Another wonderful day in Springfield. Being a research library, there was not much to see 😦 The museum, however, was amazing!
I was so emotionally moved by the displays here, it is definitely something everyone should experience once in their lives. It will be more than once for me, because I will be back!
Tomorrow, a post about what moved me the most in this museum.
Some of the amazing displays:
Yesterday I visited the Abraham Lincoln Tomb, and I was as moved as I thought I would be. Today I am visiting the Presidential Library, so I will have a lengthy post on that tonight or tomorrow!
Some of the sights from yesterday:
This was a fast-paced read, with a lot of twists and turns. This is the second book I have read by Russell Brooks, and this one had a completely different feel to it. The whole style of writing seemed different than “The Demeter Code”, and it was spot-on for this story.
When Eddie has no one who believes in him and his dream of becoming a published author, his two friends convince him to try a publicity stunt to end all publicity stunts. Everyone knows it is a lot easier to sell your first novel when people have heard of you.
Eddie should have stuck to writing, and hired someone to get his name out to the public. What seemed like a harmless stunt turned into an unsuspecting, albeit sketchy, Governor being murdered. And the bodies seemed to pile up from there. With next to nobody believing in his innocent, Eddie and his friends begin a journey to clear all of their names. They manage to uncover corruption of the deepest kind while they are at it, while learning what they are truly made of.
I liked this story a lot, and highly recommend it. It has action, suspense, romance, and a couple laugh-out-loud moments as well.
To learn more a bout Russell and his stories, be sure to visit his website at: http://russellparkway.com
It seems to be taking me forever, but I have to say, the sunshine in Michigan has helped my motivation. It did go from 70 degrees during the week to snowing the next week, but I think it will be warming up for good now.
And I apologize for the blog post you all got alerts to about “When Parenthood is Not a Horror Story.” That was supposed to post to my blog, parenthoodandotherhorrorstories.com My internet connection has been well beyond shady for the past several weeks, and it is nearly impossible to do anything online.
I have my LLC license in place and filed with the State of Michigan, and found a great logo building website and created my logo. I will be changing the blog a bit in order to have a static first page, but for those of you who follow me, your alerts will take you directly to the blog.
Next up is finding a great theme to use to change this up, and hopefully nothing too difficult to maneuver while I continue to look for a better internet provider.
I should have another book review up tomorrow for a great book I finished a couple days ago, and I am reading another story and should be finished with that one in short order as well.
I am heading to Illinois Thursday morning to be a part of “The Lincoln Funeral Train”, so be prepared for a ridiculous amount of pictures and all things Abraham Lincoln very soon!
May your stories bring you smiles!
What a weekend I have had. One daughter going to her first prom, and my oldest graduating from college. I feel like my heart will burst out of my chest!
The struggles I have went through, the heartbreak, the fear, and the not knowing how I would do it. And this is how I do it.
I could not be more proud of my oldest; she is beautiful, and will definitely change the world. We have loved each other, she was my only person for so long, that she really is still my “only person.” She gets me. And more than that; I hope she knows I get her.
I have a couple days of work, as I try to get everything packed up and ready to go for our trip to Illinois. More to come!
Daughter #2 has her prom tonight, and I know she is going to have a great time!
Daughter #1 is graduating from college tomorrow; Grand Valley State University, anyone? So another busy day.
And daughter #3 was supposed to be getting confirmed at our church on Sunday, but that seemed to have fell through (much of the fault is mine and my daughter’s), but the lack of communication has me really, REALLY upset.
So, as I get through this weekend, and then 2 and a 1/2 days of work next week, I am packing up 3 of my 4 girls, and heading to the land of Lincoln! So beyond excited to get to be a part of the Lincoln Funeral Train, and I will definitely be keeping you all updated. (If it bores you, just ignore me for a few days!)
I have 2 dinner tickets for next Saturday night to meet the man who has been building this train for several years, and be one of the first people to actually go inside the train!
It really is nothing personal, and I do not turn down the opportunity to read a new story very often, but sometimes I do. And then the author takes it personally. Like I did not feel their story was worthy of my time, or I felt the description was so bad that I could not even stand the thought of opening it.
That is not the case. 99% of the time it is because they have written a book on a subject that I have no knowledge of, and my lack of knowledge is not going to allow me to write a fair review. I will get to that other 1% in a minute. But if you have written a book about birds of South America, or Buddhism, or aliens, you do not want me writing a review. Do I have anything against the birds of South America, or Buddhists, or aliens? Nope. None of the previously mentioned have ever done anything to me. But I do not know anything about them. So no; I do not generally read science fiction. There are some Sci-Fi stories that I have read, but the story was also steeped in other information that allowed me to get lost in it, and enjoy the story the way the author surely hoped I would.
It has nothing to do with the story, or the author, or the quality of their writing. It’s not you, it’s me…
Now; about that other 1%. I have read a couple completely unbearable books in the past year, and most of you know that I really do not try to say bad things about writers, or their stories. If I can’t say anything nice, I prefer to keep my mouth shut. But once I tell you that I will not be reading and reviewing your book, you should probably just leave it be. It is the unfortunate author who feels the need to blow up my email account and say unkind things that is likely to get an honest, horrible review of their book posted for the whole-wide-web to find and read.
Those of you whom I have been in contact with, whose stories I have purchased or you sent to me, and have not seen a review yet; I have not forgotten. And I will get it done. Sometimes life just happens to get in the way of my free time. Many do not realize that I have a full-time 45+ hours-a-week job, am the single parent to 4 daughters (3 still at home), and go to college when it strikes my fancy. I also have a couple other pans in the fire that need my attention from time-to-time.
I want, and appreciate, the gentle nudges you send me to ask about your review. Please continue to do so. I love to read. It is my one escape that allows me to relax, unwind, de-stress, and forget about my 17 year old driving my car all over town, my 23 year old stressing over paying for college classes, my 13 year old video chatting with 16 year old boys 3000 miles away, and my 10 year old who has no more responsibilities than to feed her guinea pig, yet gets mad at me because I forgot to do it for her.
I am grateful for my patient and understanding authors and followers, and it really is my goal to help promote and encourage as many of you as I am able to. Your stories truly do bring me joy, happiness, and adventure, and without them, I cannot even begin to imagine how much more difficult I would be for others to have to deal with!
So please keep writing, so I can keep reading!
This was my first read of a Russell Brooks novel, and I have already started on the second of 4 of his books that I purchased.
The Demeter Code is a fast-paced book, with lots of action and details. You definitely need to devote all of your attention to the story while you are reading it, as there are numerous characters involved, and the action moves from one set of people to another. I do not mention this because I found it to be a problem, I simply mention it because you probably do not want to read this with the television being on next to you, kids running in and out (welcome to my home!), or anything else that could likely divert your attention from the storyline.
Do you have concerns about the quality of the food you eat, the chemicals added to it, or the various GMO’s used virtually everywhere? If you do, this story is one you will want to read.
Do you like lots of action, plus detailed weapons and scientific information? Then this story is for you as well.
Do you have an interest in travel, and other countries? What about politics and government? If so, this story will capture and keep your interest as well.
I try to not give away any spoilers, or too much about a storyline in any of my reviews. The same holds true for this review. I will say that it is focused on Dr. Nita Parris, Ridley Fox, and a host of other secondary characters that round out the storyline and plot nicely. There seems to be a ticking time bomb that will bring devastation to the world like nothing ever seen before. It is up to Dr. Parris and Ridley to figure out who is involved, and put a stop to the plan before it is too late; too late for everyone.
You can find this story as well as Russell’s other novels on Amazon.
A C.S. Lewis story I had not read before, this satirical novel was brilliant, and definitely timely for me personally. The 31 chapters are each an individual letter from Screwtape, a senior devil, to Wormwood, a junior devil whose job it is to keep his “patient”, a newly converted Christian man, from getting too deep into things with the Enemy; aka God. I won’t give away how it ends, and what happens to the patient, but I can easily highly recommend this book!
Mr. Lewis certainly touched on many aspects of the human condition, and what brings them closer to God, as well as moves them further from God. A few excerpts that I found still fitting today:
“…he can be induced to live, as I have known many humans to live, for quite long periods, two parallel lives; he will not only appear to be, but actually be, a different man in each of the circles he frequents” (C.S. Lewis, pg 59).
“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts” (pg 72).
“They will find out in the end, never fear, to whom their time, their souls, and their bodies really belong – certainly not to them – whatever happens” (pg 128).
Have you read this already? I would love to hear what you thought of it!
All excerpts from The Illustrated Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis (1961). Illustrated by Papas. New York: Harper One Publishers.
It has been far too long since I have visited one of my local libraries. My 13 year old and I had time to burn between her doctor’s appointment and our appointment with our Pastor concerning her upcoming Confirmation.
I tend to be more likely to read the books that I get from the library, compared to reading the ones I buy and sit for many months collecting dust because I just cannot “find the time” to read them.
In the quest of looking for one particular book (my library has moved things around) I managed to find a few other books I did not know I wanted to read until I saw them. You know what I mean here, right?
I stumbled across C.S. Lewis’s “The Screwtape Letters”, which I have heard many great things about, but have never seen nor read. I managed to get about halfway through it already, and it is as good as the reviews say it is. Of course; it is C.S. Lewis. I would expect nothing less.
I also found “The Greatest Story Ever Told”, which is so old it has that orange hardcover on it with nothing but the title on the spine. You know the kind I mean: how all books were published in the 1940’s and 1950’s. I enjoy reading religious works, and this looks like it will be a fairly quick read for me. I’ve no idea if the movie of the same title is from this story (I am betting yes), so I am curious to see how much better the book is than the movie. Because the book is always better than the movie, right?
I picked up “Dead Over Heels”, by Charlaine Harris, and I may have read this one already, but flipping through it, nothing was looking too familiar so I will give it a read. This is a series about Roe (Aurora Teagarden), whom has the uncanny ability to find any dead body in close proximity of her.
I grabbed an Andrew Greeley story that I do not think I have read yet, which is shocking. He is absolutely one of my very favorite authors, so I am excited to get into this book. It is one of many in his series that centers around Blackie Ryan, a priest with a sense of humor, and great detective skills.
I am setting aside time on a daily basis to work on the many projects I have gotten supplies for, but have not taken the time to get started. I have a Zazzle and Etsy store that I am trying to get set up, and will be carrying all things book related. Except for actual books. Those you will have to get elsewhere.
I have had a very, very difficult Winter, and my Spring is not starting out too great either. I am determined to focus on “me”, and no, that is not selfish. Anyone who knows me knows the very last person I ever worry about is myself. It is a hard way to try to go through life. I may be 42 years old, but I still have hopes, and dreams, and goals I want to accomplish.
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