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‘Gilead’ by Marilyn Robinson – Book Club Review

“Existence seems to me now the most remarkable thing that could ever be imagined”

 During this lockdown the Book Club has been reading “Gilead” by Marilyn Robinson, published in 2004 and winner of the Pulitzer Prize 2005, often on lists of best or most influential books.
I think that Barack Obama gives one of the most succinct summaries in his interview with the author for New York Review of books (2015) ‘One of my favourite characters in fiction is a pastor in Gilead , Iowa, named John Ames, who is gracious and courtly and a little bit confused about how to reconcile his faith with all the various travails that his family goes through. And I just fell in love with the book.’
It takes the form of a journal and memoir, as written in 1956 and is addressed to the narrator’s seven- year- old son.  John Ames is 76, ill with angina and wishes to leave something of himself to his son.  He has led a lonely life: his wife and baby daughter having died many years ago.  In old age he married a young woman, a wanderer of little education but has wisdom and sensitivity.  Some of the loveliest passages in the book are as Ames watches his young son and his wife together. Continue reading “‘Gilead’ by Marilyn Robinson – Book Club Review”

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Fireworks Postponed

Sadly we have decided that we can no longer go ahead with the planned fireworks display on Saturday due to the new national lockdown. Our hearty thanks to all those who have so generously donated to our Village organisations, all is not lost! We hope to reschedule the display for New Years Eve. We will keep you informed. In the meantime you can still donate, every penny raised will be shared amongst our Village organisations – The Village Hall, The Playing Field, The Horticultural Society, The Variety Club, The New Village Hall and The Church.

 

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News from St. Mark’s.

 

Well, the long awaited day arrived on Friday 25th September, when our new Rector, the Rev. Pete Molloy, and his family arrived in Buxted.  They were so pleased with all the preparations that had been done for them in the Rectory, making it as comfortable as possible until their own furniture and possessions arrive from Canada.  They then had to quarantine for 2 weeks, because of the pandemic, but were finally free to explore their new surroundings on Friday 9th October.  We hope that their ministry with us will be happy and fruitful. Continue reading “News from St. Mark’s.”

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Remembrance Services

Remembrance Sunday 8th November: there will be a service in St. Marks Church at 3.00 pm. It current with Covid-19 guidelines we are asking people to wear masks, sanitise their hands upon arrival at the church and check in with track & trace details. They will be asked to socially distance within the church. During the service music will be played but as is becoming common during weekly services we will hum into our masks!!!!

Wednesday, 11th November in St Marks Churchyard – There will be an Act of Remembrance at 11.00 am and all will be welcome, however masks should be worn and we ask you to observe social distancing.

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Book Review – Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

 “If one’s different, one’s bound to be lonely.”

 Imagine a world where there is no illness or suffering; where embryos are created in test-tubes and raised in hatcheries – their caste determined by the chemicals the State injects into them, brainwashed as they sleep. Where the concept of family, mother or one sexual partner is repugnant – ‘everyone belongs to everyone else’ – and death itself is sanitised and painless. Where doubts and worries are soothed by ‘soma’, which creates virtual worlds, and where games and lighthearted play are constantly encouraged; solitude and books actively discouraged.
Continue reading “Book Review – Brave New World by Aldous Huxley”

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Fireworks and Fundraising!

We are delighted to announce that the Village Firework Display will go ahead on Saturday 7th November at 8.30 pm, weather permitting. Whilst we can’t hold a public event, as we simply wouldn’t be able to apply workable social distancing measures, there will be a firework display for us all to enjoy from the comfort of our own homes and gardens.

The fireworks have been bought and paid for by two major donors and other local individuals. As in previous years, this will be a fundraising event. Our aim is to use this opportunity to raise money for some of our local voluntary organisations whose events and income streams have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Continue reading “Fireworks and Fundraising!”

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Book Review – Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrel

He is dead and gone, lady,
He is dead and gone;
At his head a grass green turf,
At his heels a stone.    Hamlet, Act IV, scene v

“A wonderful book”; “I absolutely loved it”; “I started to re-read it immediately” – these were some of the book club’s comments on this month’s book ‘Hamnet’ by Maggie O’Farrell which has just won this year’s Women’s prize for Fiction.
Hamnet (another way of spelling Hamlet) was Shakespeare’s son, one of a twin with his sister Judith.  Little is known of him but he died in 1596 aged 11, and four year’s later his father wrote ‘Hamlet’. This is a fictionalized account of what might have happened. Continue reading “Book Review – Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrel”