A Song on the End of the World Poem

On the day the world ends
A bee circles a clover,
A fisherman mends a glimmering net.
Happy porpoises jump in the sea,
By the rainspout young sparrows are playing
And the snake is gold-skinned as it should always be.

On the day the world ends
Women walk through the fields under their umbrellas,
A drunkard grows sleepy at the edge of a lawn,
Vegetable peddlers shout in the street
And a yellow-sailed boat comes nearer the island,
The voice of a violin lasts in the air
And leads into a starry night.

And those who expected lightning and thunder
Are disappointed.
And those who expected signs and archangels' trumps
Do not believe it is happening now.
As long as the sun and the moon are above,
As long as the bumblebee visits a rose,
As long as rosy infants are born
No one believes it is happening now.

Only a white-haired old man, who would be a prophet
Yet is not a prophet, for he's much too busy,
Repeats while he binds his tomatoes:
No other end of the world will there be,
No other end of the world will there be.


-Czeslaw Milosz, A Song on the End of the World

To Win Her Heart Book Review

Title: To Win Her Heart.

Author: Karen Witemeyer.

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humorous.

Plot: Levi Grant has just been released from a stay in prison after an unintentionally crime had landed him there, and derailed all his youthful plans for the future. Feeling tarnished yet hoping and praying for a new future, Levi puts his trust in God and travels to a small town where no one knows about his past so he can start anew. Having learned the trade of blacksmithing from his father before he went astray, Levi now recalls to mind the skills of his past and agrees to a trial-run to convince the leaders of Spencer, Texas that he has what it takes to do the job. But trouble still finds him and more often than not, in arrives in the form of Eden Spencer.

After a bad break-up with a dishonest man who almost married her, Eden has swore off men and spends her time running the small lending library out of her home and representing her father in the little town. Constantly butting heads with the banker, Mr. Draper, and fending off the unwanted attentions of the sheriff, Mr. Pratt, Eden isn’t prepared for how she starts feeling whenever Levi comes around to her library to borrow a book. Daring to hope she’s finally found an honorable man, she begins exchanging letters with Levi. But when she learns the truth about his past, Eden fairly flies out the window and shuts herself off from everyone, especially Levi.

Likes/Dislikes: With a cast of well-drawn characters that include a girl named Chloe, a fiery Scotsman named Duncan, and of course, our heroes and villains, Ms. Witemeyer weaves a wonderful story of forgiveness, hope and relying on the Lord. While the beginning started off a bit slow for me, I did find this to be overall a very engaging fun story. I cheered for the heroes and booed the villains. I didn’t much care for Eden however, as she seemed very judgmental and rather full of herself at times. I loved how they get to know each other by hiding letters in books. All in all, a good clean afternoon read.

Rating: PG-15 and up.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Girl in the Gatehouse Book Review

Title: The Girl in the Gatehouse.

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humorous, Regency England.

Plot: After committing a fatal mistake that shatters her reputation, Mariah Aubrey is banished from her childhood home, separated from her mother and younger sister. With only faithful Susan Dixon as her companion, Mariah travels to a distant aunt’s house and takes up residence, in secret, in the gatehouse that no one uses anymore. Slowly, she begins to make new friends in her strange new surroundings, beginning with the gardener, her aunt’s manservant Martin, the children from the nearby poorhouse, two elderly sisters who brighten Mariah’s darkest days, and the new resident of the estate, Captain Matthew Bryant.

Her aunt having suddenly passed away and her suspicious cousin in need of money, he leases the estate to the naval captain who enters the estate thinking of the girl who broke his heart so long ago. Determined to reclaim her, he is not prepared to be so intrigued by the mysterious girl living in the gatehouse. As the two become friends and Mariah’s secret novel writing begins to take off, scandal arrives on the estate’s doorstep and all secrets are blown wide open.

Likes/Dislikes: I really enjoyed this novel. With intrigue, mystery and tantalizing hints thrown about, who couldn't enjoy this wonderful novel set in Jane Austen’s enchanted era and with a heroine who supports herself by secretly writing novels. Some of the scandal hit a tad close to home in relation to my personal life, but all in all it was a wonderfully beautifully written story of second chances. I did think that Captain Bryant majorly overreacted the second time but that’s okay. Highly recommended!

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content as it is about a scandal.

Date Report Written: April 1^st, 2013.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple Book Review

Title: The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple.

Author: Anne Hart.

Genre: Fiction, Fictional Biography, Fictional Character Profile, Miss Marple Companion Book.

Plot: One of Agatha Christie's most famous sleuths is the ladylike Miss Marple, with her knitting needles and harmless appearance disguising her sharp mind. Miss Marple is also famous simply as a lady sleuth, in a world dominated by male detectives, sleuths, investigators and those yucky people who are always in the wrong place at the right time. Miss Marple, brought to life by the talent of Agatha Christie, has thrilled readers for generations and will most likely continue to do so for many more years to come. But what was she really like?

Taking a creative path in her debut book, Anne Hart explores Christie's silver haired sleuth as a biographer would explore Christie herself. Having carefully {and joyfully} read all of Christie's books featuring Miss Marple and taken careful note of the clues hidden about our favorite sleuth in the pages of these books, Ms. Hart lays out a wonderful in-depth biography that will thrill all Miss Marple's fans everywhere. In just thirteen short wonderful chapters, Ms. Hart lays all the facts out in neat order for us to treasure and study over and over again. It also makes a lovely reference book.

Likes/Dislikes: This book was beautifully written, not at all boring like you'd expect most biographies to be. While each of Miss Marple's stories were talked about in minor detail and quoted from, the spectacular endings weren't spoiled - a thoughtful gesture on the author's part. This is the first fictional biography I've come across or read before, and I quite like the idea.

Rating: PG-14 and up, for reading level and mild content. Highly recommended!

Date Report Written: May 8th, 2013.

4:50 From Paddington Book Review

Title: 4:50 From Paddington.

Author: Agatha Christie.

Genre: Classic, Mystery, Historical Fiction.

Plot: Elspeth McGillicuddy doesn't lie, and when she tells her old friend Miss Marple that she saw a woman being murdered a train passing hers, Miss Marple believes her. But, after reporting this interesting fact to the proper authorities, the question remains; what to do about the murder. Feeling her years weighing on her, Miss Marple decides the best course of action is to hunt up her much younger efficient friend, Lucy Eyelesbarrow to do the foot work for her. Getting herself established at Rutherford Hall, Lucy handles the housework and makes life much easier for the daughter of the house, Emma Crackenthorpe. When she's not scrubbing the kitchen table or cooking delicious food, Lucy stomps around the grounds looking for clues and, more importantly, the body of the dead woman.

When the body, now three weeks old, is finally discovered, Rutherford Hall becomes the center of attention, making the various Crackenthorpe family members very nervous. Detective Inspector Craddock is set on the case and finds himself with one very tricky puzzle on his hands. With seemingly all the clues in hand, Craddock believes he has the case wrapped up - until people start dropping dead. With even the police baffled, it is up to Miss Marple to bring the final piece to the puzzle. But will she be in time before another murder takes place?

Likes/Dislikes: This was an exceptional novel! I thought I had it all figured out {and I did get most of it right}, but then someone dies and my whole theory, rather like Craddock's, came crashing down, leaving me wondering how on earth this story could be resolved. I really liked Lucy and Craddock; very well written wonderful characters. Miss Marple didn't feature in the story too much, just the beginning, end and a little in the middle, but I was fine with that. I really liked this story; I'd recommend it to anyone interested in a good solid read with a twist at the end.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content {it's a murder ya know}.

Date Report Written: May 2nd, 2013.

Excerpt 4:50 From Paddington

On her way up to bed, Lucy encountered Cedric on the stairs.

"Look here, Lucy, there's something I want to say to you."

"Do you want me to marry you and come to Iviza and look after you?"

Cedric looked very much taken aback and slightly alarmed.

"I never thought of such a thing."

"Sorry. My mistake."

"I just wanted to know if you've a timetable in the house?"

"Is that all? There's one on the hall table."

"You know," said Cedric, reprovingly, "you shouldn't go about thinking everyone wants to marry you. You're quite a good-looking girl but not as good-looking as all that. There's a name for that sort of thing. It grows on you and you get worse. Actually you're the last girl in the world I should care to marry. The last girl."

"Indeed?" said Lucy. "You needn't rub it in. Perhaps you'd prefer me as a stepmother?"

"What's that?" Cedric stared at her, stupefied.

"You heard me," said Lucy, and went into her room and shut the door.

                                                                     ~ Excerpt from 4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie.