Rite of Fancy

A short summary of In Cold Blood: Finding and convicting the Clutter killers. My favorite Truman Capote quote from the book: "It is no shame to have a dirty face. The shame comes when you keep it dirty." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Why do people kill? Is there, ever, a psychological justification? My review of the book In Cold Blood: Painstaking detail. Page Turner. Some people are truly sick. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffe...

A short summary of the book Evelyn, After: How Evelyn dealt with the end of her marriage. My favorite Victoria Helen Stone from the book: " Because the truth was that she belonged anywhere she wanted to be, and she was beautiful just for being brave." Questions to ponder while reading Evelyn, After: Have you ever been so upset you turned creepy? Have you ever misjudged a situation? My thoughts about Evelyn, After: Some people really, really, suck. Retaliatory affairs are never helpful. Learn to love you. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson: Rhyming, Emily style. My favorite Emily Dickinson quote from the book: "To be alive is power." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Where do you find heaven? Are you nobody, too? My review of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson: One of my most favorite poets. Recluses can be so deep. I love bread. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

A short summary of Macbeth: The spotty cost of royal aspirations. My favorite quote from the play: "Things without all remedy should be without regard." Questions to ponder while reading Macbeth: How far do your ambitions take you? Do you sleepwalk? My thoughts about Macbeth: (a review) Blood is a hard stain to remove. Never do what you will feel guilty about. Every prophecy comes with a caveat. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!...

A short summary of Antony and Cleopatra: The tragic love affair everyone is still talking about. My favorite William Shakespeare quote from the book: "In time we hate that which we often fear." Questions to ponder while reading Antony and Cleopatra: Have you ever fallen in love with a person who wasn't very good for you? What would you do in the name of love? My review of Antony and Cleopatra: I felt bad for Octavia. The pair were kind of silly, no? I wish I could see Cleopatra's Egypt. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 ...

A short summary of As You Like It: Love in the forest of Arden. My favorite William Shakespeare quote from the play: "Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything." Questions to ponder while reading As You Like It: Is there refuge in Nature? Have you fallen in love with someone who can't love you back? My review of As You Like It: Rosalind/Ganymede is a favorite character. Full of entanglements. Nonsensical by smart. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 spons...

A short summary of the book The Red Tent: Dinah and the parts of her story the bible didn't talk about. My favorite Anita Diamant quote from the book: "Death is no enemy, but the foundation of gratitude, sympathy, and art. Of all life's pleasures, only love owes no debt to death." Questions to ponder while reading The Red Tent: Did you look this up in the Bible? Don't you wish there were more stories about biblical women? My thoughts about The Red Tent: (a review) I had to re-read Dinah's story in Genesis, it isn't long. I love historical fiction. I am thinking of installing a red tent in my backyard. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 g...

A short summary of Beggarman, Thief: Rich Man, Poor Man: The Next Generation. My favorite Irwin Shaw quote from the book: "I don't know where I am. Tomorrow ask for me in the Lost and Found Department." Questions to ponder while reading Beggarman, Thief: Do genetics truly dominate behavior? What would tempt you into collaboration with the enemy? My review of Beggarman, Thief: It is odd how family traits seem to run in families. The closure means everything. It must be good. It was made into a mini-series. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 conside...

A short summary of the book Rich Man, Poor Man: A tale of two brothers. My favorite Irwin Shaw quote from the book: "Look to women for wisdom." Questions to ponder while reading the book: How dysfunctional was your family? Are you a Rudolph or a Thomas? My review of Rich Man, Poor Man: Ah! The fun of family drama. Compellingly real. I felt like such a big kid the first time I read this. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

A short summary of the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: The consequences of callously killing the albatross. My favorite Samuel Taylor Coleridge quote from the poem: "The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things lived on, and so did I." Questions to ponder while reading the poem: What have you done that has irrevocably altered your life? What cruelty have you committed simply because you could? My review of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Ah! The regret of immature actions. Every living being has a purpose. You never know what you will hear if you stop and listen. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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...

A short summary of the book The Year of the Hare: Finding inner peace after a near-fatal Auto-Lagomorpha accident. My favorite Arto Passilinna quote from the book: "Sometimes, life is truly woeful." Questions to ponder while reading the book: What have you done out of remorse? Have you ever wanted to change your life? My review of The Year of the Hare: A weird sort of wandering. I also feel the pull of a simpler life. Maybe rabbits have the answers. (see  Watership Down ) ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 visitin...

A short summary of the book Ariel: The last poems of Plath. My favorite Sylvia Plath quote from the book: "The courage of the shut mouth, in spite of artillery." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Did these poems point to the end? Will Sylvia's exit always taint her work? My review of Ariel: Honest and forthright. Raw and searing. Not your feel-good poetry. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

A short summary of the book The King Tides: "Seal"-ing up some pedophiles. My favorite James Swain quote from the book: "Karma has everyone's address." Questions to ponder while reading the book: How angry would you be at your sister? How long can people function without sleep? My thoughts about The King Tides: (a review) Fast-paced. Fun read. Total Brain Candy. Watch out for internet predators. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or buying me a cup of coffee!

A short summary of the play The Importance of Being Ernest: What's in a name? My favorite Oscar Wilde quote from the play: "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." Questions to ponder while reading the play: Is there anything more fun than a good satire? Should we bring back Bunburying? My review of The Importance of Being Ernest: I bow to Oscar Wilde's great sarcasm. I wish I were so witty. Another play I really want to see live. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop  or bu...

A short summary of the book Basho: The Complete Haiku: Hokku from the Edo Period. My favorite Matsuo Basho quote from the book: "He drinks morning tea. The monk is at peace with all. Chrysanthemums bloom." Questions to ponder while reading Basho: The Complete Haiku: How did these make you feel? Do poems need to be lengthy to contain meaning? My review of  Basho: The Complete Haiku: I love these! So simple, yet so deep. Forever re-readable. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 and  webshop ...

A short summary of the book The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: The title says it all. My favorite Benjamin Franklin quote from the book: " Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations get corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." Questions to ponder while reading the book: Does knowing someone's youth help you understand their adulthood? Would you live your life over again, unchanged? My review of the book The Autobiography of Ben Franklin: Reading about the founding fathers is a must. Explore your interests, use your talents. I snickered like a 12-year-old when I read about his naughty streak. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 ...

A short summary of the book When Breath Becomes Air: My death as a doctor. My favorite Paul Kalanithi quote from the book: "Even if I'm dying, until I actually die, I'm still living." Questions to ponder while reading When Breath Becomes Air: Does medical science strive too hard? What is more important - the quality of life or the quantity of life? My review of the book: One of the best books from the patient's perspective. Medicine can't cure everything. Quality of life is an important consideration in medical decisions. ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her 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 m...