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Author: CAstfalk

Carolyn Astfalk is a wife, mother, and author of contemporary Catholic romances, including her latest, All in Good Time. She formerly worked as a communications director and now works just to keep her head above water. Find her books on Amazon and her other words scattered around the blogosphere and social media.

Bonnets, Baskets, & Bunnies: An Easter 2020 Linkup

Published by CAstfalk on 04/12/2020
Bonnets, Baskets & Bunnies

Amid the odd circumstances of this Easter, we’ve tried to keep our traditions. Streaming religious services isn’t the same as being there, but I’m grateful we’re at least able to do that.

We prayed a modified Stations of the Cross that became part scavenger hunt when the 7-year-old hung the fourteen photos randomly around the house. We made Resurrection eggs (search Pinterest for examples), baked Hot Cross Muffins (found here) and Paska bread, dyed eggs, and in place of the Easter flowers we usually buy, my daughter picked us a bouquet of violets. We’ll re-read a new favorite Easter book, The Other Side of Easter by Beth Gully.

It’s all lovely. But there’s a subtle undercurrent that something’s not right.

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Pandemic Reads

Published by CAstfalk on 04/09/2020

I invited Catholic Writers Guild members on the group’s Facebook page to recommend one of their books for reading during this pandemic. What follows are their recommendations, in the author’s words. It’s a mix of fiction and nonfiction. Choose a fun escape, something to expand your knowledge, fiction that edifies, or a means of deepening your faith.

Also check out this list of reading recommendations at Dappled Things: “Literature in the Time of COVID-19”.

Links below are to Amazon, but you can find most, if not all, at additional retailers and some on additional ebook platforms – maybe even on audiobook.

Pandemic Reading Picks from Catholic Writers Guild Authors #CatholicsatHome Share on X
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Relevant Fiction Reviews: Classics (III)

Published by CAstfalk on 03/16/2020
Relevant Fiction Reviews
The Romance of Tristan and Iseult (Dover Books on Literature & Drama)The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by M. Joseph Bédier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This classic of romance literature, which obviously influenced subsequent classic works, had eluded me for decades. I’d only heard mention of it in recent years and came across this Hillaire Beloc translation at a low cost.

I wish I’d read this in the context of a classroom or group/club rather than independently because there is much absent in the text that would make for great discussion. Responsibility, the nature of love, honor, duty, sacrifice – these are all found within Tristan and Iseult, but not in any depth.

There’s some lip service to God and honor, but the lovers absolve themselves from any responsibility because they just can’t help themselves. They (mistakenly) drank a love potion, you see. Whoopsie.

Despite that disappointment, I found this worth reading as a seminal work, and it did mostly hold my attention.
Classics Dracula, A Christmas Carol & The Romance of Tristan and Iseult: My takes in Relevant Fiction Reviews. Share on X
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Corona Life: 10 Tips to Keep You Sane

Published by CAstfalk on 03/13/2020

A large part of my days revolve around serving my family. You’d think that they’d be the beneficiaries in that equation, but I’ve been reminded lately how good these people are for me.

For a person who has the propensity to live in her head too much, they are refreshingly grounding. They are real. With real physical needs, real childish silliness, real human interactions, and delightful senses of humor.

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