Anne Faye

I recently read the New York Times Bestseller, The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett. This is an incredible debut novel. This is definitely a secular novel, but the prose was amazing and the story line kept you thinking. I didn't want to put this one down. It tells the story of Eva and Jim throughout their lives. It actually tells the story three different ways (which if you have a poor memory like me can be confusing - I had to keep going back to remind myself what was going on in that particular version). The only thing that happened for certain was that they met in college and that there is a lasting connection between them. After that, their lives took radically different paths depending on what they chose to do next, although their lives do intersect in various places. Like life itself, all three versions had their joys and pains, but it made me think about the choices we make in life and how seemingly inconsequential decisions as well as the bigger choices can have long...

Sunflowers in a Hurricane by Anne Faye Read Chapter One and Chapter Two . Chapter Three 1986 Ruth “I   don’t understand why we have to leave today. You know the party is tonight.” Kim and I had been planning it for a month. She was counting on me. We were celebrating finishing 7 th grade. It was going to be our first boy-girl party ever. Not to mention, by some miracle, a few of the popular kids were supposed to be going. Plus, Kim had said that Angie told her that Pete said that Ron, who was the cutest boy in school, might make an appearance. And I was going to miss it. This sucked big time. “I know and I’m sorry. But we’ve been over this. We need to get to Massachusetts. There are arrangements that need to be made.” My mother did not seem sorry. In fact, I was convinced that she was taking some weird joy in ruining my life. “Can’t they be made a day later?” I shoved my suitcase and backpack into the back of our beat up two-tone brown s...

Sunflowers in a Hurricane by Anne Faye Read Chapter One . Chapter Two August 1972 Cheryl   I   found myself at the outskirts of town, by the river. I had returned to the scene of the crime. The river had always been a sanctuary for me. I used to spend hours out here, alone with my thoughts. It was such a beautiful, peaceful place. It was such a secluded place, and it had betrayed me. I watched the river rush past me, heard its music as it traveled on its way. I wanted to be part of it, able to escape to places unknown. It was there, calling to me. All I had to do was answer. I could escape. Everything would go away. It would be just me and the water. It would take me where I wanted to go – where nothing and no one could ever hurt me again. I felt the cross around my neck. It had been a confirmation present from my parents. Suicide was a sin worthy of hell. There was no question of that. Yet, wasn’t that my destination anyw...

Sunflowers in a Hurricane  Chapter One April 1935 George I could hear nothing but Dottie’s screams. I paced the small parlor of our two-bedroom, second-floor apartment. She was working so hard, suffering so much, trying to push our baby into the world. “Dear God, please help her,” I prayed. Why did she have to hurt so much? I wanted the screaming to stop. I wanted the baby to come. The night before, she had been full of spunk, her crystal blue eyes smiling at me. She was so excited, busy putting the finishing touches on the baby’s room, talking about all her dreams for the little one. She would have picked up the furniture if I’d let her, but I put my foot down on that. When she put her mind to something, I didn’t tend to get in her way, but this time, I wouldn’t give in. I finally talked her into lying down and resting beside me. I put my hands on her swollen belly and felt the baby push against my hand. That little one sure felt eager to fin...