Grace Rising by Becky Bookout Byrns

Depression, addiction, coping with life as a single parent.  Each of these topics are hard to tackle individually.  Becky Bookout Byrns takes each and weaves them into an intriguing tale of good and evil.

The main character, Grace Willow, has many obstacles.  Can she overcome any of them?  Seriously, what good could Grace do?

As the story unfolds, Grace’s support comes from some very unlikely sources.  Interesting conversations, casual meetings, and the death of a distant relative lead her down an unforeseen road.  But are the conservations with the mysterious man that “knew her parents before he died” real or conjured by her depressed pill fueled mind. What does the gentlemen that owns the antique store really know or want? How does her cousin dying and a mysterious gift affect her world?  What is this gift you ask?  The unveiling is too well scripted to reveal here.  Grace’s realization of the actual details of her world and what she could lose is a page turning, can’t put it down adventure.

My reaction to the subtlety unexpected details was, “Wait, What!” and “Wow!  That was awesome and unexpected”.  All the surprises added to the suspense and layers of the story.

I can see Grace Rising being made into a movie.  I am unsure when the next installment of Grace’s adventures will be released, but I will be one the first to purchase.

I originally wanted to read Grace Rising because the author, Becky Bookout Byrns, is a cousin of a childhood friend, Johnnie Kazy.  I was also intrigued by the concept of a book taking place in my hometown, Chattanooga, Tennessee. As each area of town is described, I feel drawn back to a city I have not visited in years.

Thank you for bringing the beauty and mystery of Chattanooga to the pages of Grace Rising! Great job, Becky Bookout Byrns!

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Watching Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency on bbcamerica was a delightful rollercoaster ride.  There were so many twists and turns, but you never felt lost or left behind.  I originally tuned in because the characters are based on the book, of the same name, by Douglas Adams. Unfortunately, Douglas left us in 2001.  His ability to create other worlds and characters that stretch our imagination will be missed.  If you have never read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy you have missed a treat.  For me his writing style takes concentration, but is worth the effort.  

Several months passed after the last episode of season one of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency aired.  I was visiting my son and I discovered this book, the book, on my son’s bookshelf. He had randomly rescued the book from a trash pile.  I had told him about the television show, but he did not realize he had acquired a copy of the printed version.   I was anxious to visit the characters I had come to know on the show.  However, this was not to be.  The advertisement for the show did indicate the characters were based on the book, not a movie of the book. 

I was expecting to encounter Dirk in the first few pages.  He does show up, but much later.  This fact does not diminish the fact that the characters introduced are worth the time to get to know.  The mystery of the ghost, the Electric Monk, how did the silver salt cellar (salt shaker for those of us not from England) get in the 200-hundred-year old clay vase, an abacus and the question of just how old is The Regius Professor of Chronology.  Also, why is there a horse in the Professor’s bathroom? As you can tell there is a lot happening and a lot of questions to be answered.  Each chapter address a different character or time.  Sometimes the time and place change during a chapter.  Even with this jumping the plot is easy to follow. 

Does Dirk connect the loose and frayed ends?  I shall not say, just know that if you choose to ride along and see if the mystery is solved, bring a huge mug of coffee or for you English chaps, tea.  You are in for a wild and exciting adventure.

Favorite Quote: ………..we are concerned with …… the fundamental interconnectedness of all things.