Customer Reviews

Souls of a Feather

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I enjoyed Shirriff's first novel, "Spirits of a Feather", so of course I had to buy this one.

The story follows two years in a young man's life as he helps his girlfriend regain her health. He encounters major problems with her father who tries an imaginative scheme to get rid of him.

Interwoven in this plot are personal and close-up looks at some of his spiritual options. Specifically, the First Nations (native) spirituality is followed through from the first book (Spirits of a Feather), the Baha'i Faith, the Hutterite lifestyle and a few other minor experiences.

The Hutterite and Baha'i sections were obviously carefully researched so that the tone and feeling of the faiths is meaningfully portrayed.

I was struck by the underlying similarity among all the religions, particularly Baha'i and Native sprirituality, and to discover that many of our aboriginal peoples follow the Baha'i Faith as well as their own spirituality.

It's a good story, even without the spiritual component. The style is easy to read and humorous in places. It isn't until you have finished the book that you realize you have learned a lot about other people and their spirituality.

Souls of a Feather
By Charles W. Shirriff

Souls of a Feather is the sequel to Spirit of a Feather by Charles W. Shirriff. Continuing in the same educational vein as Spirits of a Feather, but with a more literary bend, we are presented with the continuing saga of Jay. As Jay tries to establish himself in the adult world, he must come to terms with his values and his aboriginal roots. He also deals with the hostile and manipulative father of his girlfriend, and continues his quest for his own father.

If you have ever been curious about various religious philosophies, Souls of a Feather may give you some insight. Souls of a Feather will lift some readers out of their homogeneous worlds and show them how varied life really is. Again, this book would make an excellent reader for high school students.

Laura Davis (Professional writer and Reviewer)

A spiritual 'coming-of-age' story
I enjoyed Shirriff's first novel, 'Spirits of a Feather', so of course I had to buy this one.

The story follows two years in a young man's life as he helps his girlfriend regain her health. He encounters major problems with her father who tries an imaginative scheme to get rid of him.

Interwoven in this plot are personal and close-up looks at some of his spiritual options. Specifically, the First Nations (native) spirituality is followed through from the first book (Spirits of a Feather), the Baha'i Faith, the Hutterite lifestyle and a few other minor experiences.

The Hutterite and Baha'i sections were obviously carefully researched so that the tone and feeling of the faiths is meaningfully portrayed.

I was struck by the underlying similarity among all the religions, particularly Baha'i and Native sprirituality, and to discover that many of our aboriginal peoples follow the Baha'i Faith as well as their own spirituality.

It's a good story, even without the spiritual component. The style is easy to read and humorous in places. It isn't until you have finished the book that you realize you have learned a lot about other people and their spiritual growth.
I feel I am a more tolerant and accepting person from having read this book.

I like the love story aspect. The hero fights for the mental health of his girlfriend and then has to overcome the obstacles put up by her father.

The insight into Winnipeg and into different spiritual paths is just a bonus.