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 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
Currently reading...Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, something I had to read in school but have forgotten much of it. I realize a city scene picture would be more appropriate but i was on the beach so... His writing is fantastic. Everything moves in chaos in the first chapter like he intended, as if the words jump … Continue reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
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
Saw Billy Collins recite his poetry for an audience at Oakland University after he was named Poet Laureate. I fell in love with his work then. Love him still!
Another treasure I bought lately from Thriftbooks.com. I was surprised it came with a dustcover! This was another book recommended by Thomas Merton. This and the Confessions of St. Augustine were both recommended to him by a Hindu Monk, which, as I’ve mentioned before, led in part to his conversion to Catholicism. This copy translated … Continue reading The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
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
A little porch reading and reflection for this beautiful Sunday morning. . Isn’t that cup cute? It’s part of my grandma’s everyday china when she first got married. Cool thing: I started putting coffee in a teapot so I never have to leave my front porch for a refill! Yay
Said to be better than Eugenie Grandet by Balzac himself. This should be a treat! I loved Eugenie Grandet, even featured it in a novella I wrote a couple years ago. Can’t wait to dive into this
The Book of Job is sort of an epic poem. It is the story of a man of devout faith who is very fortunate. But God decides to test him to see if his good fortune is the only thing that has kept him faithful, so he takes away everything from Job. But Job remains … Continue reading The book of Job
BRIANNE TURCZYNSKI 