Literature › Kristine Starling

Words of Wisdom from Middle-earth: Reflections on Love, Valor, and Light

Kristine Starling December 17, 2024 January 4, 2026Blog, Literature, Opinion

The Lord of the Rings has held a special place in my heart for many years. I’d like to share a few of my favorite quotes from the masterpiece. This quote reminds me that even in the midst of darkness, there is still beauty and goodness to be found. It speaks to the resilience of love and hope. For me, it’s a gentle reminder to seek out the light, even when the shadows feel overwhelming, and to cherish the moments of joy that make life so profoundly meaningful. This sentiment is echoed beautifully in Galadriel’s words from The Fellowship of the…

Washington Irving Stories: How Legend Becomes Truth

Kristine Starling October 10, 2024 February 3, 2026Analysis, Blog, Literature

There are stories, and then there are the stories behind them. A tale well-told lingers long after the last word is read, but a tale wrapped in uncertainty and deception—now, that is a story that lives on. Washington Irving knew this well. He did not simply write “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”; he conjured them into existence, cloaking them in the guise of lost manuscripts and half-remembered folklore, so that even now, centuries later, we wonder: where does the truth end, and where does the legend begin? I first encountered these stories in my youth, though,…