Today, after a week in Bordeaux for the World Impact Summit, I will be talking about the book I have been reading for over a month now. Why the slow progress ? Because, first of all it is long, 713 pages, then because it is such a rich read. Spanning four centuries between 1693 to 2013, the novel explores the theme of the exploitation of North American forests, first in New France, then in the American colonies by following two French peasants who emigrate to Trois-Rivières in 1693 to become woodcutters. Their lives and their descendants' lives are intertwined with the fate of the Great Forests, the Native Americans, the United States, Canada, Québec and all the other European emigrants of that period, notably the Dutch merchants.
The novel is fascinating. Every page conjures up images, historical and botanical knowledge, social and political events which are all more detailed than the next. At each new chapter, you are compelled to widen your horizons by researching even more contextual erudition, in order to milk maximum pleasure out of the read.
Here is a poem I wrote last Tuesday, inspired by Barkskins.
Lady in a Canoe
They paddled up the river
from Penobscot Bay.
They passed tree stumps
and roaming sheep biting
down on the newborn grass,
laying the earth bare.
they glimpsed no beavers
who had slunk away
deep into the forest
fleeing the hammers'
thunder. The nailing
of timber box wikuoms.
They built a fire
for the night. A lean-to
for shelter. They hunted
but did not spot a moose.
The outpost was busy
with the strange
dealings of the whiteman,
the Mi'kmawki idle.
The eel dryouts,
forlorn, offered no food.
The ghost of their people
harboured eyes dulled
by firewater. So they
skunked back
to their canoe. Paddled
some more to where
the forest stood sovereign.
Lady at the helm picked
a spot to plant
her feet.
They marched forth
with bow and arrows.
The Lady of the canoe
raised her babes.
They sat cross-legged
beneath the stars
and strung stories
of the Time that Was.
©susanbauryrouchard
Barkskins by Annie Proulx go here
My trip to Bordeaux to the World Impact Summit included conferences on sustainable energy and sustainable agriculture among others.
I also met with French start-ups who offer solutions to small communities who lack the basic means to survive : nutrition, access to healthcare and power.
Inovaya, filters to ensue water is drinkable and nourishing. go here
I will be helping them correct the English version of their website, as you can see, it is full of mistakes !
Sunkofa Energy, small solar panels for health centers, community buildings or shops. go here
I am in contact with many NGOs from Africa, mostly, and other countries who have elaborated projects which need technical solutions and financing. So now we have the technical aspect sorted out, or nearly, we have to find the financing. My contacts with UNICEF France (for whom I'm a volunteer), Entrepreneurs du Monde (for whom I do translations), WWF, Croix Rouge, Action contre la Faim, Medecins Sans Frontières.....ADEME, Electriciens Sans Frontières.... should prove useful !
Building Bridges not only for my writing but also for causes I wish to act upon. Words only go so far ! Practice what you preach !
Elie du Bois, Dordogne, May 2019
The Meadow
New Leaf
Wild 'Marguerites'
The Cherries, before I picked them
or the birds got'em !
Knock on Doors
Bordeaux, last week.
Bordeaux
Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux
from the bus-boat on the Garonne
The new Draw-Bridge
Bordeaux, 25th May 2019
While at Elie du Bois, I found My childhood 'Magical Roundabout' book from the 60's.
So for those of you who have read my post A to Z Challenge, letter Z go here
here are some extracts, photos.
Sibelius, Finlandia, while writing. go here
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs, go here
film The Night of the Living dead, the Suburbs, full album. go here
Alela Diane, Wild Divine, go here
Cat Stevens, Where do the Children Play, go here
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to comment, like, dislike, discuss. And I will be sure to reply. March weather in May, here in Toulouse. Light drizzle in between gusts of a cool Easterly breeze. 17º C, barely, in the afternoons. We are off to Sitges, just South of Barcelona, snuggle in the Garaf cliffs. Weather forecast: sunny but not more than 20º C ! Oh, well ! I'll still be going bathing in the sea and the pool ! Reading and writing, eating all the Catalan food that I miss: fideua, pan amb tomaquet....
Have a very pleasant week. Hoping you will visit again.
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs, go here
film The Night of the Living dead, the Suburbs, full album. go here
Alela Diane, Wild Divine, go here
Cat Stevens, Where do the Children Play, go here
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to comment, like, dislike, discuss. And I will be sure to reply. March weather in May, here in Toulouse. Light drizzle in between gusts of a cool Easterly breeze. 17º C, barely, in the afternoons. We are off to Sitges, just South of Barcelona, snuggle in the Garaf cliffs. Weather forecast: sunny but not more than 20º C ! Oh, well ! I'll still be going bathing in the sea and the pool ! Reading and writing, eating all the Catalan food that I miss: fideua, pan amb tomaquet....
Have a very pleasant week. Hoping you will visit again.