Below are a few quotations from the beginning of Wendell Berry's novel Hannah Coulter. The novel begins at the end, takes you to the story's middle, beginning and end all within its first pages...and by then the reader is enthralled.
"Our story is the story of our place: how we married and came here, moved into this old house and made it livable again while we lived in it; how we raised our children here, and worked and hoped and paid the mortgage...how we continued,m,asking our life here day by day, after the children were gone; how we kept this place alive and plentiful..." (Hannah Coulter, 5).
"So close to the end now, what do I look forward to? 'Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.' Some morning, I pray, I'll have the good happiness of 'the man who woke up dead,' who Burley Coulter used to tell about" (Hannah Coulter, 5).
"This is my story, my giving of thanks" (Hannah Coulter, 5).
You can find a copy of Hannah Coulter on Amazon.com
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C. John McCloskey is always edgy when it comes to contemporary analysis of our culture. Below is a link to a 2004 post about Friendship-Deficit Syndrome...that really has its focus with men. I say, Love your wives and children, but man is fully alive with friendship that supports his role and life with the family. I nor Fr. McCloskey intentions are for men to stay out late, drinking at the local sports bar while yelling at multiple video screens. Rather men should spend time with each other both one on one and in small groups enjoying each other's company where in these situations conversation can take place without committing video monitors all around. Surprisingly and easily topics such as the depth of fatherhood, and husbandry will come up and the foundation of true friendship may occur...Enjoy the article.
"Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow travelers." - C.S. Lewis
Why do friendships and marriages last for just a short time in the 21st century...because most people are not on a journey but trying to make the most out of the "here and now" only for themselves. Friendships will not be very deep and marriages will not last very long if this is how we proceed to live. |