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Showing posts from January, 2023

Reluctantly Home - Imogen Clark - A Short Summary and Review

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  A Short Summary of Reluctantly Home: Learning to live after the death of a child. My favorite Imogen Clark quote from the book: "There were so many more important things to life, not least being alive." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you have a secret? Have you hidden from the world? My review of Reluctantly Home: A touching story about learning to live after a tragedy. A how-to guide for getting over what you can't get over. *Potential PTSD triggers* proceed with caution. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the 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 ...

Go Bravely: Becoming the Woman You Were Created to Be - Emily Wilson Hussem - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of Go Bravely: A how-to guide to being true to God and His creation in you. My favorite Emily Wilson Hussem quote from the book: "No matter how badly we have been hurt, it is crucial to remember that forgiveness is not a feeling." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you think you are brave? Do you trust in God? My review of Go Bravely: Very good thoughts on womanhood. Very good thoughts on womanhood in Christ. Very very difficult to put down (I went through the book in one sitting!). *I picked this book up after seeing Emily Wilson Hussem speak at the Hallow Summit ( read about that trip here ). She is a very engaging speaker.  If you get the opportunity to attend one of her events, I recommend you take it. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at...

Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of Wide Sargasso Sea: Who Bertha was before she went to England, met Jane Eyre , and burnt the house down. My favorite Jean Rhys quote from the book: "Lies are never forgotten, they go on, and they grow." Questions to ponder while reading the book: How has your childhood shaped you? Who has betrayed you the most? My Review of Wide Sargasso Sea: I loved the "prequel" ( read my review of Jane Eyre here ) I came to dislike Mr. Rochester very much (not that I liked him much before). A very great (and dark) book. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the 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 conside...

West With Giraffes - Lynda Rutledge - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of West With Giraffes: The great American Giraffe road trip during the Great Depression. My favorite quote from the book: " Lions got no choice but to always be lions. We do." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you like animals? What would you do to make your mark on the world? My review of West With Giraffes: Such a fun road trip adventure story. Full of historical facts and rich detail. Based on a true story. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the 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, my  webshop , or by buying me a cup ...

Recipes For A Sacred Life - Rivvy Neshama - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of Recipes For A Sacred Life: A memoir of living with grace and wisdom. My favorite Rivvy Neshama Quote from the book: "My highest purpose is to live a sacred life connected to others, nature, and the divine through love, gratefulness, and acts of service." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you speak your truth? Do you compare yourself to others? My review of Recipes For A Sacred Life: I loved the tidbits of wisdom. I loved the stories about the people. I loved the philosophy. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the 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 wor...

The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M. Cain - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of The Postman Always Rings Twice: A drifter drifts into an amorous entanglement and an assassination. My favorite James M. Cain quote from the book: "But love, when you get fear in it, it's not love anymore. It's hate." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Would you rather be comfortable or on your own? Is there ever a good reason to commit a murder? My review of The Postman Always Rings Twice: Noir at its most politically incorrect. Campy and cheesy but with surprising philosophical depth. 20th-century literary icon and the inspiration for so many other stories. *Did you know? James M. Cain served in the US Army during World War II - read his Everyday Patriot biography here: A Soldier's Story: Private James Mallahan Cain **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her ...

The Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke - Rainer Maria Rilke - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of The Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke: A collection of mystical poems from the great Prague poet. My favorite Rainer Maria Rilke quote from the book: "...but Art alone gives to the age its spiritual physiognomy, its ultimate and lasting expression." Questions to ponder while reading the book: What captivates you? Where do you go when your spirit needs peace? My review of the Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke: So peaceful. So bright. So quotable. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the 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, my  webshop , or by bu...

The Stories of John Cheever - John Cheever - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of The Stories of John Cheever: Short (and sometimes sordid) stories on the day-to-day doings of New York's upper crust.  My favorite John Cheever quote from the book: "You don't really long for another country. You long for something in yourself that you don't have or haven't been able to find." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Do you seek out comfort? What makes you cry? My review of The Stories of John Cheever: The (oh so fun to read about) drama-filled lives of the upper middle class. Chock full of entertaining tales and thought-provoking narrations. Crammed with lessons I wish I had learned earlier. *Did you know? - John Cheever served in the US Army during World War II?  Read his Everyday Patriot biography here: A Soldier's Story: Private John Cheever **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  ww...

Searching For and Maintain Peace - Father Jacques Philippe - A Short Summary and Review

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  A short summary of Searching For And Maintaining Peace: A how-to guide for holding on to your inner tranquility. My favorite Father Jacques Philippe quote from the book: "The sign of spiritual progress is not so much never falling as it is being able to lift oneself up quickly after one falls." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Can you maintain inner peace amid your trials? Do you depend on God? My review of Searching For And Maintaining Peace: A great reference for the peaceful workings of God. True help for anxiety. A book to come back to over and over again. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the 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.co...