Big Read

A Big Read for the United Churches in Essex and Harrow

7:30 pm, Tuesday March 8, 2022

Rev. Lexie Chamberlain and Rev. Darrow Woods will host an online discussion of The Undertaking of Billy Buffone.

Here’s the plan:

1)Promote the Big Read.

2)Give folks time to get and read the book.

3)Host a meeting to talk about our responses to reading the novel.

4)Host a second meeting to talk with the author, David Giuliano. (Date to be determined)

David Giuliano is a retired minister who also served as the Moderator of the United Church of Canada.

David is an award-winning writer of articles, essays, and poems. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is his first novel. He lives in Marathon, Ontario with his wife Pearl.

The novel is a fictional take on actual events that happened in Marathon. From the publisher’s website: The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is a story about the trauma – immediate and ongoing, personal and collateral – inflicted by Rupert Churley, who preyed on boys in Twenty-Six Mile House, an isolated town in northern Ontario.

Here are some notes from a reviewer:

Every once in a while, a book comes along that captivates you, all of you. This is one such book. The title reveals itself to the reader in gradation, the character development captures your attention as each page divulges a bit more. Teachings from the indigenous culture combined with teachings from Christianity allow the reader to grow spiritually. The narrator speaks honestly about some pretty tough topics that can wake in the reader the trials and tribulations of people who walk on our streets now. Just maybe reading this book will build empathy and compassion resources. -Anna Maria Barsanti

The book is unfortunately not in the collection of the Essex County Public Library, but is available in print and digital versions from bookstores and online.

Please let us know if you want to take part in the Big Read by emailing us at: revdww@gmail.com or relexie4@gmail.com and we will send you a Zoom link.