HI THERE! I'M BRIANNE TURCZYNSKI, FREELANCE WRITER, HISTORICAL RESEARCHER, & PERPETUAL SEEKER OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. WELCOME TO MY SPACE WHERE I SHARE THE BOOKS I'M READING, MY SPIRITUAL FINDINGS, FLOWERS IN MY GARDEN, AND LOST STORIES. ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
When I was in college my mom and I stayed up until 4 am watching the TV series of The Thorn Birds on VHS. We binge-watched before there was such a thing! However, she says now that the book is way better. I’m sure it probably is, but how could you not love watching Richard … Continue reading The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
My book released yesterday and it’s already sold out online at Barnes and Noble, Target and Amazon! This came as a shock to me, but a lot of people told me they preordered it. I hope its success will continue, and it pays honorable homage to the neighborhood and the people impacted by its razing. … Continue reading My book Detroit’s Lost Poletown—sold out already?!!
"…'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,'…" (Zechariah 1:3) Zechariah is another prophet. He and the prophet Haggai (see yesterday's post) are both trying to encourage the people to complete Jerusalem's temple, but the people keep getting distracted by other things. Sounds a lot like when God calls us … Continue reading The book of Zechariah
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh…three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more … Continue reading Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this, is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) This first letter from Paul to the Thessalonians was misinterpreted. So he wrote a second letter (2 Thessalonians) to urge them to quit their idleness and get to work as some in the … Continue reading The book of 1 & 2 Thessalonians
St. Dominic is the saint who, according to Catholic writings, was given the vision of the rosary by the Blessed Mother. I’m reading this to delve more into the history of the rosary, but also out of pure interest. I have been studying prayer lately for the class I’m in, centering prayer in particular, which … Continue reading The Life of Saint Dominic
“…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) Anyone out there afraid of the dark? When I was going through a tough time my grief manifested itself in anxiety. As soon as the sun went down the wolf, as I called it, began to hunt me, and I was … Continue reading The books of John
Join me at the table: A Food study into African American history and food culture with Michael W. Twitty. Using the recipes from his book, @thecookinggene traces the food of the enslaved in America and how that food has traveled and morphed through time and the world. Very eye-opening for me. The book traces his … Continue reading Sharing food and stories of the American enslaved with Michael W. Twitty & The Cooking Gene
"For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.” ( 1 Timothy 6:7) . . We came into this world naked. Our souls encapsulated in a body not of our own choosing so we can learn lessons from the journey of that body and it’s DNA, lessons built only … Continue reading The book of 1 Timothy
I had to track this down. It was recommended by Thomas Merton, and I think it led in part to his conversion. F. J. Sheed’s translation is supposed to be the best. I’ve read compared to other translations Sheed kept the words of Saint Augustine alive and breathing, rather than dead. I’m very excited to … Continue reading Confessions of Saint Augustine
BRIANNE TURCZYNSKI 