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The Heart of Spirituality
Spirituality means different things to different people--religion, something sacred, a sense of nature, or a feeling of belonging. Likewise, classic books with spiritual themes elicit different reactions from different readers. The discussion series The Heart of Spirituality delves into six such classics. Some of these seem simple at first glance, like a children's book, but look closer and you'll find a wealth of interpretations. We're looking forward to some thought-provoking discussions between readers with different points of view. Even if you don't read the books, you're welcome to attend. Louise Sullivan, Branch Manager of the South Hill Library, will facilitate the discussions.
The series will feature the following books:
September 22, 2009 - 6:30 p.m., South Hill
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis
Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe and into the magical land of Narnia, a place filled with talking animals and mythical creatures. There they help a lion named Aslan in a struggle against the White Witch, whose curse shrouds Narnia in perpetual winter. This first volume of the famed Chronicles of Narnia, originally written for the author's niece, has delighted readers of all ages for more than 50 years.
October 20, 2009 - 6:30 p.m., South Hill
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A pilot stranded in the Sahara Desert meets a small boy from another planet, who tells of his adventures searching for what's important in life. This fantasy about a quest for knowledge unfolds in simple fashion, but it's not a children's story--it's about an adult who rediscovers his sense of imagination and wonder.
November 17, 2009 - 6:30 p.m., South Hill
Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
A restless young man, born in India and blessed with intelligence, good looks and charisma, leaves his small village and sets out on a quest for meaning. Moving from a life of self-denial and poverty to one of excess and indulgence, his journey takes him to the edge of a river, where he realizes life is a recurring cycle and that wisdom cannot be taught--it comes from experience and one's own struggle to find truth.
February 9, 2010 - 6:30 p.m., South Hill
The Chosen
by Chaim Potok
In 1940s Brooklyn, two Jewish boys--one Hasidic, the other Modern Orthodox--develop a deep friendship after an accident that forces their paths to cross. Despite their differences, the young men negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, loss and love during the chaotic times in which they live. Though it focuses on Jewish characters, The Chosen is about struggles familiar to all faiths and families.
March 9, 2010 - 6:30 p.m., South Hill
American Gods
by Neil Gaiman
After his wife dies in a car crash, a man named Shadow Moon gets out of prison early and takes up with the mysterious Wednesday, who turns out to be an old god preparing for an epic showdown. Shadow agrees to help and embarks on a spiritual road trip like no other. This scary, strange, hallucinogenic story doubles as a look at the information age, the meaning of death, and the American spirit.
April 13, 2010 - 6:30 p.m., South Hill
The Cloister Walk
by Kathleen Norris
Chronicling her experiences as a Benedictine oblate and her time in a monastery, the author gives an intimate look at how religious life fulfills the soul. This personal account of religion lived fully treats the monastery as a symbol of spirituality and offers observations on subjects ranging from celibacy to emotions to Christmas music.
If you have any questions about the programs please call the South Hill Branch at 444-5386.
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