I’m back.  This weekend I attended the Historical Novel Society Conference in Schaumberg, Illinois, to give a talk assigned to me: “Biblical Fiction: Is It An Oxymoron?”  Which I said a wholehearted “no” to, in so many words.

As I’ve stated before, in my mind and heart, I wrote Eve as literary fiction.  This was the only category I had ever put it in.  So, to get these requests from other venues is accurate (but startling).  Christian fiction.  Jewish fiction.  Historical fiction.  Who knew?

Oddly enough, I’ve not done enough reading in the historical fiction genre, but if I were to dive in, I’d start with Margaret George’s.  They look fascinating.  The Autobiography of Henry the VIII; Mary, Called Magdalene; Helen of Troy.

Despite the fact that it is not yet time for my summer recommends (along with a great giveaway!…look for it later this week), I’m giving away three books today.  Disclaimer: I’ve not read them, but they were provided free of charge to me, and since I have about six to seven books to read in the next couple of days (for reviews), I thought I should pass them on, so you, my ever eager reader, can enjoy them immediately.

If you find one that you’re interested in, please name the book in the comment section below.  If I get two or more lovely people requesting the same book, I’ll have you think of a number between 1 and 100, to break the tie.

Here are the books:

Rogues, Writers & Whores: Dining with the Rich & Infamous by Daniel Rogov

The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte: A Novel by Laura Joh Rowland

Pride and Prescience (Or a Truth Universally Acknowledged): A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery by Carrie Bebris

Just a few more suggestions for today.  On my drive to Chicago, I listened to some fascinating podcasts from Oprah’s Soul Series.  I’m recommending them to you.

First, the two-part interview with Jenny Phillips.  From the site: “Cultural anthropologist, writer and psychotherapist Jenny Phillips has been working in the field of mental health for more than 15 years. Much of her work has been with male prisoners, teaching inmates courses on emotional literacy and vipassana meditation, an ancient meditation technique based on the teachings of Buddha. Her work has helped inmates—many serving multiple life sentences—transform their lives, face their pasts and become more peaceful, purposeful people.

“In 2008, Jenny released the self-produced documentary The Dhamma Brothers, which followed 36 prisoners at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in Alabama through a 10-day silent vipassana meditation course. Her book Letters from the Dhamma Brothers: Meditation Behind Bars is a collection of letters and interviews from inmates who took part in the meditation course. The book depicts prison life and the journey many of the prisoners took to better understanding the teachings of Buddha and achieving inner peace.”

During the second half, Oprah interviews two of the inmates that went through the rigorous 10 hours-per-day, 10-day meditation.  I found it mesmerizing, that something so “simple” can make such inner changes in a person (and these are men that have no hope of parole).

Second, the four-part interview with Jill Bolte Taylor.  From the site: “When she was a young girl, brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor became fascinated with the functions of the human brain. Jill, one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2008, has a brother with schizophrenia, and his brain disorder led Jill to dedicate her career to studying severe mental illnesses as a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist. While she worked to uncover the differences between the brains of people born with mental illnesses and those who were not, something remarkable happened to Jill’s own brain—it went silent.

“On December 10, 1996, at age 37, Jill awoke with intense pain behind her left eye—a blood vessel had exploded in the left hemisphere of her brain and she was having a stroke. Within hours, Jill could no longer walk, talk, read or write. While Jill struggled to phone for help, she was aware that the left hemisphere of her brain was shutting down, taking with it her language, organizing and other analytical skills. Without the dominant left side of her brain controlling her thoughts, Jill says her mind went silent, leaving only the right side of the brain functioning. Through the right side of her brain, Jill says her consciousness shifted away from reality—and the trauma her body was suffering through—and into a place of inner peace and Nirvana.

“The experience was life-changing. Not only did Jill face years of recovery after her stroke—and major brain surgery to remove a large blood clot in her brain—she also discovered a better quality of life through increased use of the right hemisphere of her brain. She’s now an artist as well as a scientist, creating anatomically correct stained-glass replicas of brains that are sold as fine art. She’s also published My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey. The book explains in scientific detail exactly what happened during Jill’s stroke and how she recovered. It also takes a closer look at how the right hemisphere of the brain works and how Jill says people with normal brains can access it to find their own inner peace and improve their quality of life and the lives of others.”

Dr. Taylor’s journey back is remarkable.  I especially enjoyed the story of Jill’s mother entering her hospital room for the first time.  Of course, Jill didn’t know GG was her mother; she just knew that everyone in the room was anticipating something.  Her mother rounded the corner, nodded to the doctor, went to Jill’s side, lifted the blankets tucked in around her, crawled into the hospital bed with her, and rocked her.  I think I about lost it then.  Her mother was the one who took her home and re-taught her everything–to read, to do puzzles, to do all the things she had forgotten how to do.

The birds are chirping right outside my window, and I’m remembering that I must begin those books, so off I go!  Happy Monday, everyone!

[Post image: Old Books by pepo at stock.xchng]