Julie Berry

In medieval Europe, it can be dangerous to see visions and perform miracles -- or even to befriend those who do so. In Tolouse, a young noblewoman named Dolssa speaks of Christ as her Beloved. She even preaches to those who assemble in her home. Meanwhile, in a small seaside town, a young peasant woman named Botille serves as an unconventional village matchmaker, helps her sisters run the tavern, and doesn't think over-much about God and holiness. The two girls have very little in common, show more but when Dolssa is forced to flee the Inquisition, their paths cross unexpectedly, and both of their lives are changed forever.

This Printz honoree is deserving of the critical acclaim it has gained. I loved the medieval setting, and it is obvious that a great deal of careful research went into the writing. Beyond that, the plot is engrossing and the characters sparkle with depth and complexity. To top it off, I listened to the audiobook, and the narration is of the highest quality. I particularly recommend the audiobook version for this read, since the author uses many words from an archaic version of Occitan to lend an extra touch of authenticity to the story. But however you read it, read it you should, especially if you enjoy historical fiction. show less

A couple of sunny days ago I visited a local used bookstore, Recycle Books on Campbell Avenue, which is a place I go sometimes after having lunch at Aqui. (They serve a sort of favorite Cal-Mex fusion cuisine. Yes, I adore living in the immense cultural mash-up that is California.) Usually I peruse the store rather thoroughly, but that day I hardly made it through a third of the YA/Kids section before stumbling over a lightly-used hard-cover copy of this book. I read the front-flap blurb and show more started on page one... and then hardly put the book down until I'd finished it this afternoon.

This is an immensely charming and satisfying book that I devoured in large gulps. I loved it to bits. The writing is crisp and clear; the characters rounded and lively. Probably I'd describe it as a comedy of manners, although the blurb calls it a farce, about female friendship and solidarity. The comedy is not haha-laugh-aloud, but consistently subtle and smooth from beginning to end. It also seems to be well-researched and in some sense authentic for the time period (England, 1890). show less

A mother tells the story of the birth of a miraculous child, "long ago, on a silent night," in this lovely Christmas picture-book, relating it to the recent birth of her own dear child. The poetic narrative from author Julie Berry and luminous artwork from illustrator Annie Won alternates between that ancient family and their story, and the welcome given to this new child in the current day...

It has certainly been my experience, and I suspect many others' as well, that the powerful stories show more and ideas of my religion - in my case, Christianity - have had the most meaning and strength for me when seen through the light of my own experience. It is hard to conceive, for instance, of the idea of God's love, if one has not experienced it through human love of some kind. Apparently this is the case also with Julie Berry, who wrote this book for her son, whose birth caused her to reflect more deeply on the Nativity Story, which she had always loved. I appreciated her beautiful language, and the ways in which she tied two families so far apart in time, but perhaps not that far apart in essential emotional experience. Annie Won's accompanying illustrations are lovely, capturing the sacred enchantment of the Holy Family, and the beauty of their modern counterpart, here a mixed race couple welcoming their baby child. Long Ago, On a Silent Night is not really a retelling of the Nativity Story as such - in fact, it relies upon the reader being familiar with that story. Rather, it is a reflection upon that story, experienced through a modern mother's reactions to her own baby. Recommended to anyone looking for beautiful and somewhat different picture-books about the Christmas story, and the welcoming of the Christ Child through our love of our children today. show less

Greek gods tell the story of two couples who fall in love during World War I. There's a young pianist, Hazel, and the soldier James who is headed off to fight in the trenches. Then there is Colette, a Belgian singer who has lost everything and finds her heart opening to a black soldier named Aubry with a gift for ragtime piano. There were beautiful, memorable scenes as Hazel and James connect in Paris or Colette and Aubry find their shared love of music, but the story didn't shy away from show more the tragedy of battle.

Scenes from the war are interspersed with reflections from the gods. It reminded me just a bit of The Book Thief and Death's view of human behavior. The book really got to me as it dove into themes of PTSD and the racism faced by black soldiers. The afterword explained the author's research and the true, heartbreaking facts that inspired her story. ‬

“Let them start their dreadful wars, let destruction rain down, and let plague sweep through, but I will still be here, doing my work, holding humankind together with love like this.”

“I am so often moved by souls whose first concern is not for their own lost years, but for the grief their passing will cause to those they love. It's more common than you might think. The most ordinary mortal bodies are housed by spectacular souls.” show less