Ina Hughs

In her 30 years as a newspaper columnist, Ina Hughs has focused on issues involving human rights, children, women's concerns, religion and the environment. She has received numerous awards over the years, but says her real success comes from making readers think or laugh or to have something to discuss at the dinner table.

• Ina Hughs: Ray Bradbury's stories, advice live on Published 6/16/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  Ray Bradbury was a strange child who grew up to be an even stranger man, and, for this, American letters can thank their lucky stars.

• Ina Hughs: Consuming the latest diet book Published 6/9/2012 at 2:00 p.m. 0 comments

  At 71, my bikini days are over. But my dieting "daze" aren't and probably never will be. I've dieted all my adult life. And even when I wasn't, I was: feeling guilty over a second dessert (or even a first); ...

• Ina Hughs: Book worms its way into reading list Published 6/2/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  This is the first year in ages that I didn't jump-start the planting season. Most years, I rush out to buy begonias and geraniums, petunias and sweet potato vine, to pot up and set out on the patio only to ...

• Ina Hughs: New quote book witty and wise Published 5/26/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  Truth to tell, most of us are collectors of something: Owls. Old postcards. Wedgewood china. Fountain pens.

• Ina Hughs: Sendak wrote for tricky childhoods Published 5/19/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  "I think it is unnatural to think that there is such a thing as a blue-sky, white-clouded happy childhood for anybody. Childhood is a very, very tricky business of surviving it. Because if one thing goes wrong or anything goes ...

• Ina Hughs: Challenged books include bestsellers Published 5/5/2012 at 2:00 p.m. 16 comments

  The politically correct word now is "challenged" instead of "banned," referring to books deemed unsuitable for school libraries and protested in petitions up before the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

• Ina Hughs: Ron Rash's 'Cove' blends history with headlines Published 4/28/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  Readers of good books know that often the setting becomes as important as the plot and the characters who carry it through. Regional writer Ron Rash's novels are a good example. All use place for everything from motive to mindset ...

• Ina Hughs: Unearthing prayers and prophecies on Earth Day Published 4/21/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  It just may be that Chicken Little was right. To those who disparage the warnings we get about our careless attitude toward the environment, I suggest going to Earthday.org and watching the video they put together.

• Ina Hughs: Rich words from a late poet Published 4/14/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  From time to time readers ask me to recommend a poet for them to read. They try to like poetry, but just don't get it. Too often, poetry in school was the domain of dead white males whose lofty words ...

• Ina Hughs: Citing news of UFO sightings Published 4/7/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 2 comments

  Though science fiction isn't my genre of choice, I have always been fascinated by UFOs. Real and otherwise.

• Ina Hughs: Lenten readings feed the spirit Published 3/31/2012 at 2:00 p.m. 0 comments

  Lent is a time for Christians to reflect on the New Testament story and see what it means these centuries later as we try to live our faith.

• Ina Hughs: Manners may save the world Published 3/24/2012 at 2:00 p.m. 2 comments

  The new documentary about bullying among children, now out in theaters across the country, has, oddly enough, an R-rating because of language.

• Ina Hughs: No hunger for monsters and superheroes Published 3/17/2012 at 2:00 p.m. 1 comment

  As much as I like to read, I've never gotten into science fiction or fantasy and never browse the horror aisles in bookstores. The current infatuation with vampires, especially among younger readers, puzzles me, and as for comic books, I'd ...

• Ina Hughs: Layers of satire surround books from The Onion Published 3/10/2012 at 2:00 p.m. 2 comments

  One of my favorite sources of entertainment reading over the years has been The Onion, which calls itself "America's finest news source."

• Ina Hughs: Dictionary explains eye stitchers, woolies and more Published 3/3/2012 at 1:00 p.m. 0 comments

  Thinking about regional language, part two Last week I shared thoughts about some Appalachian localisms, and, not having grown up in these mountains, I have a lot to learn.

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