through her autobiographical book, “The […]
How would you feel if I told you that your neighbor – here in the United States – could be a Nazi war criminal or his beneficiary? As surprising as it may sound, it’s a possible scenario. Before the Nuremberg trials, thousands of Nazi war criminals fled to new homes across the globe. The United […]
Have you ever caught a glimpse of something surprising, otherworldly or unexpected out of the corner of your eye, only to find nothing there when you turned to look? Have you ever had a dream that made you wonder if it was the “real” reality? Do you suspect there is more magic in this world […]
This year, multiple events have inflamed the wound of racism in the United States, an ugly scar pre-dating the birth of this country which many – particularly white Americans – believed to be healing nicely. In fact, after Barack Obama was elected President, the idea was popularized that we had become a “post-racial America,” a […]
Today, I listened to a beautiful song. By Ruben Blades, this song is about Maria Lionza, the central figure in one of the most widespread indigenous religions in Venezuela. Her religion is a blend of African, indigenous, and Catholic beliefs, and she is revered as a goddess of nature, love, peace, and harmony. Those who […]