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Songlines

A Novel

by (author) John Graham-Pole

cover design or artwork by Gillian McCulloch

Publisher
HARP Publishing The People's Press
Initial publish date
Dec 2021
Category
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781990137129
    Publish Date
    Dec 2021
    List Price
    $15.99

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 13 to 18
  • Grade: 8 to 12

Description

About the authors

Contributor Notes

Excerpt: Songlines: A Novel (by (author) John Graham-Pole; cover design or artwork by Gillian McCulloch)

The wedding is set for two o’clock Saturday afternoon, and our two families take their time over

breakfast that morning. When I decide it’s time for me to prepare, Ann looks at Belinda, then at my

mom.

“Your mom and I are going to help you get ready, Ellen.”

I love the way the moms have already come together to arrange things. I know my dad will have been

thinking through exactly how to stage the giving away of his only daughter. I’m not even going to

speculate what he’s planning. I just know he will take charge once the moment comes to “lead me to

the altar.”

...

 

“I don’t think you’re s’posed to applaud till after it’s official,” I offer amidst laughter as the

clapping dies down. The choir break into Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” as Bill strums, Vern drums, and

my dad steps back to allow Jonah to move forward to my side. We grin happily around the room before

turning to each other to say our vows. We begin with a Rumi poem that we speak in unison.

 

The minute I heard my first love story

I started looking for you,

not knowing how blind that was.

Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere,

they’re in each other all along.

 

Jonah stumbles with the words a couple of times but keeps going. We finish with the short vow we’ve

composed between us, this time speaking our words in turn.

 

Editorial Reviews

 

This sensitively crafted novel is written by a beloved oncologist who understands more about his

patients than could be learned from an MRI scan. Difficult issues— lesbian parents, gender roles,

use of morphine and cannabis, how to present bad news—are all covered. The treatment of the

couple’s intimate life is sensual and beautiful. Dr Graham-Pole knows that love is possible on the

cancer journey, that it can grow in pleasure, worth, intimacy and dignity.

  • Rebecca Brown, M.Div., Spiritual Care and Death Educational Counselor; Creator and Founder of

Streetlight, University of Florida

 

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