On Facebook, I saw a book called “On Horse and Harp” written by harpist, Glenda Underhill. After purchasing it, I wrote a book review so that I could get a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit to maintain my harp therapy certificate and here’s what I wrote:

I loved this book! Glenda Underhill is an excellent writer/storyteller with just enough mystery for the book to be a page-turner!

Set in ancient Ireland, a grandmother has a psychic vision that her granddaughter (Orla) needs to take harp lessons and become a harpist. But, not to be just any harpist! She needs to learn and play as part of the resistance to the English domination to her homeland. Her mission: “You with the harp can bring about the mending, the bringing together, the crossing of the unseen bridges …. This duty can only be accepted by one who truly knows. One who has the spirit for it. You are that one.”

As Orla begins her exploration and learning the harp, I found myself underlining every beautiful description and passage about the magnificent instrument I love so much. Here’s just a few examples:

• The more gentle sound would suit you well.
• It rang out like a bell.
• The sound was heavenly … touching the very soul.
• Harpers are spell-makers and healers, etc.

This is the just the beginning of a book filled with this beautiful language/description of the harp, its beautiful music and the power/mystery of it.

Orla eventually has practiced enough to begin taking the harp on horseback around Ireland. The story ends with the beginning of her healing harp journey when Orla plays for a couple who lost their son … Orla’s journey as a “healing harpist” is official.

I have since completed Book 2 (The Knowing) in the series which was more about Orla’s adventures playing the harp across yester-year Ireland. Although I didn’t like it as much as the first book, it is also good. Is Glenda writing a third book, making it a trilogy? I hope so!

And if you decide to read these books, let me know what you think!