![]() ![]() She is also a project manager, an IRS tax assistance volunteer, affiliated with Dominion Christian Center (Rockford, IL) and an active participant in a gospel choir, stewardship programs, budgeting, financial counseling, and building development committee at New Covenant Church (Trooper, PA)Īs she continues to work in various venues, her desire is that God will get the glory in all aspects of her life.Īre you the author profiled here? Email us your official website or Let us host your primary web presence. Beyond her literary endeavors, she has a great love for the Lord, her family, and membership in Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, Inc. In addition to writing novels and short stories, Patricia does freelance book reviews for QBR (Quarterly Black Review). Her literary mission is to glorify God while creating ’clean’ contemporary fiction that provides readers with a message of hope and an unwavering display of love. from The University of Chicago, so readers are often surprised to hear that she writes faith-based fiction, given her technical and business background. ![]() Patricia Haley has an engineering degree from Stanford University and an M.B.A. ![]()
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![]() ![]() Onions frying, or perhaps a pot of soup on the boil. Towards noon, there came smells of cooking. Footsteps came and went from behind the closed door, voices called and answered. Telephones rang, and someone else hurried to answer the call. ![]() She remembered as a child being ill, and in bed, and the awareness of others getting on with the business of day-to-day life without herself having to participate in any sort of way. From time to time she heard the faint keening of wind, whining around the old house. Snow showers came and went the sky was grey. Had said, 'You look tired.' And, 'How about a little rest?' She had spent too many years being strong, looking after others and their problems.The day progressed, and through her window Carrie watched the weather and was glad she did not have to be out in it. “Carrie could not remember how long it was since some other person had cherished her. ![]() ![]() ![]() Matt began to wonder whether it wouldn’t have been simpler to have stayed in Iowa and grown tall corn. Green plants should scavenge carbon dioxide horn the air and replace it with oxygen the mess officer wanted tiny green scallions, fragrant fresh mint, cherry tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, new potatoes. “The Hog Alley band ought to have a gitter and I can get another. Now what can I do with this? I’ll sell it to you cheap, Earth-side price.” “I couldn’t even pay Earth-side prices right now.” “Take it as a gift.” Arensa chucked it at him. It’s your reason for being, my boy.” He stopped and picked up his guitar. I don’t suppose it ever will be.” “But that’s what you signed up for, just the same. It hasn’t been necessary for the Patrol actually to use a bomb since they got it rolling right. Did you ever stop to think what it would feel like to atom bomb a city? Have you ever really thought about it?” “Why, I don’t know. But not for me-I’m not going to be an archangel, charging around the sky and brandishing a flaming sword. You’re just the sort of serious-minded young squirt they want and need. Can you-understand that?” “Oh, I wasn’t criticizing!” “No, but you were thinking it. ![]() My halo is too tight and I’m chucking it. Because, sonny, I have no wish to be a superman. Nothing at all.” “You were wondering why, weren’t you? Well, 111 tell you. I’ve resigned.” “Oh.” “ Don’t stare at me and say ‘oh’! What’s so odd about resigning?” “Nothing. No need to be delicate about it-I wasn’t fired. ![]() ![]() ![]() The first was an action by Cecilia to deal with her emotions over her life. ![]() The story focuses primarily on two incidents and the resulting situations on the girls' lives. The sisters were mysteries if only because of having a strict and overprotective upbringing by their father, who taught math at the girls' private co-ed school, and overly devout Catholic mother, who largely dictated the household rules. Their fascination still remains as they try to piece together the entire story. In 1974, the sisters were seventeen year old Therese, sixteen year old Mary, fifteen year old Bonnie, fourteen year old Lux, and thirteen year old Cecilia. A man about forty years of age tells the story from when he was a teenager in upscale suburban Detroit of his and three of his friends' fascination with the mysterious and doomed Lisbon sisters. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() As Torvald weds the kind and lovely Karina, he resists the pull of attraction to his bride. Although willing to do his duty, he’s vowed never to give his heart to anyone after watching his father suffer heartbreak over a woman. During a royal quest to find the sacred chalice, Torvald is called home to save his family’s estate through an arranged marriage to a wealthy maiden. When her wealthy father asks her to help his textile business become more successful by marrying one of the popular Knights of Brethren, Karina complies, ever the dutiful daughter. Lady Karina lives in a convent and expects to become a nun someday. ![]() ENRICHED A wealthy noblewoman with a heart of gold, a wounded knight closed off to love, and the sacrifices for a chalice that can bring healing. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() But in general, the characters are distinct and intriguing. I feel like Rin starts out as unique and interesting but her voice starts to fade as the book progresses, she gets a little monotone by the end. It is different from most fantasy settings, with a very unique magic system that is central to the story. This medieval Chinese inspired empire is thoughtfully articulated and nuanced in many convincing ways. Kuang has constructed a unique and convincing world. It’s easy to see why this series is popular. In fact, some of the things that bothered me probably won’t affect many readers. and that it may already be too late.īefore I talk about what didn’t work for me, I should mention that most of this book is really good. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity. Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. ![]() ![]() ![]() On its final excursion, the Lusitania was captained by William Thomas Turner and contained passengers both regal and humble, as well as numerous children. This “Greyhound” was cruising from NYC to Liverpool in seas recently declared by Germany to be a war zone when it was attacked by a German U-boat, or submarine. ![]() It was the first of Cunard’s “grand trio” of four-funneled ships. In response to competition, it was designed in 1907 to be one of the biggest, fastest, most luxurious and most modern ships around. The Lusitania was a Cunard transatlantic liner that navigated between New York City and Liverpool. In his characteristic compelling biographical style, Larson educates readers on this maritime catastrophe.įirst, let’s talk basics. Many people have heard of this World War I disaster, but few know the minute details, the ill-fated set of conditions that culminated in the deaths of hundreds of passengers. In “Dead Wake,” Larson explores the events during the weeks leading up to the sinking of the luxury ocean liner the Lusitania on May 7, 1915. (Can I take a second to brag that my copy of the former is signed by the author?!) If you have not read any of this guy’s books, you need to. ![]() ![]() I did not think it would be possible, but “Dead Wake” has replaced “The Devil in the White City” as my favorite Erik Larson book. ![]() ![]() I would absolutely, without hesitation, read it again. ![]() She plays a critical role in the rest of the series so I was excited by this surprising treat. ![]() Great news! Princess Ciri finally gets introduced in Sword of Destiny. Similar to The Last Wish ( read my review of this here), Sword of Destiny contains 6 short stories. It’s like watching episodes on Netflix, except I’m reading a book. ![]() These books actually made me realize how much I enjoyed short stories. So far, I’m really loving the two anthologies in The Witcher Saga. Because I’m too busy writing shit like this. Fact check me because I wouldn’t freaking know. So I heard that there’s a new season of The Witcher on Netflix. Happy New Year and congrats for making it to 2022!!Īnd welcome to… *add in your own weird drumroll* WITCHER SEASON. ![]() Pretty much a plate of perfection for me to consume.Īction packed supernatural and fantasy stories that will have you questioning the world like Geralt does: Who are the real monsters? And how do I decide what’s best between two unfavorable options? Or from Netflix’s The Witcher TV series starring Henry Cavill. If you’re not familiar with the novels, you might have heard of this series from the popular video games based off the books. This anthology contains six short tales to introduce readers to Geralt of Rivia, the witcher and protagonist of the bestselling series The Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski. ![]() ![]() Two of her earlier novels - Virginia Fly Is Drowning and Sun Child - she adapted for the BBC and Land Girls was made into the 1998 feature film The Land Girls. ![]() But as the bonds of friendship start to form and excitement builds as the RAF dance looms, maybe life in the countryside isn't so bad after all?Īngela Huth has written 11 novels, four collections of short stories as well as plays for radio, TV, and the stage. Work is hard and the effects of war start to take their toll on the three women. But with the arrival of these three beautiful young women, there's enough to keep him busy on the farm for the time being. Joe dreams of leaving the family farm and becoming a fighter pilot. Prue, a hairdresser from Manchester, is used to painting the town red, not manual labour. Agatha has just graduated from Cambridge life on the Farm is certainly going to offer her a different kind of education. Stella arrives at Hallows Farm in her Rayon stockings, having just waved goodbye to the love of life - naval officer Philip. ![]() With the country's men at war, it falls to the land girls to pitch in and do their bit. ![]() ![]() ![]() That’s why it was surprising to find a glaring example of “maid and butler” dialogue on page 4. Dialogueīecause she has won the Pulitzer Prize and because this is her twentieth novel, we’d expect that Anne Tyler’s dialogue would be superb. ![]() He is also the character who has grown and changed the most by the end of the book. If you had to choose only one, you could make a reasonable case for Denny, although it is often his absence that has the biggest impact on the family. ![]() You could argue that Abby was the main character, but (spoiler alert) little of her back story is given compared to Red’s, and she dies before the end. It’s pretty clear that these three share main character status, rather than having a single protagonist. Late one July evening in 1994, Red and Abby Whitshank had a phone call from their son Denny. She introduces the main characters in the first sentence. CharactersĪnne Tyler is known for her character-driven fiction, and there’s plenty of evidence of her forte in this novel. It is literary fiction and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2015. Summary: This novel follows the lives of a Baltimore couple, Red and Abby Whitshank, and their family. ![]() Today let’s take a look at A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler from a writer’s perspective (the discussion started here). ![]() |