Streams Full of Stars

44 Books now and still going strong - here's to Yann Martel, Canadian author and hero! One of our library books was his gift to Mr. Harper for #43 and below is an excerpt  from his accompanying letter to the P.M.

For Yann Martel's website, visit In the Library.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2

Dear Mr. Harper,

I can't think of a more delightful introduction to the republic of letters than Alan Bennett's short novel The Uncommon Reader. One day at the bottom of the Palace garden, parked next to the kitchen garbage bins, alerted by her corgis, the Queen discovers the City of Westminster travelling library. She pops in to apologize for the barking dogs and, once there, impelled by a sense of duty rather than any real interest, she takes out a book. This simple act marks the beginning of Her Majesty's downfall, in a way. The irony in the story is as light as whipped cream, the humour as appealing as candy, the characterization as crisp as potato chips, but at the heart of it there?s something highly nutritious to be digested: the effect that books can have on a life...

Before I forget, one of our very own great Canadian writers, Alice Munro, makes a cameo appearance in The Uncommon Reader, on page 67.  

Head over to Yann Martel's site for more about his fascinating venture!