The Open Door

THE PHOENIX BRIDGE OF BOOKS

A Passion Project started by Quinn Harrison

    The role books have constantly served in my life is to enlarge my capacity for empathy. I believe a book is one of the best mediums to convey a story, fiction or nonfiction, which can enlighten one's mind. Books have the power to unlock unique and unknown potential within their reader to the benefit of the entire human race.

    The idea for The Phoenix Bridge of Books came to me a few months prior to my release from prison. I began observing that what my fellow prisoners valued most and what they most cherished was correspondence/communication (letters, emails, phone calls) with friends, family and real people from the outside world. Additionally I witnessed that many, before being released, experienced anxiety and even fear about returning to the 'real world'. Primarily how they, as felons, will be perceived by others.

    With those observations, I imagined a way I could kill three birds with one stone. First send a personal correspondence, second have it come from a mixed bag of members of the 'free' community and a bonus third benefit, the sharing of a book would serve as a bridge. Blending these three notions I came up with The Phoenix Bridge of Books and went about preparing the foundation, getting approval from prison administrators and collecting inmate contact information that would support my efforts upon my release.

MUSES

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron                  

MUSES
{](M)[}
Milli (Radio Personality, Power 98.3 & 101.9)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Trouble & Triumph by T.I.

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Artist Way by Julia Cameron

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It’s basically like when you get writers block it helps bring out your creativity. It focuses on bringing out the positive side of yourself versus the negative.

4) How old were you when you read it?
20 years old

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was in College majoring in Journalism, living in Bakersfield, CA.

6) How did it influence your life then?
I was having writers block in my Journalism Class and Julia Cameron's, The Artist’s Way, was mentioned by one of my favorite rappers J. Cole. I read it and broke the block.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
You’ll see more with your eyes closed.
“Why do we close our eyes when we pray, cry, kiss or dream? Because the most beautiful things in life are not seen but felt by the heart.” Denzel Washington



{](L)[}
Chris (Real-estate Agent, Trainer, Author and Mother)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
https://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Lincoln-Vampire-Seth-Grahame-Smith/dp/0446563080

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It’s historical fiction. A hysterical and enjoyable read. It’s a fun mix of real Civil War era history and vampire folklore.

4) How old were you when you read it?
38 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I’m a Mother to three teenagers and had just suffered three strokes that had damaged my long-term memory and effectively ended my writing career. I had to relearn that red is for ketchup and yellow mustard.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It made me rediscover the joy of reading and gave me a needed escape from the hard times I was going through.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
Just do it. Go, get what you want in life and don’t make excuses.
“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” Shakespeare



{](K)[}
Brenda (Seamstress/Haberdasher)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Children of the King by Max Lucado
Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul by Jack Canfield+
God's Answers to Life's Difficult Questions by Rick Warren

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul by Jack Canfield+
Me, "Brenda I don't know if I mentioned earlier that this book will be sent Male prisoners of the BOP"
Brenda, "And don't they have mothers who love them and are heartbroken that they are locked up?"
https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Mothers-Soul-Rekindle/dp/1558744606

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It lets you see how real life Mothers handle the stressful situations their children put them through.

4) How old were you when you read it?
35 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was in a battle with my kids at the time and had a son locked up in jail.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It reminded me to look to God for strength.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
Keep holding on and looking up!
“Children are knives, my mother once said. They don’t mean to, but they cut. And yet we cling to them, don’t we, we clasp them until the blood flows.” Joanne Harris



{](4)[}
Manny (Retiree, Semiconductor Professional)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry Weddell

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Jesus-Bill-OReilly/dp/0805098542

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
A better understanding of the being and suffering that Jesus endured as shared in layman's terms.

4) How old were you when you read it?
67 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was engrossed in becoming more scripturally literate.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It made me better appreciate the political environment that Jesus lived in at that time.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
Convincing non-believers will only occur through kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
"Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous* will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew



{](I)[}
David (Tammie Coe Cakes Cafe)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Dark Tower by Stephen King
The Legend of Drizzt by R.A. Salvatore

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Dark Tower by Stephen King
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Tower-Book/dp/1416524525

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
The lives of a mix of characters drawn from many of Stephen Kings other novels (including King himself) intersect in a multidimensional adventure.

4) How old were you when you read it?
16 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I just dropped out of school and my Dad had brought it home for me. It was the first book I had read for fun and was loving it. Unfortunately, for me, my older brother saw it and decided he wanted to read it and took it. I wound up reading The Hobbit while I waited for my brother to finish, but the damage was done; I was hooked on books.

6) How did it influence your life then?
I would say books are an escape but my life is good and I'm not reading to escape anything. They have broadened my understanding and appreciation of people and places, real and imaginary. The Dark Tower series was and continues to be something magical to me. It was my Bible.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
Open your mind and explore it.
“The trip has been long and the cost has been high... but no great thing was ever attained easily. A long tale, like a tall Tower, must be built a stone at a time.” Stephen King



{](H)[}
Ben (Econ/Philosophy Student of Notre Dame)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
https://www.amazon.com/Enders-Ender-Quintet-Orson-Scott/dp/0812550706

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
Mankind is putting forth a last ditch effort against an alien species and the fate of humankind rests on the shoulders of a youth.

4) How old were you when you read it?
14-year-old freshman in high school.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was coming into my own. Up until then I was a product of my parents and environment. I was beginning to develop my opinions of the world and make my own decisions.

6) How did it influence your life then?
First, it unlocked my creativity and then threw away any concepts of limitations.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” Francis of Assisi



{](G)[}
Laurinzo (Commercial Construction Worker)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052181

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It's about the amazing breakthroughs in science derived from an amazing woman's cells.

4) How old were you when you read it?
Two years younger that I am now.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was seeking knowledge and a good read, and it jumped out at me.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It made me want to be more diligent in seeking truth, and increased my belief that the greatest truths remain hidden.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
Never stop seeking your own personal truth and know that a life can be reinvented at any point.
“My mother said the cure for thinking too much about yourself was helping somebody who was worse off than you.” Sylvia Plath



{](F)[}
Robert (Retired Military)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Golden Bough by James George Frazer
Men Are From Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Golden Bough by James George Frazer
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Bough-Study-Magic-Religion/dp/1512267716/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468367621&sr=1-2

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It details the fascinating history and meanings behind our most sacred and celebrated traditions.

4) How old were you when you read it?
50 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
In prison.

6) How did it influence your life then?
The connection between pagan and Christian traditions totally took me by surprise.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
God loves everybody.
“Small minds cannot grasp great ideas; to their narrow comprehension, their purblind vision, nothing seems really great and important but themselves.” James George Frazer



{](E)[}
Andy (Think! Graphic and Printing Solutions: Manager)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
A Shimmer of Possibility by Paul Graham
The Democratic Forest by William Eggleston

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Democratic Forest by William Eggleston
https://www.amazon.com/William-Eggleston-Democratic-Eudora-Welty/dp/3869307927

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
A photo essay of everyday moments that are beautiful to contemplate. Inspired by Anton Chekhov's stories.

4) How old were you when you read it?
26 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was a undergrad in college at ASU.

6) How did it influence your life then?
I recognized that the little details, or the small things in life, give validation to all of life.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
Creativity never dies. Literature, music and art live on forever. Find your creative outlet and share it with the world.
"I don't have a burning desire to go out and document anything. It just happens when it happens. It's not a conscious effort, nor is it a struggle. Wouldn't do it if it was. The idea of the suffering artist has never appealed to me. Being here is suffering enough." William Eggleston



{](D)[}
Frank (Owner: Roosevelt Barber Shop)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Outsiders by T.S. Hinton
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Art of War by Sun Tzu

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Outsiders by T.S. Hinton
https://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-S-Hinton/dp/014038572X

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It's about the loyalty, sacrifice, honor and brotherhood that takes place in a tough neighborhood.

4) How old were you when you read it?
12 or 13.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was a kid in Mrs. Thomas's class at Copper King Elementary. My family had just moved from a rough neighborhood at 35th Avenue and Thomas to the suburbs of Avondale.

6) How did it influence your life then?
I was able to relate to the struggles and troubles talked about. There were similarities to the life I had come from.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Henry Ford



{](C)[}
Brennan (IT Field Engineer)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared M. Diamond
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared M. Diamond
https://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel-Fates-Societies/dp/0393317552

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
A history of the rise of Western Civilization and how Nature was the force that supported its rise, not man's self-perceived ingenious.

4) How old were you when you read it?
 Some time in my 20's.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
Just graduated from U of A, had started a new company and was attempting to be a theoretical physicist.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It opened my eyes to the true nature of history and civilization not taught in the public education system.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
"Vae Victis" (Latin for "woe to the vanquished", or "woe to the conquered") Brennus



{](B)[}
Ellen (An M.D. Student & Marathoner)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder
A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Borzoi-Book-Kahlil-Gibran/dp/0394404289

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It's about the "human condition". The poems and stories cover a myriad of the emotions we face in life. At its core is that Love is the foundation for everything.

4) How old were you when you read it?
22 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
Volunteering at the Andre House.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It has enhanced how I see and feel about people and the world around me.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain." Kahlil Gibran



{](a)[}
Jessica Luebbering (Book Lover, Amateur Chef, Advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- because it reminds me of my sisters and me, especially since our personalities and ages match up to the girls'. I am like Meg, my sister Kara is like Jo, and my sister Carissa is like Amy. We don't have a Beth.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - this was my favorite book as a little girl. I admired how Ella stayed true to herself and found the power within herself to end the "gift" she was given at birth.
Island of the World by Michael D O'Brien - I experienced almost every emotion while reading this book. I felt joy, anger, frustration, peace, sadness, giddiness, heartbreak. I didn't want to rush through this book, the way I often do with other books. I took my time savoring the journey I went on with the main character. I loved learning about the history of Croatia. I am told that the main character's experiences are very accurate to what many people experienced during this time.

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
I would choose Island of the World, though I love and would recommend all of them.
https://www.amazon.com/Island-World-Michael-D-OBrien/dp/1586174908

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
Island of the World is a coming of age story of a boy growing up in Croatia when it became Yugoslavia and became a Communist regime. It's the story of the boy's relationship with God, through many high and low points, and the story of his salvation. It is a work of art, the words weaving a beautiful tapestry that draws in the reader.

4) How old were you when you read it?
It took me 6 months to read but I was 24 or 25.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was working at a job that gave me many opportunities for creativity although it took me a while to recognize them. I was questioning both my personal and professional vocation, trying to discern God's will for my life.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly how this book influenced my life because the tiny threads and tendrils of the story have woven their way into my heart and mind. Through many of the main character's struggles I wondered about my own ability to endure suffering and my responses to challenging situations. I yearned for the selfless love that the main character had and for the wisdom that guided his life.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
My dear friend, never forget how very much you are loved.
“Words are gold, split and shared as coinage, small pebbles, emblems offered back and forth-given, received; given, received-expanding the vocabulary of the soul.” Michael O'Brien

STEWARDS

“The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

}])1([{

Joseph M. Arpaio

Sheriff

County of Maricopa, AZ

https://www.mcso.org/About/Sheriff.aspx

Dear Mr. Arpaio,

I stopped by your headquarters earlier this week and spoke with Officer Wagner who took a message about The Phoenix Bridge of Books and directed me to an alternate source to schedule an appointment with you.

As ‘America’s Toughest Sheriff’ and U.S Army Veteran, you have had an impressive legacy of visionary thinkers and resolved leaders which have built a firm foundation that has allowed us the security and stability to grow and prosper as individuals and a community. The trust we the people have placed in you, to remain true to the legacy of faith, sacrifice, and vision of our Forefathers, is well earned.

I'm writing to ask if you would take a moment to answer 7 short questions regarding books that have influenced you and why. Your answers and recommended book will be shared with and sent to an inmate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I believe that a Book can be transformative and inspire a cornucopia of ideas that will bear fruit for the receiver and us.

The 7 questions, links to The Phoenix Bridge of Books websites are listed below.

Thank you for your service to our County and Country,

Quinn Jesse Harrison

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

4) How old were you when you read it?

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

6) How did it influence your life then?

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

The Phoenix Bridge of Books

Blogger: http://phoenixbridgeofbooks.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Phoenix-Bridge-of-Books-1155149607843044/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

P.S. An example of one person's answers:

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Maus: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Art and Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light by Leonard Shlain,

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History by Giles Milton

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It’s about a young man rebelling against a corrupt system of things that has been forced upon him.

4) How old were you when you read it?

I was 13 years old, give or take a year.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was in Jr High, living in California saddened, angry and disillusioned with the hurt, injustice and divisiveness in the world.

6) How did it influence your life then?

It let me know that I wasn’t alone. That you can stand up for yourself and beliefs. Moreover, in doing so, you might just discover a wellspring of inner strength and communal support.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent, or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

From: webteam@mcso.maricopa.gov <webteam@mcso.maricopa.gov>

Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 10:46 AM

To: QuinnJesseHarrison@outlook.com

Subject: MCSO thanks you for your comment!

Thank you for your comments.  I appreciate your input.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Maricopa County, Arizona

*Please do not respond to this email, this was an auto generated response.

Dear 'auto generated response',

May I look forward to a personal response anytime in the future to the email and personal message I left in person at the MCSO headquarters with Officer Wagner on May 17th?

I've included a copy of the email I sent.

Best regards,

Jesse Quinn Harrison

}])2([{

Doug Ducey

Governor

State of Arizona

http://azgovernor.gov/governor/form/contact-governor-ducey

}])3([{

Warren H. Petersen

District 12 House Representative 

State of Arizona

http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=69&Legislature=52&Session_ID=115

}])FOUR([{

Mark Brnovich

Attorney General

State of Arizona

https://www.azag.gov/contact-us

}])5([{

Rebecca Rios 

District 27 House Representative 

State of Arizona

http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=75&Legislature=52&Session_ID=115

}])6([{

Eddie Farnsworth

District 12 House Representative 

State of Arizona

http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=52&Legislature=52&Session_ID=115

  

}])7([{

Reginald Bolding Jr.

District 27 House Representative 

State of Arizona

http://www.azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=46&Legislature=52&Session_ID=115

}])8([{

Greg Stanton

Mayor

City of Phoenix, AZ

https://www.phoenix.gov/mayor/biography

}])9([{

John Lewis

Mayor

City of Gilbert, AZ

http://38.106.5.108/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/82/23?selcat=104

}])10([{

John Giles

Mayor

City of Mesa, AZ

http://www.mesaaz.gov/city-hall/mayor-council/mayor-john-giles

}])11([{

Nathan Magsig

Mayor

City of Clovis, CA

https://www.ci.clovis.ca.us/Govt/City-Council/Nathan-Magsig

}])12([{

Jackie Biskupski

Mayor

City of Salt Lake, UT

http://www.slcmayor.com/

}])ONE3([{

Dewey F. Bartlett Jr.

Mayor

City of Tulsa, OK

https://www.cityoftulsa.org/our-city/elected-officials/office-of-the-mayor.aspx

<+++MASTER WORDSMITHS+++>

THE PASSAGE TRILOGY

Justin Cronin 

Dear Mr. Cronin,

I must confess that you are the only Author, of the twelve others, I am writing to that I have not read. Although, I'll be checking out 'The Passage' today. I've read that you were inspired to write this story on behalf of your six-year-old daughter. It is no surprise then that you have produced such a passionately acclaimed body of work. I believe that when we create for those we love, the spirit of that love permeates even the smallest detail of our craft and is recognized by that same spirit within others. 

I am writing to ask if you would take a moment to answer 7 short questions regarding books that have influenced you and why. Your answers and recommended book will be being shared with and sent to an inmate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I believe that a Book can be transformative and inspire a cornucopia of ideas that will bear fruit for the receiver and us.

The 7 questions, links to The Phoenix Bridge of Books websites, and my personal social media pages are listed below.

Thank you for your words,

Quinn H esseJ

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

4) How old were you when you read it?

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

6) How did it influence your life then?

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

The Phoenix Bridge of Books

Blogger: http://phoenixbridgeofbooks.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Phoenix-Bridge-of-Books-1155149607843044/

Quinn Jesse Harrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011734374096

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117148180719591471848/posts

Tumbler: http://quinnjesseharrison.tumblr.com/

MyMFB: http://mymfb.com/QuinnJesseHarrison/  

P.S. An example of one person's answers:

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Maus: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Art and Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light by Leonard Shlain,

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History by Giles Milton

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It’s about a young man rebelling against a corrupt system of things that has been forced upon him.

4) How old were you when you read it?

I was 13 years old, give or take a year.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was in Jr High, living in California saddened, angry and disillusioned with the hurt, injustice and divisiveness in the world.

6) How did it influence your life then?

It let me know that I wasn’t alone. That you can stand up for yourself and beliefs. Moreover, in doing so, you might just discover a wellspring of inner strength and communal support.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent, or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

HARRY POTTER

J. K. Rowling

Dear Ms. Rowling,

May I start by saying thank you for your words and the magical world you have shared with me and so many others? Additionally, for keeping the movies true to the books when so many movies betray the essence and vision of the Book they were christened by.

RED RISING

Pierce Brown

Dear Mr. Brown,

Congratulations on the acclaim and success of the 'Red Rising' trilogy. Darrow’s character, and the essence of his struggle, clearly has struck a chord in many of us. Your own rise from a “sleep deprived page” to the heights of the publishing world is just as inspirational as Darrow's and his Reds and Howlers.

THE WARDED MAN

Peter V Brett

Dear Mr. Brett,

Your book 'The Warded Man' came highly recommended by a celly while I was in prison. His praise was justified as I came to know Arlin (the reluctant Deliverer), Jardir (the self-professed Deliverer) and the women who love them. The World of Wards has a vividness and life to them that is transcendent.

A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING

Bill Bryson

Dear Mr. Bryson,

Your 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' is hands down one of the most enjoyable and informative reads (fiction and non-fiction) I have ever read. The manner you excavate science and the fascinating stories that accompany its' evolution is remarkable. 

THE NAME OF THE WIND

Patrick Rothfuss

Dear Mr. Rothfuss,

Your ability to craft the essence and magic of music, love and adversity with words is a gift that I am grateful you have shared with the world. I believe Kvothe, Bast, Denna and all the rest of the Kingkiller family will be remembered alongside the characters of histories Master Wordsmiths.

ENDERS GAME

Orson Scott Card

Dear Mr. Card,

With two nephews named Ender and Mazer, the strength and depth of your characters have made a lasting contribution to my family. I believe that it is the Author's Characters that breathe life into any landscape, history or story. I believe your Great-Great-Grandfather is proud of the impression you have made in so many of our lives.

GAME OF THRONES

George R.R. Martin

Dear Mr. Martin,

Congratulations, your ability to create characters that we grow to know and love, and then kill them, is a gift. That literary formula was never more tragic than when Jaantony's teyn Garse met his unheralded end in your 1977 poetic space opera 'Dying of the Light'. Jaantony's distant and impersonal killing of Garse, after Garse had seen the light and returned to aid Jaantony, was heartbreaking.

BRAVE COMPANIONS

David McCullough

Dear Mr. McCullough,

The love, passion and faith John Adams gave abundantly, to his country, family and God, was and continues to be far-reaching over land and through time. I thoroughly enjoyed the way you bring to life the political and personal struggles of our Founding Fathers and are able to connect the dots of their history with pictures and documents in a methodical yet engaging way. I was especially intrigued with the depth and intelligence of the correspondence between John and Abigail. All of your biographies from ‘Brave Companions’ to ‘Mornings on Horseback’ will bless generations to come.

MISTBORN

Brandon Sanderson

Dear Mr. Sanderson,

Elantris was the first book of yours I read, and continues to remain my favorite even after a dozen thrilling others. Your depiction of challenges the newly "cursed" within Elantris face, mirror those of the new "fish"/inmates within the Bureau of Prisons. It is unfortunate that, before Raoden recognized the divide and bridged it, those affected with the "Shaod" didn't have the topical creams and Prozac to mask their pains that we face in reality. However, if they did, perhaps Raoden would never have passed through the Fires of the Master Blacksmith to make his discovery and the Shu Dereth would have continued to exploit the fear of the people?

THE DA VINCI CODE

Dan Brown

Dear Mr. Brown,

A Mother will finely chop and disguise 'greens' in their children's meals knowing their worth. A Master Chef presents the 'greens' as they are, but seasoned or crafted in a manner so that they are delectable even to the pickiest of patrons. You have given your readers and I our 'greens', histories, arts and science presented on a most scrumptious and delightful plate.

A TIME TO KILL

John Grisham

Dear Mr. Grisham,

A ‘Time to Kill’ was the first legal-suspense-thriller I read as a teen. It inspired in me, and I am certain others, a hope that Justice exists in a corrupt world. I believe that authors, like you, have the power to elevate the people's ideals and hopes for the world around us. You have continued to inspire through your vast collection of sensational offerings.

THE PSYCHOPATH TEST

Jon Ronson

Dear Mr. Ronson,

I have witnessed the madness that prisoners will submit themselves to in hopes of the slightest relief of their circumstances. Your cautionary tale of Ken and his Broadmoor nightmare, in ‘The Psychopath Test’, should be required reading for prisoners attempting exploit Madness as an easier road to travel. It is ironic that several of your incarcerated 'psychopaths' have a greater sense of sanity than that of men, working in our governments loftiest institutions, which you profile in your book ‘Men Who Stare at Goats’.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-ronson/psychopath-test-ted-talk_b_2973423.html

COMMUNITY

A handful of Thoughts, Words and Book Recommendations contributed by a Compassionate Community.

COMMUNITY:

1 :  a unified body of individuals

b :  the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly:  the area itself <the problems of a large community>

c :  an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location

d:  a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

{[(ONE)]}

Anthony (Phoenix, Burton Barr Central Library)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard

Closer by Dennis Cooper

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard
https://www.amazon.com/Trembling-Penguin-Classics-Soren-Kierkegaard/dp/0140444491

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It's about finding your own belief and being happy with the absurdities of believing.

4) How old were you when you read it?

22 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I just graduated college in Boulder CO. and was preparing for graduate school.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It made me more comfortable with the idea of myself, my knowledge, and allowed me to investigate the world around me.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

If you truly believe in something, trust it.

“If there were no eternal consciousness in a man, if at the bottom of everything there were only a wild ferment, a power that twisting in dark passions produced everything great or inconsequential; if an unfathomable, insatiable emptiness lay hid beneath everything, what would life be but despair?”
― Søren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling

{[(TWO)]}

Jeannie (Christian Science Center)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy

A Century of Christian Science Healing by Christian Science Publishing

Healing Spiritually by Christian Science Publishing

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Health-Key-Scriptures-Authorized/dp/0879520000

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It's the teaching of how Jesus healed.

4) How old were you when you read it?

8 years old the first time and several more times throughout my life.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was in Phoenix, my father had moved my family from Hawaii after WWII.

6) How did it impact your life then?

I knew that I had protection at all times and didn't have to be afraid of the world around me.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

No problem is too big for God.

“When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts.”
― Mary Baker Eddy, Poems by Mary Baker Eddy

{[(THREE)]}

Sergio (HKS Inc. Architecture Firm)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
https://www.amazon.com/Don-Quixote-Miguel-Cervantes/dp/0060934344

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

A depiction of a man’s decay and fantastical delusions.

4) How old were you when you read it?

16 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

Trying to figure out the next step of my life and trying to define myself.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It taught me to follow my ambition regardless of what those around you say.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

No man's personal quest is foolish.

“When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”
― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote

{[(4)]}

Jesse (Laborer/Messenger/Night Watchman)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.
Maus: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
Art and Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light by Leonard Shlain,
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History by Giles Milton

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-War-Robert-Cormier/dp/0375829873

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?
It’s about a young man rebelling against a corrupt system of things that has been forced upon him.

4) How old were you when you read it?
I was 13 years old, give or take a year.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?
I was in Jr High, living in California saddened, angry and disillusioned with the hurt, injustice and divisiveness in the world.

6) How did it influence your life then?
It let me know that I wasn’t alone. That you can stand up for yourself and beliefs. Moreover, in doing so, you might just discover a wellspring of inner strength and communal support.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?
“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent, or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

{[(FIVE)]}

Parsons (Coast Guard Recruiter)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff

An Uphill Climb by Dave Sargent

The Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford W. Ashley

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

An Uphill Climb by Dave Sargent
https://www.amazon.com/Uphill-Climb-Dave-Sargent/dp/1567630006

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

A biography of a kid who grew up in Arkansas, raised on a farm, who joined and found success in the military.

4) How old were you when you read it?

16 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was in High School in Arkansas.

6) How did it impact your life then?

I was able to relate with the author and being from Arkansas.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

You can still be successful even though hard times happen.
“Show me an organization/government/religion in which employees/citizens/the faithful take ownership, and I will show you one that beats its competitors.”
― D. Michael Abrashoff

{[(SIX)]}

Mary (McClelland Irish Library)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibí

Room by Emma Donoghue

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

Room by Emma Donoghue
 https://www.amazon.com/Room-Emma-Donoghue/dp/0316098329

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

How being a prisoner is more a state of mind than the chains that bind you.

4) How old were you when you read it?

Recently.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was enjoying reading Irish women authors.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It impressed on me that every person has had their struggles and should not look to another as a scapegoat. Rather we should look to the positive and strengths we gain from the adversity we face with others.

 7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

There is a future for you.
“Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.”
― Emma Donoghue, Room

{[(SEVEN)]}

Johnathan (CASS, "Gift from God")

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Open Your Mind to Receive by Catherine Ponder

Emotions and the Enneagram: Working Through Your Shadow Life Script by Margaret Frings Keyes

The Bible by GOD

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

Open Your Mind to Receive by Catherine Ponder
https://www.amazon.com/Open-Your-Mind-Receive-UPDATED/dp/0875168280

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It is the best gift you can give to yourself.

4) How old were you when you read it?

40

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was homeless and wrapped in a mental cocoon.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It was the spark that ignited my mental gasoline and a sharpening tool for the sword of my life.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

Shock and defeat fear from your life.

“Whatever you notice, you are inviting into your life.
Whatever you talk about, you are inviting into your life.
Whatever you identify with in your thoughts, words, and actions, you are inviting into your life.”
― Catherine Ponder

{[(EIGHT)]}

Ryan (Phoenix, Burton Barr Central Library)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz
https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It contains four guidelines to living a happy and fulfilling live.

4) How old were you when you read it?

27 Years Old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was a frustrated High School teacher.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It brings awareness of self to wherever you are in your life.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

Wherever you are in your life this book will speak to you and help guide you.
“The Four Agreements
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don’t take anything personally.
3. Don’t make assumptions.
4. Always do your best. ”
― Miguel Ruiz

{[(NINE)]}

Marcus Brown (Bank One Ballpark)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Karenina-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/0143035002

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

A romantic drama set in aristocratic Russia.

4) How old were you when you read it?

18 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was a freshman at ASU, coming from a small Indian reservation where I had lived my whole life.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It helped me get in tuned with the mix of societies and culture at ASU.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

Your own unique culture is special and the key to your survival.
“Rummaging in our souls, we often dig up something that ought to have lain there unnoticed. ”
― Leo Tolstoy

{[(TEN)]}

Brandi (Phoenix, Burton Barr Central Library)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

The Poet by Michael Connelly

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Im-Sharon-Flake/dp/1423103858

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

It’s a self-help book about being happy and comfortable with who you are.

4) How old were you when you read it?

A teen in High School.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

My Aunt gave it to me as a teen. I was at a stage in my life where I wanted to fit in.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It made me stronger and more confident.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

Don’t be afraid to be different. Embrace who you are.
“I took a lot of wrong turns to find out who I really was. You will, too. (Page 19)”
― Sharon G. Flake

{[(ELEVEN)]}

Sean (Carpenter)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Circle by Dave Eggers

The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Also-Rises-Ernest-Hemingway/dp/0743297334

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

Bulls, blood and bulls. The book is set in Spain during the running of the bulls.

4) How old were you when you read it?

16 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

High School with not a lot going on.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It got me really interested in travel.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

"Sit tall in the saddle, Hold your head up high

Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky

And live like you ain't afraid to die

And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride" Chris LeDoux

{[(TWELVE)]}

 Ray (Native American, Artist)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss’

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

A man’s subconscious drives him mad.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Poe-Tell-Tale-Amontillado-Others/dp/1580493874

4) How old were you when you read it?

13 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was in Middle School. My parents had just divorced and they split my brothers and me up to live with relatives. I was sent to my Grandmothers.

6) How did it impact your life then?

 I didn’t get it at the time, but it stuck with me. I’m Native American and ravens are symbolic and seen as both good and bad spirits and omens.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book?

The only way you can get evil spirits or negative emotions off you back is to stand up to them.
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
― Edgar Allan Poe

{[(iIIX)]}

Stephen A (St. Vincent de Paul)

1) Please, share three books that have made a lasting impression on your life.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

The Stand by Stephen King

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

2) Which one of the three would you choose to give as a gift to a distant friend or long lost loved one?

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
 https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Shannara-Terry-Brooks/dp/0345314255

3) How would you summarize the book to the person you are sharing it with?

A Tolkienesque fantasy. An average person rises up to challenge the evil Warlock Lord with the Sword of Truth.

4) How old were you when you read it?

11 years old.

5) Where were you at in your life, during that time?

I was attending a catholic school in Connecticut; experiencing a troubled youth.

6) How did it impact your life then?

It was my friend and escape from the world around me.

7) What would you add as a word of encouragement or message of hope within the cover the book? 

Sometimes the Magic does work.
“It's better to die in pursuit of your dreams than to live a life without hope.”
― Terry Brooks