Rite of Fancy

   Dear Henry, Have you ever heard of the mythological demon called the Lamia?  She is a particularly scary creature amongst the ancient Greek cosmology. Lamia was once the very beautiful queen of Libya, so beautiful, in fact, that she got the attention of the god Zeus, who immediately pursued and seduced her. Of course, getting Zeus's attention also meant she got Hera's. Hera was not inclined to be seductive and instead sought vengeance. Hera took all of Lamia's living children and then forced her to devour the child she was carrying from Zeus.  Hera didn't stop there. She would proceed to force the woman to devour any child she had, from any man, until Lamia finally went mad and no longer needed Hera's to force her own, and soon Lamia would begin searching the country looking for other children after she had run out of her own. She has become something of a bogeyman in Greece and is now closely associated with vampires, succubi, and witches.  Lamia is an easy ...

  A short summary of Altered Carbon: Downloading the data to solve the killer of a suicide. My favorite Richard K. Morgan quote from the book: "The human eye is a wonderful device. With a little effort, it can fail to see even the most glaring injustice." Questions to ponder while reading Altered Carbon: Do you want to live in a broken world forever? Would you pay extra for enhancements if you did? My review of the book: Sci-fi and Noir collide. A new take on the crime-solving theme. I am pretty sure I'm not signing up to be downloaded. **************************************** 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? Ple...

  A short summary of When She Returned: The cost of a mother following a cultish faith. My favorite Lucinda Berry quote from a book: "People only got angry when they were caught doing something wrong." Questions to ponder while reading When She Returned: What beliefs do you cling to? How has your mother hurt you? My review of the book: A very dark tale of motherhood. I couldn't believe it but...... I could totally see it happening. **************************************** 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 cup of coffee...

  A short summary of The Client: Representing the witness of a murder in Memphis. My favorite John Grisham quote from the book: "It's amazing how lies grow." Questions to ponder while reading The Client: Would you take the case? Would you actually go look? My review of the book: Fun and fast-paced. Pure entertainment. We (as a society) should make it easier for single parents. **************************************** 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 cup of coffee!

  A short summary of Needful Things: A town succumbs to the allure of trifles, trinkets, and token payments. My favorite Stephen King quote from the book "Everyone loves something for nothing...even if it costs everything." Questions to ponder while reading Needful Things: What do you really want? What do you do to get it? My review of the book: Buyer beware! A dark tale about wants. Why does he always put something wonky in his books? I didn't get the spider. **************************************** 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...

  A short summary of Crystallizing Public Opinion: The ins and outs of public relations My favorite Edward L. Bernays quote from the book: "Intolerance is almost inevitably accompanied by a natural and try inability to comprehend or make allowances for opposite points of view." Questions to ponder while reading Crystallizing Public Opinion: How much information do you believe from the media? Do you check your facts? My review of the book: Timeless wisdom - Still very relevant The "How" behind publicity. A real eye-opener. **************************************** 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 su...

  A short summary of What the Mystics Know: A down-to-earth guide to finding grace in your daily life. My favorite Richard Rohr quote from the book: "We cannot attain the presence of God because we're already totally in the presence of God. What's absent is awareness." Questions to ponder while reading What the Mystics Know: What clouds your grace? How have circumstances changed you? My review of the book: Contemplative tidbits. Bite-sized enlightenment.  Can't be read quickly but would be great for daily journaling. **************************************** 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 su...

  A short summary of The Power and the Glory: The story of Padre Jose, the whiskey priest. My favorite Graham Greene quote from the book: "Nobody really knew how long a second of pain could be." Questions to ponder while reading The Power and the Glory: Have you ever loved the results of sin? What affects your faith in God? My review of the book: A huge surprise. A good look into Mexico, post-revolution. A great treatise on sin, grace, and redemption. **************************************** 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 buyin...

A short summary of The Hunchback of Notre Dame: The sad story of Esmeralda and Quasimodo. My favorite Victor Hugo quote from the book: "What men arrange, things disarrange." Questions to ponder while reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame: What will be your downfall? How do you define kindness? My review of the  book: Love! Love! Love! The book is much better than the Disney version (although much sadder) Sometimes there isn't a happy ending. **************************************** 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 cup o...

  A short summary of Pray, Decide, and Don't Worry: How to figure out what God's telling you to do. My favorite quote (from Pope Benedict XVI) about discernment: "Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary." Pope Benedict XVI Questions to ponder while reading the book: What do you want to do? Is what you want REALLY what you want? My review of Pray, Decide, and Don't Worry: Based upon St. Ignatius of Loyola's Discernment of Spirits. A good guide for the basics of discernment. Great perspective changer. **************************************** 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 ...

  A short summary of Only Yesterday: Everything you ever wanted to know about the Roaring 20s, including stuff you were afraid to ask. My favorite Fredric Lewis Allen quote from the book: "A time of revolution, however, is an uneasy time to live in." Questions to ponder while reading Only Yesterday: Are you a capitalist? Do you own any stock? My review of the book: An older history book that aged very well. Well written and easy to read. Thorough and in-depth. **************************************** 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...

  A short summary of This Magnificient Dappled Sea: The search and secrets of saving a sick child. My favorite David Brio quote from the book: "When anything and everything goes, there are no real values, no definite right and wrong." Questions to ponder while reading This Magnificent Dappled Sea: What would you do to save a child? What secrets do you have? My review of the book: I fell in love with the characters. I fell in love with the story. I felt like the loose ends could have been tied better. **************************************** 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 vi...

  A short summary of Letter to a Suffering Church: The title says it all. My favorite Bishop Robert Barron quote from the book: "The Devil works typically through suggestion, insinuation, temptation, and seduction. He is essentially powerless until he finds men and women who will cooperate with him." Questions to ponder while reading Letter to a Suffering Church: Can evil people destroy something good? What would affect your religious beliefs? My review of the book: A necessary read for anyone "angry with the Catholic church." Theologically and historically detailed. Pedophiles are evil creatures that will do whatever they can to gain power and destroy people, including debasing the priesthood. We can't allow evil to destroy our church. **************************************** 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 revi...

 A short summary of Someday the Rabbi Will Leave: Rabbi Small's thoughts regarding his resignation, marriage, and murder. My favorite Harry Kemelman quote from the book: "Whatever you do, don't argue. You won't change anybody's mind and you'll be wasting time, losing the chance to speak to someone else." Questions to ponder while reading Someday the Rabbi Will Leave: Is it ever ok to bend the rules? Should a church have politics? My review of the book: Fun little mystery. Full of surprises. Factions shouldn't exist in a church. **************************************** 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 consi...

A short summary of Katherine: The story of Katharine Swynford, the mistress-then-wife of John of Gaunt. My favorite Anya Seton quote from the book: "Tis easy to hate, lady dear, when you be poor and starving." Questions to ponder while reading Katherine: What makes a person noble? What makes a family? My review of Katherine: An engrossing bit of medieval history. Solidly researched. Historical fiction at its finest. **************************************** 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 cup of coffee!

A short summary of The Great Santini: The story of the life and standards of Colonel Meecham My favorite Pat Conroy quote from the book: "There's nothing character building in doing something where there is no struggle." Questions to ponder while reading The Great Santini: What is discipline? How do you feel about your father? My review of the book: A dysfunctional family done military style. A favorite author. A great pick for a book club. **************************************** 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 cup of co...

  A short summary of The Shack: Revisiting a murder scene with the help of God. My favorite William Paul Young quote from the book: "Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears." Questions to ponder while reading The Shack: Who can't you forgive? How do you see God? My review of the book: I loved that the Holy Spirit collects tears. I loved that God was not a man. I loved the explanation of forgiveness.  **************************************** 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 cup of coffee!