Mary McCarthy’s words keep slipping into my mind, like fragments of a puzzle I’m trying to assemble. I first encountered her as an undergraduate, studying her novels and essays alongside the greats. But it was her reputation – or rather,…
Fernando Pessoa has been a constant presence in my life, lurking in the margins of my thoughts like a whispered secret. I first encountered him in a literature class during my senior year of college, where we devoured his poetry…
Maria Mitchell. I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately, especially since finishing college. Maybe it’s the sense of freedom that comes with being done with school, but I find myself drawn to people who didn’t fit neatly into expectations…
I’ve been thinking a lot about George Steiner lately, trying to put my finger on why his work resonates with me so deeply. As I sit here with a blank page and a cup of cold coffee, I’m struck by…
I’ve always been fascinated by Noam Chomsky’s ability to think critically about the world around him. As someone who writes as a way to process my own thoughts and emotions, I find his intellectual honesty both inspiring and intimidating. There’s…
I’ve always been drawn to Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing, particularly her novels about the lives of ordinary people in 19th-century England. What fascinates me is how she humanizes those often-overlooked individuals – the poor, the marginalized, and the struggling. Her characters’…
Karl Marx. I’ve spent countless hours reading his words, trying to make sense of the complex ideas that poured out of him like a torrent. It’s as if he’s speaking directly to me, challenging my assumptions about the world and…
I’ve been thinking a lot about Jean Rhys lately, and I’m not entirely sure why. Her writing doesn’t exactly resonate with me on an emotional level – it’s often described as detached, observational – but there’s something about her that…
I’ve been thinking a lot about Muriel Rukeyser lately, and it’s not just because I recently finished a semester-long course on 20th-century American poetry. It’s because she was a woman who seemed to be constantly at odds with the world…
I’ve always been fascinated by Michael Faraday, the 19th-century English chemist and physicist who revolutionized our understanding of electricity and magnetism. What draws me to him isn’t just his groundbreaking work – it’s the way he approached science with a…
I’ve been reading Djuna Barnes’ autobiography, “Nightwood,” for weeks now, and I keep finding myself drawn back to her writing about her relationships with men. Specifically, her tumultuous affair with Thelma Wood, an American artist. There’s something about the way…
I’ve been reading about Baruch Spinoza for weeks now, and I’m still not sure what to make of him. On one hand, his philosophy resonates with me on a deep level—the way he talks about the interconnectedness of all things…
Margaret Fuller’s name keeps appearing in my writing, as if I’m trying to summon her spirit by mentioning it enough times. I’ve been reading her essays and letters, getting lost in the pages of “Woman in the Nineteenth Century” and…
W.G. Sebald. I’ve spent countless hours reading his words, trying to untangle the threads of his writing. His prose is a labyrinth, and I’m still not sure I know my way out. At first, it was the odd structure that…
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of sacrifice, and Albert Schweitzer’s life is a masterclass in it. The more I learn about him, the more I’m struck by his commitment to living out his values, no matter how uncomfortable…
I’ve always been drawn to Aphra Behn, but it’s only recently that I’ve begun to understand why. As a writer myself, I appreciate the fact that she was one of the first professional female writers in England. But beyond her…
I’ve always been fascinated by Richard Feynman, the physicist who defied conventions with his unorthodox approach to science and life. As I reflect on why he holds my attention, I find myself drawn to the complexity of his character –…
I’ve always been fascinated by Edith Wharton’s writing, particularly her novels about the social elite of her time. As I delved deeper into her work, I found myself drawn to the way she critiqued the societal norms that governed women’s…
Beatrix Potter. I’ve always been fascinated by her, but it’s not until recently that I’ve started to think about why. Maybe it’s because I’m at a similar crossroads myself – fresh out of college, trying to figure out what comes…
Roland Barthes. I keep coming back to his ideas, even when I’m trying not to think about them. His writing is like a puzzle I can’t help but try to solve. Maybe it’s because he makes me feel seen in…
