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What Is Stephen Harper Reading?
What Is Stephen Harper Reading?: Yann Martel's Recommended Reading for a Prime Minister and Book Lovers of All Stripes | Yann Martel
3 posts | 2 read | 2 to read
“I know you’re very busy, Mr. Harper. We’re all busy. But every person has a space next to where they sleep, whether a patch of pavement or a fine bedside table. In that space, at night, a book can glow. And in those moments of docile wakefulness, when we begin to let go of the day, then is the perfect time to pick up a book and be someone else, somewhere else, for a few minutes, a few pages, before we fall asleep.” From the author of Life of Pi comes a literary correspondence — recommendations to Canada’s Prime Minister of great short books that will inspire and delight book lovers and book club readers across our nation. Every two weeks since April 16th, 2007, Yann Martel has mailed Stephen Harper a book along with a letter. These insightful, provocative letters detailing what he hopes the Prime Minister may take from the books — by such writers as Jane Austen, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Stephen Galloway — are collected here together. The one-sided correspondence (Mr. Harper’s office has only replied once) becomes a meditation on reading and writing and the necessity to allow ourselves to expand stillness in our lives, even if we’re not head of government. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Spiderfelt
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This is the spirit in which Yann Martel began sending a book and letter every week to the Canadian prime minister, a person who professed to dislike reading. It seems like a great concept for beginning a bookclub: essential reading for those who govern a modern democracy. Who's in? #canlit

Spiderfelt Photo taken of swag bag for sale at Book-It Repertory Theater in Seattle. 8y
LeahBergen I loved reading his letters online during the time he was writing them and sending the books! 8y
6 likes2 comments
review
shereensamimi
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Pickpick

This book has been great for reading recommendations - my TBR list has added a few great sounding reads! I also enjoy the beginning of the novel, which gives the readers "Harper's" responses. Overall, this book is both easy and enjoyable.

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strikingthirteen
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Pickpick

I admit to skimming a bit but I have to applaud Mr. Martel for his dedication in trying to educate, or at least broaden the horizons of, our ex PM Stephen Harper. Why? "Because your dreams may become my nightmares."