THE GLASS SEED THE FRAGILE BEAUTY OF HEART, MIND AND MEMORY
Eileen Delehanty Pearkes
From the heart of the mountains in British Columbia comes this poignant memoir that delves into the nature of memory and the power of the human heart to heal. In her first full-length work of creative non-fiction, author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes investigates cultural ideas about care, compassion and loss in the face of her mother's terminal illness.
When Pearkes first realizes that her mother has Alzheimer's disease, she begins to consider what it means to be a mother, daughter and woman. Fuelled by a desire to heal herself, and care for her mother, Pearkes embarks on an inward journey toward understanding. During a winter spent in quiet reflection, she gathers historical, religious and mythic perspectives on beauty and womanhood which then nourish a contemplation of her own mother-daughter relationship. She discovers that beyond the fragility of her mother's body and mind, something intangible and enduring remains untouched.
Lyrical and intimate, Pearkes' voice resonates with the seasons as she takes us on a journey through winter to spring, from disintegration to wholeness. The evocative language of The Glass Seed reveals the influence of yoga, and an intensely personal approach to the politics of womanhood. From this emerging writer in the literary tradition of women's spiritual memoir.
Good news for Timeless Books! The Glass Seed by Eileen Delehanty Pearkes has recently been shortlisted as one of three candidates for the One Book One Kootenay http://www.obok.ca region-wide book club, celebrating local writers of the Kootenay-Boundary through public libraries. people living in the Kootenays can cast their votes from 17 May. The winner will be announced on 8 September.
EILEEN DELEHANTY PEARKES is also the author of The Geography of Memory(2002), co-author of The Inner Green (2005), and a major contributor to River of Memory (2006). She lives in southeastern British Columbia.
Printed on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper
CAD$ 19.95 / USD$ 17.95
Paperback: 184 pages
Published:First Edition edition October 2007
ISBN-10: 1932018182
ISBN-13: 978-1932018189
Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 inches
Approximate Weight: 8.8 ounces