A very long book review.

"Hers is the love of life itself and love with her is as big and strong as a great oak tree, with a thousand branches for its feelings and a million trembling leaves for its caresses. And because your heart was open to hers the love you found was far, far greater than the love each of you gave..." Bracken to Cairn, of Rebecca.

As Rebecca spoke, Rose felt a great releasing flow through her body as if she was returning to a welcoming burrow whose nest was warm and where she could lay her head and sleep at last. She had only ever once heard another mole describe the force of compassionate love that pulls a healer from her burrow, however weary she may be, so that she may find the strength to tend and cherish the distressed and sick... if only she had the power to save this young creature from the pain and suffering becoming a healer seemed so often to bring. Rose, thinking of Rebecca from Duncton Wood by Willam Horwood.

It perhaps seems a strange vehicle through which to explore the subject of love and loss, and courage and healing, but speaking for the healers in Cedargrove, we believe he does it very well and manages to make you almost forget that it's moles whose struggles you are reading and sharing through the 730 pages of a book that's hard to put down.

( Ducton Wood )