London Reads - Immigrant's gritty tale an epic adventure

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By Joni Baechler
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The fifth year of the London Reads program is off to an excellent start with a stellar line-up of books to interest all Londoners.
 
Carolyn Doyle of the Landon Branch of London Public Library and Michael Coleby of Great Hall Catering at Western will host the first London Reads book event, a discussion Oct. 24 of the award-winning novel The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens.
 
The program promotes Canadian authors and the importance of literacy. The entire community is invited to read the novels along with a team of local celebrity panelists as they deliberate the merits of Canadian fiction at book clubs around the city.
 
Monthly book events will begin this month and will be offered until February 2008. Each month the celebrity readers, one from Western and one from the community, will gather with their fellow readers to discuss their book.
 
Michael Coleby, Executive Chef of Great Hall Catering at Western, and Carolyn Doyle, Supervisor of the Landon Branch of The London Public Library, will host the first book event.
 
The first book up for discussion is Peter Behrens' award winning novel, The Law of Dreams.
 
The Law of Dreams is an exceptional epic adventure. Inspired by Behrens' family history, the novel chronicles the perilous journey of Fergus O'Brien. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Behrens weaves a compelling tale that illuminates an important part of history, the struggle for survival in the aftermath of the great potato famine of 1847 Ireland.
 
The endurance of the Irish as a result of this natural catastrophe is magnified by political callousness and brutal neglect.
 
The story follows O'Brien from his home tenement to a workhouse where he is sent following the death of his family. He then travels with a group of young thieves, learning of love, loyalty and heartache before making his way to Liverpool where he finds safe haven in a bordello. Here he recovers from typhus and learns of the harsh realities of city life. He labours with the railroad where he meets Molly who offers him companionship and the hint of the possibilities that await them in the new world. Hungry and battered, he yearns for a life free of regrets. A life that is more than a constant struggle for survival. Together they immigrate to Montreal by way of an extraordinary Atlantic crossing that tests his endurance and resolve.
 
The book pulls the reader into the heart of O'Brien. The rich narrative voice, the poetic, perceptive, prose and the manner in which the journey unfolds make the reader feel as if they are a part of Fergus O'Brien. 
 
The saga is a brilliant, heart-felt tribute to the capacity of the human spirit, fueled by hope, to triumph in the face of the worst life can offer. O'Brien endures abuses and deprivations that would harden and compromise a lesser man.
 
Despite his troubles, Fergus believes in the possibility of a full and passionate life. The law of dreams is to keep moving. In Fergus there is an innate decency, a natural grace, a sense that patience shores up his will to survive and keeps him moving forward in hope of a better dream.

London Reads book event

First in a series of events, each focusing on a literary contender for this year's London Reads award The book: The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens When: Oct. 24, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Where: Michael's Restaurant, Somerville House Complimentary parking details provided at time of registration RSVP: programs@uwo.ca or 519-850-2548 Learn about the program at www.londonreads.uwo.ca 
  The writer is a graduate of Western, London councillor and former celebrity panellist for London Reads.
 

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