Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 20
October 2, 2019
An Open Book
Welcome to the October 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!
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While he’s driving about, my husband has been listening to a variety of books, including Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw. (We were born and raised in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, so this has particular interest for him.) If you’re not familiar with this titan of the Industrial Revolution, Carnegie emigrated from Scotland at thirteen and became a wildly successful businessman and philanthropist. Even on audiobook, my husband says this work is daunting, clocking in at more than thirty-two and a half hours, or nearly 900 pages in paperback.
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And to illustrate his varied interests, he’s also listening to Monsters Among Us: An Exploration of Otherworldly Bigfoots, Wolfmen, Portals, Phantoms, and Odd Phenomena by Linda S. Godfrey. I could use this as research for one of my works-in-progress, but I digress. Godfrey has written a dozen books on this topic (including one mentioned here) and is a frequent radio and TV guest expert on cryptozoology.
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Not entirely unrelated on the otherworldly spectrum is Manual for Spiritual Warfare by Paul Thigpen. This, however, is less about entertaining curiosities and more about practical advice. It’s highly rated on Amazon (and a good number of the few low-star reviews are download or binding issues not related to content). There is an unseen battle going on around us, inside our families, our homes, and our hearts. Important stuff here.
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His last selection is one for beer nerds and foodies (because it’s tied to the Slow Food movement): The Audacity of Hops: The History of America’s Craft Beer Revolution. If your town is like ours, craft breweries and beer pubs have been popping up like dandelions in the spring. This movement, however, has been brewing (see what I did there?) since the 1960s. Interestingly, the author, Tom Acitelli, is a Jim Beard Award finalist, which gives me a perfect segue into what I’m listening to!
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The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano features a Jim Beard Award-winning Denver chef who is bought out of her upscale restaurant when an essayist’s screed against the coarseness of public discourse on social media goes viral, slandering the chef by hyperlink. And that’s as far as I’ve gotten, though I’ve seen many positive reviews of this book.
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The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp was a quick read with a sweet romance and a suspenseful twist I didn’t see coming. We’re tending some Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars right now, so the butterfly element was right up my alley.
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David Liss’s The Whiskey Rebels wasn’t at all what I expected, but I loved it just the same. My interest was piqued by having grown up within miles of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. (See Andrew Carnegie above.) This novel, which includes fictional and historical characters, is filled with intrigue and financial machinations. It follows disgraced Revolutionary War patriot and spy Ethan Saunders and widowed frontierswoman Joan Maycott. I dare say I laughed outloud more during this book than any I’ve read. Ethan Saunders, while hardly a paragon of virtue, has a fantastic dry wit. Kudos to David Liss for Saunders’ dialogue! (For sensitive readers: there are some scenes of non-graphic brutality and a few instances of coarse language.)
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My high school junior is reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I haven’t read the play since high school, but I think I also read it in the fall, which seems appropriate for the run-up to Halloween. My son enjoyed the first act, but by the second act, he said he loved it. Witchcraft accusations are flying left and right by that point. I feel a re-read coming on.
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In middle school, my daughter’s sixth-grade class is reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. This Newbery Award winner concerns an orphaned boy and tackles issues of racism, poverty, and homelessness. I confess I’ve never read this one, but my daughter is enjoying it as much as her brother did when he was in sixth grade.
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While looking at the library’s selection of puppy books for my younger daughter, I came across Lydia the Patriot: The Boston Massacre by Susan Martins Miller. We visited Boston this summer, a treat for our colonial-history buff daughter, so I thought she’d enjoy this. Turns out it has Christian themes as well, so, bonus!
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In the second grade, my younger daughter’s class has already covered several books, starting with Freckle Juice by Judy Blume. I was treated to a re-telling of the awful freckle juice ingredients (said to produce freckles): grape juice, vinegar, mustard, and more.
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You could say the second grade in our parish school is frog-themed because their teacher has an affinity for frogs – or F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely on God) Our Principal is a Frog by Stephanie Calmenson seems like a good fit for the class! My daughter thought this was a fun book.
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In the first grade, my son’s teacher has been reading some Junie B. Jones books by Barbara Park. At home, we’re reading Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Graphic Novel by Natalie Muglia and Sam Estrada. It’s a beautifully illustrated story within a story as St. Juan Diego’s encounters with the Blessed Mother are re-told to future Cristero martyr St. José Sánchez del Río. You can read my review at CatholicMom.
What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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The post An Open Book appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.
September 27, 2019
When Prayer is a Burden
I recently became a little worn out by prayer. Not by morning prayers, the Rosary, or any of the many little prayers I throw heavenward each day, but by intercessory prayers. Specifically, requests for them.
[image error] Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
It seemed that every time I opened a social media app, I was bombarded by people’s prayer requests. There were multiple pleas for little girls seriously injured by accidents, fighting for their lives. There were pleas for parents with dementia, family members fighting cancer, siblings drowning in addiction, adult children who had abandoned their faith, jobs lost, relationships broken, struggles against persistent sins, and more.
You’ll have that when a substantial portion of the people you come in contact with on social media are Christians. We seek the intercession of those we know, and it’s a good thing. It’s efficacious too.
Yet, for some reason I keenly felt the weight of these crosses that were not mine to bear, not in the strictest sense. I did not know the vast majority of those requesting prayers. I would never encounter this number of prayer requests or this many hardships in real life.
I started skimming through feeds, trying to avoid people’s pleas. Because how could I not pray for those who have asked? Isn’t that the least I could do? What would it cost me to stop and say a quick Memorare or just ask that God grant strength and comfort?
And yet, I’d had enough. I keep a running mental list of those for whom our family prays for at night. I have a journal to which I add prayer intentions from time to time. Most of the time, we simply pray “for those whom we’ve promised to pray for.” Because I know I’ve forgotten someone. I can’t even remember if I bought that peanut butter we ran out of (as evidenced by the three jars that now sit on the shelf).
Surely I’m not the only one who has felt this way. I imagine those who tend toward scrupulosity struggle mightily with something like this.
So, how do I combat it? How do I integrate these prayers into my life without feeling overwhelmed and giving up on prayer all together?
As so often happens, I discovered a few clues in the weeks following my discouragement.
During adoration, I finally picked up my copy of Day by Day with Saint Faustina: 365 Reflections by Susan Tassone. And on the first day, I read this passage quoted from St. Faustina’s diary (1039):
“I suffer great pain at the sight of the sufferings of others. All these sufferings are reflected in my heart. I carry their torments in my heart so that it even wears me out physically. I would like all pains to fall upon me so as to bring relief to my neighbor.”
Yes! That’s exactly what I felt ! Save for the last bit because I’m not that holy yet. Yes, I’d like to relieve others’ pains, but outside of possibly my own children, I’m not so holy that I’m seeking to take on others’ pain. Don’t say I don’t keep it real here. I’d like to feel that kind of love, but in all honesty, I’m not often there yet.
In her reflection on this passage, Susan Tassone quotes Matthew 11:28:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
That is where my burdens belong. On Him. My weary heart will only find rest in Jesus.
Which draws me back to the purpose of prayer: relationship.
God is not a supernatural vending machine. It’s not as if I say this prayer or that or spend this many minutes praying and pleading, I can goad God into giving the result I wish for. Not even if it’s a good result. That’s why I try to add the addendum, “Thy will be done” to each prayer.
Even so, it’s hard to avoid a transaction-type mindset.
Coincidentally (or not), the Romans: The Gospel of Salvation Bible Study I’ve been participating in struck the same theme. Salvation is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Jesus didn’t swap His life for ours.
That’s only half of the story. The other half is about new life. It’s about relationship.
The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God’s grace. . . . It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ’s brethren . . . We are brethren not by nature, but by the git of grace, because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 654)
I know that means spending time with God. Seeking Him. Listening to Him. Sharing my heart with Him in praise, in thanksgiving, and, yes, in petitioning Him.
But, it’s hard.
It’s hard to have a relationship with someone I cannot see in human flesh. Someone I can not audibly here. Someone who doesn’t even send clear messages. He is silent so much of the time. So much.
Your mileage may vary, because I see all sorts of posts about God told me this, or the Lord said that, or this, that, or the other obvious response to my prayer happened. If that’s your spiritual life, God bless you. It is not mine. Not by a long shot.
Were this a purely human relationship, I would’ve given up years ago. But I know too much. I know He’s there. I know He listens. I know He speaks.
Sometimes He reveals Himself. Sometimes He doesn’t. Ninety percent of the time, I’m probably too distracted, dense, or oblivious to recognize Him.
This is the point where I wrap this all up into a neat, coherent package, right? Not quite gonna happen. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
It’s okay to scroll by posts, especially if it helps me to avoid making prayer a superstition or my interaction with God akin to a banking transaction.It’s okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes. There is a tremendous amount of suffering in this world – physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional. It’s good that I’ve not numbed myself to others’ pain. I can lay their burdens and mine on Him.Prayer can be simple – raising my heart to God, uttering a sentence, or a catch-all for all those promised but forgotten prayers.Relationship is where it’s at. Requests from those whom I have a relationship with I take closely to heart. And when I petition God on their behalf, I should keep in mind that I am going to my Father, not a bank teller.
Let’s pray for each other.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by prayer requests? How do you handle it?
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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The post When Prayer is a Burden appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.
September 16, 2019
Real-life Peril and Adventure: Interview with Author Andrea Jo Rodgers
What prompted you to write about your decades of experience as an EMT?
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Several years back, my son Thomas and I were involved in a terrifying elevator accident. It was ten o’clock in the morning on a beautiful October day. We had just visited with his doctor. After we saw the doctor, we stepped out into the hallway, and I decided spur-of-the moment to take the elevator. Usually, I prefer the stairs, but I figured that an elevator ride would be more fun for Thomas, who was almost three years old at the time.
The ride was fine at first, but then the elevator suddenly crashed and made a horrible grinding metallic noise, unlike anything I had ever heard before in my life. Then water started rushing under the bottom of the elevator door. For a second, I just stared in shocked disbelief. I quickly hoisted Thomas up into my arms as the water rushed up and over his ankles. I pressed the “door open” button a bunch of times. When that didn’t work, I began pushing at the door to try to open it.
The water quickly rose above my knees. I screamed for help as loudly as I could. But as the water continued to rise, I feared that Thomas and I would surely drown. And then, in that incredibly dark moment, God answered my prayer and the elevator doors slowly opened.
We had landed in a dark basement filled with water. I could hear water running all around us, and the sound echoed off the cement walls. Dim light filtered through a small basement window. Across the room, I thought I could make out the outline of a door. Clutching Thomas tightly to me, I waded through the water and yanked the door open. Fortunately, it was a flight of stairs.
The fire department and emergency medical technicians came, and the fire chief said that the entire building would have to be evacuated for the rest of the day due to the severe electrical hazard in the basement. I had thought Thomas and I were going to drown. It hadn’t even occurred to me that we were nearly electrocuted. I had waded through that deep water with my son in my arms.
That event made me step back and take a close look at my life. I thought about my relationships with God, my family, and my friends. I also thought about my goals and my dreams. One of my lifelong dreams was to write a book. The accident inspired me to start writing.
Did the process of transferring those accounts from memory to the written page result in any surprises? Were there connections of insights you gleaned from the writing process that you maybe had not anticipated?
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I began volunteering with my local first aid and emergency squad when I was in high school. My mother suggested that I keep a journal of the calls that made an impression on me. When I first thought about writing the book, I dug the journal out of a box in my attic. As I read through my journal entries, the people in the first aid calls sprung to life again and I was able to re-live the calls as if they occurred yesterday. Unfortunately, my parents passed away before I wrote the book. One blessing was that as I wrote the stories, it brought back vivid memories of my parents as well. For the months that I wrote the book, it was as if I had them back with me again.
Two of your four books are middle grade adventure novels. How did the idea for The Saint Michael the Archangel Academy series (with John Jenkins and Team Liberty) come about?
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I knew I wanted to write a book about an unlikely hero. I dreamed of creating an exciting, educational book for middle grade readers that incorporates Christian values into the fabric of the story. I conceived the idea for Saving Mount Rushmore while my family and I were flying to visit Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park.
One of my favorite things about these novels is that they introduce children to national historic monuments in a fun and adventurous setting. Have you visited Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty, the sites featured in the first two books?
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I began writing the first draft of Saving Mount Rushmore on scraps of paper as my family waited in the airport to board the plane for Rapid City, South Dakota. Touring Mount Rushmore during the day and attending the night show allowed me to create a realistic adventure there. I’ve also visited the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Liberty Science Center several times. In fact, I’ve crawled through the dark Touch Tunnel, just like John Jenkins and Team Liberty.
I love that the child protagonist of these novels, John Jenkins, doesn’t have any extraordinary gifts. While we love to read about heroes and superheroes, the truth is that most of us aren’t defined by a single extraordinary talent or gift. Talents and the purposes for which we use them are often more mundane, though not necessarily less critical. How did you develop John and his particular insecurities?
In Saving Mount Rushmore, John Jenkins, an awkward thirteen-year-old teenager, is unexpectedly chosen to attend Saint Michael the Archangel Academy. Since the academy is for students with extraordinary abilities, John is puzzled as to why he’s been accepted. After all, he’s an average teen without any notable gifts.
I developed John to possess some of the God-given gifts that I consider to be important, such as being kind, considerate, and loyal. During the scene in which John heroically saves a gentleman by performing the Heimlich Maneuver, I drew upon my own personal experiences as a volunteer emergency medical technician. Towards the end of the book, John must summon up the courage to rappel down Mount Rushmore. When I was in college, I took a class during which we had to rappel both face first and backwards down the wall of a football stadium. As I wrote the book, I vividly recalled my own fear and shared this feeling with John.
Are more books planned for the series?
A third book in my heaven series called Help from Heaven: True Stories of Rescues, Miracles and Answered Prayers from a First Responder is currently under contract with Harvest House Publishers. I’m also working on a health-related text. After finishing those projects, it may be time to follow up with John Jenkins!
One of my lifelong dreams was to write a book. The accident inspired me to start writing. – Andrea Jo Rodgers
Click To Tweet
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Andrea Jo Rodgers holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and has worked as a physical therapist for 25 years. She has been a volunteer EMT for 30 years and has responded to more than 7,500 first-aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and their Dachshund. Andrea enjoys reading, biking, writing stories, and day trips with her family.
Links:
Website: http://andreajorodgers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaJoRodgers/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12397483.Andrea_Jo_Rodgers
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Jo-Rodgers/e/B00SAAQM18/
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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The post Real-life Peril and Adventure: Interview with Author Andrea Jo Rodgers appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.
Real-life Peril and Adventure: Interview with author Andrea Jo Rodgers
What prompted you to write about your decades of experience as an EMT?
[image error]
Several years back, my son Thomas and I were involved in a terrifying elevator accident. It was ten o’clock in the morning on a beautiful October day. We had just visited with his doctor. After we saw the doctor, we stepped out into the hallway, and I decided spur-of-the moment to take the elevator. Usually, I prefer the stairs, but I figured that an elevator ride would be more fun for Thomas, who was almost three years old at the time.
The ride was fine at first, but then the elevator suddenly crashed and made a horrible grinding metallic noise, unlike anything I had ever heard before in my life. Then water started rushing under the bottom of the elevator door. For a second, I just stared in shocked disbelief. I quickly hoisted Thomas up into my arms as the water rushed up and over his ankles. I pressed the “door open” button a bunch of times. When that didn’t work, I began pushing at the door to try to open it.
The water quickly rose above my knees. I screamed for help as loudly as I could. But as the water continued to rise, I feared that Thomas and I would surely drown. And then, in that incredibly dark moment, God answered my prayer and the elevator doors slowly opened.
We had landed in a dark basement filled with water. I could hear water running all around us, and the sound echoed off the cement walls. Dim light filtered through a small basement window. Across the room, I thought I could make out the outline of a door. Clutching Thomas tightly to me, I waded through the water and yanked the door open. Fortunately, it was a flight of stairs.
The fire department and emergency medical technicians came, and the fire chief said that the entire building would have to be evacuated for the rest of the day due to the severe electrical hazard in the basement. I had thought Thomas and I were going to drown. It hadn’t even occurred to me that we were nearly electrocuted. I had waded through that deep water with my son in my arms.
That event made me step back and take a close look at my life. I thought about my relationships with God, my family, and my friends. I also thought about my goals and my dreams. One of my lifelong dreams was to write a book. The accident inspired me to start writing.
Did the process of transferring those accounts from memory to the written page result in any surprises? Were there connections of insights you gleaned from the writing process that you maybe had not anticipated?
[image error]
I began volunteering with my local first aid and emergency squad when I was in high school. My mother suggested that I keep a journal of the calls that made an impression on me. When I first thought about writing the book, I dug the journal out of a box in my attic. As I read through my journal entries, the people in the first aid calls sprung to life again and I was able to re-live the calls as if they occurred yesterday. Unfortunately, my parents passed away before I wrote the book. One blessing was that as I wrote the stories, it brought back vivid memories of my parents as well. For the months that I wrote the book, it was as if I had them back with me again.
Two of your four books are middle grade adventure novels. How did the idea for The Saint Michael the Archangel Academy series (with John Jenkins and Team Liberty) come about?
[image error]
I knew I wanted to write a book about an unlikely hero. I dreamed of creating an exciting, educational book for middle grade readers that incorporates Christian values into the fabric of the story. I conceived the idea for Saving Mount Rushmore while my family and I were flying to visit Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park.
One of my favorite things about these novels is that they introduce children to national historic monuments in a fun and adventurous setting. Have you visited Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty, the sites featured in the first two books?
[image error]
I began writing the first draft of Saving Mount Rushmore on scraps of paper as my family waited in the airport to board the plane for Rapid City, South Dakota. Touring Mount Rushmore during the day and attending the night show allowed me to create a realistic adventure there. I’ve also visited the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Liberty Science Center several times. In fact, I’ve crawled through the dark Touch Tunnel, just like John Jenkins and Team Liberty.
I love that the child protagonist of these novels, John Jenkins, doesn’t have any extraordinary gifts. While we love to read about heroes and superheroes, the truth is that most of us aren’t defined by a single extraordinary talent or gift. Talents and the purposes for which we use them are often more mundane, though not necessarily less critical. How did you develop John and his particular insecurities?
In Saving Mount Rushmore, John Jenkins, an awkward thirteen-year-old teenager, is unexpectedly chosen to attend Saint Michael the Archangel Academy. Since the academy is for students with extraordinary abilities, John is puzzled as to why he’s been accepted. After all, he’s an average teen without any notable gifts.
I developed John to possess some of the God-given gifts that I consider to be important, such as being kind, considerate, and loyal. During the scene in which John heroically saves a gentleman by performing the Heimlich Maneuver, I drew upon my own personal experiences as a volunteer emergency medical technician. Towards the end of the book, John must summon up the courage to rappel down Mount Rushmore. When I was in college, I took a class during which we had to rappel both face first and backwards down the wall of a football stadium. As I wrote the book, I vividly recalled my own fear and shared this feeling with John.
Are more books planned for the series?
A third book in my heaven series called Help from Heaven: True Stories of Rescues, Miracles and Answered Prayers from a First Responder is currently under contract with Harvest House Publishers. I’m also working on a health-related text. After finishing those projects, it may be time to follow up with John Jenkins!
One of my lifelong dreams was to write a book. The accident inspired me to start writing. – Andrea Jo Rodgers
Click To Tweet
[image error]
Andrea Jo Rodgers holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and has worked as a physical therapist for 25 years. She has been a volunteer EMT for 30 years and has responded to more than 7,500 first-aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and their Dachshund. Andrea enjoys reading, biking, writing stories, and day trips with her family.
Links:
Website: http://andreajorodgers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaJoRodgers/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12397483.Andrea_Jo_Rodgers
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Jo-Rodgers/e/B00SAAQM18/
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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The post Real-life Peril and Adventure: Interview with author Andrea Jo Rodgers appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.
September 4, 2019
An Open Book
Welcome to the September 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!
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At the recommendation of the priest/leader at my husband’s annual men’s retreat, he’s been listening to Be Healed: A Guide to Encountering the Healing Love of Jesus in Your Life by Bob Schuchts. Using personal stories, the author guides the reader to physical, emotional, and spiritual healing by way of the sacraments and the Holy Spirit. From what my husband has said about it, this sounds like a very effective tool for examining interior brokenness and finding hope and peace.
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He’s also been listening to An Introduction to the Universe: The Big Ideas of Astronomy by Vatican astronomer Dr. Guy Consolmagno, SJ, PhD. More than purely an astronomy book, religious texts are woven into this talk filled with the wonder of the universe.
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Death Panels: A Novel of Life, Liberty, and Faith by Michelle Buckman has been on my reading list for years. This near-future dystopian novel with a large cast of characters depicts a society overly reliant on government in nearly every aspect of life but most grievously in deciding who lives and who dies. Ultimately, Death Panels shows what happens when people turn a blind eye to reality and how small acts of resistance and cooperation can begin to turn a culture around.
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I loved listening to Karen Barnett’s Ever Faithful: A Vintage National Parks Novel on audiobook. Each book in the series features a sweet romance set in the early 20th century at one of America’s beautiful national parks along with a Christian faith theme and a touch of suspense. This is my favorite of the three books in the series so far with its well-developed minor characters and the fact that the author didn’t settle for the easy resolution. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
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The Power of Forgiveness (Companion in Faith) by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is a short but solid resource for those struggling with forgiveness (which is most of us at one time or another). Readers can return to the short verses, reflections, and prayers, using them as needed while struggling to overcome past hurts.
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For his summer reading assignment, my high school student chose Ender’s Game (The Ender Quintet) by Orson Scott Card. In this science fiction novel for young adults, a boy genius – who becomes a respected leader—is sent to Battle School to train for defense against alien attack. My son loved this book—until the ending.
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My junior high student read Saint José: Boy Cristero Martyr in a day! Fr. Kevin McKenzie brings to life the story of St. José Sánchez del RÍo, a fourteen-year-old Mexican boy martyred during the 1920s Cristero War. My daughter was impressed that the author spent ten years researching the saint’s story for this book. Saint José was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
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Even my little kids had summer reading projects, and my second grade daughter, who loves all things cute, cuddly, and furry embarked on The Puppy Place series starting with Goldie by Ellen Miles. I’ve got to say that it’s no chore staring at the adorable little dogs that grace the covers of these books. This kid is wearing me down for a dog!
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Inspired by his older sister, my youngest son wanted God’s Mighty Warrior Devotional Bible by Sheila Walsh from the display in the back of church. Surprisingly, I see him with pen in hand writing in the book. So, maybe it wasn’t just about what his sister got (God’s Little Princess Devotional Bible). These boy/girl sets of children’s Bibles are sturdy, attractive, and designed for parent/child interaction related to the biblical stories and concepts.
What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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Click here to enter
Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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August 26, 2019
Fall Reading Challenge
Colletta’s Kitchen Sink is hosting a Fall Reading Challenge, and I’m going to give it a shot.
Between September 1 and November 30, I aim to read fifteen books, and of those, five will be classics. I’ll round out the rest with the books that fill my to-be read pile and those on my NetGalley shelf, starting with those I included on a couple of my own to-read posts, like this one.
If you’d like to join me in this self-styled reading challenge, visit here.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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August 23, 2019
First Line Friday – The Butterfly Recluse
The Butterfly Recluse
by Therese Heckenkamp
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I think the butterflies knew what was coming that day – that he was coming, and that life as we knew it was about to change.
I love a first line that hints at things to come but yet leaves a lot of ambiguity. Who’s he? Where is he coming from and why? Would life change for the better or for worse?
We’ve filled out yard with plants to attract butterflies, and my daughter raises a handful of Monarchs and now Easter Black Swallowtails each summer. She identifies many, many more.
Butterflies know. I’m amazed at the instinctual knowledge of the Monarch caterpillars who know their host plant. Know when it’s time to shed their skin and go into their chrysalis, have their DNA scrambled, and emerge an entirely different-looking creature.
The butterflies know many things.
What’s the first line of the book you’re reading? Or the book nearest to you?
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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August 7, 2019
An Open Book
Welcome to the August 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!
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On our way home from our Boston-area vacation, which included visits to the Concord-Lexington area and Minute Man National Historic Park, my husband downloaded Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence by Carol Berkin. I only heard the first several chapters, but my husband finished it after we got home. (I’ll get to the rest, eventually.) I never took a women’s studies course, but I imagine this is somewhat like the material covered. A little on the textbook side but still interesting, Revolutionary Mothers provides a detailed look at women’s roles during the war that may be overlooked elsewhere.
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Because he’s also been listening to How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter, and Self-Preservation Anywhere by Bradford Angier, I get unusual texts about the edibles in our yard, such as rose hips. As we’ve added more native plants to our gardens, I’ve come to learn a lot about how such plants have been used, and this sounds like an interesting lesson in the varied uses of plants we’ve long considered merely ornamental. And did you know you can eat a porcupine? My husband did say that this book would be more useful in paperback form for easy reference.
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I’ve been tearing through a lot of books lately, so let’s get right to it! On audiobook, I listened to The Pirate Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower, Book 2) by Kathleen Y’Barbo. While the word “bride” in the title connotes romance, I do not categorize this is as such. The romance thread only surfaces in the final 10 percent of the book. That said, I loved this book, which my 11-year-old daughter ended up enjoying as well. The narration was well done with characters of French, Spanish, American, and African descent. Plenty of action, some unexpected twists and turns, and a French pirate – er, privateer add to the enjoyment. The heroine, Maribel, is a spirited, independent young woman whom I longed to see reunited with her privateer crew.
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I’d been itching to read Sons of Blackbird Mountain (A Blackbird Mountain Novel) by Joanne Bischof for most of the past year. Having loved her novel The Lady and Lionheart and seeing so many rave reviews of this new book, I was anxious to read it. I was not disappointed. The story centers around three Virginian brothers of Norwegian descent: Jargon, Thor, and Haakon. Thor, a burly man who is deaf and mute, is center stage in this story as he meets and woos Aven, the widow of the brothers’ cousin, come to start a new life in America. The characterization of these brothers is among the best I’ve read, and the author does a tremendous job with the challenge of writing a deaf/mute hero. I’ve begun reading the second book in the series, Daughters of Northern Shores.
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In between the others, I flew through More Than Words Can Say (A Patchwork Family Novel Book #2) by Karen Witemeyer. The author really makes it look easy in this smooth read that does the marriage of convenience trope justice. The ongoing tension between Zach and Abigail and when their marriage will become more than a simple agreement had me turning digital pages late into the night. Despite the prominence of the whole “marital relations” issues, it’s really a cute, clean story that is refreshingly frank about marital love and the emotional intimacy that should co-exist with the physical intimacy. There’s also a nice spiritual message of relying on God.
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Our monthly Star Wars pick is Bloodline by Claudia Gray. This novel focuses more on political intrigue involving Princess Leia in the years before The Force Awakens than action-adventure.
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While my son reads the Star Wars novel, I’m eyeing some of his summer reading for school, which includes two novellas written in Latin. Both are written by Andrew Olimpi, and the first is Perseus et Rex Malus. (Translation: Perseus and the Evil King) I may take a crack at reading these myself to sharpen my very rusty Latin translation skills.
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In perusing the selections for her summer reading assignment, my daughter discovered a new beloved author! She immediately homed in on books written in the colonial period and began reading Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. She loved the book and quickly moved on to the remaining books in The Seeds of America trilogy: Forge and Ashes. All feature African American slaves during the Revolutionary War.
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I’ve begun reading aloud The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald to whichever children care to listen. The version we checked out of the library is illustrated by Okama in Japanese manga style. I love that there are illustrations on every page, but the manga is clashing with the pictures my imagination generates. Just a personal preference. We’re not too far in yet, so I don’t have anything to add about the story itself though I discovered this book through another An Open Book post! Here’s what the description says: “The classic fantasy novel that inspired The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia now featuring playful illustrations by Japanese manga artist Okama!”
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My soon-to-be second grader discovered the joys of young sleuth Encyclopedia Brown in Encyclopedia Brown and His Best Cases Ever by Donald J. Sobol. I read many of these with my oldest son and always enjoyed the little mysteries. This collection comprises fifteen favorite stories.
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The kids and I enjoyed two books I received from Magnificat-Ignatius. The first is Stories of the Blessed Sacrament by Francine Bay. Twelve true stories emphasizing the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist are retold for children. Some stories were familiar to us, others new, including one I’d like to dig into. Great for all children but especially those approaching First Communion.
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Mozart: Gift of God by Demi is a beautiful, sturdy picture book that brings Mozart’s faith to the forefront alongside his immense talent as a composer and musician. In addition to providing a traditional biography of Mozart, it allows the reader to see how faith and devotion inspire creativity and how our gifts and talents can be used in God’s service.
What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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July 22, 2019
Warrior of the Kizan Blog Tour
About the Book:
To save a princess, he must first save himself.
Star Wars meets Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars in this techno-magic tale of war and redemption!
Dakhar Talin, a member of a cursed, telepathic people, is the new head of security for the Royal House of Emun. When the princess, Tasia, is kidnapped, Dakhar’s investigation leads him to a sinister planet called Earth.
But inner demons from his military service torment him, threatening his sanity, integrity, and the success of his mission. Can he bring the princess home before he loses his soul to ever-corrupting madness?
To save a princess, he must first save himself! Warrior of the Kizan by @AnnMLewis #spaceopera #scifi #newrelease
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My Review:
As someone who seldom dips a toe into the science fiction waters, I was impressed with Ann Margaret Lewis’s world-building in the first book of this space opera trilogy.
With an ancient history alluded to in the Book of Genesis, the characters inhabit a fully fleshed-out world with customs, language, culture, religion, and a curious plant-based technology.
[Note: The glossary at the end is helpful. I figured out the terms in context, but had I been reading a paperback rather than an ebook, I would have made better use of this handy reference.]
Despite the differences between our world and that of the Emunim, there is much for we humans to glean about sin and its consequences, absolution, and even the nature of marriage.
For those put off by fantastical stories with made-up religions, the author imagines what is essentially other worlds and races who are, ultimately, saved by Christ – same as us. There’s nothing here that conflicts with Christian belief.
Because I read heavily in romance subgenres, I was looking for more conventional obstacles to the romantic relationship between Dakhar and Tasia. This, however, is a space opera, and I think it hits those notes quite well.
In Warrior of the Kizan, you’ll find adventure, warfare, space chases, chivalry, and humor. I thoroughly enjoyed it – 4.5 stars!
Book Trailer:
Author Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annmargaretlewis
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/annmargaretlewis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnMLewis
Website: http://www.annmargaretlewis.com/
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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July 15, 2019
Relevant Fiction Reviews: Novels Set in Boston
We recently visited the Boston area of Massachusetts, and I’ve been thinking of the books I’ve read – contemporary or historical – set in this locale. I bet I’m forgetting some! But these are the first that came to mind.
A Passion Most Pure by Julie LessmanI’ve read A Passion Most Pure twice – something I don’t often do – mainly due to the size of my to-be-read list. This book, my introduction to Julie Lessman’s writing, stuck with me so much I gave it a second go.
Is it a little like a soap opera in spots? Yep. There’s a reason soap operas of the daytime and nighttime variety have endured. I don’t consider those elements a strike against the book.
I love that the importance of chastity is addressed without minimizing temptation, glossing over human frailties, or the purpose of God-given passion in our lives. A great introduction to the Daughters of Boston!
Rebellious Heart by Jody HedlundI won an audiobook copy of Rebellious Heart from the author. The narration was very well done – only adding to the narrative and not distracting from it. The men’s and women’s voice were both well done and distinctive enough for me to identify them without name attribution.
Rebllious Heart is a suspenseful story of friendship, courage, and love. I enjoyed reading about the colonial era and found the pre-Revolutionary War setting fascinating. The romance was clean but sensual.
The characters are well-developed and the plot includes a bit of suspense and mystery. Although I thought that at times both Susanna and Ben’s reasoning for avoiding a romantic entanglement became repetitive, they each had a satisfying story arc. Susanna underwent the biggest change – from blindly obedient to courageously principled while Ben learned to see beyond self-interest and his inferiority complex to valuing who and what matters most.
Recommended for fans of historical romance.
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley WoodhouseQuite by accident, I listened to this audiobook immediately before a trip to Boston in which we were able to visit Plymoth Rock! Perfect timing.
While the title suggests a romance – and it is, a tender and sweet romance – I was struck more by the trials and deprivation endured by the passengers of the Mayflower- seasickness, scurvy, and other illnesses that ravaged the passengers and crew alike.
With both historical and fiction characters, The Mayflower Bride is an enjoyable listen/read and more entertaining and memorable than a history lesson.
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I’ve also recently read an advance copy of a book yet unreleased: The Father’s Son by Jim Sano. The Boston setting is a big part of this novel. Until it’s released, you can find more about the novel at Full Quiver Publishing’s site.
What novels set in and around Boston would you recommend?
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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