Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown & Company and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest treasure by a favorite, Emma Donoghue, hauntingly narrated by Aidan Kelly - 5 stars!
Taking place in 7th Century Ireland, a monk, Artt, has a dream that he needs to take two other monks, young Trian and older Cormac. The dream states that they must leave the sinful world and travel to a deserted island to start a monastery. They must leave behind all but the barest of essentials and travel to what is known today as Skellig Michael.
I started reading the digital copy but soon switched full time to the audiobook, because the narrator's haunting voice added so much feeling to the words. Emma Donoghue has once again created an entire world in which to immerse yourself, only to make you pause, think, and grow - which to me is what reading is all about. This book has so much to think about - as the three monks faced so very many trials, are these problems that God sends to teach us or are they from the devil to tempt us towards sin? And the arrogance of so many religious leaders that do terrible things to others in God's name. I am a Catholic and loved listening to the prayers and rituals of these monks. The faith these men showed was so commendable but God also gave us free will to think about our actions, so maybe not such blind faith in man and more in God. This book shows how fanaticism usually always leads down the wrong path.
Not an easy book or one for everyone, but one that I highly recommend!
No comments:
Post a Comment