The Mole and the Owl

A mole in love with an owl? A rider of the wind could never love a burrower of the earth! At least that's what nearly everyone tells the intrepid mole when he leaves the security of his underground home, and crosses the river in search of his lost love, the owl.

Although the characters are animals--a brave mole, a lost owl, and a merciful wolf, just to name a few--The Mole and the Owl is much more than a children's book. It is a fable that takes a simple theme, the struggle for true love, and weaves it among characters who personify the greatest traits we human beings often overlook in ourselves and others. Duffie has crafted this small book so carefully that it is like a treasure box which never empties. The Mole and the Owl is the kind of book that will speak to anyone with a heart. Children will cheer for the mole with unabashed joy, and adults who have faced their own struggles for true love will see a bit of their lives reflected in the mole's quest.

The creative genius Duffie displays is on par with that of J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis, while his melodic prose style is reminiscent of Walt Whitman and the transcendental poets. Much like William Goldman's The Princess Bride, The Mole and the Owl has everything a good book should have to appeal to the imaginative reader: adventure, fights, frolic, and most importantly, love. --Brian Patterson