It's Friday and that means it's a day to ramble.
Today's topic is books. It's going to be in two parts.
Part 2
What have you been reading? Do you have a favorite genre of
books?
I usually read thrillers, the only way to get a dose of an
adventure I can't get in real life.
Anyways, last year, I went out of my comfort zone and read a
few books from other genres.
And one of the books that stayed with me more than the
others was," The last green valley" by Mark Sullivan.
I picked it up from outside the gym, from the little free
library just because I liked the cover. I did not know anything about the story
but when I saw the cover, the picture on the cover looked familiar. I felt like I
had been there. I had seen this scene in real life and that too not long ago.
And then when I read the preface, I knew I had indeed been there.
The story is fiction inspired by true events. It's a story
of the suffering of one family spanning from the aftermath of World War I,
through World War II, and beyond. It’s one of those stories that educates you,
moves you, inspires you, gives you hope. Though I had heard of the
"Holodomor," I didn’t truly know the extent of the suffering of those
involved until I read this book. I also did not know about ethnic Germans
living in Ukraine for centuries.
This story begins in Ukraine during World War II and ends in
Bozeman, Montana. At one point, when the mass migration began, the two little boys
ask their mother where they were going and what will it look like where they are going. The mother then describes their destination,
she tells them that they are going to a beautiful green valley surrounded by
mountains and forests and there will be a winding river, papa will build a
house for them and they will never be apart.
And here’s the magical part my friends, why this book stayed
with me more than the others; the green
valley the mother described? Not only does it exist in real life, I remember
standing by the roadside, soaking in that view. Even now, thinking about it
fills me with joy. It’s the Gallatin River Valley in Bozeman, Montana, a place
I visited last summer.
Despite the family’s years of suffering, this story had a
happy ending. I’m so glad I picked up this book. It reminded me of the power of
resilience, the significance of history, and how even the most unexpected things,
like a random book cover can connect us to places and stories in profound ways.
Serendipity my friends!
Anyways, have you read something recently that took you by
surprise or left a lasting impact? I’d love to hear your thoughts and
recommendations!
And lastly, I love these little free libraries, take a book,
leave a book, share a book. They are everywhere in the USA. Have you spotted
one in your area??
Ramblings part II.
.
Comments