A.K. Frailey > Recent Status Updates

I'm almost glad I'm not rich. Goodness, the headaches involved in managing everything. Of course, rich is a comparative term I suppose...

So it goes to show...no matter how wealthy, famous, entitled...we all endure family and social strife.

Lots of info on quilting that I never knew... A clean read with a strong family theme.

I am really enjoying this story, delving into historical times WWII vintage and also modern family life framed by an 81-year-old woman's memories and her granddaughter. Lots of colorful details and unexpected surprises. Strong emotional realism with a real romantic spirit. Looking forward to the next chapters each evening.

A simple story well told. A relief in our complex somewhat traumatized world today.

Good Heavens! I can't imagine living in this world, but it does give me some context for our larger culture today. The whole concept of wealth is enlarged almost beyond my comprehension. Proves the truism that money can't buy happiness.

I started to read the actual diary and then stopped and decided to read the intro and prologue. I am glad I did. It really helps to set the stage and give me a better historical context. Hard to be patient, but I will appreciate the diary much more in the long run.

Each story showcases excellent writing, but I must say, that I find most of them to be somewhat depressing. So far. Though humanity needs to face our dark and dreary interior...I pray there is more to us than that.

What a woman! Eliza lived through such interesting and yet terrible times. Her courage and compassion, introspection, and endurance, wrapped up in amazingly clear-eyed love inspire me in so many ways.

There are so many poignant parts in this book, I could never list them all. But Sam's determination to do his part no matter what the cost—beyond hope and despair really touches me. He isn't looking to be a hero or even save the world. He's just being faithful to his vision of the kind of Hobbit he set out to be. How wonderful.

I am gripped by the dynamic of human contrast—the inner struggle between decency and selfish pride. Great stories...but they challenge my soul.

I am engrossed! Eliza is a remarkable woman of grace embraced by unusual fate. What a story of faithful love on so many levels.

Though I just started this novel, I am intrigued! I recently finished a biography of Hamilton and my kids turned me onto Hamilton, an American Musical (I love "You'll Be Back"—King George's love song to the colonies!) I am discovering all sorts of serendipitous heart-wrenching truths through Hamilton's life...and his wife's life after him. Their sacrifices say a lot about our shared human existence and purpose.

Ay...facing challenges is hard. But loving others enough to stay true makes all the difference. So much beauty even in the ugly reality the characters face.

There is a lot to ponder here. Who sees most clearly and where one looks for answers to personal struggles... I'm glad Barabara Kingsolver doesn't try to answer the questions, just raise them. Our lives must be the answer.

This story always speaks to me. I can hardly explain...but the images of darkness and light say more than any direction manual or self-help post.

Though I have read this book before, I needed something both out of this world yet real-world honest, to help me consider our current reality in a proper perspective. Tolkien certainly knew something about world crisis and his story both enchants and haunts. He tells so much truth through fiction, it is rather awe-inspiring.

I had to stop reading since my daughter, home from college due to the virus and doing online work, wanted something new to read. She loved this book and said that it was very prophetic. Though it was written several years ago, it mentioned the possibility of huge fires in Australia. Kingsolver had an eye for reality...truth and consequences.
I will start reading it again today...

Beautifully written. Kingsolver has a keen eye for human psychology and how it plays out in our concrete world. The dialog sounds very authentic and the personal mannerisms feel spot on.

Strange to say, I am not nearly as impressed with the lives of many of these authors as I was with their life works. Funny to think. Tragedy played such a paramount part. Sometimes self-made. All I can wonder is—Why? And do personal insight and self-destruction have to go hand in hand? I sure hope not.

Reading about Hamilton's son's death in a duel was surrealistic, knowing what was coming in his own future. Could he have seen himself in the situation? Sometimes life becomes a tragedy. Rising as he did and doing so much good, the sad events that haunted his later years really makes me think. Being great does not mean being wise.

An enjoyable read with a variety of complex characters. Well done!

Strong visual descriptions that peer into the inner workings of a human soul. Well written, though a bit sad. Still, the example of a brave spirit brings courage to all.

So terribly sad to read Hamilton's fall from grace as he embraces the political turmoil of hateful electioneering. Few seemed immune to the manipulations of trying to drag an opponent through the dirt to make oneself look better. So very sad. At least, I know this country has survived such atrocious behavior before. And likely will again...

Well, I've learned something about being an extra for a movie in this book. A different perspective to be sure but interesting. An enjoyable read.

Barbara Kingsolver is a powerful writer with a gift for startling and strong imagery. Sort of sad, though. Seeing the world this way... So much depends on our inner vision.

Sad to say that many of the historical figures I revered did not appear to grow wiser with age. Perhaps personal wounds clouded their vision? Truth is, without something outside of their immediate crisis environment, they could not view each other or the world at large objectively. Too many passions came into play. A warning for the wise, I guess.

One thing I really like about this series is that we get to delve into the personal backgrounds of so many of the characters. In each case, we discover an imperfect reality in which people make mistakes and they have to either right wrongs, make amends, or simply live with the consequences. The noblest characters do not expect perfection and lovingly work with each other for the best for everyone. Nicely done.

The legacy of distrust and partisanship did a great deal to undermine Adam's term in office. It is sad that the representatives of this great nation acted so small in belittling each other, creating little more than witchhunts to discredit each other. Washington's legacy of noble honesty and the pursuit of what was best for the nation seemed all but forgotten. Hamilton unwittingly made the problem worse.

I am very impressed with this Annie's Attic book so far. This particular story relates a less than perfect personal history, reflecting real women striving for love and hope in a broken world. Well done!