Lydia > Recent Status Updates

Page 84 is a completion of Books 1 and 2. David is being reared by his Mother Clara and housekeeper {Clara} Peggotty at Blunderstone Rookery. Mrs. Copperfield, a widow, remarries to Mr. Murdstone, who immediately decides, along with his sister Jane that David needs discipline and schooling outside of his Mother's influence to send him off to Salem House School, a boarding/disciplinary school.

I am alternating between this paperback edition and the iPad version. Each book has different translator. I stumbled on Book II with the simile of Pyrrhus, which I read on the iPad version. I plan to go back to the paperback and reread Book II.

I have decided that this is not a book that you would pick up if wanted to learn anything about Islam. There are things that I can ascertain from this book from the few pages that I read, but the book is obviously for those studying religion and philosophy. This was only book that I found on Goodreads by this author and the review was removed. I can only guess that it might take me a year to finish this.

The subject of the style of writing of this Islamic scholar, I did not find as easy reading for someone as myself not schooled in religious books. The first 25 pages deal with Muhammad acquiring his beliefs and how Mecca became the staging point for the spread of Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. It also points out that those who receive messages from God are only Prophets, not Gods themselves.

Aliena finally marries Jack Sharburg after 10 years of separation forced by Prior Philip. Her brother Richard is named Earl of Shirling because of a truce between Empress Maud and King Stephen. William Hemleigh becomes Sheriff of the region with the help of Bishop Waleran Bigod. Alfred Builder becomes master builder to Bishop Waleran.

Part 4: Aleina and their baby rendezvous with Jack in Paris (they name their baby Tommy); Jack is given the gift of the Weeping Madonna by a Saracen in Spain, which he plans on taking to Kingsbridge. Jack picks up the latest architectural knowledge in France. Jack also names himself Master Builder of the cathedral. He also meets his extended paternal relations in France. His father's name is Jacques Cherbourg.

Part III ends with the death of cathedral builder Tom, who never told Prior Philip or his child Jonathan that he was his father. William Hamleigh and his knights sack the city of Kingsbridge. William also destroys Aleina's stockpile of wool. A fight with Alfred leads to Jack Jack to find out that his father was hanged for thievery. Jack agrees to become a monk under threat of banishment by Prior Philip.