Yet another must-read by Jan-Phillip Sendker! This sequel to the Art of Hearing Heartbeats is just as beautiful as the first – an accomplishment in its own right…
Julia, whose life has been in a lonely downward spiral, has begun to hear a voice. It is the voice of a woman who is asking who she really is. Julia, a savvy lawyer in NYC, is terrified that she’s losing her mind. In her quest for peace from this voice, she encounters a monk who encourages her to return to the home of her deceased father and of her half-brother in Burma, where she might find the source of this voice. As she begins to discover the story of the voice, she also learns a great deal about herself and what is really important to her.
The writing in this book achieves a level somewhere between poetry and philosophy. There is more silence than sharp dialogue and it works so well in the context of the story. What is said is often deeply wise — so much so, that it needs to be read more than once to be fully appreciated. And the story itself, while tragic and full of horror, is also incredibly beautiful and inspiring.
Most interesting to me, though, was the sharp contrast between the fast-paced luxury of NYC and the peaceful poverty of Burma. Julia’s brother, U Ba, has a love of life and an appreciation for what little he has. Here in NYC, we have so much and generally want more still. There is a lot to be learned from the simple love, acceptance, and appreciation espoused by the wise characters in this book.
Must read!
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