Welcome! Joie de Vivre Magazine (JDV) is a freestyle blog and presents content covering varied topics, e.g. art, psychology, culture, science, education, history, entertainment, and opinion pieces; along with curated content from around the web. Interesting, informative, entertaining, fascinating and fun! Experience my joie de vivre. Please visit often!
I found an incredible treasure trove of historical children’s books at openculture.com, ALL digitized and free to read online. FREE!! I know all about “Around the World in 80 Days”. But I never knew Jules Verne wrote a book titled “All Around the Moon”. Did you?
There’s something magical about opening a children’s book from another era. The language, illustrations, and moral lessons offer a window into how past generations understood childhood, imagination, and education. These books aren’t just quaint artifacts—they reveal shifting cultural values, forgotten storytelling styles, and the evolution of what adults once believed children needed to learn.
Exploring historical children’s literature can deepen our understanding of social history, art, and even parenting trends. It’s also a reminder that stories have always shaped how young people see the world.
If you’re curious to explore this rich legacy, one of the best resources available is a remarkable digital archive hosted by Open Culture. They’ve gathered over 6,000 historical children’s books, all fully digitized and completely free to read. The collection spans centuries and genres, making it an invaluable resource for educators, researchers, parents, and anyone who loves the charm of vintage storytelling.
This site offers open access to rare materials that would otherwise be locked away in special collections. It’s a treasure trove of cultural history—beautiful, surprising, and endlessly inspiring.
Coffee Prince (2007) is a Korean Drama Rom-Com, with 17 episodes, based on the novel "The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince" by Lee Sun Mi. It is now considered a part of classic Korean cinema history.
"It has aged remarkably well. It’s considered one of Gong Yoo’s breakout roles, and his continued fame, like 'Squid Game', keeps new audiences discovering the drama. Even the actors enjoy reminiscing about it and publicly reflecting on filming the drama. Whenever they do, it sparks renewed fan interest." (Source)
Memorable Quote: “I don’t care if you’re a man or an alien. I love you.”
Coffee Prince is a beloved 2007 South Korean romantic
comedy-drama that explores identity, ambition, and the unexpected
ways love can unfold. Set against the warm, aromatic backdrop of a
small café in Seoul, the story follows Go Eun Chan,
a hardworking, tomboyish young woman who has spent most of her life
supporting her family. Because of her short hair, casual clothing,
and athletic mannerisms, she is often mistaken for a boy—an
assumption she grows accustomed to as she juggles multiple jobs to
make ends meet.
Her life takes a turn when she crosses paths with Choi
Han Gyeol, the charming yet directionless grandson of a
wealthy food company chairwoman. Han Gyeol has never held a
steady job and resists the pressure to settle down or take on family
responsibilities. His carefree lifestyle is disrupted when his
grandmother pushes him into blind dates and insists he prove himself
capable of managing a business.
Mistaking Eun Chan for a young man, Han Gyeol hires her
to pose as his “gay lover” to help him escape the arranged dates
he wants nothing to do with. This unusual arrangement sparks a quirky
partnership built on misunderstandings, humor, and a growing sense of
trust. Their dynamic becomes even more complicated when Han Gyeol
is tasked with reviving a struggling café—soon to be known as The
1st Shop of Coffee Prince—and decides to hire only
attractive male employees to create a unique brand identity.
Eun Chan, still believed to be male, becomes part of this
all-male staff, immersing herself in the café’s lively
environment.
As the café begins to flourish, the drama expands to explore the
personal journeys of its employees and the people connected to them.
Choi Han Sung, a warm-hearted music
producer, and Han Yoo Joo, an elegant artist
with a complicated romantic history, add emotional depth and parallel
storylines that intertwine with the main narrative. Their
relationships highlight themes of forgiveness, timing, and the
complexities of long-term love.
Throughout the series, Eun Chan grapples with her growing
feelings for Han Gyeol while maintaining the secret of her
identity. Her internal struggle reflects her desire for independence,
her fear of losing her job, and her uncertainty about how the truth
might affect the people she has come to care about. Meanwhile,
Han Gyeol faces his own emotional turmoil as he begins to
question his assumptions, values, and the nature of love itself.
The drama shines in its portrayal of character growth, heartfelt
moments, and the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability. Without
relying on melodrama or heavy plot twists, Coffee Prince
builds its emotional resonance through everyday interactions,
personal revelations, and the slow blossoming of trust between its
leads. Its warm atmosphere, memorable soundtrack, and nuanced
performances have cemented it as a classic in the K-drama genre.
REFERENCES:
Jasmine. “Coffee Prince Korean Drama Summary Explained.” Allsorts Kdrama, 20 Sep. 2025, https://dramasandwebseries.com/coffee-prince-korean-drama-summary/.
Joie de Vivre Magazine blog covers varied topics. However, if you're into Korean drama, consider making my entertainment blog your GO-TO site for K-drama reviews and other related tidbits. I also contribute K-drama content at PopGeeks, Medium.com, and Vocal.Media.
Are
there any Yanni fans in the house? There must be!
This
Grammy-nominated artist enjoys international fame and has held live
concerts all around the world (30
countries on 5 continents). His music career spans almost 5
decades. One of my favorite performances was when he appeared
at
the Acropolis
(recorded Sep 1993; album released Mar 1994). The show was
spectacular! I have the album in my CD collection.
Actually, I own
several Yanni albums. But if you don't have any CDs, no worries.
You can listen to many
of his musical performances on YouTube. Lots of concert clips have been uploaded by his adoring fans. However, after listening, you
just might be tempted to purchase some Yanni
albums to have in your personal music library. You never know
when you might lose access to the Internet and won't be able to view
and listen to online videos.
Birth and Early Life: Born Yiannis Chryssomallis on November 14, 1954, in Kalamata, Greece.
Musical Roots: Began playing piano at age six, self-taught and refused formal lessons Yanni.
Education: Studied psychology at the University of Minnesota before pursuing music full-time.
Musical Style: Known for blending jazz, classical, soft rock, and world music into instrumental compositions.
Career Start: Active since 1977, initially with the rock group Chameleon before launching his solo career.
Grammy Recognition: Nominated twice for Best New Age Album at the GRAMMY Awards, including In My TimeGRAMMY.com.
Global Concerts: Famous for performing at iconic venues like the Acropolis, Taj Mahal, and Forbidden City.
Album Success: Has sold over 25 million albums worldwide, earning more than 40 platinum and gold records.
Personal Life: Once romantically linked to actress Linda Evans; has a daughter, Krystal Ann.
Legacy: A leading figure in New Age music, celebrated for bringing instrumental compositions to mainstream audiences.
📌 Quick Takeaway
Yanni is a Greek-born, self-taught composer and pianist whose career spans nearly five decades. With global concerts at historic landmarks, two Grammy nominations, and millions of albums sold, he remains one of the most influential figures in New Age and instrumental music.
REFERENCE:
Ayuba, Haruna. “Yanni Biography: Age, Net Worth, Albums, Concerts, Daughter, Linda Evans, Music.” TheCityCeleb, 23 Aug. 2025, https://www.thecityceleb.com/biography/celebrity/musician/record-producer/yanni-biography-age-net-worth-albums-concerts-daughter-linda-evans-music/.
Dash. “Yanni- Wiki, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth (Updated on March 2024).” Vox Hour, 18 May 2022, https://voxhour.com/yanni/.
