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July 02, 2007
"The Monk Downstairs" by Tim Farrington
If you are looking for a gentle story about life and love, you may want to consider Tim Farrington’s novel “The Monk Downstairs.” After 20 years in a monastery, Michael Christopher leaves to start life “in the real world.” He rents an in-law apartment in the bottom of Rebecca’s house. Rebecca, a former hippy/beach bum is a graphic artist and single mother to six year old Mary Martha. Rebecca has an uneasy relationship with Mary Martha’s father, a professional surfer who has never really grown up. Friendship and then love grows between Mike and Rebecca. We learn move about the inner thoughts and feelings of Mike and his reasons for leaving the contemplative religious life, through letters he writes to a monk back at the monastery who is trying to “save” the former Brother Jerome. Rebecca, a strayed Catholic, struggles with some of Mike’s beliefs and as woman who has had poor luck with men, isn’t sure she wants to fall for Mike. The comfort and support he provides during the harrowing days following Rebecca’s mother’s stroke lead to a stronger bond between Rebecca and Mike. I am looking forward to the next part of their story – “The Monk Upstairs.”
ISBN: 978-0-06-112242-2
Pam, reserves
Posted by jnardine at July 2, 2007 09:10 AM