Travelling with Gershom

Last week the Winterset Award  was presented to my sister, Heather Smith , for her book Ebb & Flow . I hadn’t read the other two shortlisted works, so I decided to read them, starting with Between Breaths by  Robert Chafe . Dr. Jon Lien came to Newfoundland in 1968 as an animal behaviourist in Memorial University’s psychology department, and while his initial focus was on birds he eventually became internationally renowned for his work freeing whales who were trapped in fishing nets. Chafe’s play tells the story of this remarkable man, capturing Lien’s outsized personality, his passion, and his heart. Chafe also speaks to the Newfoundland experience in a respectful, clear-headed way that doesn’t portray folks from the outports as simple fishermen and avoids the condesending overtone of colonial era portrayals of the “noble bayman”. There is a short speech by Lien in the penultimate scene, where he tries to explain to his wife Judy why he goes out to rescue the whales. He tal

In the Wreckhouse Membertou Birches Sicilian Afternoon Hanging on in South Dildo

This is an extraordinary book. Not something I say very often, but this is a book that stimulates the mind, heart, and soul. Ward crafts a compelling narrative that shifts from 17 th century Naples to the late 20 th century version, linking them through the creation of Caravaggio’s The Seven Acts of Mercy and its impact on viewers today. He tells the story of how Caravaggio ended up in Naples and of the commissioning of this magnificent painting, interwoven with a fictionalised account of the life and creative process of the artist that rings true. The Guardian of Mercy is also the account of the transformative impact of this painting on an ordinary, simple man, and of its effect on a family and on the author and his wife. This is personal, intimate, and compelling stuff, written with a contagious passion for Caravaggio, the painting, and Angelo, the guardian of the title, that draws you unrelentingly back to the seven acts depicted in the artwork. Ward breaks the painting

I was excited to read this book, a collection of sermons and writings by Pope Francis, because I was interested in getting a deeper understanding of the pope’s perspectives on many of the issues he discusses in it. The publisher describes the book as “a beautifully curated collection of excerpts from the homilies and writings of Pope Francis, all centering on Christianity as a way of life—or, as the earliest Christians would have understood it, ‘the Way’.” It is a book about discipleship, how to follow Jesus, and carries the theme of “the way” throughout, contemplating The Way of the Cross, The Way of Prayer, The Old Testament Way, and others. Having been raised Catholic but since becoming a Salvationist, I was curious to see if and where Pope Francis departed from what I have seen as traditional Catholicism. Many of his public statements have certainly raised the ire of the more conservative elements of the Catholic Church even as they have been celebrated by many Catholics and

Most of the British detective novels I read feature a Detective Inspector as their main character (and occasionally a Detective Chief Inspector). I am a big fan of British police procedurals, including those by Ian Rankin (John Rebus), Elizabeth George (Tommy Lynley), Mark Billingham (Tom Thorne), and Graham Hurley (Joe Faraday), among others, all of whose main characters are DIs. I also enjoy Stuart MacBride’s gritty series set in Glasgow, which has as its lead Detective Sergeant Logan McRae. MacBride and Slater are consistent in their presentation of the lot of the Detective Sergeant; like McRae, DS Peter Gayle is charged with the practical, day-to-day tasks of the investigation, reporting back to a DI who is likely occupied with more than one case. The DS works at the coal face: dealing with leads, interviewing witnesses, trudging through fields. He is focused on the procedure, the proven steps that generate results. As a result, Nowhere to Run gives you the dogsbody view of

No, this is not about the Muppets. Although, that's not a bad idea... I have enjoyed some very good food on this trip to Sweden, and thought I would share tonight's meal with you. But first, last week I attended a conference on the fascinating island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea (more about Gotland later) and the closing dinner was held at the Visby golf club. The chef introduced the meal, speaking about his focus on fresh, seasonal local ingredients. And it was superb. From the starter of leek soup, through the main course of lamb three ways, to the dessert of cheesecake with local berries, everything was bright, fragrant, and flavourful. The localness shone though, and each item was perfectly cooked. A memorable meal, which was better than the one eaten two nights later in Stockholm.  Lux Dag by Dag has the same approach as the culinary team on Gotland - use only the freshest local ingredients available to create the menu for the day. Having a Michelin star heightened e