Junia

Lives of the Early Christians in Rome #1

by Michael E. Giesler, Ralph del Valle González (Translator)

Rare book

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Catholic, Religion, Historical

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Fonch · Rating 5 out of 5]

dedicated to Steven R. McEvoy.
Ladies and gentlemen this book (as always begin by the start. As usual in my reviews. Do it why you decided to read this book?) Although I promised to Steven R. McEvoy, that I would read it, and give my opinion, already I wanted to read it before he promised it to my good friend of Steven R. McEvoy.
Before starting to write this review I'd like to publicly commend Steven R. McEvoy. I have to admit, that it is one of the readers, books read, already more than two hundred books, something that I can only get badly in a year round (this year I I agree with read 130 books). Leaves me stunned, yet tell me that both my other good friend Jeff Miller, and Brandon Vogt read more than he.
Besides that Steven R. McEvoy is one of the best critics of Goodreads, and in addition to being an avid reader he's always open to new experiences, and this my friends know this Professor Manuel Alfonseca, and my friend Mr Jorge Sáez Criado https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
that he has awarded with critical certainly deserved, and fair. Only thing that I regret is that you could not read my beloved Don Juan Manuel de Prada https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... yet there seems to be no English Edition, or even of his novel 'the storm' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... & from_search = true
but my favorite is "the seventh veil" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... hopefully someday these great men can be known, or contact, but meanwhile will have to settle for praise in Solitaire to my Canadian friend. Once a person with such profile invite me reading this book could not tell that not. No doubt late in buying it. The funny thing is that this book, when https://www.elarboldelasletras.com/ to buy it in the tree of letters
I go in a pack of three books "the conquest of Mexico" Iván Vélez https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... an anthology of short stories detectivescos, and "Junia" and I got to the exact fifty euros. This book I started to read it when it was declining on June 29 after reading the historical novel of the Lord Yagüe "the last days of the Celestial Empire" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... & from_search = true and I chose it because I knew, I would read it soon. I was not aware of the huge impact that reading this book would leave me.
The peplum as call it the Europeans especially Latin, Spanish and Italian. The Americans this owe my friend Julie Davis https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
(to who send you a hug, and if I promise you if you translate it, despite Savonarola will read "Lent" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... & from_search = true to me also I like Jo Walton :-)) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) call it Sword and sandal . I have already said on other occasions the peplum is for the Catholic novelist omo western or superheroes in American cinema film. One is not at all a Catholic writer, but before writing one. Examples are the novel's triumph Christian born of the hagiographies, and then they have their development by the French, and Spanish writers, but perhaps the first work of this theme is "martyrs or the triumph of the Christian religion" François René de Chateaubriand https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
. I've met many courageous real and fictitious Christian through literature Fabiola, Cimodocea, Calixta, Ione (the future Saint John Henry Newman, hope, that soon Chesty is so https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ), Sataniel, Esther's "Ben Hur" Lewis Wallace https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... & from_search = true
Ligia, Diana's " the robe" by Lloyd C. Douglas https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... & from_search = true
(novel, which is the first to investigate the death of Christ, and the phenomenon of the resurrection by someone unrelated to Christianity) Deborah of the "silver chalice" of Costain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... & from_search = true
, Meriem, https://www.goodreads.com/series/2495...
my friend Professor Alfonseca's these are the fiction for the authentic, also have the case if Christianity was seen from the point of view of a Jewish (that itself respectful) "Eitana" of Javier Arias Artacho https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... & from_search = true
recommend "Fabiola" of Wiseman https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (where it appeared, as in the "martyrs ') ( real Saints with fictitious Cecilia, Pankration, Chromatius, Tarsicio, San Sebastian and Santa Inés) have wonderful novels of Louis de Wohl https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (not cite it before, but we have to) Noemi's "spear" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... & from_search = true We have the case of Jesús Sánchez Adalid that rescues to San Cipriano, which already appeared in Calixta https://www.goodreads.com/series/2258... . The wonderful story of San Calixto, and his spiritual revolution, and its relationship with Marcia Christian mistress of comfortable in "The forgotten Pope Calixto" Gilbert Sinoué of https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... _ which many say, that was the Catholic novelist of the 20th century also bring their grain of sand to this glorious genre with "Helena" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... of Evelyn Waugh. Not to mention the great attempt of Taylor R. Marshall that the saints from the 4th century to life brilliantly commanded by San Jorge aka Franz https://www.goodreads.com/series/2205... but not go this Christian maidens brilliant list would not be complete without the presence of one of my favorite writers Mika Waltari (better than "the Barabbas" of Pär Lagerkvist https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ) is not only the history of the Christianity, but the man against the Leviathan called the State, or temporary power embodied by the tyrant (though it may seem benign). Some such as "Egyptian" are proto-Christians https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/series/7410... Instead the saga Manilius adhere to what we ask. I could go on to infinity, because a subject, which I love, but I'm not going is to allow my passion about this issue to steal prominence to the real book. This book is very meritorious is the first part of a trilogy written by a priest from Missouri. First, I call the attention is the century that choose the 2nd century. People often lean forever and the great persecutions such as the time of Nero, Domitian, Decius or Diocletian, but the author Michael Geisler opts to choose brighter century of the Roman Empire of the second century (there are examples such as "Georgios" of A.K. Frailey https://www.goodreads.com/series/1632... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or "Fire in the sky" Cesar Vidal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or the first novel or the first novel by my friend Professor Alfonseca saga Aeolian https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... vale this heavy critic not will haunt them with more books, just two more). Another thing that caught my attention is that more than a historical novel (which it is), but rather is a guide, or a tutorial of as a young woman may have developed. The first chapter is introductory, to describe how the Roman society, and to introduce us to the Pater Familias of the Senator Gaius Metellus Cimberio. Part of a character as the merchant Dyskalon, his son and the pelotillero Bombolino, which reminded me of a cartoon character of a film of Anthony Quinn he was equal, and that it was a demagogue. With this we enter the protagonist family and know the loyal Junia, his brother the philosophical Marcus, the spouse of Senator a woman with head hollow and superficial as Aurelia. The character of Livia Livia sensible, rational, and obedient to his father us catches since the beginning of the novel. Only has a chance to do something dishonest and evil, but because of the stoicism of his father (is a creature of good principles does not carry it out). The character of Cimberio is the best novel. If someone would like to see, because the stoicism is not true religion only has to look at the character of Cimberio, always look for the right thing done, but except on one occasion is incapable of showing affection or tenderness by beings that make up your home. There is a particularly cruel scene, and I don't mean in the end. We must remember as l Roman society, and that if a child betrays Rome, or the Pater families this no doubt to kill him. We have the case of rough, or the case of the sister of the Horatii. an emperor, but does not say the name, by the characteristics it must be Antoninus Pius, which followed the guidelines given by Trajan to Pliny the younger. He pursued only when the complaint was clear, I think that I said something in another review, my friend Professor Alfonseca and I are debating to near the end of the novel by Cesar Vidal "Fire from heaven" I never believed me that Marcus Aurelius forgiveness to the general Christian. This novel plays realistically. There are no miracles, and appears only an important Church father Justin, and more that appear studious brother of the protagonist Marcus speaks of it, but we do not see it appear. Miracles are authentic, but except for the power of grace, it is very difficult that someone could be witness of a miracle as well explains Pablo J. Gines in his book on conversions "Conversos seekers of God" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... in this case more than an intellectual reflection. Conversion occurs for example giving friends and acquaintances. Geisler said prejudice, which at that time existed against Christianity, and the contradictions between follow a Christian life, and the obligations towards the State, and the emperor. Besides that has some adorable characters as Marcia (it is impossible not to feel any kind of affection for this character), or the Gallic slave Escintila, which will be instructor in the Christianity of Junia. Beautifully describes the Junia metanoia, and how changes your way of being. As C.S. Lewis was already good before becoming a Christian, but his conversion makes it even better. The outcome is credible, and everything about resignation. I only found two defects to this wonderful book. Incorrect use of the Roman nomenclature Metellus is not a nomen, but a cognomen guess is family will have a nomen, and fifth Junia suitor could not fight against the Parthians in Dacia (Romania), because they live in Iraq, and Iran. Aside from that I moved much to read this novel, and empatice with Marcia, Diodorus, Cynthia, and Junia, which will enter in my Pavilion of fictitious Christian maidens, even is I moistened eyes several times something that I think very few times. As the handmaid of acts in the novel "In the glorious folly" of Louis de Wohl (it seemed impossible, but Louis de Wohl got an Actea, which was close to the "Quo Vadis") will ever I forget an end like this. I hope, tasted the reader that I approached this book so much like me. The criticism that I will write tomorrow will be "inhuman land" of Józef Czapski and will have a very peculiar structure of confrontation between two writers (I'm not saying more ;-)) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished one of Father Giesler’s non-fiction books, You See Me, You Hear Me, it was so amazing, I circled back to this one and bumped it way up on my reading list. I am so glad I did, this book is an amazing read. But I found out it is part of trilogy. It is hard to find the books by Father Giesler, for they are published under many different variations on his names. For example, this book on the cover has the name Michael E. Giesler, book 2 Marcus has the name Michael Edward Giesler, and book 3 Grain Of Wheat does not even have a name on the cover. From what I have found his books are published under the following names: Michael E. Giesler, Rev. Michael Giesler, Father Michael Giesler, Michael Edward Giesler and just Michael Giesler. Based on how wonderful this book was I have already picked up his three historical fiction novels and look forward to reading them. One other strange thing about this series before I get to the review, Books 1 and 3 have eBook, kindle and print editions, where book 2 only has a print edition. But back to this specific book.

My first reaction after reading this book was WOW! I could barely put this book down. I read it on my commute to work, and it took all my discipline to put it down and start work when I should. But I ended up reading both my coffee breaks, and through my whole lunch. That is how addictive this book is. And I am very thankful I have books 2 and 3 ready to go.

Yes, this book is a fictional story. But it is based in on a lot of history. There are stories of numerous saints from this time that this story mirrors. Saint Philomena among others. This story revolves around Junia, a roman citizen, and daughter of a senator who is about to become consul to the emperor. She is beautiful, intelligent, and loved by most. But in first century Rome, not all things are as they appear. After the death of her closest friend in the colosseum for being a Christian, she is drawn to the Christian faith. And soon one of her rivals in Roman society sets out to destroy her. She is given a choice of worship the emperor and renounce Christ or die.

From the beginning readers know where this story is heading. But how father Giesler gets us there is masterfully done. As a first work if fiction the writing in this book is incredible. The characters are fully fleshed out. The pacing is excellent. The plot based on historical facts will transport you back in time. And based on the political culture today maybe a reminder of what may yet come to pass.

As mentioned this book is a page turner, once you start reading you will not want to put it down. And the story continues a few weeks after the events of this book in Marcus. I read a lot of books, I average over 100 a year and this is an incredible piece of Christian fiction! A great read that I give a solid 5/5 Stars!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Father Michael E. Giesler.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this little book quite by accident and was delighted with it! It ticked the boxes for me of being about the people of ancient Rome and also about early Christianity. I had never heard of the author Father Giesler before and was surprised to see that it was written as recently as 2002.
The story focuses on the life of Junia, the daughter of a wealthy Roman senator. Junia lives in luxury and has an easy life with servants (slaves) and the freedom to choose from a group of eligible men chosen by her father. There is a lot of gossip about the strange practices of the new religion called Christianity and Junia becomes aware of the different behaviour of one of her friends and wonders what has caused the change. It takes some time for Junia to become involved in the new beliefs of the Christians, she has to face the fact that her family will be brought into disrepute if it is discovered that one of the household is a Christian. Worst of all are the dreadful penalties to be paid if the Roman authorities find out that a person is a Christian.
The story is set one hundred years after the death of Jesus and the persecution of Christians is still vicious. To think of becoming a Christian is a potential death sentence and those found to be practicing the faith are vilified by the people of Rome.
I found the story to be an interesting glimpse of life at the time, a touching story of courage and strength of faith, in fact a very faith affirming read.
The writing was simple and there were excellent footnotes to explain some of the religious and ancient Roman terms. I found the style reminiscent of Gertrud von le Fort and Thomas Costain.

[Hannah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a couple of years ago but I forgot it all so I reread it. I love this book because it's so inspiring!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread this. I've read it maybe 4 or 5 times. Its a short, but powerful story of a young Roman girl finding Christ and being martyred for it. Highly recommend.

[girlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book when i was in my 10th grade when my english teacher lend this book to me.i don't actually read christian fictional books coz it makes me bored but i get to enjoy this one. it's a fictioanl exploration about the life of an early christian faith from a very personal point of view.

[Sharolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say, I have finished the book a little confused. I had assumed this work of fiction was based on the life of Junia who is spoken about in Romans 16:7 "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me.They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was." (NIV)

I kept waiting to hear about her time in prison and her connection to Andronicus but it never came. And I suppose now upon reflection, I see that this character was not Jewish. It seems perhaps this book is about another woman, by the same name, who becomes a Christian some years later? In this account she is not imprisoned and there is no mention of Andronicus or a personal connection with the Apostle Paul.

This is a little bit confusing to me as I would love to hear more about the Junia of scripture and have her life expounded upon.

Nevertheless, reading about the culture of the time and the nature of the early church was fascinating. It is so helpful to be able to get a more realistic view of the society in to which the message of the gospel came and spread. The bravery of the early church was incredible and this story would hopefully offer some comfort to those in the persecuted church today. To those of us not persecuted, it would extend a challenge about how seriously, and to what ends, we are willing to take our faith!

[Luisana · Rating 3 out of 5]

As this is a school mandatory book I expected it to be extremely boring and am pleasantly surprised with how it turned out being

Some things I find hard to believe, such as Junia being happy with her execution. I wouldn’t say “happy” is the correct term, but she didn’t lose any sleep knowing that not many hours later she would be beheaded.

The whole idea of the book in itself was pretty good, I liked that we got to see different perspectives on the topic. I didn’t quite understand the reason why behind the first scene (Prelude) where the man hits his son for defending him up until the very end where it all comes together.

I would’ve liked Junia to marry Quintus and be happy, but that’s the hopeless romantic in me as it doesn’t really go with what the story is about, Christianity and pureness.

Overall, for a school read, pretty good.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows vividly what being a Christian meant in ancient Rome. While much shorter than Quo Vadis, and seeming to have a similar story line, this book is truly a story of its own.
Spoiler Alert:
This book follows Junia, the lovely daughter of a Roman senator, as she discovers, and learns to love Christ. She is first disgusted by the stories that she has heard about them, but realizes when her friend Marcia is put to death, that it is not what it seems. She begins to learn about Christianity, and is eventually baptized. She is found out, and is sent to be beheaded. Going to her death, she wears a smile on her face, knowing she is going home.

[Carol McHale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this book was an English class assignment and I was the teacher. I would have the author expand on certain parts of the book. The ending was abrupt. While it was an easy book to read, there were glaring holes in the plot and places in the plot line that I really wish the author would have developed better. All in all, a good read for those of us who enjoy historical fiction.

[ReadingBunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and inspiring book! Though Junia herself is fictional, many of the things she experienced were real. Temptations, persecution, disownment, martyrdom, etc. Yet, like Junia and her friend Marcia, many real Christians remained joyful even whilst they were being tortured and killed. Their faith and trust in God is truly amazing.

[AmyFlo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story but the writing was off. It told rather than showed.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and simple fictional story of a young Roman girl's journey into Christianity soon after Christ's death. Highly recommend for mature middle school students.

[Elizabeth Gajdosik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems like something I would have been assigned to read back in middle school right along with Red Hugh and Beorn the Proud.

[Bernie McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[maría garcía · Rating 2 out of 5]

A.R: 2.5
Me lo esperaba peor, al principio me ha dado mucha pereza pero luego es más entretenido. Creo que es el libro de colegio que más he disfrutado y que realmente si que me he leído entero

[Jose Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiempos difíciles para ser cristiano en época del imperio romano

[Audrey Lenahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, simple novel. It reminds me of a YA romance, but the love interest is Jesus. It vividly evokes the time and place. Inspiring and uplifting in a breezy, easy to read way.

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic Historical fiction: Rome is falling. Christianity is rising. In the midst of these events, the rich, beautiful daughter of a Roman Consul, Junia, becomes a Christian, after she finds out her best friend was one, though killed for her faith. Junia struggles to survive in the world around her, hiding her faith, but growing in joy and beauty, while her friends become jealous of her and the attention she receives.

This story was a very interesting mix of serious topics written simply, of a short novel containing a very deep meaning.

[Deni Murillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very VERY powerful book. I learned so much about the beginning of Christianity from this book and I obviously fell in love with Junia. It was so cool seeing her transformation after getting close to God and to see how God changed her heart and made her a much better person. This is a great book for the learning of what Christians back then went through if they wanted to defend their faith and overall how Christianity was seen by others.

I would love to read more of Micheal's books! Amazing plot and beautiful character development! This is a five-star book!

[Simone Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my third summer book, I chose to read "Junia" by Michael E. Giesler. This book is a captivating fictional account of an early Christian living in Rome. Junia is the daughter of a Roman senator and one of the most eligible young women in Rome. She lives a very typical Roman life, offering sacrifices and incense to the Roman gods and enjoying the height of Rome's social scene. Junia first encounters Christianity through her brother. He is a philosopher and he tells Junia of some ideas that a Christian philosopher had presented to him. However Junia's first monumental encounter with Christianity is through her friend Marcia. Marcia and her father were secretly Christians, but were executed in the amphitheater. Junia sneaks out in the middle of the night dressed as a plebeian to visit Marcia's grave in the catacombs. While there, Junia meets an elderly Christian servant named Scintilla who agrees to begin teaching Junia about Christianity. Little after this first visit to the catacombs, Junia becomes engaged to Quintus, a very successful and morally upright officer in the army, who is about to be appointed as one of the emperor's guards. Junia eventually makes the decision to be Baptized despite the negative effects it could have on her family and their social sttandings.

Little did Junia's know however, she was being watched by Agrippina, the wife of one of her father's political rivals. Agrippina's daughter Livia was also jealous of Junia and her social standings, and she greatly despised Junia. Agrippina had Junia trailed, and found that Junia was making frequent visits to the catacombs. Agrippina and Livia had that information released and Junia was tried in the amphitheater as a Christian. She was given the choice to either offer wine and incense to a statue of the emperor or to be beheaded. Junia ultimately chooses to be executed rather than betray the religion that is so dear to her. The book ends with Junia entering the ampitheater, accepting of her fate and excited to be with Jesus after her death.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Junia offers insight to daily life in Rome, including the social events, courting, the philosophical beliefs of the time and a brief summary of the political system. More importantly, Junia also offers a deeper look at the emotional struggles of being an early Christian. She is forced to chose between religion and her family and the man she loves. Junia knows that her religion could bring shame to her family and affect her father's government position, yet she still chooses her faith. This exemplifies the attitudes of many early Christian martyrs who died for their faith. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as I found it enlightening and very fascinating.

[Bob Lozano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junia is the first book in what is now a trilogy - Junia, Marcus, and Grain of Wheat - by Michael Giesler, in which we are introduced to a slice of Roman society in which Christianity is fighting to take hold.

Self-described as fictional history, this book give a fine, albeit brief introduction to the lives of Christians living in Rome in the early to mid 2nd century (about 140 or so). While the earliest persecutions of Christians in the Roman empire started with Nero about 62 AD, in the mid 2nd century it was still quite illegal (thought not unheard of) to be a Christian.

Christians lived with the constant fear, the ever-present "Sword of Damocles" of accusation ... accusation of that "heinous crime" of being a Christian, of being faced with the the very real decision of remaining faithful to the Lord vs. denying Him, of gaining eternal life at the cost of this one (right now!) vs. a continued, ignominious earthly existence. That choice was faced early and often by Christians in Rome in this era, and the characters of this trilogy are no exception.

Yet it is into this seemingly insurmountable weight of popular persecution that the Church drove, standing up to the lies and slanders with faithful purity, with the radical message of the Gospel of Life - with holiness and joy.

As a result, in a relatively brief span - a few hundred years - the unknown sect of Christianity swept through the known world, converting even pagan Rome.

The author has done a fine job of making this reality tangible, of giving us a taste of what our ancestors in the faith were willing to do to retain that faith. The books are very fast reads, yet convey quite a bit of factual context as well.

If I have a criticism it is that they are too fast, that I would have appreciated lingering longer in this world a bit, in getting to know some of the characters better. Perhaps I'll feel differently after the third volume (Grain of Wheat), up next and promisingly thicker ... don't know yet, but I will report back in the review of that volume.

In any case, in this day and age where many either take their faith for granted or have casually let it slide away as either too much trouble, inconvenient, or irrelevant, it is perhaps quite instructive to consider just what price the early Christians were willing to pay for that very same truth, for that relationship with the very same, unchangeable God.

Update: a team of folks put together a music video (featuring an original song, in the style of "Into the West" at the end of Return of the King) which may be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ERIea...

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totalmente lo recomiendo, está basado en los ejemplos de coraje, valentía y profundo amor a Dios. Esta historia no cabe duda que ayuda a reflexionar sobre la firmeza que debemos de tener los cristianos y al mismo tiempo valorar la alegría que recibimos de nuestra fe, siendo pobres o ricos, libres o esclavos, todos estamos llamados a amar a Dios y Él nos llama a nosotros de maneras sencillas y a veces misteriosas; es una historia que también te hace cuestionarte ¿qué vale más, el prestigio y la reputación banal o el amor de todo un Dios y el repudio de hasta los más cercanos?

[Cristina Montes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very moving account of the life of a young early Christian. It shows how Christians stood out from the rest of the world, and the fortitude it took them then (just as now) to live their faith in the midst of a hostile environment. This book inspired me, as a Christian, to take seriously the faith which so many people have been willing to die for.

Plot is simple, but compelling. I finished this book in one sitting (it's not really that long.)

[Vanalottiel Olanthir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

I had to read this for school, and it was actually better than I thought. The pacing is good, and the characters are written fairy-well. The world-building and historicity (minus one mistake) is fantastic. You can tell Giesler is a new writer, but that shouldn't cause much irritation. My main problem is that Junia was waaaay to easy to convert. She had no skepticism at all, which I found very unrealistic.

Overall, an intriguing and powerful read.

[Janalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I

[Never]

(A book recommended by someone you just met - Zhora Jane Esperal)