From the 2020 winner of the Thomas Shapcott Award comes a sophisticated, impressive and rich collection of poetry that unpacks the complexity of family, grief, and cross-cultural and queer identity. These richly allusive poems weigh violence and tenderness, wound and cure, history and future. Boldly and tenderly, they balance loss and gain, adventure and quiet, as they hum to one another of love and loss. This is a scintillating and exhilarating collection from an accomplished and distinctive new voice.
A history of the shifting and conflicting ideas about when, where, and how we should touch our children Discussing issues of parent-child contact ranging from breastfeeding to sexual abuse, Jean O'Malley Halley traces the evolution of mainstream ideas about touching between adults and children over the course of the twentieth century in the United States. Debates over when a child should be weaned and whether to allow a child to sleep in the parent's bed reveal deep differences in conceptions of appropriate adult-child contact. Boundaries of Touch shows how arguments about adult-child touch have been politicized, simplified, and bifurcated into "naturalist" and "behaviorist" viewpoints, thereby sharpening certain binary constructions such as mind/body and male/female. Halley discusses the gendering of ideas about touch that were advanced by influential social scientists and parenting experts including Benjamin Spock, Alfred C. Kinsey, and Luther Emmett Holt. She also explores how touch ideology fared within and against the post-World War II feminist movements, especially with respect to issues of breastfeeding and sleeping with a child versus using a crib. In addition to contemporary periodicals and self-help books on child rearing, Halley uses information gathered from interviews she conducted with mothers ranging in age from twenty-eight to seventy-three. Throughout, she reveals how the parent-child relationship, far from being a private or benign subject, continues as a highly contested, politicized affair of keen public interest.
From New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather comes the first of a wonderful new trilogy, The Blackwater Brides, set in the sensually im-proper Georgian period, in which three noble brothers discover they will be forced to find brides under highly unusual circumstances. Jasper Sullivan, Earl of Blackwater, needs a prostitute. Not in the usual way, however. His wealthy uncle’s will promises to divide his huge fortune among his nephews if each rescues a fallen woman . . . by marrying her! And since Jasper’s estates were already mortgaged to the hilt before he inherited them, when he catches a pretty young prostitute trying to pick his pocket, he immediately makes his proposal. Clarissa Astley is not at all what Jasper believes. The orphaned daughter of a prosperous merchant, she is searching the seedier districts of London for her young brother, abducted by their evil guardian, who wants the little boy’s inheritance. But she needs powerful help, and the darkly handsome Earl of Blackwater is certainly that. So she pretends to be exactly what he assumed— a risky charade for an innocent virgin. But when passion flares between Jasper and Clarissa, the deception becomes even more difficult to handle. . . .
Savannah wants to get married and start a family but is tired of the dating scene. To help her mother move on with her own life, she visits a matchmaker known for setting up couples who meet at the altar. Scott, a Montana bison rancher, struggles to find time for love. When he meets Savannah at the altar, he's immediately drawn to her. Will their different backgrounds hinder their marriage, or will they overcome it for a loving relationship? After a series of bad blind dates, Addie's roommate suggests she see a professional matchmaker. Addie reluctantly agrees and meets Dr. Lachele, hoping for success but not holding out too much hope. Jake, persuaded by his friend, also seeks out the services of Matchrimony and is pleased with his match. Will they overcome their individual challenges to find love? Cindy Lambert returns to her small hometown of Blevins, Wisconsin to manage her grandmother's dream bed and breakfast. Tired of being single and too busy to date, she turns to a matchmaker. Trey Zayne, a web designer from Texas, is intrigued by the concept of Matchrimony where he will meet his match at the altar. Can a techie from Texas find love with a small-town girl from Wisconsin? Cissie Rivers is envious of her best friend who has found love, while Cissie is still single. She's tired of waiting for matchmaker Lachele to find her a man. Deputy Sheriff Bob Anderson is instantly smitten with Cissie but can't seem to approach her without stumbling over his words. When he discovers she's waiting for a match from Matchrimony, he contacts them to engineer their pairing. Will Cissie forgive him or opt out of their marriage after one year? Samara Royal feels like life is passing her by. As an introverted bookworm, she doesn't have many chances to meet men. So she turns to her boss, Dr. Lachele, for help finding love. Meanwhile, Henry Crider has a five-year plan but getting custody of his twin nieces throws it off. He needs a bride who can also be a nanny, housekeeper, and cook. But he's determined not to fall in love for at least five years. Will Samara be the one to change his mind? Recent college grad Michaela Hunter is facing a job loss, when her friend Lachele suggests she marry a man picked for her. Pastor Jon Larson asks for help finding a match like one he's watched succeed for eight months. When he meets Michaela, Jon knows she’s the one. But will everyday life and a honeymoon test their love? Brenda Holt is convinced she'll never find love. With the help of a matchmaker, she meets Daniel Axford at the altar. He had a difficult childhood and now runs an online dating site but hires a matchmaker to find a bride. Neither expect to develop feelings for each other, but will they be able to move past their walls and fall in love? Michelle feels unworthy of love after her fiancé breaks off their engagement. Determined to have a wedding, she contacts Dr. Lachele Simpson from Matchrimony. Seth wants a bride like his friend's and meets Michelle, who surprises him with her inner strength. Can they overcome Michelle's fears and find love in their marriage? Nurse Heidi Hart feels like she's missing out on life and wants to find a husband. Her busy job prevents her from dating, but then she hears about a successful matchmaker from her cousin. Slade Henderson, a doctor who is ready for marriage and kids, turns to the same matchmaker after a string of bad online dates. When he meets Heidi, he knows she's the one, but can he break through her dislike of doctors? Jenni was unhappy with her life and decided to use a matchmaking service. She meets Tony at the altar, both with their own doubts about marriage. But they go along with it and hope for the best. Can they overcome their differences and find happiness together?
What does it mean to be in the presence of God's holiness? How can it affect us whether we seek it out or stumble upon it? Can it truly change our very reality to encounter it? The essayists in this volume explore these questions at the heart of Christian worship, considering the oft-neglected Old Testament as essential to understand our purpose in worship. Following the structure of the Hebrew canon -- beginning with the Pentateuch, moving through to the Psalms, then wisdom literature -- each chapter considers a separate aspect of worship, from theater to the Sabbath to sacred space, offering new inspiration. In the final essay Carol Bechtel "rereads the book of Job through the lens of our human limitations (as opposed to the usual theme of theodicy)," with compelling applications for both life and worship. Each of these essays concludes with two appropriately themed hymns and a "For Further Reading" list. Five of the seven contain sidebars that illustrate and enrich key points. Evocative woodcut artwork by Margaret Adams Parker provides a striking backdrop to the text. Taken together, these essays testify powerfully to the belief that the Old Testament is not only valuable but also essential to "whole" and fully foundational preaching and worship. Written primarily by Old Testament professors, Touching the Altar will make an engaging supplemental text for introductory or elective Old Testament courses and will also go far toward providing deeper worship for any Christian. Contributors: Carol M. Bechtel Thomas A. Boogaart Corrine L. Carvalho Ellen F. Davis J. Clinton McCann Jr. Dennis T. Olson Margaret Adams Parker John D. Witvliet
The Altar of Innocence is about a mother who is in unfilled artist and a daughter who struggles to untangle the web of her mother¿s depression, alcoholism, and suicide attempt. As the daughter grows into a woman, she experiences her own confrontation with depression and a crumbling marriage. Deeply dissatisfied with the explanation of depression as a chemical imbalance in the brain, she peers into her own dark night of the soul and undertakes a spiritual journey. In order to finally claim her voice, she must overcome the patriarchy of the mental health system, challenge her treatment options, and navigate an increasingly difficult relationship with her husband. The poems in The Altar of Innocence come from my heart and from the sincere desire to share my journey in the hopes that others may find courage and inspiration. ¿Ann Bracken creates a vibrant dialogue with her reader. Her emotional vocabulary is wholeheartedly offered to us like a gift to the world. Bracken¿s strength comes from an equilibrium between idea and performance¿interior and exterior lives, smartly drawn. With a strong voice, vitally engaged, she presents characters and behavior without judgment. Poetry is the vehicle that makes us laugh and cry at her ¿Altar of Innocence.¿ ¿Grace Cavalieri, poet and producer of the radio show ¿The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress¿ ¿The Altar of Innocence offers readers a rare and compassionate look at depression. By telling her mother¿s story and sharing her own, Ann Bracken takes us on an intimate journey through two generations of mental illness and ultimate healing. Readers will find hope in her journey.¿ ¿ Laura Shovan, writer and publisher of Little Patuxant Review
A reminder of the Divine, a space for spiritual encounter, or a focal point for meditation--the altar is a powerful tool for people of all faiths. Sandra Kynes demonstrates how to create personal altars and empower these sacred spaces according to your needs. Discover how to harness energies to manifest change, make decisions, receive wisdom, find balance, explore your soul, and grow spiritually. Kynes's unique approach provides nine overall matrices--each one corresponding to the number of objects placed on the altar--and the numerological significance of each. You'll also find suggested meditations and a wealth of helpful information--spanning chakras, colors, days of the week, elements, gemstones, gods/goddesses, runes, and more--for choosing appropriate symbols and objects that reflect your needs.
