Rite of Fancy

A short summary of the book Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis - A Life: Poise during a public tragedy. My favorite Jackie Kennedy Onassis quote from the book: "One must not let oneself be overwhelmed with sadness." Questions I pondered while reading Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: Why do we require public figures to share so much of their life? How does one develop that type of poise? My thoughts about Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: Jackie is the queen of "Keep Calm and Carry On." Lots of information. Lots of heartbreak. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Plea...

A short summary of the book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother: American parenting done Chinese-style strict. My favorite Amy Chua quote from the book: "Everything I’ve ever done that’s valuable is something I was afraid to try." Questions I pondered while reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother: Do we demand too much or too little from our children? Is it possible to enjoy what I can't do well? My review of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother: Controversy-free books are boring. Do we really have any right to judge the parenting styles of another parent? I'm sure  I was NOT the parent of the year so there are no stones being thrown here. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everyda...

A short summary of the book Prince of Tides: What Tom learned about himself during his sister's breakdown. My favorite Pat Conroy quote from the book: "Violence sends deep roots into the heart, it has no seasons, it is always ripe, evergreen."  Questions I pondered while reading Prince of Tides: Is creativity the cause of or the result of mental illness? Is it possible to completely recover from a tragedy? My thoughts Prince of Tides: Dysfunction makes good stories, not happy ones. Family secrets should be shared with one another. Your past can haunt you forever. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  sh...

A short summary of the book The Grapes of Wrath: The humanity of abject poverty. My favorite John Steinbeck quote from the book: "When a majority of people are hungry and cold, they will take by force what they need." Questions I pondered while reading The Grapes of Wrath: Are there more opportunities for the poor now? Are the poor still as dehumanized? My review of The Grapes of Wrath: People shouldn't go hungry. Wages should be fair. It is wrong to take advantage of your employees. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my w...

A short summary of the book Twelve Years a Slave: The title says it all. My favorite Solomon Northup quote from the book: "What difference is there in the color of the soul." Questions I pondered while reading Twelve Years a Slave: Where exactly did this slavery BS start? Why is brutality so effective in dehumanization? My review of the book: This is a very harsh read. This is a very important read. Everyone needs to read it so it doesn't get repeated. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting m...

A short summary of the book Those Who Save Us: Learning to live with my mother's wartime activities. My favorite Jenna Blum quote from the book: "Who among us is not stained by the past."  Questions I pondered while reading Those Who Save Us: What would I have done? Can anyone survive a regime without damaging their soul? My thoughts about Those Who Save Us: Since no one knows what they would do or how they would act, judging others is dumb. I was horrified to think that this could have happened. WWII and Nazi Germany were very dark times for the world. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethe...

A short summary of the book I am Malala: The story of a young woman's fight for her education, before and after a Taliban attack. My favorite Malala Yousafzai quote from the book: "Don't be afraid - if you are afraid, you can't move forward" Questions to ponder while reading I am Malala: How can we encourage equality in education? How can we end disagreements without violence? My review of I am Malala: Malala is a brave young woman, and we need more women like her. I am glad she shared her tale and could bridge the cultural gaps with it. A very engrossing book and one that will stir up a lot of feelings. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photo...

A short summary of the book The Immortals: Internment camps, virus style, all because of a post, and everyone panicked. My favorite Tracy Hickman quote from the book: "People can only make decisions based upon what they know." Questions I pondered while reading the book: When have internment camps ever been a good idea? Shouldn't important decisions be based on more than a tweet? My review of The Immortals: This could so happen. We need to research media posts. Internment camps are always and forever a NO-GO. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please...

A short summary of the book Gentleman's Agreement: Exposing anti-semitism by pretending Semitic ancestry. My favorite Laura Z. Hobson quote from the book: "We are born in innocence - corruption comes later." Questions I pondered while reading Gentleman's Agreement: Should silence be considered bad manners? Why do we fear what is different? My thoughts about Gentleman's Agreement: Great read on the subtle art of biotry. How often was I silent? I won't be again. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors...

A short summary of the book Wishful Drinking: Hi! My name is Carrie and I am an addict with a mental illness. My favorite Carrie Fisher quote from the book: "In my opinion, a problem derails your life and an inconvenience is not being able to get a nice seat on the un-derailed train." Questions I pondered while reading Wishful Drinking: If one in four people have a mental illness - why are they such a secret? Doesn't everyone have at least one vice? My review of Wishful Drinking: It takes courage to put hats on your skeletons and invite them to dance. Bonus points to Carrie for making the dance funny. I really appreciate her work, even if she wasn't entirely sober. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biogra...

A short summary of Hidden in Plain Sight: Theoretical physics for everyone. My favorite Andrew Thomas quote from the book: "As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance." Questions I pondered while reading Hidden in Plain Sight: Do we really need to learn how to "do" science to learn it? How do we encourage more smart people to write guides like this? My review of Hidden in Plain Sight: I have science envy but not science talent. I always wanted to "get it". Now I "get" more than I did. (He writes some pretty engaging science) **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at ...

A short summary of the book The 39 Steps: Espionage and assassinations, British style. My favorite John Buchan quote from the book: "A fool tried to look different. A clever man looks the same and is different." Questions I pondered while reading The 39 Steps: How much would I do for my country? Does a story need to be plausible to be entertaining? My thoughts about The 39 Steps: Spies! Drama! Brain-Candy! **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroads.com #TaketheBackRoads Like my page? Please consider supporting my work by visiting my sponsors, my  webshop , or by buying me a cu...

A short summary of the book The Beautiful and The Damned: Drinking until disinheritance. My favorite F. Scott Fitzgerald quote from the book: "Intelligence is a mere instrument of circumstances." Questions I pondered while reading The Beautiful and the Damned: The Fitzgerald question - What does one do with oneself when one has nothing to do? Does self-absorption cause laziness or vice-versa? My review of The Beautiful and The Damned: The fun of rich people's problems. Miss Gloria is a girl after my own heart.  I want to lay around, read, and dream and think while an imaginary servant brings me lemonades and tomato sandwiches. I just want my own money too. **************************************** a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to the travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biograp...