Reducing Speed in Order to Determine What’s Important It’s easy to overlook the importance of slowing down in today’s fast-paced society. We live our lives multitasking, managing multiple screens, and frequently racing against deadlines. However, if we take a step back and look to the past, we may discover that some of the most valuable … Read more

The Significance of Location Our home locations possess an irresistible force. Our hometowns leave their mark on our characters, ideas, and memories, regardless of whether they are large metropolis, a little village, or a little town on the lake shore. They are the silent teachers who guide us through our formative years, preparing the way … Read more

There is a quiet, a particular type of silence, in an attic, the kind that breathes its last before you lift the cover on a rusty old box, never knowing which memory will bubble up in the dust. In Whiskey Point and Methodists, David Holmes welcomes readers into this holy silence, where time is preserved … Read more

In Whiskey Point and Methodists, David Holmes performs a tricky, sometimes intimidating task: chronicling family history not as accurately rendered, but as it is too often recalled—blurred, rich, and worn through the mist of feeling. His memoir feels as if someone is looking into a tarnished mirror, one that has been clouded through the years … Read more

The early 20th century was a time of significant change and upheaval. For the people of working-class neighborhoods in Chicago, it was a life of pain and struggle and the same for the Hoare family on the South Side. They lived right next to the big Union Stockyards and, like many Irish Catholic families of … Read more

The soul’s journey flows with faith and doubt as its traveling companions. They engage in a quiet dance with shades of perception, always shifting, wavering, reaffirming, and evolving. Faith is often characterized as a lighthouse or bright light guiding one through storms. But what happens when that light dims? When silence takes over in place … Read more

Writing through pain is an act of bravery such as every act of honesty, vulnerability, and acceptance of feelings that most people live their lives denying.  In a world that often prizes polished narratives and tidy resolutions, the raw memoir stands apart. These memoirs break the silence of suffering, giving voice to those who are wounded … Read more

In David Holmes’ “Whiskey Point and Methodists,” the pages bleed with the unfiltered truths of personal growth, loss, and longing. What emerges is a memoir and a mirror held up to the emotional storms that shape a person, capturing the chaos, clarity, and catharsis that come from writing through pain. The book presents a fragmented, … Read more

Handwritten letters have a timeless power in a world of instant messaging and short-lived digital conversations. They are windows into the past, preserving feelings, hardships, and victories that might otherwise be lost; they are more than simply words on paper. An intimate look into the lives of our ancestors is provided by “Whiskey Point and … Read more

Throughout the United States, Chicago was infamous for its Union Stock Yards. They symbolized both opportunity and hardship, and thousands of immigrants along with working-class families were employed in various jobs. As illustrated in the book, “Whiskey Point and Methodists,” the Stock Yards description brings forth images of dangerous and ruthless work environments. The Harsh … Read more

Chicago’s South Side has always been a site where history, culture, and community meet. Few places, however, have the same significance and lore as Whiskey Point. A crossroads for immigrants, laborers, and dreamers, Whiskey Point was an intersection, yes, but it was also a cultural icon. As “Whiskey Point and Methodists” show, this notorious corner … Read more

Irish Catholic families in Chicago in the early 20th century had a deep cultural identity rooted in faith which put them through immense hardships. The city was intricately defined by the traditions and culture of working-class Irish immigrants and their children. It takes one Irish Catholic to understand the essence of growing up during this … Read more

Technological progress has dominated our present-day society, so traditional storytelling practice is fading away. People now use short texts and brief social media updates for their conversations. People used to gather in front of the fireplace or at dinner tables or outdoor porches to hear stories that members had received from earlier generations. Family identity … Read more

Throughout human history, war has created lasting marks in households by separating family members during extended periods when both civilians and soldiers become victims of anxiety and mistrust. The extensive damage of war affects every family member because soldiers fight on battlefields while spouses handle solo parenting responsibilities, and children must survive without parental guidance. … Read more

The environment in which an individual grows up influences their values, choices, and general philosophy in life. One of the most potent influences is religion and tradition, which establish a moral basis that directs individuals in their personal and professional life decisions. What religious teachings convey across generations are virtues like benevolence, honesty, discipline, and … Read more

The turn of the 20th century was a time of great upheaval in America. Cities were being transformed by industrialization, new technologies were being developed, and immigrant waves were introducing the nation to multiculturalism. Children who were raised during this time saw a world that was transforming at a great pace yet remained rooted in … Read more