An Episode of Sparrows

Book cover of An Episode of Sparrows

Book description

By the author of Black Narcissus and The River

WITH A FOREWORD BY JACQUELINE WILSON

'A masterpiece of construction and utterly realistically convincing' JACQUELINE WILSON

'Author Godden here tries her deft writing hand at landscaping a child's heart' TIME

'It is a sentimental tale, well told, with an unlikely and…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked An Episode of Sparrows as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

J. Shep

Author

Easily one of my top favorite books, this novel captures so much: the great character of Lovejoy, the realities of post-war London, and a plot that reflects the human search for beauty amid horror, life amid death.

The motifs, settings, and themes have such a strong impact on me to this day after having read it for the first time so long ago. There is something neat about the older folks thinking of the neighborhood “orphans” as sparrows, frittering away at the building of something special.

From J.'s list on strong inter-generational relationships.

Ginny Kubitz Moyer

Author

I love how Rumer Godden’s novels pair lyrical writing with complex characters. An Episode of Sparrows is no exception.

The novel takes place in post-WWII London, where Lovejoy, a young girl whose mother has pawned her off on strangers, plants a hidden garden in the shelter of a bombed-out church. Lovejoy is both fierce and tender in her desperation to have something to believe in, and Godden’s fluid storytelling carries the reader along as Lovejoy and the local children find sanctuary in their unsanctioned garden.

This moving novel shows that gardens can be the catalyst for friendship and community. It…

From Ginny's list on gardens as places of discovery and change.

The December Issue

By J. Shep,

Book cover of The December Issue

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What is my book about?

"a fresh narrative whose scale, ambition, and pathos elevate" -Pacific Book Review

"The December Issue warms up the soul from its first chapter to the last." -Chanticleer Book Reviews, 5 Stars

The joys of retirement feel imminent to columnist Paul Scrivensby, a native of the Great Lakes' very own St. Catherine's Cove, but when his penultimate column stirs controversy, the writer soon finds easing into carefree days of leisure a luxury growing more elusive. Embroiled in the unexpected pursuits presented before him while on the verge of retirement, Paul discovers what he and others are capable of and searches for…

The December Issue

By J. Shep,

What is this book about?

A story of discernment amid the challenges and blessings of work, retirement, family, community, and past…

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