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.
I help my son with his math a lot these days, sometimes I feel like it’s my job while they are remote. It works out because I’m also confused so it boosts his confidence and he gets to teach me a lot of the time. But in between problems I whittle. I’m almost done with … Continue reading Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community
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
Hog Island and Detroit’s Park Question: A brief history of Belle Isle! Please let me know if link doesn't work! 🤦Thank you! Click the link above to read my latest article for Planet Detroit! 📸 credit: Library of Congress
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
I first heard about this book from the film Sister Act 2 when I was younger, but I was reminded about it when I watched both Sister Act 1 &2 the other night with my kids to show them the great musical performances. Don’t make fun! These movies are great! 😄 Anyway now my son … Continue reading Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Today I’d like to remember Robert Murray M’cheyne who gives so much richness and truth in this letters and sermons, which thanks to Andrew Bonar, M’Cheyne’s good friend, we now have this Presbyterian Reverend’s entire collection of writings, sermons, and letters—his “remains”. I come back to his work time and again because his words are … Continue reading The Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne
I read A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis on the car ride home from our vacation. Felt like a journey or a walk with Lewis himself. Written after the death of his wife, a Grief Observed began as his journal to work things out, but he thought it might help others cope with their … Continue reading A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
My natural history piece was published for Planet Detroit News—The Mysterious Origin of Detroit’s Jesuit Pear. I love Michigan’s pioneer history. I could write pieces like this forever!! https://planetdetroit.org/2020/07/the-mysterious-origins-of-detroits-jesuit-pear-tree/ 📸 : Library of Congress
Finished it over the weekend. It was so good! I could have done without part one, but I guess it was useful to see how far he came from not giving any thought to the existence of God to becoming a Trappist monk. Wish I were still reading it. Merton is an excellent teacher, I … Continue reading Thomas Merton: The Seven Storey Mountain
We are halfway through the Bible! Since the Fall of 2019, I have been writing really brief reviews of the books of the Bible. They are my own contemplative thoughts that no one has to agree with, but I hope speak only truth and leave room for your own contemplation. The order I have been … Continue reading Halfway through the Bible. If you’re on Instagram follow this hashtag!
BRIANNE TURCZYNSKI 