Welcome to the August 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com! On our way home from our Boston-area…
8 CommentsRelevant Fiction for Body & Soul
Tag: book reviews
We recently visited the Boston area of Massachusetts, and I’ve been thinking of the books I’ve read – contemporary or historical – set in this locale. I bet I’m forgetting some! But these are the first that came to mind.
A Passion Most Pure by Julie LessmanI’ve read A Passion Most Pure twice – something I don’t often do – mainly due to the size of my to-be-read list. This book, my introduction to Julie Lessman’s writing, stuck with me so much I gave it a second go.
Is it a little like a soap opera in spots? Yep. There’s a reason soap operas of the daytime and nighttime variety have endured. I don’t consider those elements a strike against the book.
I love that the importance of chastity is addressed without minimizing temptation, glossing over human frailties, or the purpose of God-given passion in our lives. A great introduction to the Daughters of Boston! 4 Comments
Welcome to the July 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com! Around the time of the D-Day anniversary…
3 CommentsWelcome to the June 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com! Do you read and/or listen to many…
6 CommentsI’ve yet to read many split-time novels, but I do enjoy those I’ve read! An author’s ability to skillfully interweave themes in two plot lines set in separate eras can enhance and deepen those themes while adding interest for the reader.
Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie DobsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This beautifully written tale follows the lives of a handful of young Austrians living under Nazi occupation. One is a gifted Jewish musician, one is the young man who loves her, and another the childhood friend who loves him.
Interwoven is the story of Callie, aka Story Girl, a lonely bookstore owner in possession of two books connected to Austria and hidden treasure.
There is mystery, romance, and tragedy, but, in sum, it’s a novel about the power of stories – children’s stories and our own stories – internalizing them, living them, and marveling at the way the master storyteller has perfectly interwoven each of them. 2 Comments
Welcome to the May 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com! In his travels, my husband has been…
7 CommentsWelcome to the April 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com! With his new job, my husband is…
8 CommentsAnxiety, depression, and panic disorder are featured in these recommended books. They are, in my opinion, well-depicted with realism and authenticity. Often, mental illness is isolating, and these books remind those who suffer from these disorders that they are not alone. They also help those who haven’t experienced these disorders to understand what it might be like to live with them.
For reasons unknown (or not recalled), I didn’t review two other books I’ve read and would recommend that include this topic: Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade and Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti.
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