Unabridged Audiobook
I loved this book. It is many things, a story about a spiritual quest and a search for creative sustenance; it is also a story of moving through difficult life moments and learning to live well, becoming more resilient. And a story of identity and connecting with rich cultural lineage, and especially, the story of a daughter and a father forging a deeper relationship because she wants to learn from and share the thing he holds most dear, Rumi and his poetry. I know Melody Moezzi's writing through BPHope magazine but had never read one of her books, and I am so glad I chose to read this one. Her open and honest discussion of her experiences with bipolar in the book were important, as was her willingness to value and use her experiences while manic to inform her search for meaning in the world once she was more stable. But this book at heart is about two things for me, the creative process and how to sustain it especially after experiencing some success; and then the tenderness and humor with which she portrays her wonderful, thoughtful and supportive father and their relationship as it grows. I also really enjoyed hearing Rumi's poetry recited (the narration is great here) and interpreted in situations that we all come up against in life. I did also laugh in multiple places bc Moezzi has a self-reflective humor that is pretty awesome.
~~tag-text~~