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Remembering Stardust
What will it take to find the place you've always belonged?
Eighteen-year-old Oliver Goode is not that different from the small-town church folks he’s grown up around in Wheatley, Pennsylvania. But the tumultuous mid-60s and the long-buried traumas of his past are about to change all that. While his hard-fisted father pushes him to become a man, Ollie tries to elude his toxic pastor, keep his job at the general store, and enjoy a certain beauty named Stardust Hopewell. When his best friend heads out for Vietnam and tensions continue to grow at home, his inner war escalates. Soon, he’ll have to decide where his true peace is found.
A deeply affecting journey of shedding anxiety, Remembering Stardust is a story from the heartland of our recent American past. How do we become who we were always meant to be? Where do we discover the grace to live out loud? And how do we finally learn that there’s far more to life than the fear we’ve always known?
Eighteen-year-old Oliver Goode is not that different from the small-town church folks he’s grown up around in Wheatley, Pennsylvania. But the tumultuous mid-60s and the long-buried traumas of his past are about to change all that. While his hard-fisted father pushes him to become a man, Ollie tries to elude his toxic pastor, keep his job at the general store, and enjoy a certain beauty named Stardust Hopewell. When his best friend heads out for Vietnam and tensions continue to grow at home, his inner war escalates. Soon, he’ll have to decide where his true peace is found.
A deeply affecting journey of shedding anxiety, Remembering Stardust is a story from the heartland of our recent American past. How do we become who we were always meant to be? Where do we discover the grace to live out loud? And how do we finally learn that there’s far more to life than the fear we’ve always known?
395 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
C.D. Baker
13 books15 followers C. David Baker’s first novel, A Journey of Souls, was released in 2000 and re-released in 2004 as Crusade of Tears…a Christee Nominee. He has written nine historical novels, two Christian devotionals, and a children's book published variously in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Ukraine and Russia. Research has taken him throughout Europe, and his interviews have included a variety of fascinating people such Manfred Rommel, son of Fieldmarshal Rommel, and Johann Voss, author and veteran of the Waffen-SS, both of whom contributed much to Baker’s 'Seduction of Eva Volk.
The descendant of early German and Scottish immigrants to Pennsylvania, Baker’s family tree is an assortment of Mennonite, Reformed, and Presbyterian families including Adam Neff–the flag bearer who stood by Zwingli as he died during the battle of Kappel, William Rittenhouse–the first American paper maker, and William Penn’s Dutch grandmother. Twenty of his ancestors served in Pennsylvania militias during the American Revolution.
The father of two sons, Baker lives on a small farm with his wife, Sue. Together they raise livestock with an interest in natural/organic methods and a passion for humane treatment. Failure has been part of his life as well. It has been these deep valleys that have led David to the well of Grace from which the essence of his writing is drawn,
The descendant of early German and Scottish immigrants to Pennsylvania, Baker’s family tree is an assortment of Mennonite, Reformed, and Presbyterian families including Adam Neff–the flag bearer who stood by Zwingli as he died during the battle of Kappel, William Rittenhouse–the first American paper maker, and William Penn’s Dutch grandmother. Twenty of his ancestors served in Pennsylvania militias during the American Revolution.
The father of two sons, Baker lives on a small farm with his wife, Sue. Together they raise livestock with an interest in natural/organic methods and a passion for humane treatment. Failure has been part of his life as well. It has been these deep valleys that have led David to the well of Grace from which the essence of his writing is drawn,
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 18, 2022
Interesting story of a small town that is lead by very strong religious rules -a young boy and his family, friendships, first love, tragedies and changing times - well written - holds your attention as you follow the boys life - the time period is along with the "hippies" - "free love" - the beginning of the Vietnam war.
May 12, 2022
Remembering Stardust
By. C.D.Baker
A Book Review and Reflections
There is a saying in Vietnam, which goes something like this: One can break a rock with an egg, meaning that if one is patient enough to suffer in one's own struggle, the rock that keeps one from moving will break.
C.D. Baker in his story, Remembering Stardust, tells of a young man Oliver Good, living in a small Pennsylvania town from 1965-to 1966, during his Junior and Senior years in high school.
Oliver is raised in a fundamentalist Christian home, by a domineering father, and passive-aggressive stepmother.
Oliver was tormented by nightmares of hell over masturbation and his sexual thoughts; he was "saved" at an early age; the minster tried to force him to give out fundamentalist literature in the hardware store he worked in, where the son of the owner was gay; and ultimately he was seen hugging an older woman and rumors flew of their relationship. His church, family, and the community turned on him.
Slowly through the love of a Native American woman, and the love and care of his queer friend and friend's father, we see the rock of fundamentalism--its judgment and narrowness begin to crumble and Oliver discovered there is more to life than fear. Oliver came to see a more Cosmic Christ, inclusive of all religious expression, non-judgmental, and loving of everyone.
This story is a universal story of the journey of life, as we journey towards wholeness. Some of us get stuck at the beginning, others in the middle, but the ultimate goal is the acceptance of all of humanity, loving all, and caring for all.
The Cosmic Jesus is the sum of all religious practices of love and offers each one of us kindness. The Cosmic Christ is the pure manifestation of God's kindness and caring. There is no judgment in this Jesus, whose reflection is like that of the rainbow of spiritual expressions of love.
Oliver's story is my story. Raised in a fundamentalist community, where the Bible was the "true and absolute Word of God", and finally when the rock slowly crumbled in my coming out, I found freedom.
In that freedom came those with their chief weapon: The Bible, "the true and only Word of God," telling me that one must believe in Jesus, be saved." One can not be queer, or different, but conform to "their" perception of the Bible.
Through the years of seeing young and old go through the same experience, I seek to show them the Cosmic Christ, the one who loves them without judgment.
Recently I was hurt emotionally by an individual spewing out that same fundamentalist bull shit and the thought came, why not take off my spurs and retire to Palm Springs.
Well sitting, looking across the street in Palm Springs last week there was a homeless guy sleeping, I later encountered another homeless young man, mentally ill, and I knew my call was to leave my spurs on.
This is an excellent book calling us to leave our fears behind, calling us to move out into the world of the stardust, a world of caring, expecting nothing in return. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
======================================
Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
www.temenos.org
punkpriest1@gmail.com
June 15, 2022
Remembering Stardust by C.D. Baker
The story takes place from 1964-1966 in a small Pennsylvania Town. Yong Oliver Goode is from an extremely (strict) religious family. With a controlling domineering Father, cynical Stepmother and younger Sister. He meets a young lady, Stardust who is the complete opposite in every way possible, and form an unlikely friendship.
Ollie navigates his life through friendships, tragedies and changing times. He does some serious soul searching as he faces haunting events from past to present, to determine what is best for him in life. Some of his decisions may not be easy, (but) what he seeks is happiness, love and acceptance.
An original story moving at a steady pace with well developed characters. Engaging dialog brings you deep into the mind of each. True to the era with current events and accurate details adds to this compelling story. I found Remembering Stardust enjoyable and feel others will enjoy it as well.
The story takes place from 1964-1966 in a small Pennsylvania Town. Yong Oliver Goode is from an extremely (strict) religious family. With a controlling domineering Father, cynical Stepmother and younger Sister. He meets a young lady, Stardust who is the complete opposite in every way possible, and form an unlikely friendship.
Ollie navigates his life through friendships, tragedies and changing times. He does some serious soul searching as he faces haunting events from past to present, to determine what is best for him in life. Some of his decisions may not be easy, (but) what he seeks is happiness, love and acceptance.
An original story moving at a steady pace with well developed characters. Engaging dialog brings you deep into the mind of each. True to the era with current events and accurate details adds to this compelling story. I found Remembering Stardust enjoyable and feel others will enjoy it as well.
June 30, 2022
Eighteen year old Oliver Goode is trying to navigate leaving childhood behind and becoming a man. The place small town Wheatley, Pennsylvania, the years 1964-1966. The Viet Nam war is going on but Ollie is fighting his own internal war with God, his father and stepmother, and the pastor at his church. Then he meets a girl named Stardust and she helps him become the man he wants to be.
I have never been a fan of religious based books but this one is different, it doesn't shove it down your throat. I could not put this book down and found I really cared about Ollie and his sister. The way all the characters were written it actually felt like I knew them. While reading this book I went through a roller coaster ride of emotions and I was sad when the book ended because I wanted more. This is a must read.
I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an honest review.
I have never been a fan of religious based books but this one is different, it doesn't shove it down your throat. I could not put this book down and found I really cared about Ollie and his sister. The way all the characters were written it actually felt like I knew them. While reading this book I went through a roller coaster ride of emotions and I was sad when the book ended because I wanted more. This is a must read.
I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an honest review.
October 13, 2022
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to LibraryThing for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a giveaway on their website a few months ago. I wasnt sure if i'd like it since this was my first time reading a book by this author but i have to say i really enjoyed it especially since i never read a Historical Fiction Novel set in the Mid 1960s.
The Characters were very interesting and enjoyable to read about. Oliver and Tara "Stardust" were my favorites.
The Setting was very well described which made me feel like i was actually in 1960s Wheatley, PA while reading especially when all the Political Topics came up.
Overall a Phenomenal Historical Fiction about Life in the 1960s!! Can't wait to read more by CD Baker in the future!!
Review:
Thank you to LibraryThing for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a giveaway on their website a few months ago. I wasnt sure if i'd like it since this was my first time reading a book by this author but i have to say i really enjoyed it especially since i never read a Historical Fiction Novel set in the Mid 1960s.
The Characters were very interesting and enjoyable to read about. Oliver and Tara "Stardust" were my favorites.
The Setting was very well described which made me feel like i was actually in 1960s Wheatley, PA while reading especially when all the Political Topics came up.
Overall a Phenomenal Historical Fiction about Life in the 1960s!! Can't wait to read more by CD Baker in the future!!
July 4, 2022
Got this from Goodreads give away.
This is a coming of age story and the chooses we make on what we want for our life.
The story is of a young man living in the late 1960's in a small town. Oliver is raised by
a very strict fundamentalist father who is very domineering. Oliver is at the age that he
is starting to ask questions about his faith and where his live is going.
He meets a girl called Stardust who has a hole different look on life then his. She makes
quite and impression in his life. Through her learns to except how he feels.
This book is of family, friendships, first love and how all if this affects us.
An interesting read.
This is a coming of age story and the chooses we make on what we want for our life.
The story is of a young man living in the late 1960's in a small town. Oliver is raised by
a very strict fundamentalist father who is very domineering. Oliver is at the age that he
is starting to ask questions about his faith and where his live is going.
He meets a girl called Stardust who has a hole different look on life then his. She makes
quite and impression in his life. Through her learns to except how he feels.
This book is of family, friendships, first love and how all if this affects us.
An interesting read.
June 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. It took me back to The Sixties and Seventies when I was a high school and college student. I remember The World's Fair, wearing beads and bellbottoms, and getting high! Rock and Roll was just becoming popular along with The Beatles. This story is about a religious teenager who is caught between his church and the Hippie Era. It tells of nis struggles and his one true love named Stardust. I highly recommend this book.
July 30, 2022
Overall this was a good book. I enjoyed seeing what Oliver would encounter next. It seemed that he had a lot thrown at him at once. The book was well written and flowed at a good pace.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews