I'm always astounded by how Osner is able to weave detailed historical elements into the story in a way that is educational and captivating.
As I follow Tíbald and Aile on their journey - I also learn about John the Oxite, Yaghi-Siyan, Bohemond and Adhemar of Le Puy. These historical figures played such an important role in shaping the world we live in today. I'm grateful to be able to learn about them. It helps to fill in pieces of the puzzle of what happened during The Crusades and how many different layers there are to this Holiest of Quests. Tíbald and Aile will never be the same after the journey - but I, too, will have changed. I will never read something about The Crusades without reflecting on MILES CHRISTI and thinking about these two souls - Tíbald and Aile. There were so many things out of their control. There were so many things they could not possibly know.
I loved these sections:
"But here, near the navel of the earth where the spirit glows, the air multidimensional. Infused with God. So thick, one can feel Him. Full of strain – the love of God, the anger of God, the jealously of God, the mercy of God."
"The center of the world hard. Going down to Jerusalem is hard. It will not meet expectations she feared."
"We do not grow bigger but dwarf as time goes on until so diminished when the heart’s object is placed in our hands, how could it have ever mattered?"
BEAUTIFUL chapter!
I'm always astounded by how Osner is able to weave detailed historical elements into the story in a way that is educational and captivating.
As I follow Tíbald and Aile on their journey - I also learn about John the Oxite, Yaghi-Siyan, Bohemond and Adhemar of Le Puy. These historical figures played such an important role in shaping the world we live in today. I'm grateful to be able to learn about them. It helps to fill in pieces of the puzzle of what happened during The Crusades and how many different layers there are to this Holiest of Quests. Tíbald and Aile will never be the same after the journey - but I, too, will have changed. I will never read something about The Crusades without reflecting on MILES CHRISTI and thinking about these two souls - Tíbald and Aile. There were so many things out of their control. There were so many things they could not possibly know.
I loved these sections:
"But here, near the navel of the earth where the spirit glows, the air multidimensional. Infused with God. So thick, one can feel Him. Full of strain – the love of God, the anger of God, the jealously of God, the mercy of God."
"The center of the world hard. Going down to Jerusalem is hard. It will not meet expectations she feared."
"We do not grow bigger but dwarf as time goes on until so diminished when the heart’s object is placed in our hands, how could it have ever mattered?"
and
"Then one more. The one we came to die for."