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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
barbjan10 has commented on (3) products
Matter of Heart
by
Tracie Peterson
barbjan10
, October 22, 2014
It came as a delightful surprise when I remembered that I had already read the first book in this Lone Star Brides Series, “A Sensible Arrangement.” Now, having read the third book of this series, I definitely want to read the second book, “Moment in Time.” Tracie’s well-honed prose that mixes mystery, romance, and humor during the late 1800’s creates a fascinating read. Jessica Atherton seems to be left behind when all her friends have married and having babies. Jessica had imagined herself married to a wealthy handsome man and living a life of luxury in a large city. She feels the sting of rejection from the man she had planned to marry, Robert Barnett, who married another. She ponders why and decides the reason might be her own behavior toward others. She realizes she is tactless, hurtful to others, spoiled and selfish and begins to work on changing herself. The first of Tracie’s story is a bit slow until Jessica decides a change is in order and things begin to happen. Jessica feels she is being pitied during a gathering of friends and family at her parent’s home in Texas. She could barely handle Robert Barnett arriving with his wife Alice and new baby. She thought to herself “that baby should be mine.” Inadequate is how she felt when she overheard comments being made. Her own mother had urged her to draw closer to God and forget about her beauty. She thought her mother simply did not understand ��" no one did. It wasn’t as though she had not had suitors; she had turned down several proposals. We meet widower Austin Todd in the middle of a reoccurring nightmare. He feels responsible for the deaths of his wife Grace, his stillborn baby, and his brother. He sees them all in his dream plus the disapproving and accusing eyes of his mother and father. He was a cattle inspector for the Texas Rangers and had formerly worked in Washington D.C. for the Treasury Department’s Secret Service. Ironically, Robert Barnett was the first to visit him with an invitation to a gathering on the Barnett Ranch. Robert’s father had plans to build a railroad spur and a new town and wanted Austin Todd to be the Marshall. The Barnett gathering is where Jessica and Austin meet for the first time ��" pleasantly aware of each other, but afterward Austin kept his distance. Another newcomer to this large cattle area is handsome attorney Harrison Gable. He immediately is attracted to Jessica, but there is something about him that seemed untrustworthy. Jessica is drawn to Harrison, but really cares for Austin. Now everything begins to get a bit messy ��" a lot of iniquitous and mysterious happenings need Austin to investigate. Some characters and situations have been carried through both novels in this series that I have read. A Matter of Heart brings them altogether through this gifted author’s pen. Ms. Peterson concludes this series cleverly and artfully. You will enjoy the warm feelings tendered and watch a young woman face challenges that will renew her faith and maturity. It is almost impossible for me to conceive the numerous books Tracie Peterson has composed…..she is definitely creating a reputation for herself! (Notice the pun…..Jessica certainly made a new reputation for herself) Now, go buy the series and see for yourself how Ms. Peterson can entertain you. I was provided this book by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing for my honest review. I have not received any compensation.
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River
by
Beverly Lewis
barbjan10
, October 18, 2014
Unsure of what the title “The River” had to do with an Amish story, my choice to read this book was easily made when I saw Beverly Lewis was the author. This story is written with twists and turns different from other Amish writings. The Point of View was about two Amish sisters who had left Eden Valley, Lancaster, Pennsylvania before their baptisms to live the “fancy” life ��" in the English world. The Conestoga River plays its part as the location where little sister Anna drowned one July afternoon leaving behind broken emotions on the entire family. Tilly blamed herself that she was unable to save Anna and locked her feelings deeply within. Tilly left her plain life behind ��" the memories of Anna’s drowning still raw and real. She couldn’t face seeing the Conestoga every day. She moved to Rockport, Massachusetts and eventually married Kris and gave birth to twin daughters, Jenya and Tavani. Tilly’s younger sister Ruth left for different reasons two years after Tilly. Will Kauffman had been courting her for a couple of years and suddenly jilted her. With damaged emotions Ruth sought Tilly’s help to move to Massachusetts. In 1977, eight years since Tilly had left; the Amish family was planning an anniversary celebration for their parents, Lester and Sylvia Lantz. An older brother Melvin wrote a note to Tilly about their plans. Tilly and Ruth decided to ignore the invitation and not attend ��" until Melvin called Ruth and told her of the recent news that their father was very ill and needed a pacemaker. They reluctantly decided to go for the four day weekend. They were apprehensive about being accepted and dreading their time in Eden Valley for different reasons. For reasons unknown to Tilly, she and her father batted heads constantly and no love shown in Daed’s sternness toward Tilly. Ruth did not want to see Will. Particularly because she had a new love interest in her life, Jim Montgomery who was quite active in the church she and Tilly had joined. Ruth planned to stay in her parent’s home, but Tilly decided it was best to stay with her favorite Uncle Abner and Aunt Naomi. The large Lantz family spread over Eden Valley included twins Melvin and Joseph, Chester, Sam and his wife Josie who had been Tilly’s best friend. The reunion did not go well at first mainly for Tilly ��" but wait ��" there is plenty to come!! Tilly had kept Anna’s kapp without telling her Mamm and decided she needed to risk the telling of that secret. It seems everyone had secrets and I wondered how the web would ever be unwound. Ruth sees Will again and resists him at first, but finally joins him for a meeting at his insistence. Uh oh, would she be tempted to return to the plain life? You will need to find that out by reading the book. Unresolved issues and relationships continue to plague all concerned. It is not as though the sisters forgot the values and good upbringing they had, they remembered and still kept a deep faith In God. Unexpected circumstances complicated life even further when Daed had an attack and needed to spend time in the hospital. The sisters found out that their parent’s property had been deeded to Sam and plans were to move their Mamm and Daed into the Dawdy house. They decided to stay a week longer to help. Tilly moves to her parent’s house and sleeps in the Anna’s room where nothing had been changed since her death. It was there that Tilly discovered a box which holds a long kept secret. Now I must stop, because I’ll be telling you the entire story. Let me just add that I felt much anger at the father for his treatment of Tilly. I speak from experience of a relationship close to me where the father treated his step-daughter in that manner. It is impossible to tolerate ��" only constant prayer will help. I was also angry with Mamm for allowing it. The truth will shock you, but good things begin to happen when God takes over. Ms. Lewis has indeed written a very intriguing story and I am thankful from a personal standpoint to have read it. There were some parts of the book that I deemed unnecessary to the story. Overall it was excellent and I congratulate Beverly Lewis for still coming through with new ideas after the numerous novels she has written. I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
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A Light in the Wilderness
by
Kirkpatrick, Jane
barbjan10
, September 27, 2014
Jane Kirkpatrick is a phenomenal writer to pen such fiction from truth into a beautiful work of art. This “truth is stranger than fiction” novel takes place during the 1800’s, following a harrowing wagon train venture from Missouri to Oregon. A personal note here ��" I am well acquainted with the areas of Oregon Ms. Kirkpatrick wrote about, which brought visual enjoyment during my reading. Letitia is a strong black woman, full of wisdom and dreams. Her dream of freedom from the buckles of slavery is ongoing, even though she received her papers of freedom in Kentucky. Frankly, prejudice against the color of one’s skin is abhorrent to me ��" I’ve never understood slavery. Letitia will not be stopped! The reader will discover immediately that this courageous young woman turns the other cheek to adversity and faces life with everything within her. Recently, I read in an interview with Jane Kirkpatrick that the wedding scene between Letitia (Tish) and Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant, had to be discreet and meaningful considering they were breaking the law. The wedding was sweet and joyful, even a bit of humorous relief when a Jewish peddler happened upon the scene, including stomping on the glass as is done in Jewish weddings. This is one of my favorite scenes. Davey was kind to Tish, although he was of a male mind of that time period. Soon after, a thorn begins in Tish’s side when Davey’s grown son appears in the picture, jealous, hateful, and prejudiced. He does not stick around long when he decides to take another route to Oregon. Another constant thorn in her side is Greenberry Smith, mean spirited and murderous, intent on making Tish’s life miserable. Tish wants Davey to draw up a paper willing his property to her and her children should he become deceased. He is reluctant because he does not know how to read and write, a fact he keeps to himself. He finally comes up with something that appeases Tish for the time being. Among the characters is the dearly loved milking cow Charity that Tish owns, in whom she can safely confide, and does so many times. Tish is pregnant when the trek to Oregon begins. She is mid-wife to many, but alone when her baby daughter Martha is born. The children love her as she entertains them with great stories. Her closest friend is Nancy Hawkins, a quilter who treasures the loom made for her by her husband. The determination and inner strength of the women on the wagon train amazes me…I can scarcely comprehend their depth. It is difficult to be succinct about this beautiful story. One of the impractical events that occurred was when Davey inadvertently lost Tish’s freedom papers and his document. Tish had hidden them in a flour barrel that Davey exchanged for a full barrel. But Tish was to find out within time that the document Davey made up was of no value ��" which she felt a betrayal on his part. Finally, Tish made it to Oregon City alone. Davey met her there after helping with other matters regarding the wagon train. Davey did not stay around much, as he got gold rush fever and headed to California several times. Settling in Oregon reveals much more ��" Tish found joy in meeting a Kalapuya Indian woman named Betsy and her grandson. Davey and Tish had a baby son, Adam born around 1853. Davey, Jr. enters the picture again in Oregon, causing her frustration. Hardship is a daily word, but Letitia’s trust and faith in God were chiefly imperative to getting through each day. Letitia’s valor brought her through a lawsuit with a white man over her property. She was known as one of the first free black slaves to enter Oregon. I enjoyed Ms. Kirkpatrick’s novel because of the history and culture of the 1800’s. This free child of God is definitely the Light in the Wilderness. Thank you to Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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