While we're on the subject of my sister's bizarro gifts, and since I've only recently recovered from a bit of a cold, I think it's time that I tell the tale of the Curse of Pocahonto. Like many of my strange childhood stories, this one begins on a No Moms Allowed camping trip. In this particular instance we were [...]
Author: Brennan
Hi, I'm Brennan. Thanks for reading.
Kenna Faction
For reasons that are not entirely clear to even me, I spent a small chunk of last night playing Red Faction. To those of you unfamiliar with that title, suffice to say that it's a video game from 2001 and, perhaps unsurprisingly given all the technological advancements in that medium in the past 13 years, [...]
The New Year
It's been seven years since I last got ready for a new school year. Well, as a student, at least. After college I spent my first two years as a "professional" - yes, with quotes - working in a university environment with my schedule still dictated by academia. So I'm five years removed, if you're [...]
The Hobbit Begins
I've read The Lord of the Rings a number of times. As a result of all that repetition, I've internalized most of the story's primary aspects and plot points. And though I've not read it with the same frequency, I've also read The Hobbit a not-insignificant number of times. So I was surprised to find, [...]
I’ll Be Fine
A disclaimer: there is an old axiom about stones and glass houses that certainly applies here. I have achieved much less as a writer than, of all people, tennis legend Moncia Seles who - and pardon my surprise at this - has published two young adult romance novels. (I should specify that Seles co-wrote the books with James [...]
Fear of Falling (Rain)
Caitlin and I are far from the only people to have experienced the joys of water damage. Talking to a number of people who'd had similar experiences we learned a lot of things about how we might be able to prevent or react to similar problems in the future. And though we've known all along [...]
The Bean Lady
My sister, Michelle, and I have a long-standing tradition: whenever either of us goes on a vacation, we bring the other back the most grotesque, cringe-worthy (or at least stupid) gift that we can find. This hallowed practice actually began some fifteen years ago when, on a family vacation with our parents, Michelle and I [...]
The Westing Game
Before I dove into my epic project of annual rereading I decided to make my way, for the first time, through one of Caitlin's favorite books from her childhood: Ellen Raskin's murder mystery The Westing Game. The book's events are set in motion by the will of corporate mogul Sam Westing as Westing's posthumous commands [...]
2001: A Space Odyssey
For more than two years, as a college student, I worked for a public library. The best part of that job was when, every few weeks, I got to empty a giant bin of books into the recycling. These books were damaged or out of date or donations for which space couldn't be found. If you're [...]
The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time
One of the hardest things to do as a writer is put your reader squarely in the mind of a unique and intricate character. Mark Haddon, with The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time, has done this just about as well as anyone I've ever read. Through the eyes of Christopher John Francis [...]
Songs & Stories 