I Heard the Owl Call My Name
Book Description
In the remote coastal wilderness of British Columbia, a young Anglican priest named Mark Brian arrives at the isolated village of Kingcome, unaware that his bishop has sent him there with the knowledge that he has only two years left to live. What unfolds is a profound journey of spiritual awakening set against the backdrop of a Kwakiutl community caught between ancient traditions and an encroaching modern world.
The village of Kingcome exists as a place where time moves differently, where salmon runs mark the seasons and ancient totems stand as silent witnesses to generations of wisdom. Yet this indigenous paradise faces mounting pressures as traditional ways of potlatch ceremonies and ancestral customs give way to prefabricated housing and the devastating effects of alcoholism. An entire generation of young people struggles with disconnection from their cultural roots.
Into this complex world steps Mark Brian, whose ministry becomes far more than he anticipated. Through his interactions with the Kwakiutl people, he discovers lessons about mortality, purpose, and the deeper currents of existence that no seminary could have taught him. The indigenous community, with their profound understanding of life's cycles and acceptance of death's place in the natural order, becomes his unexpected teacher.
Margaret Craven weaves a story that explores how facing our own mortality can illuminate what truly matters, offering readers a meditation on finding meaning through connection to both community and the natural world.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)
📄 Length: 133 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Novel
- ✓ Explore Historical fiction
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Priests
- ✓ Reconnect with nature spiritually
- ✓ Explore Margaret Craven
- ✓ Explore Kwakiutl Indians
- ✓ Explore Pacific Northwest
