Sunday, August 27, 2006

Novel: "Before I Wake," Robert J. Wiersema

Pretty intrigued by this Georgia Straight review...

Before I Wake
By Robert J. Wiersema

Random House Canada, 371 pp, $32.95, hardcover.

Before I Wake balances a haunting meditation on domestic tragedy with the thrilling push of age-old mystery. It’s not an easy mix, but first-time novelist and well-known Victoria bookseller Robert Wiersema manages this character-centred narrative adeptly enough to keep you reading through what is clearly any parent’s worst nightmare.

An accident puts a three-year-old girl in a coma, and her parents struggle to cope. Discovering subsequently that she is a source of miracles is only one part of the novel’s many twists. The driver who caused the accident tries to commit suicide but is left in a kind of magic-realist limbo seeking, you guessed it, redemption. Meanwhile evil forces, with strong Biblical overtones, are at work to stop the “pilgrims” who come to petition the little girl for their own miraculous recoveries.

There is a lot going on in this novel, enough suspense to keep pages turning quickly, which is amazing, considering that a lot of the book deals with an analysis of relationships. There is also hope and idealism, especially when the parents reluctantly decide to let the “pilgrims” enter their home and allow their “sleeping” daughter to perform miracles: “She held her breath every time she touched Sherry’s hand to a pilgrim’s forehead, as if willing something to happen while at the same time terrified that it might.”

Wiersema works the story through different forms: e-mails and newspaper clippings mingle with a multiple-perspective narrative. He offers different possibilities for the “after” life; at one point the driver who hit the little girl is holed up in a library, in a liminal state, reading endlessly to make sense of what’s happening to him. Wiersema’s unique take on the ancient subject of miracles and how they might be received in contemporary culture lifts the book beyond maudlin overtones. It may be wrapped too tightly at the end, but Before I Wake offers enough emotional complexity to compel.

by jacqueline turner, Georgia Straight
Publish Date: 24-Aug-2006

Sep 29: Jim Byrnes & The Sojourners, Rogue Folk Club

Jim Byrnes, HOUSE OF REFUGE

Oh. My. Gosh.

Subtitled "Songs of Hope, Longing, Sin and Redemption," this brand new release from Vancouver musician/actor Byrnes is a stunning album. Produced by Steve Dawson (who you've heard at CHRISTMAS PRESENCE and TESTIMONY and various PT events), it's absolutely world class. Just breathtaking. Loads of gospel and gospel-related tunes, from traditional numbers backed by The Sojourners (Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Ron Small - all are featured soloists with the Universal Gospel Choir, and they're sublime as a trio) to Nick Lowe's extraordinary "The Beast In Me" to a heartbreakingly beautiful rendition of the 20th century's most gorgeous melody, "Stardust," which Byrnes dedicates to his mother. Tons and tons of tasty playing by multi-Juno-winner Dawson, who is a national treasure. (Can you tell I like this record?)

I guarantee this one. It simply couldn't be better. I've played it continuously since my buddy Rudi brought it by my place, so I can testify that it wears well. And you know what's best of all? Byrnes and the Sojourners will be playing the Rogue Folk Club Friday September 29!

*

P.S. And this note from a Soul Food reader; "Ron, based on your comments on Jim Byrnes House of Refuge, I picked up a copy, and have listened to it through many times since. I agree - the album is just stunning! I was working on my father-in-laws memorial service tribute & program this week, and spent many hours at the computer, listening to the album at the same time. Music has this amazing connectivity with events and moods and emotion, and I think I've firmly imprinted Jim's tunes along with memories of Dad. Thanks for the steer to the soul food!"

Plays

Soul Food On Stage

Concerts

Soul Food Concerts

Byrnes and the Sojourners will be playing the Rogue Folk Club Friday September 29!
http://www.roguefolk.bc.ca/concerts/jimbyrnescdlaunch.html
music from...
Jim Byrnes, HOUSE OF REFUGE
www.blackhenmusic.com/artists/jim_byrnes/

Events

General Soul Food events

Websites

Websites with a spiritual flavour

Art

Shows and galleries with a spiritual flavour

Music

CDs with a spiritual flavour

Jim Byrnes, HOUSE OF REFUGE
www.blackhenmusic.com/artists/jim_byrnes/
Oh. My. Gosh.
Subtitled "Songs of Hope, Longing, Sin and Redemption," this brand new release from Vancouver musician/actor Byrnes is a stunning album. Produced by Steve Dawson, absolutely world class. Just breathtaking. Loads of gospel and gospel-related tunes, from traditional numbers backed by The Sojourners (Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Ron Small - all are featured soloists with the Universal Gospel Choir, and they're sublime as a trio) to Nick Lowe's extraordinary "The Beast In Me" to a heartbreakingly beautiful rendition of the 20th century's most gorgeous melody, "Stardust," which Byrnes dedicates to his mother. Tons and tons of tasty playing by multi-Juno-winner Dawson, who is a national treasure. (Can you tell I like this record?)
I guarantee this one. It simply couldn't be better. I've played it continuously since my buddy Rudi brought it by my place, so I can testify that it wears well. And you know what's best of all? Byrnes and the Sojourners will be playing the Rogue Folk Club Friday September 29! http://www.roguefolk.bc.ca/concerts/jimbyrnescdlaunch.html

Books

Books with a spiritual flavour
Just getting started on this, but for now, bold-faced titles link to a blog entry, others are titles I just happen to think of as particularly "soul foody" type books

Douglas Coupland, "Life After God"
Annie Dillard, "Teaching A Stone To Talk," "For The Time Being," "Holy The Firm," etc.
Clyde Edgerton, "Walking Across Egypt"
Nick Hornby, "How To Be Good"
John Irving, "A Prayer For Owen Meany"
Stuart Jackman, "The Davidson Affair"
Anne Lamott, "Traveling Mercies"
M. Scott Peck, "A Bed By The Window"
Walker Percy, "Love In The Ruins"
Ann Rice's Jesus book
Marilynne Robinson, "Gilead"
Mary Doria Russell, "The Sparrow" / "Children Of God"
Anne Tyler, "Saint Maybe"
Robert J. Wiersema, Before I Wake