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.
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!
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
As a student of the American Civil War I realized to my shame that I have not one book about the African American experience. Studying military strategy and the life of soldiers kept me from really SEEING this special part of the story. So I thought I would pick up a book. Of course there … Continue reading The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty
"The writer hopes that this little story may be the means of leading those who read it to think and feel deeply upon the truths which it involves, and that many more similar books may be written for our Sabbath Schools, so that the young may grow up imbued with the spirit of liberty, and … Continue reading Aunt Sally: A Narrative of slave life.
Just turned in the manuscript I’ve been writing about the Poletown neighborhood in Detroit for The History Press!! Can’t wait to see it on the shelves!! Time to catch up on my reading and quietly celebrate—alone. .
Of Whales and Men by Dr. R. B. Robertson is a creative nonfiction piece written in the 1950s about the whaling industry and the "psychopaths" that work on the factory ship for 8 months out of the year--every year. Dr. Robertson dubbed all the whalers psychopaths because they chose a life away from civilization, to … Continue reading Of Whales and Men by R. B. Robertson
BRIANNE TURCZYNSKI 