Praise and Reviews |
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There is something about this book that won't let go of me. I rarely
read fiction - but I made an exception for this one, as the author was
leading a discussion group in which I participated.
I read it in three sittings, as I became enthralled with the main
character Nathan, from the get-go. His honest, bare-naked, and non-stop
internal dialogue, which tells most of the story, was frightfully
similar to my own. I imagine it would resonate in a similar manner with
anyone who seeks spiritual growth - yet is saddled with a lifetime of
learned habits, judgements (self and others), and unmet expectations.
Though billed as a 'novel', the book is clearly a candid and
poignant look into the inner-workings of the author's soul through the
eyes of the main character.
For me, and because it WAS a novel, I became engaged with the
storyline, rather than SELF-engaged, as would naturally happen when
reading a book written for the purpose of teaching. I found myself more
open - even more vulnerable - to what I was receiving.
After I finished reading - I promptly made plans to burn all of my
personal journals. So I guess it's appropriate to warn readers to "Read
at your own risk". Some pretty heavy stuff will come up.
Cindy Oster
Personal Finance Journalist
Bottom Line/Personal
Bottom Line/Wealth
This first novel by James McDonald reminds me of M. Scott Peck's Road
Less Traveled, and his fictional novels, in its depiction of an
individual who boldly treads the road of self discovery. The
protagonist has undergone 9 years of psychotherapy which has driven him
into an almost obsessive compulsive running self analysis, as he
undergoes various life-changing experiences such as loosing corporate
employment, breakup with his girlfriend, selling off his possessions,
and an attempt at a geographical cure. He travels through some very
interesting experiences in his quest for enlightenment (normalcy?),
including exposure to a sense-deprivation chamber, a visit to mediums
in a New York spiritualist center, massage therapy, AA fellowship,
application of ACIM lessons, etc., etc. The book is well written, with
only minor errata which may be attributed to mainly printing errors. I
have spoken to other readers of this promising new novel and have
discovered, as in my case, that each has had a profound emotional
reaction to the book at some point or other, having to put it down and
walk away from it to return eagerly at a later point to devour it.
Those who are interested in topics such as inner-child recognition, AA,
Course in Miracles, relationship addiction, anger management and the
quest for spirituality and honesty would benefit from and enjoy "Who
Would I be Without: Based on a True Story of a Little Willingness".
J. William Grieve
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