My favourite book of 2013…so far!

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Recently retired, Harold Fry receives a letter from Queenie Hennessy, an old friend, who he hasn't heard from in twenty years. Queenie is in a hospice and has written to Harold to say goodbye. He leaves his bitter wife, Maureen, to her chores, for an intended quick jaunt to the mailbox to post a letter in reply. With nothing but the clothes on his back, no cell phone or rain gear, Harold begins his unlikely pilgrimage across the English countryside. As each day dawns Harold convinces himself that the only way Queenie will live is if he delivers the letter in person. Along the way strangers stir up memories--of his marriage, which was once full of promise and now is tense and uncomfortable, and of his shortcomings as a husband and father.

Ironically, his wife, shocked by her husband's sudden absence, begins to long for his presence. Will Harold and Maureen be able to find a way to come together again? What will happen when Harold reaches Queenie?

I really enjoyed this book for its sweet, sometimes sad, quirky characters. It was very reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and A Spot of Bother both by Mark Haddon.

Try it—I think you’ll like it!

Submitted by Maureen

I have always loved the story of King Arthur so when I discovered Jack Whyte’s books in his series the Arthurian Saga I knew I had to read them. Jack Whyte is an excellent story teller, when I read his books I can visualize the surroundings that the story transports us. I have read many of his books and always finish with much anticipation of reading another one.

This is a tale of Uther Pendragon, future father of King Arthur, son of King Uric, and cousin of Merlyn. As a boy Uther had two homes, the civilized town of his mother’s people Camulod where he often spent time visiting his grandparents, and Tir Manha the harsh home of his father’s. His mother thought that her people and their ways would be a good influence of her hotheaded son. Uther favoured his time at Camulod, because of the cleanliness of it, the disciplined soldiers especially the cavalry, and the cheerfulness of the people. These feelings often made him feel disloyal to his own people of whom he will one day lead. Follow the tale of Uther from boy to man, a rather different version in which Jack Whyte tells beautifully.

You must check out Jack Whyte’s website, www.jackwhyte.com, if you like historical fiction.

Written by Linda

A Meeting of Spirituality and Theoretical Physics

When I heard that Neil Turok from Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics would be delivering one of the CBC Massey Lectures in Calgary, I thought, ‘what an opportunity’. I realized that I would be extremely challenged and headed up to the U of C anyway. His lecture, no, his talk, was free-flowing and exciting and at times, personal.

He spoke of how our understanding of the world is affected by the knowledge revealed with each new technology. Sometimes we find ourselves in a significant paradigm shift which leads to different ways of relating, organizing and being. I don’t know how much I didn’t understand so maybe I should check out his book, The Universe Within: From Quantum to Cosmos.

One day I found Field of Compassion: How the New Cosmology is Transforming Spiritual Life by Judy Cannato at Southwood Library. I will confess that I haven’t read it from cover to cover but I feel a strong relationship between these two books.

As we come to know that all life is connected, that we are all part of one, our relationship to one another and all that is, is transformed, leading us to find a healthy, harmonious way to be in the world.

~Reviews by Gerri

The books I have read recently are:

The Panther by Nelson DeMille was a very fast moving story featuring federal agent John Corey. It takes place in Yemen and Aden, and covers a lot of the culture of the middle east. John Corey and his wife, Kate Mayfield who is an FBI agent, are sent to Yemen with a promise of job promotions and security when they return. They are tracking a killer known as the Panther. The Panther is ruthless. This killer was born and raised in the United States, but totally committed to attacks on the U.S. It is fast moving and a good read.

I thought Merry Christmas Alex Cross is one of James Patterson's better books in quite a while. Alex Cross get called out on Christmas Eve to catch a thief who is robbing his church's poor box. He returns home to celebrate with his family and is called out to a dangerous hostage situation. The Alex Cross novels contain a lot of good family values and revolve around a very close family (including Alex's 90 year old grandmother - Nana Mama). I think it will be a classic Christmas read for fans of James Patterson.

Please put your comments below and let me know what you think.

King Henry II and Eleanor had four sons, Hal, Geoffrey, Richard and John. After their father’s death, Richard was to be crowned King of England when Hal and Geoffrey died. Just after the coronation, Richard embarked of the Third Crusade to the Holly Land. His mother Eleanor would remain to protect Richard’s authority, for her youngest son John was conspiring with the French King to put himself on the throne.

On the way to the Holly Land he marries Berengaria of Navarre and rescues his sister Joanna. This gives the story a feminine touch-not just giving the reader the tale of battle upon battle.

In the book it portrays Richard as a complex man, a person who loved poetry, ballads, and the arts, yet also he loved battle warfare. I got the impression that he was reckless with his own safety and took several personal risks. It sounds as if his men loved him, respected him and would follow him into battle without hesitation.

I am looking forward to her book, "A King’s Ransom" that delves more into King Richard I, the Lionheart.

Solveig is the second daughter of the king, neither heir to the throne like her younger brother nor beautiful like her older sister. She and her siblings have been sent away to a remote, frozen hideaway to remain safe while their father is at war. Then the king sends a group of his deadly berserker warriors to watch over them. But it will be a long winter, trapped in their fortress with limited food. And soon it's clear that there is a traitor among them.

Solveig is a brave girl, but humble and unaware of her true potential. It's soon apparent that she's a talented storyteller, so she begins to apprentice with her father's bard.
Readers of all ages should enjoy this fascinating story of honor, betrayal, and mystery. Icefall is an amazing book that will make you not want to put it down until it is done.