Deadlines, Storylines, and Timelines

I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.
- Douglas Adams

I have mental deadlines and most of the time I do not accomplish the grand goals I set for myself - like posting to my blog on a weekly basis. I often think about going back in time and organizing my life in such a manner so to make better use of my hours and energies.

However, time is a wibbly wobbly concept, according to Dr. Who.

Considering the possibility of going back and telling my younger self that she should really think about becoming a librarian sooner, only reminds me of why I love science fiction.

In an alternate timeline, I could have gotten a job cataloging for the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, England and never have met my husband or had three wonderful children. 

So here I am in my present timeline, thankful for my family and fondly remembering the storylines of my favourite Science Fiction authors instead.

All these authors are well worth reading; I still marvel at the imagination it took to create these sci-fi classics.

Douglas Adam's amazing and fun 

Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy - takes you on a zany trip through the universe

Isaac Asimov's unparalleled Foundation series - the perfect blend of science (fiction) and the study of human nature

 

 

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and the other novels in the Ender series - complex and multi-layered 

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series - a clever romp through a literary alternate universe

Discovering home

Having moved a few times in my life, I found this novel - The unraveling of Abby Settel by Sylvia May - to be an emotional read (in a good way).

I can understand the feelings of being in a new place when your family is so far away. When I moved to the States I experienced a bit of what the title characters goes through in the novel. It is hard to be far from family and all things familiar.

Where do you turn when your life seems to be falling apart? This novel talks about the strength of family and the encouragement of friends. The most important lesson is a redefinition of "home" - from an address on a street to an attitude of finding contentment with where life and God has placed you.

I am thankful that I had a church community and connections to other parents from my children's school to help with my transition more than 20 years ago. Abby does find her way with the help of new friends, and comes out stronger for all the challenges she faces.

I encourage you to read this book - Sylvia May's first novel -  and to check out her website http://www.sylviamay.com

I am certainly looking forward to reading her next novel!