Today, in Caithness, the sun is shining and the air is clear. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone reading this blog that, certain weathers and certain times of the year ignite certain music in me. And, on late winter days which are filled with sunshine, I am usually to be found singing the songs of The Spinners . Inevitably, I start humming different ones of their songs (and of course adapting them to be about Orlando and Jess) as I go around doing different things. But I remember almost all the words to them. I haven't heard a lot of them in years, but they are all there, rooted in my memory. It is truly fascinating to think about how these songs have passed through history. They are part of my own nostalgia, which is why crisp sunny mornings make me incapable of ignoring the temptation to sing them, but they are part of something much bigger. There are songs amongst them which are a newer step in the folk music movement. Songs like Silver in the Stubble are amongs...
"Lifesong" by Julia Blake
Book Review
☆☆☆☆
The first thing that
struck me about this book was the beauty of the language. Each sentence has
been exquisitely crafted to ensure it has the most impact and meaning on the
reader. Although it was not my sort of book, I appreciated the artistic skill
of the author and must congratulate her that she portrayed such a worrying
concept so beautifully.
One of the main things I
look for in a book is the strength of its characters. The author developed all
the characters well in the short time she had given herself, so I felt the
characters’ concern and pain alongside them.
I found the novella a
little dark for my taste (this is purely a matter of personal taste) and I
would have liked a little more hope in the story. The end seemed satisfactory –
and not – at the same time. I acknowledge, however, that this is important for
the message the story conveys.
Blurb (from Goodreads)
She came from a different place, a world living in harmony with the lifesong that flows through everything, connecting all to the great song of the universe.
Suddenly, she's trapped on our world, a place hell bent on self-destruction, a place that destroys without thought, poisons its own water supply and pollutes the very air that it breathes. Horrified to discover we have no lifesong, the question burns – what kind of a world is this, that can treat itself so?
Hauntingly beautiful, this story will make you think and feel about our planet and our choices, and wonder - Is the love of one woman enough to save an entire world?

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