Life for early 20th century Oregon farmers was gritty
Using Martha as the lead rider, author Molly Gloss canters down a literary trail along the valley of the Little Bird Woman River in Elwha County, encountering families and individuals who face the gritty reality of life in 1917 that is both raw and often deeply painful.
Using Martha as the lead rider, author Molly Gloss canters down a literary trail along the valley of the Little Bird Woman River in Elwha County, encountering families and individuals who face the gritty reality of life in 1917 that is both raw and often deeply painful.
Historical fiction underscores pain of discrimination and intolerance
In a book written with a teen-age audience in mind, author Libby Sternberg projects an “unsinkable Molly Brown” quality in the protagonist, 15-year-old Carl Matuski, whose contagious energy is certain to maintain the interest of today’s multi-tasking young adult readers.
In a book written with a teen-age audience in mind, author Libby Sternberg projects an “unsinkable Molly Brown” quality in the protagonist, 15-year-old Carl Matuski, whose contagious energy is certain to maintain the interest of today’s multi-tasking young adult readers.
An analysis of faith professions inside the Oval Office
In a charged environment where primary presidential hopefuls such as Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, acknowledged their religious beliefs while at the same time made it plain that for them church and state are sacred but separate entities, Randall Balmer’s book, “God in the White House”—an examination of the U.S. presidents’ responses and reactions to religion from 1960 until 2004—is a timely release.
In a charged environment where primary presidential hopefuls such as Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and Mike Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, acknowledged their religious beliefs while at the same time made it plain that for them church and state are sacred but separate entities, Randall Balmer’s book, “God in the White House”—an examination of the U.S. presidents’ responses and reactions to religion from 1960 until 2004—is a timely release.
1893 Exposition is backdrop for young woman’s coming of age
With a flavor and style reminiscent of Victorian writer Jane Austin and a hint of Nancy Drew in the protagonist, author Lynn Austin has fashioned a novel likely to appeal to readers who appreciate a blend of history and fiction.
With a flavor and style reminiscent of Victorian writer Jane Austin and a hint of Nancy Drew in the protagonist, author Lynn Austin has fashioned a novel likely to appeal to readers who appreciate a blend of history and fiction.
Answers and questions
Two books, one about answers and the other about questions, make a nice coupling for family perusal during the Christmas season, as folks relax a bit and ponder the past, enjoy the present and prepare to plunge into the New Year.
Two books, one about answers and the other about questions, make a nice coupling for family perusal during the Christmas season, as folks relax a bit and ponder the past, enjoy the present and prepare to plunge into the New Year.
One strong limb is missing from Amazon forest
The book cover is a dead giveaway. In a close-up photo, Notre Dame de Namur Sister Dorothy Stang flashes a joyously friendly smile and the expression in her eyes is vision-like—one has to believe that she really could see the forest for the trees.
The book cover is a dead giveaway. In a close-up photo, Notre Dame de Namur Sister Dorothy Stang flashes a joyously friendly smile and the expression in her eyes is vision-like—one has to believe that she really could see the forest for the trees.
Centuries of women who ‘answered the call’
Subtitled “21 stories for 21 centuries,” Joanne Turpin’s vignettes of her favorite female church leaders are neatly packed into a collection titled “Women in Church History.”
Subtitled “21 stories for 21 centuries,” Joanne Turpin’s vignettes of her favorite female church leaders are neatly packed into a collection titled “Women in Church History.”
Man’s frisky friend leaves an indelible paw print
If you have a special place in your heart for dogs, particularly supersized, awkward, hyperactive pooches, then you’ll want to sit down on some rainy autumn afternoon and step inside the pages of John Grogan’s memoir of his Labrador retriever, “Marley & Me.”
If you have a special place in your heart for dogs, particularly supersized, awkward, hyperactive pooches, then you’ll want to sit down on some rainy autumn afternoon and step inside the pages of John Grogan’s memoir of his Labrador retriever, “Marley & Me.”
Golden dust rubs off on families in Navajo country
The lives of Anglo and Navajo families intersect in the New Mexican town of Shiprock, where a shuttered uranium mill is the centerpiece of Ann Cummins’ second novel, “Yellowcake.”
The lives of Anglo and Navajo families intersect in the New Mexican town of Shiprock, where a shuttered uranium mill is the centerpiece of Ann Cummins’ second novel, “Yellowcake.”
Couple undaunted in ministry to provide decent housing
Author Bettie B. Youngs takes up her writer’s hammer and frames out a compelling account of an Alabama farmer’s son with a vision to eradicate “poverty housing.”
Author Bettie B. Youngs takes up her writer’s hammer and frames out a compelling account of an Alabama farmer’s son with a vision to eradicate “poverty housing.”
Miller’s play is timeless and timely
Certainly Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley and his colleagues at the Chicago Public Library could not have foreseen what is taking place these days in Jena, La., when they announced in late August the fall selection for the ongoing “One Book, One Chicago” program.
Certainly Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley and his colleagues at the Chicago Public Library could not have foreseen what is taking place these days in Jena, La., when they announced in late August the fall selection for the ongoing “One Book, One Chicago” program.
Fear of fire prompts anxiety on Midwest frontier
Most would agree that the all-time popular depiction of pioneer life in the United States is drawn from the prolific writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder in her “Little House on the Prairie” series that captivated readers and then viewers when it claimed a weekly place on the small screen a few decades ago.
Most would agree that the all-time popular depiction of pioneer life in the United States is drawn from the prolific writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder in her “Little House on the Prairie” series that captivated readers and then viewers when it claimed a weekly place on the small screen a few decades ago.
Biography of Holy Cross founder reveals strength and struggles
Author Gary MacEoin’s biographical account, “Basil Moreau,” was recently reissued—45 years after its first run—to remind readers of the legacy established by the priest who was beatified Sept. 15 in his home diocese of LeMans, France.
Author Gary MacEoin’s biographical account, “Basil Moreau,” was recently reissued—45 years after its first run—to remind readers of the legacy established by the priest who was beatified Sept. 15 in his home diocese of LeMans, France.
Fired up with faith
Though Chicago Bears fans might still feel the sting from the Super Bowl 2007 defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, after reading Coach Tony Dungy’s book, “Quiet Strength,” any hard feelings will likely be diminished; anger might well be converted to admiration.
Though Chicago Bears fans might still feel the sting from the Super Bowl 2007 defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, after reading Coach Tony Dungy’s book, “Quiet Strength,” any hard feelings will likely be diminished; anger might well be converted to admiration.
First-time author shares a painfully personal story
There’s more than a touch of irony in Kenneth Delabre’s choice of the word “walk” in the title of an autobiographical chronicling of his journey with a debilitating disease that, among other symptoms, affects his mobility.
There’s more than a touch of irony in Kenneth Delabre’s choice of the word “walk” in the title of an autobiographical chronicling of his journey with a debilitating disease that, among other symptoms, affects his mobility.
A modest proposal is complex
While mostly maintaining an objective distance, the author, raised Episcopalian, slips here and there, specifically when he threw a critical barb at Catholics, observing, “…time honored instruction about traditions has been replaced with touchy-feely conversations about personal values…”
While mostly maintaining an objective distance, the author, raised Episcopalian, slips here and there, specifically when he threw a critical barb at Catholics, observing, “…time honored instruction about traditions has been replaced with touchy-feely conversations about personal values…”
Catholic baby boomers can relate
Cars, loud music, powerful politicians, threatened changes in the church, bitter exchanges over war and peace and what to do about rebellious youth—it sounds a lot like 2007. But in fact, it was the 1960s when Catholic author John Ruane was growing up on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Cars, loud music, powerful politicians, threatened changes in the church, bitter exchanges over war and peace and what to do about rebellious youth—it sounds a lot like 2007. But in fact, it was the 1960s when Catholic author John Ruane was growing up on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Spouse shares abduction nightmare
Actress Angelina Jolie is the face that moviegoers will associate with Mariane Pearl, the widow of Wall Street Journal South Asia bureau chief Danny Pearl, who was abducted and brutally murdered by terrorists in January 2002 somewhere near Karachi, Pakistan. But Mariane Pearl’s account will not be overshadowed by the hype that typically accompanies a film featuring a leading lady as popular as Jolie.
Actress Angelina Jolie is the face that moviegoers will associate with Mariane Pearl, the widow of Wall Street Journal South Asia bureau chief Danny Pearl, who was abducted and brutally murdered by terrorists in January 2002 somewhere near Karachi, Pakistan. But Mariane Pearl’s account will not be overshadowed by the hype that typically accompanies a film featuring a leading lady as popular as Jolie.
The end of innocence
Picture your 12-year-old son sporting an AK-47, pillaging villages in a bloody civil war—not in the safety of home engaged in a computer game or roughhousing in a skirmish with neighborhood pals—this would be the real deal.
Picture your 12-year-old son sporting an AK-47, pillaging villages in a bloody civil war—not in the safety of home engaged in a computer game or roughhousing in a skirmish with neighborhood pals—this would be the real deal.
Prequel is another parable
The word “prequel” is not found in most traditional dictionaries, but it’s become accepted for the past few decades in readers’ and writers’ circles as a coined word meaning that the text portrays characters from a previous narrative, but the actions occurred at an earlier time than the first narrative. Joseph Girzone, author of the 1983 parable, “Joshua,” has penned its prequel nearly 25 years later, calling it “Joshua’s Family.”
The word “prequel” is not found in most traditional dictionaries, but it’s become accepted for the past few decades in readers’ and writers’ circles as a coined word meaning that the text portrays characters from a previous narrative, but the actions occurred at an earlier time than the first narrative. Joseph Girzone, author of the 1983 parable, “Joshua,” has penned its prequel nearly 25 years later, calling it “Joshua’s Family.”