Ruyi's World of Books & Stories

By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. Twitter:  @farooqkperogi The novel coronavirus is not only devastating humankind, it is also disrupting the settled certainties and spiritual verities of religious fanatics for whom atavistic and superstitious frames of reference are the only ways to make sense of the world around them. I’ll start from fringe members of my own religious community. When the new coronavirus first emerged in China, a lunatic fringe of the Nigerian Muslim community celebrated it and said it was Allah’s punishment against China for mistreating its Muslim minority population. They said the clearest indication that it was divine pestilence to avenge the persecution of Chinese Muslims could be seen in the fact that all Chinese people were compelled to cover their whole bodies in ways that were reminiscent of the sartorial choices Allah enjoined Muslims, especially Muslim women, to make, which China denies its Muslim minority. I recall telling a religious crackpot who...

DAVID ELLSION Rambling on Borrowed Time A unique memoir/travelogue/reflection-on-life… Santander  features poignant short stories that, like pieces of a puzzle, create a captivating whole exploring themes of personal growth, adventure, justice, wonder, disillusionment, and ultimately gratitude. Although  Santander  recounts a teacher’s wild exploits and perceptive musings, it appeals to anyone who has raised or taught children, who’s traveled the world of countries and ideas (or who’d like to live vicariously though someone who has); anyone who’s struggled to find compassion for oneself and others; who, in the words of Robert Frost, “had a lover’s quarrel with the world” and tried to make a difference.  Santander  pays homage to living an authentic life. “Terrified, I finally realized the federal agents answered to no one and could do with me whatever they pleased. I thought of the death squads who had “disappeared” so many others into the Cen...

AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE And other stores. Gabe never asked for an angel… Gabe Montana’s clumsy. He’s overweight, and he’s dyslexic. Worse yet, the bullies make his fifteen-year-old life even more miserable—so miserable he wants to die. Charley, his guardian angel, says no to that idea, and comes up with a different plan. He’ll give Gabe self-confidence so he can solve his problems, not run away from them. But Gabe wonders why the angel doesn’t just help with the bullies. What’s with this self-confidence stuff? Can Charley help Gabe stand on his own two feet? Will Gabe give up hope life can improve for him? Or will he finally listen to the angel’s advice? LEARN MORE AT  BOOK BUB HAPPY READING!

CRAZY FAITH By Jack Eason and Friends When you read verses like 2 Timothy 1:12 in the Bible, and give them serious thought, the attitude that many of these people in Scripture displayed seems somewhat ludicrous today…maybe even CRAZY. Yet it is that attitude that led to God doing extraordinary things through extraordinary faith. Maybe that is why today, we see few things that we would describe as “extraordinary.” The purpose of this book is to highlight people from the Scriptures and some modern day Crazy Faith-ers who have exemplified living with Crazy Faith . AMAZON

THE RED CASKET DEL TORO MOON #2 By Darby Karchut Never trust a witch. For four hundred years, generations of the Family Del Toro and their battle-savvy warhorses have secretly guarded their corner of Colorado from all things creepy. But when a menacing woman with some wicked witch powers shows up at the Del Toro ranch and demands the return of the Red Casket, twelve year old Matt Del Toro must team up with his best friend Perry—along with the warhorses Rigo and Isabel—to out-wit, out-ride, and out-fight one Viking-size sorceress. AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE

Legends tell of an underground world, connected to the four corners of the earth through an intricate tunnel network, Agartha. A land inhabited by peace-loving and gentle people trying to alleviate the exuberance of the nations living above ground, the myth seems to be very old. Perils turning the earth above had not touched, Agartha, this haven for peace-loving people for eons, but sorrow is an unwelcome visitor that persists to visit every place that it can slither and crawl through, and this land had been cursed by the visit of sorrow not long ago. Out of the pains of Agartha, a prophecy is born, and it states that one day, sorrow would be driven out and peace will reign supreme once more, or else all will be lost. These are the chronicles of this era, in a place thought to be a legend; these are the chronicles of Agartha. CLICK HERE TO BUY MEET THE AUTHORS

How about starting the new week off with a couple of books I've read recently. I finally found time to read and write the reviews. Been doing a lot of writing myself. And having fun with my critters. SCRAPS OF PAPER By Kathryn Meyer Griffith Turn on the lights, lock the doors, and settle down for a mystery that will make you check all of the locks more than once. When Abigail moves to the town of Spookie to find happiness, she discovers a scrap of paper that changes her life forever, although not in the way she had planned. Kathryn Meyer Griffith has written a story of love, adventure, and danger, along with a cast of characters that I think you’ll remember for a long time after reading about their lives. SCRAPS OF PAPER is the story of people that live in a small town and how they face the dangers that threaten to destroy them. This is good mystery that kept me wondering what would happen next. I recommend it for readers who enjoy suspense and mystery. This is t...