Benita J. Prins

I was delighted to finally get to go straight to the sequel after reading Father Elijah again recently. Thankfully no disappointment was forthcoming; Michael O'Brien is a fantastic author! Elijah in Jerusalem has several of those lightbulb moments which I love finding - "Ack, this in EIJ parallels this in the Bible!!!" This one is faster-paced than its prequel; I finished it in one evening, although that was mostly because I couldn't put it down. The characters were painted with a talent that I as an author can only dream of attaining, and I especially loved the young man in the wheelchair. I was in tears by the end of the book. One I will recommend? YES!

Whilst all three Chronicles of Narnia movie soundtracks are fantastic writing music, I can't write to "Sweet Water" from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I have to stop, close my eyes, and let the glory of it flow through my heart.

This story was definitely interesting. So interesting, in fact, that it was really too short. It could've done with more story; the ending was a little abrupt and left me hanging.

"George, the Second Act" is narrated by a clone of George Washington. He was cloned and raised specifically to become President of the US, but upon his 20th birthday, shut himself up all alone. This story is largely made up of musings on his past life.

The slight disjointedness of the storytelling is perfect for this story. It allowed me to get into the personality of George the 2nd. Merely from the style of writing, I got the idea that he's lonely, feels guilty that he let his 'creator' down, and possibly a little mad.

This was a very well-written story and I would recommend it to anyone who likes short science fiction.

Why not get caught up in the Recommend Away fervour? Here are a few of my own recommendations.

Start to a series: Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

By an author who's written over five books total: The Thirty-nine Steps by John Buchan

Classic Literature: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

In a world with dragons: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Debut book of any author: Starscape by Benita J. Prins

General fantasy: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Series finale: The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

A love story: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (I LOVE this book)

By an author who's dead: all the Jeeves novels by P.G. Wodehouse

Childhood favourite: Penrod by Booth Tarkington

A long book (450 pp minimum): Voyage to Alpha Centauri by Michael O'Brien

I was working the supper shift at the restaurant the other day and served a young couple with a baby girl and a little boy. Now something you should know is that kids receive a free lollipop after their meal is finished…

The mother comes up to the counter with the bill, accompanied by her son of perhaps three years. As she’s working the debit machine, John – the cook and cashier – picks up the bin of lollipops and holds it out to the child.

“How’d you like a sucker?”

The boy emits a slow gasp of disbelief. Then –

“Mummy! A sucker!”

Tentatively, almost as though he thinks it’s a trick, he reaches his hand into the bin and selects one colour, discards it, and takes a different one. He looks up at John with incredulous eyes.

His mother smiles. “Say thank you, sweetie.”

“Thank you,” the boy breathes, before backing towards the family’s table. He turns to face his father.

“Daddy! I got a sucker!” He dances a brief dance of sheer delight. “I finished my dinner, and I got a sucker!”

His parents put his baby sister back into her carseat, and he continues to throw himself about, clutching his lollipop. When they leave, he’s still chortling with joy and exclaiming over it.

As the family goes out the door, he turns around and waves his lollipop to me…

So much joy from just one lollipop! This is definitely something I’ll remember for a long time.

“I had a feeling this book would be interesting based on the author’s likes of certain novels, stories, and authors; but this book was even better than expected, first novel or not. I too love The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings trilogies and other stories of the like, and this book truly fits in with those fantasy adventures. Starscape may not be as long, but it certainly packs a solid punch!

“There is a solid and intriguing plot, well developed multiple storylines that merge together perfectly and a wide range of colorfully detailed characters that made this action-packed, fantasy adventure a real thrill to read! From companionship to fellowship, dark shadows to bright stars, Brave Kings to Dark Lords, adventure to mystery, unique languages to songs of wonder, dragons to odd creatures, this book truly captures what a fantasy adventure novel should be!”

~R.H. Dahl – www.rhdahl.wordpress.com

I watched a fly die this evening. It’s funny – I’ve killed myriads of flies with the swatter, but never before have I seen one die of natural causes. The creature buzzed about a bit on the planks of the deck, then flopped onto its back and lay quite still. It was rather curious to watch it. I wonder what a fly feels like when it’s dying. Or does it feel anything? That question will distract me for a few hours, and then I’ll forget all about the fly.

There’s something on the tree out front of the house. I have no idea what kind of tree it is, but it has bunches of teeny white flowers, almost like a lilac’s save the colour, and the flowers smell simply divine. Anyway, the something looks very like a hummingbird sitting on the twig and sipping from the flowers. I daresay it’s nothing but a stray leaf, yet its shape captured and holds my fancy.

The seven pines at the back of the yard are perfectly still in the sticky evening air. High and dark against the drab sky, they present a striking spectacle. I’m fearfully bad at estimating, but I’ll hazard that they’re perhaps a hundred feet tall. The birds are conducting their customary evening gossip, and I suspect one or two of them are secreted in the pines somewhere.

I’m half nervous it’s going to rain and wet all my work; still, I don’t feel like going inside just yet. It’s so pleasant just to sit here and smell the cedars.

-Mother Teresa

Benita J. Prins

www.benitajprins.wordpress.com