Patrick's Notebook: Review
Patrick's Notebook: Review
Seldom, in one's all too mundane existence, does so utterly
sublime a tome as Patrick's Notebook fall into the humbly outstretched
hands of the ever-optimistic reviewer.
This book is a gift from the goddess. The reviewer's patience
has been magnificently rewarded.
In his own words, our own courageous, selfless, devoted, and
poetical Patrick Thornhart lays bare before us his noble soul,
writing movingly of his eternal love for the bewitching but troubled
Margaret Saybrooke, who became the love of his lonely life the
instant he lay his eyes, not to mention his lips, on hers.
The story of how Patrick and Margaret met on the enchanted
Irish isle of Inish Crag sets the stage for the timeless romance
with which the author spellbinds his readers in these pages. Not
only is this tale mesmerizing on its own terms - a captivating
story of lovers equally as captivating - but Thornhart gifts us
with many lyrical poems that reflect on his feelings for Miss
Saybrooke - and that also offer a welcome opportunity for the
reader to reacquaint herself with some of the world's most senstive
love poetry.
Some of the immortal poems included in Patrick's Notebook
are the Shakespeare sonnet 116 ("Let me not to the marriage
of true minds admit impediments..."), A Thing of Beauty,
by John Keats, How Clear She Shines, by Emily Brontë,
She Walks in Beauty, by Lord Byron, Miles From Home,
by Thorsten Kaye, and Longing by Matthew Arnold. Each of
these poems, and all the others here besides, enhance Thornhart's
true story of love, heartbreak, turmoil, and determination, and
his own words suffer not by comparison...
We have in Patrick Thornhart an instinctive, articulate, and
irresistible writer of the first rank, and we have in Patrick's
Notebook that rare maiden effort that is destined to become
a classic. Incredibly, the book comes packaged with an audiocassette
of Thornhart's own recital, in his deep, warm, velvety Celtic-tinged
voice, of several of the poems found in the book. His rendering
of Sonnet 116 is especially heartfelt, and you'll hear his ringing
Mother Ocean (printed in the Spring 1996 issue of The
Patrick Papers) in your dreams for many autumnal nights to
come.
It is strongly recommended that you acquire your own copy of
this wonderful book. Some things must be experienced for oneself.
The following source makes it easy.
Amazon Books
(This reader's review and the author's comments are also accessible
via this link)