The Wish Room

Hello!  It has been a while since I have blogged.  I hope that you all enjoyed the last few weeks of summer (or winter, depending on where you are in the world).  August was a fun-but-busy kind of month for me.  The nice thing about short stories, though, is that they can even be squeezed into busy days, since short stories are, well, short.  :)  So I'm coming back from summer break prepared with lots of short story recommendations for you.


Earlier this summer, I told you about "County Fair," a story by Delos Lovelace.  In my post for today, I am recommending a story by his wife, Maud Hart Lovelace.

Title:  The Wish Room

Author:  Maud Palmer Hart.  This story was published a few years before she was married, so it appears under her maiden name.

Genre:  general fiction

Time to read:  20 minutes.  I enjoyed this story with a cup of coffee and a couple slices of a summer favorite--zucchini bread.

Found in:  The Collected Stories of Maud Hart Lovelace and Delos Lovelace, volume 2.


Storyline:  If you saw this advertisement in the newspaper, would you respond to it?  "BRING YOUR WISH TO THE WISH ROOM... Conference--$5.00."  John McCall, the main character in this story, takes a risk and responds to the ad.  Who is the mysterious woman, draped in golden robes, who runs the wish room?  What will happen at the conference?  What will John wish for, and can this wish really come true?  This story is deliciously suspenseful and mysterious.




Illustrations:  "The Wish Room" was originally published in the August 1913 issue of National Magazine.  The reprint in this book includes an original illustration from the magazine and a reproduction of the magazine cover.  Unfortunately, I can find no mention of the artists' names.


Notes:  I am linking up with Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands for Tuesday.  This group includes many cat enthusiasts, so I want to end this post by introducing you to a story-loving cat (pictured above) that I met last month.  This is Browser, a friendly resident of the library in Pine River, Minnesota.  He has his own blog; feel free to visit it if you would like to learn more about him.  Happy reading!

Comments

  1. thanks for the reviews and how cool for the library to have a kitty in residence-Happy T Day Kathy

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  2. love libraries and reading especially travel fiction..I am currently reading four mums in a boat about yorkshire mums rowing the atlantic

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  3. Well hello Denise! Sure have missed you! A cat in a library puuurrrfect!!! AND the perfect name!! I used to have a recipe for zucchini bread and sadly lost it many moons ago... would you care to share yours?? Happy T day! I hope you'll visit more often! Hugs! deb

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    1. Thanks! Unfortunately, I don't have a zucchini bread recipe to share. I bought this loaf from a bakery (Breadsmith).

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  4. How wonderful to find a story-loving cat at the library and his name made me smile - perfect! A good book, a cuppa and a slice of zucchini bread sounds wonderful too 😁. Wishing you a very Happy T Day! J 😊

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  5. It's great to have you join us again with your coffee and zucchini bread. What a fun sounding adventure John was taken on in this story. I loved the reprinted cover and illustration, too. I would have copied them and printed them out for use in mixed media (grin).

    Browser is an amazing and extremely articulate cat! He puts Bleubeard to shame. Thanks for sharing your short story, lovely Browser, the library at Pine River, MN, and your zucchini bread and coffee with us for T this Tuesday. LOVED this post.

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    1. Thanks! Gosh, I wish I had thought of copying those vintage illustrations to use in collage/papercrafts. I'll have to remember that idea for next time. :)

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    2. I love your library mascot. He looks like a friendly guy. And interesting book choices. Glad your back for T day. Hugs-Erika

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  6. I love vintage stories...a simpler time! The illustration looks a lot like the style of the artist who drew 'Gibson Girls' ~ Charles Dana Gibson. The Wikipedia article is here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Girl Thanks for sharing your recommendations! ♥

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