Perhaps the greatest enjoyment in writing a book is getting notes from readers who are touched by the book.  This weekend I received two special notes that I would like to share.

The first is from Heidi, a friend from my early days in radio in Winnipeg.

“I lent my book to my 82-year old father who just returned it today. He’s a German immigrant who was a Wpg transit bus driver his entire working life in Canada and spent many a year driving in the north end. He LOVED your book, and that’s high praise from someone who doesn’t have English as his first language.”

The second note is from someone I only know by reputation for her fantastic Deli on Corydon in Winnipeg, Marla Bernstein of Bernstein’s Deli. (I’ve edited the note to be sure there are no spoilers.)

Hello Sandi,

I finished your wonderful book this evening on the way home from the lake . As  a Jewish Winnipegger I knew that I would love RAVENSCRAIG from the first time I heard about it…(I actually do not remember if it was a review in the Jewish Post, or Free Press, or CBC Radio).

Having Grandparents who immigrated here from Eastern Europe about  20 years after your Ravenscraig  characters came to the Golden Land I can appreciate the Jews who were the first and how horrible it was for them at the beginning. By the time my Family arrived here I would think  that a lot of groundwork must have been done and although poverty stricken they must have had more of a support system in place than your immigrants did.

I love the story of the allotment of acreage for those willing to farm. I love the story of the Zigman Family.

Ravenscraig is a wonderful saga. It even prompted me to take a slow joy ride through Armstrong’s Point, which I have never paid much attention to in the past.

Thank you Sandi for providing me with such a good story.

Thanks for hearing me out ! Enjoy life ! When you are back in Winnipeg and you get hungry during the day I would love to invite you to my Deli for a sandwich and a bowl of soup,(another reason I love the Zigman family)>

Sincerely,

Marla Bernstein