Rite of Fancy

A short summary of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A blue tale about the poverty and trials of a pack librarian in Eastern Kentucky.

My favorite quote from the book: Those that can't see past a folk's skin color have a hard difference in them. There's a fire in that difference.
Questions to ponder while reading the book: How much do books matter?
Can you accept the differences of others?
My thoughts about The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A new take on an old hate.
The poverty of the area broke my heart.
Heart-wrenching, informative, and difficult to put down.

Dear Henry,

St. Bernard of Clairvaux who is known as the "Doctor of the Church" also happens to be the patron saint of my parish and now, with the pandemic, it seemed like a good time to look the good doctor up.

It turns out, he wasn't that kind of doctor. 

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was born about 1090 to a noble family in Fontaine Les Dijon. He was educated very well and particularly excelled in literature and poetry.  He was also extraordinarily influenced by the faith of his mother and at the age of 19, shortly after her death, he applied for entrance to the Cisterian order.

When he was 22 and in prayer, he felt God calling him to the Citeaux Abbey, and after sharing his testimony, compelled 30 of his friends and brothers to join him.  Three years later he would be assigned abbot of a new monastery being founded in an adjacent valley called Clairvaux.

St Bernard was often called upon for his counsel and for his skill as an arbitrator.  He attended the Council of Troye…

A short summary of The Bastard: How an illegitimate French heir of an English duke became an American patriot.
Favorite quote from the book: Reading is the means by which the lowest man can lift himself from a state of ignorance.
Questions to ponder while reading The Bastard: Would you have pressed your case?
Can you walk away from money?
My thoughts about the book: There was a lot of action.
There was a lot of intrigue.
There were a lot of unlikeable characters.
Still, though I liked the book.

A short summary of Radium Girls: All about the Radium Dial Painters, the devastating consequences of their jobs, and the industrial safety standards created because of them.
Favorite quote from the book: "Radium had been known to be harmful since 1901. Every death since was unnecessary."
Questions to ponder while reading Radium Girls: How much responsibility does a company have toward its workers?
When should the government step in?
My thoughts about the book: The story is tragic.
I am saddened by how many organizations failed these women.
Engrossing stories and solid research.
I wonder if something like this could happen again?

A short summary of the book The Man in The Brown Suit: Finding a killer Colonel after the death of the dancer.

Favorite Quote: "But there are many fools in the world.  One praises God for their existence and keeps out of their way"
Questions to ponder while reading: Are there any smells you just can't stand?
Do you mind your own business?
My thoughts about The Man in the Brown Suit:
I always love a lighthearted mystery.
Agatha Christie is a master.
Beddingfield is good, but Poirot is still my favorite.

A short summary of the book The Other Einstein: The story of Mitza Marie and her "relative" marriage to Albert Einstein.

Questions to ponder while reading The Other Einstein: Does academic failure signify a lack of intelligence?
Have you ever fallen for the wrong person?
My thoughts on the book: Interesting ideas into the inner workings of Einstein's first marriage.
It is sad and very wrong when a woman gives up her ambitions.
I'm glad the world now knows about Liserl.

Dear Henry,

I *love* lemon desserts, especially during the summer and I read about a pie called the "Shaker Lemon Pie" and I had to give it a try.

It's an easy pie to make, although it did have a 24-hour resting period. 

It starts with slicing three lemons, skin and all very thin and then coating the lemon slices in two cups of sugar.  Let the sugar and lemons sit overnight and then add four eggs to the mixture and a teaspoon of corn starch and stir well.  Put it in a pie crust, add a top crust and bake at 425 for 20 minutes and then turn the oven down to 375 and bake for about 25 minutes more.

The pie looked so pretty and I really wanted to like it, but, I discovered that I am not at all a fan of cooked lemon peel and neither, it seems, was anyone else in my house.

xoxo a.d.