Rite of Fancy

A short summary of the book The Old Man and the Sea: I caught a big one, but it got away. My favorite Ernest Hemingway quote from the book: "Now is not the time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is." Questions to ponder while reading The Old Man and the Sea: What is luck, anyway? When do you throw in the towel? My thoughts about The Old Man and the Sea: My favorite fish tale. Luck is such a random thing. Sometimes, you just have to stick with it, even when you are going to lose. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Ple...

A short summary of the book 1984: Big Brother is watching you. My favorite George Orwell quote from the book: "If you kept the small rules, you could break the big ones." Questions to ponder while reading 1984: Can you keep a secret? Do you think Big Brother exists today? My review of 1984: Must read! Must think! Must not let dictators take over! *Regularly challenged, be a rebel and read it* ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

A short summary of the book Life and Other Near-Death Experiences: Cancer in the Caribbean. My favorite  Camille Pagán  quote from the book: "It takes guts to stop fretting about the unknown and concentrate on the present moment. That’s what matters, anyway." Questions to ponder while reading Life and Other the Book: Where would you go for your getaway? How do you handle unpleasant revelations? My review of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences: Beach read! Pain has to be funny to be bearable. Everyone needs a place to "be". ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like ...

A short summary of the book Thieving Forest: Surviving the wilds of 19th century Ohio, all while wearing a skirt. My favorite Martha Conway quote from the book: "Trouble comes to those who bring it on themselves..." Questions to ponder while reading the book: When would you pack up and go back to Philly? Can you restore what is lost? My review of Thieving Forest: Historical fiction is always a fav. Everyone has their own destiny. I don't know that I would have followed. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my spon...

A short summary of the book Boardwalk Empire: The politics of gambling on the development of Atlantic City. My favorite quote by Enoch Johnson: Ordinary people avoid troubles. Extraordinary people turn them into advantage. Questions to ponder while reading Boardwalk Empire: Should capitalism control vices? How many cities were created this way? My review of Boardwalk Empire: Great History Read. Everyone has a vice (admitted or otherwise). Steve Buscemi did a good job bringing Enoch "Nucky" Johnson to life. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider suppor...

A short summary of the book The King Must Die: Retelling the tales of Theseus. My favorite Mary Renault quote from the book: "A man is at his youngest when he thinks he is a man, not yet realizing that his actions must show it." Questions to ponder while reading The King Must Die: Should kings die every year? Would you be willing to dance with the bulls? My thoughts about The King Must Die: Great redo. Marriages should be equal. Self-sacrifice can be noble. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  ...

A short summary of the book Dear Life: Stories of small-town life in Ontario, Canada. My favorite Alice Munro quote from the book: "People have thoughts they'd sooner not have. It happens in life." Questions to ponder while reading Dear Life: Have you ever wanted to be more than you are? Who has altered the course of your life? My review of Dear Life: Easy to read and engaging. Relatable characters and themes. Everyday stories for everyday life. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  we...

A short summary of the book Empire of the Summer Moon: A *biased* history of the Comanches. My favorite Quanah Parker quote: "All same people anyway, God say." Questions to ponder while reading Empire of the Summer Moon: What makes a culture desirable? Should US-made treaties be enforced by the U.S. Government? My thoughts about Empire of the Summer Moon: A good history of Texas Quanah Parker was amazing I struggled with  Gwynne's bias, and I think a culture with superior weaponry is hardly "primitive". ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? P...

A short summary of the book The Jungle: How Chicago created socialists. My favorite Upton Sinclair quote from the book: "There is one kind of prison where the man is behind bars, and everything that he desires is outside; and there is another kind where the things are behind the bars and the man is outside." Questions to ponder while reading the book: What are our responsibilities to our fellow man? Is Socialism really the answer to poverty? My review of The Jungle: Everyone deserves a fair wage and safe working conditions. Child labor is wrong. It took me about a month before I could eat meat again. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery ...

A short summary of the book Civil Disobedience: Why you should disobey an unjust state. My favorite Henry David Thoreau quote from the book: "The best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor." Questions to ponder while reading Civil Disobedience: Can democracy provide a just government? How applicable is this essay today? My thoughts about Civil Disobedience: Just governments exist only with just people. Don't wait for good to be legislated. Pay attention! ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheB...

A short summary of the book The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: The story of sinning while under the influence of the serum. My favorite Robert Louis Stevenson quote from the book: "I feel very strongly about putting questions; it partakes too much of the style of the day of judgment." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Wouldn't it have been easier to just own your sins? What lives in your dark side? My thoughts about the book The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Own your whole self. Learn to cope with your inner demons. I imagine a deranged tweety bird every time I read this. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photogr...

A short summary of the book Malcolm X - A Life Reinvented: A complete biography of a Civil Rights icon. My favorite Malcolm X quote: " I was going through the hardest thing, also the greatest thing, for any human being to do; to accept that which is already within you, and around you." Questions to ponder while reading Malcolm X - A Life Reinvented: Did you realize Malcolm was so complex? What do you think about his U.N. argument? My thoughts about Malcolm X - A Life Reinvented: I had no idea until now. His life was amazing. When do we just become humans? ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebac...

A short summary of the play Pygmalion: The creation of a lady. My favorite George Bernard Shaw quote from the play: "Making life means making trouble." Questions to ponder while reading Pygmalion: What does it take to be a lady? Do you own those you teach? My thoughts about Pygmalion: Another play I really want to see live. It is important to overcome your limitations. I hope Eliza made her way on her own. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

A short summary of the book The Secret Garden: New growth, from an Indian transplant,  in a hidden English garden. My favorite Frances Hodgson Burnett quote from the book: "Where you tend a rose my lad, a thistle cannot grow." Questions to ponder while reading The Secret Garden: Should children ever be unsupervised? Can you believe yourself well? My thoughts about The Secret Garden: Another childhood favorite. You are only as sick as you think you are. I want a secret garden. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visi...

A short summary of the book The Lovely Bones: Growing up after the aftermath of my murder. My favorite quote from the book: "People grow up by living." Questions to ponder while reading The Lovely Bones: Can a family survive the murder of a child? What do you hope to see from heaven? My review of The Lovely Bones: Children shouldn't die first. Parental guilt is a crushing thing. A surprisingly haunting story. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors and  webshop  or buying me a cup of ...

A short summary of the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Finding a sweet surprise, in a sweet surprise, that leads to the ultimate sweet surprise. My favorite Roald Dahl quote from the book: "However small the chance might be of striking lucky, the chance was there." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Did you know candy espionage was a thing? Does poverty cause discipline? My review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Brush your teeth after reading. Candy factories should really be like the Wonka factory. Everyone should be able to get a chocolate bar. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.t...