James

Fantastic! I read this while painting my house. I laughed, actually, cried, actually, and swore. I was so engrossed in the story, I missed a movie date while painting and listening. This may seem trivial in a book review, but my wife recently died and I have been suffering immensely trying to deal with the loss. Laughter has been hard to come by. Understanding of my pain even harder to find. And healing seemed impossible to ask for, yet I found some of all these in this book. There are some parts of the trip that disgusted me, like the almost rape by an archer, but the listen was an escape and inspiration. I loved the closing lines and found some healing. This book works on many levels, but I recommend it to those who are drowning in sadness. It will make you cry, but that will end with the sweetest of tears.

If your life burst like a balloon and you want to be dead, because you can't believe the one you love has died, this book is for you. This is no poem. This is no nice story. This is your story after death kicks the crap out of you, takes your most priced possession, and leaves you gasping for breath. This is the grief book you are looking for.

I have read this book at least 10 times. The history is pure time travel. The reader, Bernard Mayes, is in perfect pitch at all times. The human courage recorded here is almost unbelievable.

This book started, as expected, with hardcore sex. What shocked me was its progression to a worthwhile catholic novel. It actually becomes a book about devil wrestling and personal growth, a salvation. I am shocked at the mixing of raunch and theology, but it worked for me.