In the calendar of certain western Christian religions — most notably the Roman Catholic and Anglican denominations — ember days are times of prayer and fasting that occur four times during the year, on the successive Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at the beginning of the four seasons of the church year. They are intended as […]
“Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast” by Matt Williams
November 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Evie Diaz and Donna Meredith Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast (University of Kentucky Press 2024) contains stunning, captivating photography. Through the lens of patient and skilled photographer Matt Williams, we are able to view the eye-catching subjects of this book in great detail. Fifty birds are covered in the […]
Read of the Month: “Hotel Impala” by Pat Spears
November 6, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The devastating effects of mental illness on a family become appalling clear in talented author Pat Spear’s latest novel, Hotel Impala (Twisted Road 2024). Leah’s drastic mood swings bring complete chaos to the lives of her two children—teenage Grace and grade-schooler Zoey—and her husband Daniel. Chaos is not even the worst result of Leah’s instability. […]
Read of the Month: “Without You Here” by Jody Hobbs Hesler
November 6, 2024 by Leave a Comment
With achingly beautiful prose, Jody Hobbs Hesler explores mental illness and the devastating effects of suicide on family members left behind in her novel Without You Here (Flexible Press: 2024). Complicated family dynamics and a troubled marriage are also important themes that make this story set in the Virginia mountains unforgettable. The timeline shifts frequently […]
“A Happier Life” by Kristy Woodson Harvey
November 4, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This is Kristy Woodson Harvey’s eleventh novel. An avid follower of hers, I love this book. I love it the best of all of her books so far; of course I may have said that once or twice before when her previous new ones came out. A Happier Life (Gallery Books 2024) is the story […]
“The Butterfly Cage: Joy, Heartache, and Corruption: Teaching While Deaf in a California Public School” by Rachel Zemach
October 23, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Kelly Kolodny Educational, compelling, and deeply personal. These words describe Rachel Zemach’ poignant and beautifully written memoir, The Butterfly Cage: Joy, Heartache, and Corruption: Teaching While Deaf in a California Public School (Paper Angel Press 2023). In her book, Zemach chronicles her career as a Deaf teacher—work she portrays as joyful, intriguing, and at […]