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Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship by Catherine Raven

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Life Stories Book Club

"Fox and I" by Catherine Raven

2025-08-21 18:30:00 2025-08-21 19:30:00 America/New_York Life Stories Book Club Discuss memoirs and biographies with other book lovers at the Burke Branch Library! Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room

Thursday, August 21
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Add to Calendar 2025-08-21 18:30:00 2025-08-21 19:30:00 America/New_York Life Stories Book Club Discuss memoirs and biographies with other book lovers at the Burke Branch Library! Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room

Discuss memoirs and biographies with other book lovers at the Burke Branch Library!

Life Stories Book Club enjoys memoirs of everyone from the anonymous to the famous with discussions every third Thursday of the month. Bring along your thoughts or even just your listening ears to indulge in some bookish conversation around our latest selection. Reading crafters are welcome to bring their works in progress.

This month, join us to discuss "Fox And I: An Uncommon Friendship" by Catherine Raven. Print and digital copies available to place on hold here.

Want a reminder? Please register to receive an email ahead of the event. Note: Registration is not required.

Contact Abby at ahargreaves@alexlibraryva.org for more information.

About the Book:

When Catherine Raven finished her PhD in biology, she built herself a tiny cottage on an isolated plot of land in Montana. She was as emotionally isolated as she was physically, but she viewed the house as a way station, a temporary rest stop where she could gather her nerves and fill out applications for what she hoped would be a real job that would help her fit into society. In the meantime, she taught remotely and led field classes in nearby Yellowstone National Park.

Then one day she realized that a mangy-looking fox was showing up on her property every afternoon at 4:15 p.m. She had never had a regular visitor before. How do you even talk to a fox? She brought out her camping chair, sat as close to him as she dared, and began reading to him from The Little Prince. Her scientific training had taught her not to anthropomorphize animals, yet as she grew to know him, his personality revealed itself and they became friends.

From the fox, Catherine learned the single most important thing about loneliness: we are never alone when we are connected to the natural world. Friends, however, cannot save each other from the uncontained forces of nature.

Fox and I is a poignant and remarkable tale of friendship, growth, and coping with inevitable loss—and of how that loss can be transformed into meaning. It is both a timely tale of solitude and belonging as well as a timeless story of one woman whose immersion in the natural world will change the way we view our surroundings—each tree, weed, flower, stone, or fox.

AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Book Discussion Groups |

TAGS: | Book discussion groups | Biographies |

Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library

ahargreaves@alexlibraryva.org
Phone: 703.746.1704
Fax: 703.746.1775
Branch manager
Abby Hargreaves

Hours
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We're closed Thursday November 27 due to Thanksgiving Day
We're closed Friday November 28 due to Day After Thanksgiving Day
Mon, Nov 24 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Nov 25 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Nov 26 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Nov 27 Closed
(Thanksgiving Day)
Fri, Nov 28 Closed
(Day After Thanksgiving Day)
Sat, Nov 29 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Nov 30 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking:
There is a library parking lot available.

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: King Street Station
  • Metrobus: F20
  • DASH Bus: 36A, 36B, 102

Upcoming Events

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Mon, Nov 24, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
English practice for English language learners. No registration is needed. Class is held in the Burke Branch Meeting Room

Tue, Nov 25, 10:15am - 11:15am
Meeting Room
Join us for a fun-filled hour of stories, music, and movement for ages 0-5!

Tue, Nov 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
Join us for a special uninterrupted playtime with your child and meet other caregivers. Discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand; toys and resources will be divided up by age (ages 0-3).

Cancelled
Wed, Nov 26, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Enjoy weekly sessions with other fiber artists. Bring and share your projects, and see others. Quilting tutorials will be provided on the first Wednesday of every month. No registration is required.

Wed, Nov 26, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Read the book, then join us to watch this 2025 film adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic tale.

Sat, Nov 29, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Meeting Room
Come make some fun themed slime at the Burke Branch! October’s theme is “Potions,” and November's theme is “Cozy.” All children must come with a guardian. Registration required.
This event is full

Mon, Dec 01, 10:30am - 12:15pm
Meeting Room
Join us to socialize and engage your mind with a game of bingo served with food, prizes, and fun. Registration is required.

Mon, Dec 01, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
English practice for English language learners. No registration is needed. Class is held in the Burke Branch Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 02, 10:15am - 11:15am
Meeting Room
Join us for a fun-filled hour of stories, music, and movement for ages 0-5!

Tue, Dec 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
Join us for a special uninterrupted playtime with your child and meet other caregivers. Discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand; toys and resources will be divided up by age (ages 0-3).

Tue, Dec 02, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Meeting Room
Calling all brick enthusiasts: come join us to make cool creations and participate in themed challenges. Grades 2-5.

Wed, Dec 03, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Meeting Room
Enjoy weekly sessions with other fiber artists. Bring and share your projects, and see others. Quilting tutorials will be provided on the first Wednesday of every month. No registration is required.

Wed, Dec 03, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
The time has come to say good bye. Join us for a screening of the third and final film in the series following the Crawley family into the 1930s as they face scandal and financial trouble.

Thu, Dec 04, 11:00am - 11:45am
Meeting Room
Join us to learn the basic line dance steps to great Oldies and Motown music. This is a great class for beginners. Bring a friend or come alone. Please wear comfortable

Thu, Dec 04, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room
Viva Line Dancing: Join our intermediate level of line dancing to improve flexibility and enhance memory. We work the dance floors! This class is not intended for beginners.

Thu, Dec 04, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Meeting Room
Get into the festive holiday mood by joining us to for a couple of winter crafts.

Fri, Dec 05, 10:15am - 11:15am
Meeting Room
We sing, play, dance, and rhyme all while promoting your baby’s development and literacy skills. For ages 0-14 months.

Fri, Dec 05, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
Come and play with music in this fun parent-child learn & play class! Program focuses on activities that enhance brain development and build social skills, language/motor skills, and more (ages 0-5).

Fri, Dec 05, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Have fun on Fridays after school building, making, playing word bingo, and winning prizes! Grades K-5.

Sat, Dec 06, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Meeting Room
Join us in the month of December to watch some chilly and winter themed movies!

Sat, Dec 06, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room
Make good on your New Year resolution to read more, learn, explore, create, and connect with your community using your library card!

Mon, Dec 08, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
English practice for English language learners. No registration is needed. Class is held in the Burke Branch Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 09, 10:15am - 11:15am
Meeting Room
Join us for a fun-filled hour of stories, music, and movement for ages 0-5!

Tue, Dec 09, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
Join us for a special uninterrupted playtime with your child and meet other caregivers. Discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand; toys and resources will be divided up by age (ages 0-3).

Wed, Dec 10, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Meeting Room
Enjoy weekly sessions with other fiber artists. Bring and share your projects, and see others. Quilting tutorials will be provided on the first Wednesday of every month. No registration is required.

Thu, Dec 11, 10:30am - 11:30am
Meeting Room
Enjoy the benefits of a head-to-toe stretch session to help increase mobility, flexibility, and improve muscle function.
This event is full

Thu, Dec 11, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room
Viva Line Dancing: Join our intermediate level of line dancing to improve flexibility and enhance memory. We work the dance floors! This class is not intended for beginners.

Thu, Dec 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Financial Education Volunteers will provide an overview of retirement planning basics.

Thu, Dec 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Meeting Room
Stitchers of all kinds and skill levels, join us for an hour of stitching and community at Burke Branch Library!

Fri, Dec 12, 10:15am - 11:15am
Meeting Room
We sing, play, dance, and rhyme all while promoting your baby’s development and literacy skills. For ages 0-14 months.

Fri, Dec 12, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Room
Come and play with music in this fun parent-child learn & play class! Program focuses on activities that enhance brain development and build social skills, language/motor skills, and more (ages 0-5).

Fri, Dec 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Have fun on Fridays after school building, making, playing word bingo, and winning prizes! Grades K-5.

Sat, Dec 13, 10:00am - 11:00am
Burke Lawn
Start your Saturday doing good for your community. Join the Burke Branch walking and litter pickup club.

Sat, Dec 13, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Meeting Room
Join us in the month of December to watch some chilly and winter themed movies!

Sun, Dec 14, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room
Let's celebrate the joy of playing games! Play a wide variety of games, the classics and the new. Bring a friend or make new ones.