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Loading... The Monk Downstairs: A Novelby Tim FarringtonLibraryThing recommendationsMember recommendationsLoading...
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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. Kind of a yawner of a monk who rebels against the church and ends up in philosophical conversations and a New Age romance with his landlady. (  ) Othemts | Nov 8, 2008 |  Favorite part: Description of how the hospital room where she stayed with her mother approaching death became her new reality,sitting with other "precious dead" companions and where "love was as simple as sitting here." (237) dwells | Sep 10, 2008 | Predictable. (  ) brsquilt | Aug 31, 2008 | It's been awhile since I've had a 5-star book! This is the wonderfully warm and heart-felt story of a divorced mom with a young daughter who rents her downstairs apartment to a man who has just left a monastery after being a monk for twenty years. Although somewhat predictable (yes, of COURSE, they fall in love) it's told with the easy rhythm of a dance--they come together and back away, then do it again. But in a real crisis, it's Mike that Rebecca turns to, and he proves to be up to the task. The story flows easily--my only complaint is that the dialog is a little too perfect--do people talk this way, are we so clever, in real life? But this is a minor flaw, and, in fact, one that makes it all the more fun to read. Highly recommended. (  ) annatapl | Jun 15, 2008 | I loved this one. It's about a single mom who rents out her downstairs apartment to an ex-monk who has just left the monastery. An unlikely but, I thought, beautifully done love story results. The writing was lovely. I didn't want to put it down. An added bonus were the copies of the ex-monks letters in response to a persistent brother at his old monastery who keeps writing to him in his new life. The character development, the musings on faith, and the development of the relationship between the two main characters were all interwoven very well. The sequel is supposed to be coming out soon. I'll definitely be picking up a copy when it does. Lindsayg | Oct 9, 2007 |  no reviews | add a review
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| Book description |
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Although Farrington's plot revolves around a classic story of unlikely lovers, there's no sappiness or clichés in his highly polished narrative. Indeed, his vulnerable characters and realistic dialogue will feel especially poignant for grown-up lovers. When the big night arrives and the couple must decide whether Mike will sleep over, Rebecca speaks for all single mothers.
"This is not just about us anymore," she said. "If that freaks you out, then please, please bail now. Because if you are going to stay here tonight, you're going to have to have breakfast with my daughter. You're going to have to be a decent human being. You're going to have to be a man."
In Mike we see what it means to bring spiritual strength to a relationship. When Rebecca suddenly becomes sharp and anxious, he does not retreat, nor does he paw at her for reassurance. Instead he knows how to sit with her, as if in meditation, staying present while not getting caught up in her fear. And in Rebecca we see what it means to speak honestly to a lover. This all may sound too lofty and preachy to be a juicy read, but Farrington has the quirky characters and the masterful skills to make this a highly entertaining and inspiring tale of adult love. --Gail Hudson
(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:57 -0400)
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