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Have you ever wandered with a character through a book? Can you visualize the setting? Hiking/walking through our
neighborhood or out in nature can be beneficial to us all. After attending Joan Griffin’s talk at the Fig Tree Coffee, Art,
& Music Lounge in Roseville, I want to pass along her idea of reading your way through Earth Month. While April 22
is Earth Day, many turn a single day celebration into a week or month. Joan (author of Force of Nature) is suggesting
that no matter what genre you enjoy most, “our beautiful earth can be found as a central figure”. She will be hosting
several events: March 27, April 6, and April 7. Check her website for more information; www.joangriffin.us. And if you are unable to attend a
presentation, check out a couple of the books she suggests for the month of April. My favorites include Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben
Montgomery, The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson, and Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard “This
book reminds us that the world is a web of stories, connecting us to one another.”

Our Retreat Library has many titles to inspire and connect us so be sure to stop by to browse the shelves. Please follow the guidelines for bor-
rowing, returning, and donating additional books to this space led by volunteers. We wish for the library to be something for everyone, but it
goes without saying there is limited space. If donating, remember only titles with a recent publication date can be accepted and in new like con-
dition. Your cooperation is much appreciated.

What’s on my nightstand?
Force of Nature by Joan Griffin – Three women tack the John Muir Trail with equal parts gripping adventure, personal memoir, and vivid na-
ture.
Happy Hour Murders by Frederick Wysocki (a local author) – “It takes killer instincts to survive in an Arizona retirement community.

“Hoppy” April,
Sara Schlehofer
April 2025 Page 22