Book Review: Martin Willitts JR: How To Be Silent

How to Be Silent

This may contain spoilers

Author: Martin Willitts Jr.

Title: How To Be Silent.

Genre: Literature and Fiction, Poetry, Contemporary, American, Regional and Cultural, United States, Contemporary Fiction,.

This book I got as part as a goodreads giveaway and firstreads. I have never won anything before. I want to say a big thank you to goodreads for having a great site and I want to say a big thank you to the person who hosted the giveaway and picking me as a winner.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but I also stepped outside my comfort zone. I am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

I highly recommend this book.

This book has 90 pages in it.

Quotes From This Book:

This ecstatic poets wrote lovingly about the search for god and when they found god, they were overwhelmed with god's presence. They reached out with praise, or psalms, or anguish, or tribulations, or struggled with the unspeakable, of found they could not give words to what they had seen or heard, but many of the mystics saw god as love.

You can hear the footsteps of god when silence reigns in the mind. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

We need to find god, and he can not be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence, see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... we need silence to be able to touch souls. - Mother Teresa.

In the beginning was the conversation. - Erasmus' translation of John 1:1.

Whoever discovers what these sayings mean will not taste death. – Jesus, according Thomas, dead sea scrolls, saying #1.

Know what is in front of your face and what is hidden from you will be disclosed. There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. - Jesus, according to Thomas, dead sea scrolls, saying #5.

Even though you are not equipped, keep searching: equipment is not necessary on the way to the lord. - Rumi, the journey.

And then alone in cold, light, open space, yet still deep within the mature erected form, a gasping for the clear air of the first one, the old one. - Rilke, imaginary life journey.

A “daemon” according to socrates, was a spirit who would speak up when it was about to something not in accord with its true nature.

Kabir says this: when the guest is being search for, it is the intensity of the longing for the guest that does all the work. Look at me, and you will see a slave of that intensity. - Kabir, ecstatic poems (2004), version by Robert Bly.

We should highly rejoice that god dwells in our soul and still more highly should we rejoice that our soul dwells in god. - Saint Julian of Norwich, infinite love.

No sound of the mid-day bell enters this fastness where blue mist rises from bamboo graves: down from a high peak hangs a waterfall; none knows where he has gone, so sadly l rest, with my back leaning against a pine. - Li Po, visiting a taoist on tiatien mountain.

One night as l sat in quiet, I seemed on the verge of entering a world inside so vast I know it is the source of all of us. - Mirabai.

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning. - Meister Eckhart.

How shall the heart be reconciled/ to it is feast of losses?. - Mary Karr, facing altars poetry and prayer.

For god is not the author of confusion, but of peace. - I Corinthians, 14:33.

Synopsis: This is a collection of meditative spiritual poems Martin Willitts, Jr lives simple quaker principle of god is everywhere, in everyone”, seeing both the good and bad, but also the awe of waking every day. He turns inwards with silent meditation and outward with his own version of psalms. He knows the small objects are just as important as the large for our own survival. This book will be appreciated by people who like poets such as Rumi, Hafez, Thomas Merlon, Emily Dickinson, Lalla, Rilke, Dogen, Yeats, Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Gerard Manley, Hopkins, Blake, Kabir, Mirabai, St Augustine, William Stafford, George Herbert, Meister Eckhart, Li Po, St Teresa of Avila, Simone Weil, St Francis of Assisi, Kahlil Gibran, St Catherine of Siena, St Thoams Aquinas, Julian of Norwich, and D.H. Lawrence.

Review By Other People:

Like “finding secrets in an acorn” this book can “shush the stars” in its intense, yet humble description of a spiritual journey in to silence of listening, the silence of unexpected encounters with the frail, omniscient love. A mystic poet, a passionate and patient gardener, and an expert weaver of words, Martin Willitts Jr takes us on the way through a world “that folds into a pocket” to ecstatic visions “in the presence of absence” these poems, inspired by Rumi, Gnostic Gospels, Kabir, Li Po, Blake, mother Teresa, and other mystics, resound with birdsongs notes “building a ladder of light” and teach us to “ accept the emptiness of our hearts” - since at the end, only the “tender rain” of love remains. This book of psalms, reflections, and meditations is a manual for seekers of truth beyond religions and rituals, the truth that we breathe in, while “free-falling” into endlessness, into trust. - Maja Trochimczyk, PhD, poet, music historian, and editor of meditations on divine names ( moonrise press, 2012).

This exquisite poetry collection explores silence as a spiritual pathway, journey, search, and discovery. Each poem is a tiny gem at once delicate and deep, dark and luminous. Studded with surprising imagery – nightjars “belonging more to darkness than to the known” , A nightingale who “sings a peach blossom frominvisible stillness” - these poems rouse and delight, opening the reader's eyes to the many unexpected facets of silence, Willitts is a virtuoso at balance and harmony while his poems are tinged in dark hues of imperfection, unworthiness, and loss - “ a flight of rain has departed without you” - they never fail to bring us back to brightness at just the right moment reminding us that “loss never empties light completely” as Willitts delves into the myriad ways silence plays out in our lives, he calls on the reader to listen, closely and deeply, for the messages we will find there. - Jill Jepson, author of writing as a sacred path: a practical guide to writing with passion and purpose.

These poems are a window into a darkness that is filled with light... A meditative space filled with dusky wings that carry us aloft with those things that are greater than ourselves, shimmering with the clarity of a moonlit mountain lake. - Jared Smith, author of to the dark angels.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and hard to put down once l started reading it. I can not put in to words how great this book is I would tell people to read this book for themselves to know how great it really is. I was hooked on this book after reading the first page. It did not take me long to read this book. There is some great poems and quotes in this book. When l was reading this book I would put some essential oils in my humidifier and put the lights on my humidifier on and chill on my bed and listen to magic or spotify. I also put on my christmas lights that are on my christmas tree. I sometimes light a candle when l am reading this book.

About The Author: Martin Willitts Jr is a retired librarian. He was a field medic for american friends service committee (Quaker),a former jazz musician, and has built over 100 houses for habitat for humanity. He won the 2014 broad sided award, the 2014 Dylan Thomas international poetry contest, and editor's choice in rattle's ekphrastic challenge (June 2015) he has more than 20 chapbooks to his credit plus 11 full – length volumes, including the national ecological award winner searching for what you cannot see (hiraeth press, 2013) . Dylan Thomas and the writer's shed is due out from futurecycle press in 2017.

About The Book: I love the picture on this book cover. I like the colours used on this bookcover and the colour used for the font makes the writing stand out more.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars.

I wish l could rate this book more than the five stars because it is worth more than the five stars l rated it.

Book Review: Deborah Rodriguez: Return To The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul

Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul

Author: Deborah Rodriguez 

Title: Return To The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Modern And Contemporary Fiction, 

Synopsis: Sunny, Former proprietor of the little coffee shop and new owner of the screaming peacock vineyard can she handle the challenges of life on her own?

Yasmina, The Young mother who runs the cafe, until a terrifying event strikes at the heart of her family and business... 

Layla And Kat, Afghan teenagers in america, Struggling to make sense of their place in the world... 

Zara, About to be forced into marriage which will have devastating consequences...

These women are about to learn what halajan, 

Yazmina's Rebellious mother-in-law, has known all along: When the world as you know it disappears, you find a new way to live.

Reuniting us with the much-loved cast of the international bestseller. the little coffee shop of kabul. Deborah Rodriguez tells an inspiring story of women's strength and courage in changing the world. 

Prologue: "Are you blind, you stupid girl? Do you want to get me killed?" The boy picked his bike out of the gutter and shook his small fist at her, but she just kept running. Her sneakers grew heavy with the mud underfoot and she struggled to keep her pace as she hurried through the narrow streets of the city. Around her, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion - the men pushing their carts piled high with pomegranates and cantaloupes, the covered women walking in pairs, leading their children by the hand, the mass of the fat - tailed sheep being urged along with a sharp stick - but inside, her heart was racing so fast she thought it might burst.She flew around a corner and elbowed her way though the crowds of people gathered near the outdoor food stalls, the smell of garbage and kebobs hitting her like an avalanche. All of her senses seemed to be turned up high - car horns blared, bicycle bells clanged, vendors shouted out their prices, generators whirred. How lucky she was that nobody seemed to bother with her, a frantic girl rushing though the streets with her hands covering her ears. But of course they would not. No man would dare to put a hand on her in public, and the women would all be too wary to get involved.Yet she continued to jerk her head around like a frighted bird, her eyes on the lookout for anyone who might be following. Past the shops with their sagging awnings and crumbling facades she fled, weaving in and out of the traffic that was becoming heavier the closer she got to the business center, where the glass and steel kam air building rose up from the sidewalk like a giant faceless robot. She grasped at the head scarf slipping back on her silky hair, and nearly tripped over a burqa'd beggar sitting in the middle of qala-e-musa road, a baby resting on rags at her side, the only visible part of her body the one bare hand reaching out to the passing cars. But the girl had to keep going, had to move faster. As she approached shaheed square she quickened her pace, leaping over the potholes that made the roads nearly impassible. Suddenly she felt her left foot slide out from under her and heard a cry as her hip hit the ground. She sat stunned for a moment, the mud oozing through her fingers and soaking her long blouse and jeans straight through to her skin. Two men walked their bikes in a wide circle around her, and straight ahead she could see another man in a white cap getting a shave on the street corner. Neither he nor the street barber holding a straight razor in one hand, keeping the man's face steady with the other, even blinked. It was as if she were invisible. She stood and, without bothering to wipe away the filth that covered half her body, continued to run. Now the streets had become a little wider, the traffic lighter, the high walls lining the roads making her picture herself as a rat in a giant maze. She moved as quickly as her feet would take her. She was almost there. But as she approached the guardhouse, her chest heaving with exhaustion, a small movement across the street attracted her eye. Through the window of a white Toyota,

she saw a man pulling something black over his head. The chokidor must have noticed as well, for all at once the air was filled with activity. A car door slammed, the guard yelled and toward his gun, and the girl slipped through the gate and dashed toward the coffeehouse door. 

Book Dedication: John Asahara, a wonderful man full of wisdom, love, and kindness. You are an inspiration to many.

Quote: where there is ruin, there is hope for treasure - Rumi 

This book l got for free as part of a goodreads giveaway and first read l never won anything before but l want to say thank you to goodreads for having a great site and l want to say thank you to the person who hosted the giveaway and picking me as a winner.

Review: This book was really easy to get in to l was hooked on this book after reading the first few pages it was hard to put down once l started reading it. l was sad to read that jack passed away and sunny is carrying around his ashes not knowing what to do do with them. l got an arc of this book l want to read more from Deborah Rodriguez. highly recommend this book to anyone this book is awesome and a great storyline. l would tell people you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books like this. l was sad to read that the coffeehouse was attacked by a gunman who shot some of the people that was there and Zara was injured. Yazmina went to the hospital with her. l hope she survives. some other people was injured as well. Zara's sister's headmaster wanted to marry Zara and he would do anything to make it happen but Zara loves Omar. The headmaster threatened to hurt her, her family and friends and Omar. The headmaster took Zara's phone so he could find out who had Zara's heart because he would love a younger wife. Zara wanted to carry on with school and university and marry Omar. l was glad to read that Yazmina's husband, daughter and mother in law was safe. l was sad to read that yazmina was nearly hit in the stomach glad the bullet missed because she is heavily pregnant with her second child. l wonder if she has another daughter or a son. l can not put in to words how great this book really is l would tell people to read this book for themselves to know how great this story really is. l was sad to read that Zara died from her injuries even after her death the headmaster who threatened her, her family and friends and Omar still followed her. he was seen at Zara's grave. Zara did not want to live because of him wanting to marry her. Yazmina was visiting Zara at the hospital but yazmina's husband told her he did not want her visiting Zara again because she could be in danger still and he thought she should be resting because she is pregnant and she should stay home being a mother and wife and cleaning up the coffeehouse after the shooting l feel sorry for Zara's family and friends because they still could be in danger. this book has 309 pages and 39 chapters in it. this book is full of surprises. Zara was not really dead Zara and her family had gone in to hiding to get away from faheem Zara's sister's headmaster. l was sad to read that Omar was killed by Faheem's men and poor Zara was heartbroken by Omar's death but she was back with her family. l was happy to read that yazmina and ahmet's second daughter arrived safe but ahmet was sad that the baby was another girl . l liked reading that yazmina feed the baby chewed up dates and then the baby's hair was shaved off and the family would weigh the baby's hair and give the weight of the hair to the poor which l think is nice of the family. l was sad to read that kat's mother died at the hand's of her father. it was funny what they did to rick but he should not have tried to rip sunny off by saying he owned half of the vineyard. l really loved this book l can not get enough of reading it l would happily read this book again and again. it was nice to read that ahmet made a promise to both his daughters and he said to sunny over skype have you seen my beautiful daughter auntie sunny and auntie Layla. Kat thought the baby girl is beautiful too l want to read more of this storyline and people and l love reading about wine making and grape picking. l hope Kat gets justice for her mother. l wish the coffeehouse was still open and l hope Faheem is put in jail for ordering the shootout and Omar's death. l hope Zara comes to terms with Omar's death and finds somebody who loves her and she gets married and has babies and she is safe from faheem hope her family and friends are safe too. l can not wait to see if sunny chooses to stay on the island or goes home. the vineyard is  great l love that jack had a cat and dog that are now sunny's l hope sunny picks somewhere beautiful to put jack's ashes and l hope sunny founds somebody else to be happy with now jack has sadly passed away. Joe and sky sound like really nice guys . l was happy to read that the coffeehouse is going to be a safehouse for girls and women like Zara. l wish l could rate this book more than five stars. it was nice to read that sunny was helping with funds for the safehouse aka the coffeehouse girls and women safe with their children. l was happy to read that Kat was helping with the safehouse and that sunny was staying on the island to make jack's dreams come true even though he was not around to see it. 

Star Rating: Five out of Five stars 

About the author: Deborah Rodriguez is the author of the international bestseller the little coffeehouse of kabul. She also written two memoirs: the beauty school, about her life in Afghanistan, and the house on carnaval street on her experiences following her return to america. She spent five years teaching and later directing the kabul beauty school, the first modern beauty academy and training salon in Afghanistan, Deborah also owned the oasis salon and the cabul coffeehouse, and is founder of the non-profit organization oasis rescue, which aims to teach economically disadvantaged women, and women in post-conflict and disaster-stricken areas, the art of hairdressing she currently lives in Mazatlan, mexico, where she owns the tippy toes salon and spa.