St. James Book Club: Green Mansions, 12/7/16

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Thanks to those who joined us last time! We had a nice conversation about Gaudy Night that included mention of Hogwarts, town and gown relations, and women’s rights. (One never knows where a book will take one!) Our next selection is Green Mansions by W.H. Hudson. It was first published in 1904 and is under 200 pages long–a quick read before holiday-busyness descends on us.From Amazon.com:     “Green Mansions by W. H. Hudson tells the story of Abel, a young wealthy Venezuelan who flees Caracas … and soon finds himself in the uncharted forests of the Guyana jungle. There, Abel meets the mysterious Rima the Bird Girl. …. The language of “Green Mansions” is exquisite, and the book will be especially intriguing to anyone with an interest in nature, for it is not only a wonderful love story, but also a vivid description of the Venezuelan rain forest and its indigenous people. …. Books as rich as “Green Mansions” need to be savored, like good wine. The story flows naturally and poetically. Though written over a hundred years ago, it doesn’t seem at all dated. The plot and the pacing are superb, and Hudson’s storytelling is particularly fascinating. Written with rich and moving prose, “Green Mansions” is a truly absorbing book.”

From Wikipedia:
“Abel, a young man of wealth, fails at a revolution and flees Caracas into the uncharted forests of Guayana. Surviving fever, failing at journal-keeping and gold hunting, he settles in an Indian village to waste away his life…. After some exploring, Abel discovers an enchanting forest where he hears a strange bird-like singing. …. Abel finally finds Rima the Bird Girl. She has dark hair, a smock of spider webs, and can communicate with birds in an unknown tongue.”

You can purchase the book at your local bookstore, or at Amazon–-hardcover, paperback, or Kindle edition-–for anywhere from about $1 to $25. The book is also available in many formats (hardcover, large-print, audio, etc.) at most libraries. Locate your local library, most of which offer inter-library loans, here.

Hope you will join us. Varied opinions are welcome!