This is the second installment of our JLRC book recommendations, featuring titles that have profoundly influenced us. Monika initially suggested sharing the books that have shaped our perspectives, and now we’re excited about creating an online list to inspire others. We invite you to share your thoughts on your favorite reads, whether you’ve explored our selections, and what insights you’ve gained. Books have the power to transform our understanding of the world by offering glimpses into different lives and experiences, guiding us as we incorporate their lessons into our own journeys.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
Monika: I just finished “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand. Generally I don’t read fiction but after reading her biography I got into this nearly 700 page story of her portrait of the heroic man. It’s the story of an innovator/architect and his battle against the rigid, tradition worshipping establishment. It was controversial in its theme – “individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in man’s soul; the psychological motivations and the basic premises that produce the character of an individualist or a collectivist”. The main character, Howard Roark’s independence, self-esteem and integrity has been, and still is very inspiring.
Published in 1943 it is very relevant today as we, as a society and as a humanity are confronted with immense pressures to conform to the “hive mind” and in the process sacrificing the very characteristics that make us individuals!
I’d like to highlight a Substack blog I enjoy called AvaTara, based in Silverton, Kootenay. This blog delves into social, political, and humanitarian issues, offering well-researched and informative articles that are definitely worth your time. AvaTara10 goes deep into historical research with the four part series called “The War on the West” starting in the 6th century, when codification took root to the current situation humanity finds itself in and how it is all related and connected.
Sabrina: I recently completed reading “Daughters of Copper Woman” by Anne Cameron, and I found it captivating. I have a deep appreciation for myths and local histories, particularly those that highlight Indigenous narratives and their lived experiences. This book encompasses a rich tapestry of origin stories from the Nuu-chah-nulth people, who are also known by various names such as Nootka and Aht. It immerses the reader in the essence of ancient First Nations mythology and wisdom, exploring themes like family dynamics, the impact of the Keestadores, stewardship of natural resources, personal accountability, the strength of warrior women, and the journey of healing.
Denys: Barkskins is a novel by American writer Annie Proulx. It tells the story of two immigrants to New France, René Sel and Charles Duquet, and of their descendants. It spans over 300 years and witnesses the deforestation of the New World from the arrival of Europeans up to the contemporary era of global warming. Barkskins are indentured servants, transported from Paris slums to the wilds of New France in 1693, “… to clear the land, to subdue this evil wilderness,” according to their master, a seigneur. The two men are contracted for three years of service to earn land of their own, but Charles Duquet runs away at the first opportunity, seeking to make a fortune for himself in the fur trade or by any means he can. René Sel, on the other hand, dutifully wields the axe clearing farmland for the master. Later, he is forced to marry the master’s cast off Mi’kmaq woman, Mari, a healer who gives him children. The Sel family heritage is thus Indigenous and working class.
Duquet, luckily surviving his escape through the wilderness, has a fortune to make, mostly on furs and lumber, and by swindling others whenever he can get away with it. Only then will he marry the daughter of a Dutch business partner, open an office in Boston, therefore Anglicizing the family name to Duke, and father or adopt the boys who will build the Duke & Sons timber empire after him.
All the while, for the Sel family, there is unceasing discontent. The young are always seeking their future as First Nations people in a whiteman’s world. Indigenous lumbermen, for example, were always recruited for river work balancing on the longest logs rushing down a river where an awkward move could get a man crushed before he drowned.
It’s a fascinating read, exploring the whiteman’s approach to the limitless forest, and his treatment of the native class he confronted. It explains a lot of why the forests of North America have been decimated.
Denys: The Other Valley is the story of Odile, a sixteen-year-old girl, bright but awkward and a loner at school. Her father died when she was young and she and her mother share a stilted relationship. Odile lives in a quiet town in a valley, unremarkable except for the fact that to the east and to the west lie identical towns in identical valleys. The town to the west is 20 years’ time behind Odile’s town while the town to the east is 20 years ahead. Visits between the valleys are rare and strictly regulated by the valleys’ local Conseils. Occasional “mourning tours” are allowed and visitors come for a glimpse of lost loved ones.
At sixteen, Odile and her classmates are entering apprenticeships to determine their future careers. Odile is competing for one of only a few spots on the conseil. But when she spots visitors from another valley on a mourning tour and recognizes who they are, everything changes. Odile is entirely believable as a teenage girl uncomfortable in her own skin and unsure of her place in the world, either present or future. From her relationship with her mother to the growing friendships she begins to develop at school, the story feels honest and true to the world and characters that Howard has created.
The second half of the book moves forward in time and we learn more about this world and what it might be to live in such a place where there is always a heightened awareness of how the smallest actions can change everything. It gives meaning to the idea of the consequence of our actions.
Robyn: Parts Work is a transformative approach that recognizes the complexity of your inner world. Within you, various voices coexist—your inner critic may be doubting your abilities while your inner child seeks love and care. Rather than indicating something is wrong, these diverse aspects highlight your humanity. By engaging with Parts Work, you can explore and embrace these different facets, leading to a more integrated sense of self.
In this insightful guide, psychotherapist Britt Frank invites you to connect with your inner parts, including impulsive tendencies and hidden shadows, as well as your inner child. Through practical exercises and techniques such as self-dialogue and embodiment practices, you will learn to tune into your internal conversations and uncover the underlying needs driving your behaviors. Grounded in contemporary research and Frank’s own experiences, this guide serves as a valuable resource for achieving inner peace, confidence, and a deeper self-awareness.
Parts work is a powerful and transformative practice that I wholeheartedly believe in, which is why I’m excited to recommend another book on the subject in addition to the previous one. This new book offers a variety of practical tools and serves as a helpful guide for anyone looking to start their journey into parts work.
