My holiday read (Dec 2023) – The Hesitant Architect by M.K. Haka

---

“At what point did one’s youth become part of history?”
Peter Hunter, the Cambridge alumnus revisit his university and felt he belonged to the past. But have he and Eleanor grew up since they left Cambridge? One becomes a best seller author, another one becomes a TV celebrity, both are Cambridge graduates, beyond dazzling and glittering and to be admired by all.
But have they grown up?

A murder was taking place during their stay in Cambridge for a charity project. A televised charity project, how sincere is the charity? Even if Eleanor was sincere, is another achievement leading her closer to happiness?
“A White Horse, that is what I am, an unexplained chalk drawing on the ground serving no real purpose other than to be admired from afar … ”

A successful bookstore owner David love to travel, rather like me, only I do not own a bookstore. I always tell myself, travelling is to get closer to myself, to know myself better. However, there is a very thin line between “finding myself” and “escaping”. When I travel, am I escaping or facing myself?
“finding yourself”, it somehow sounded so trite – or was he only seeking out a way to escape?

I have to preach to myself over and over again about the value of literature and music in order to continue to work. Again, if I am not careful enough, I am trying to be “self-important”.
“Actually, Constable,” he began, trying to instil a note of confidence in his voice, but only managing to sound rather self-important.

The mystery is solved and Peter Hunter has grown up overnight. What was the reason?
He looked, she thought, like a different man. Gone was the hesitant, self-effacing manner, the difference, the lack of self-assurance. A grim determination had replaced his former indecisiveness. It was reflected on his countenance his posture even. Head high, shoulders back, he had become another version of himself seemingly overnight.

I love this book, as if this book is written especially for me. I studied in University of Bristol, during the time, Kate and William got married, like Peter Hunter in the book experienced a royal wedding when he was studying too. Reading, music, travelling, beautiful places are my favourite things, this book questions the motives of doing these. Hence, I like it also because it is a thoughts provoking book.

It was like doing a health check for my heart, mind and soul. Health check is important because life is precious and irreversible. I do not want to run after something that is empty and delusional. To put my motivations under a microscope and carefully exam everything, so that I can focus on meaningful goals and healthy motives. Life is irreversible, however, not without second chance, if I monitor my conscience, motive, desire regularly.

Therefore, I am so glad that I read The Hesitant Architect at the perfect time, at the end of the year 2023. Other than “health check”, this book is a nostalgia of my youth in UK, my recent life with organ and church, an intriguing mystery and tragedy, rich in art and culture. Last but not least, the beautiful description of home and design, especially the library!

But this library, this glory of place, this was home.
One slice of heaven.
This safe haven.
The Hesitant Architect by M.H. Haka

Music of the day is “I was glad” from the Royal Wedding at 29.4.11.

Note:
If you’ve read 10 “The Journey” blog posts and liked them all, you can consider to make a donation via: https://ko-fi.com/thejourneywriter
Every donation is appreciated! Thank you!
Read more?
– A post to remember my Christmas in UK in the year 2010. (Written in the year 2020)
https://thejourney-writing.com/2020/12/beware-christmas-cracker.html
– One of my many reading plans this year is “read 50 countries”. Which countries?
https://thejourney-writing.com/2023/12/on-wings-of-book-around-the-world-50-countries.html

---

---

---

---

---

---