In all fairness, this is a book about three women (one in particular) who had an enormous influence on me, written and edited by two more women, who IIn all fairness, this is a book about three women (one in particular) who had an enormous influence on me, written and edited by two more women, who I have the great honor to call friend. I'm not exactly unbiased here.
Cathy Hass Riley has graciously opened up her private thoughts and writings to allow readers a glimpse of life with Elizabeth Chapin Patterson, Kitty Davy, and Margaret Craske, women who left their lives in the west to follow the Spiritual Master Meher Baba. Elizabeth eventually returned to the US, where, under Baba's directive, she and Princess Norina Machabelli found the land that would become the Meher Center, a retreat for rest, meditation, and renewal of the spiritual life in Myrtle Beach, SC. Later, joined by British-born Kitty, Elizabeth continued to run the center. Margaret, who was at that time dancing and teaching ballet in New York, would come and stay at Dilruba, Elizabeth's home near the Center. As the women aged, a group of younger women helped them out at Dilruba. Cathy, and her editor Lois Breger, were a major portion of that group.
At one point in my life, I was fortunate enough to be able to assist Kitty in some small ways over several years, and to accompany her on a trip to India. Interestingly enough (and kind of humbling), the times I was of service to her were the times Cathy was away, so there's absolutely no mention of any of it at all in the book. My story is small, but Cathy's service covered years, and it's a privilege to be able to walk with her, through her written words, to learn the art and grace of service to others, as well as gain glimpses into the life, experience, and memories of three women who devoted their lives to Meher Baba.
Thank you, Cathy, for bringing back dear Kitty so vividly. I have read this book slowly so as to savor your words, and open up that vault of my own experiences, to re-examine, learn, and grow from them, as I have from your sharing of your days at Dilruba. It’s somehow not surprising that these three women continue to advise and teach, through your stories, though they’ve been gone from us so long.
When fairy tales go dark-- Great story. You won't meet any familiar folks here, but the glimpses of a new circle of tales, and how the story plays outWhen fairy tales go dark-- Great story. You won't meet any familiar folks here, but the glimpses of a new circle of tales, and how the story plays out is good, as was the writing in general. ...more
About a year ago, we tried to listen to this book by jury-rigging cables and wires to get a smart-phone to play through a stupid car stereo system. ItAbout a year ago, we tried to listen to this book by jury-rigging cables and wires to get a smart-phone to play through a stupid car stereo system. It was a long road trip and we wanted to listen to some Jo Nesbø. I hold this book directly responsible for us buying a new car with Car Play on it and then our subsequent car trip up the east coast, to Canada, and back. The book kept us going on the drive north, but it took 2.5 more books to get us home again. We both love the Harry Hole series, and other books by Nesbø. This did not disappoint. Of note: more references to Nesbø's other world in music. Also, for the first time in our 34 years of marriage, we discussed plot angles and possibilities as the book was winding up. Good stuff....more
It took me a surprising amount of time to find the rhythm of this book. But I liked the premise of an old folks home for writers, staffed by broken soIt took me a surprising amount of time to find the rhythm of this book. But I liked the premise of an old folks home for writers, staffed by broken souls. And the idea of muses that inspired them in the past and present helping to shape a story shared by many (though initially it was that shared story that drew me in finally, before the main narration did.)
Anyhow, it was an interesting concept, even if I was distracted mid read by other books so that it took me a while to finish it. I ultimately liked it, but didn't love it, hence the star rating..
Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for sending a copy of the book my way. ...more
I've read the Wayward Children books in a topsy turvy manner, starting with Down Among the Sticks and Bones, then Every Heart a Doorway (I actually boI've read the Wayward Children books in a topsy turvy manner, starting with Down Among the Sticks and Bones, then Every Heart a Doorway (I actually bought another book with a similar title thinking it was this one, and by the time I figured it out, had "Sticks and Bones" in my hands so read that first). The only one I've read in order is this, and I'm so glad I did, because it answered a lot of questions I had from Down Among the Sticks and Bones.
Children disappear for a number of reasons, some nefarious, some with an element of magic. That there are doorways between worlds is accepted, thanks to wardrobes, subtle knives, portals, and other devices so many of us have come across in literature. (I personally believe books are gateways, too, but that's another story.) Sometimes those of us who leave one world and enter another can stay there, sometimes we come back for one reason or another, sometimes we long to return to that other place-- to find the doorway to take us back. Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, provides a place for those wishing to return to their new world from their home world of Earth, or wait for a new door to open.
In the second book in the series, we were introduced to Eleanor West's home and some of the students living there. This book doesn't exactly take up where that one left off, though it does take place after in time. What it does do is focus on some of the other students, peripheral in the original story, and weave a story where they go on a rescue mission, taking them to a couple of other worlds.
Again, a fascinating story -- one which proves there is a place for each of us, and that maybe it's true: those who live in gingerbread houses seem to have cold, cruel hearts.
The book is due out in January 2018, I believe.
Thanks to friends at Tor for sending me this advanced readers copy. You're the best!...more
A pretty awesome wrap-up to a series that had both real history and fantasy to it. And did I mention it's partially set in Petra? Good stuff.
As a perA pretty awesome wrap-up to a series that had both real history and fantasy to it. And did I mention it's partially set in Petra? Good stuff.
As a person who is fascinated by what has gone on before on this earth, the historical aspect of this book really grabbed me. It's not surprising because Michael Livingston knows how to tell a tale, whether it's in a university classroom, a convention for fantasy geeks, or, so I'm told by some who have heard him, an auditorium of medieval historians. He's taken his phenomenal breadth of knowledge about the days of the Roman empire, and woven a tale of mystery, suspense, added a pinch of loyalty, a dash of romance, some bad arse demons, and a healthy dash of the fantastic, then tucked it nicely around the elements of history as we know it (what is known in the trade as a "secret history".)
The Realms of God is the third, and final installation in a trilogy that starts in the times of Cleopatra (with some throw-back in the book and in a companion piece to the days of Alexander the Great) and finds its conclusion in the dusty stones of Petra. (Yeah, that Petra, which you probably remember from Indiana Jones and the something or other.) And if you're thinking that maybe Roman history isn't your thing, I've given the first book in the series to several non-history loving friends, who not only read it, but eagerly pre-ordered book 2 and 3 (which is pretty much what my history loving friends, also gifted book 1, did. I'm seriously mystified why this series wasn't marketed both as historical fiction/mystery and fantasy, but that's a complete other tangent.)
Bottom line. Read the trilogy. And if you're like I am, you'll be looking for the secret histories, hidden away in our past, everywhere. The only thing that could have made this book better for me would be if it was inscribed by the author. (Hint. hint, Michael Livingston. I could have bought a kindle version, but got the hard-copy so I can have a full inscribed set.)...more
Miracles, magical realism, love, owls, and even a little Elvis. What's not to love? And I have a signed copy, with a very cool owl bookplate. Yay!Miracles, magical realism, love, owls, and even a little Elvis. What's not to love? And I have a signed copy, with a very cool owl bookplate. Yay!...more
What a stupendous collection of columns from the New York Times Travel section! It's a literary tour around the world. The first thing I did was to peWhat a stupendous collection of columns from the New York Times Travel section! It's a literary tour around the world. The first thing I did was to peruse the table of contents to see which of the books I had read. Some of my favorites are there, so it was an added delight to enrich my impressions with more details of location, author, and story. Some of the columns I'd read in the Times, other were new to me. Additional bonus? I was able to add a couple of books to my "want to read" list.
Many thanks to Blogging for Books, the publisher, and the travel writers and editors of the New York Times for providing me with such marvelous armchair traveling....more
What a delightful find this secret history* was! Winawer drew me in from the get-go, much thanks to her other gig as a hysician-scientist and AssociatWhat a delightful find this secret history* was! Winawer drew me in from the get-go, much thanks to her other gig as a hysician-scientist and Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University. So often, I find myself rolling my eyes at medical stuff in fantasy books, but this author's biological psychology, medicine, and epidemiology chops pay off and the book is chock full of accuracy. I'm a sucker for time travel, and for mystery, and this is loaded with it all. All set in one of my favorite cities on earth. Win!
*My friend, Dr Michael Livingston, a distinguished scholar (English, History, Medieval Studies) tells me that a secret history is a story which may have a bit of the fantastic in it, and takes place in and around actual recorded events, without altering the known history because of the events in the story. He should know, because not only is he that distinguished scholar I mentioned, but he has authored a secret history trilogy, The Shards of Heaven, being the first book, that takes place in, around, before, and after the time of Cleopatra.
I'd been looking forward to reading this memoir, but wow-- I was not prepared for how good it actually was. With so much of the news this past year orI'd been looking forward to reading this memoir, but wow-- I was not prepared for how good it actually was. With so much of the news this past year or so being of the elections here, I had trouble watching the news, (even The Daily Show became too much for me) so my interactions with Noah have been limited. This book, however, confirmed that he is, indeed, a remarkable man, raised by a remarkable woman, and gave me a window into yet another slice of South Africa. I've already retold at least 4 of the stories to different people.
(For some reason, I am not getting stars to do a star rating. I would say 4.5, but would round up to a 5 in the rating and add a tag that I did so.)...more
My first book of the year and, holy moly! If the rest of the 2017 books follow trend, it's gonna be a hella good year! The early reviews haven't liedMy first book of the year and, holy moly! If the rest of the 2017 books follow trend, it's gonna be a hella good year! The early reviews haven't lied. Amberlough truly does bring the reader a plate filled with espionage, intrigue, panache,and passion, with a dash of cabaret life, thrown in. I hope there's a sequel, but give me time to grow my finger nails back (or to break my nail biting habit.) (Though I will admit, that as I started the book, there were some similarities between current political happenings and the happenings in the book, which, when the manuscript was being written weren't in evidence, that made me a little nervous. Then the story just grabbed me and didn't let go.)
A proper review coming when 1) I'm feeling better (started the new year sick. Am hoping this means it only gets better) and 2) am caught up on other reviews, also pending.
To the author: blame your editor for sending me your way, but you turned me into a fangirl all on you own....more
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