Review of The Vine
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SejlaH
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- Latest Review: The Vine by Adria L. Dunn
Review of The Vine
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vine" by Adria L. Dunn.]
Adria L. Dunn; The Vine
One reason I've picked out to review this particular book was because of its title "The Vine, Messages of Hope From Around the World."
I thought that in it, I will find what I was desperately looking for a long time; hope. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the book. It is an extensive read, 313 pages of personal testimonies about life, love, death, grief, pain ... and hope. Well written, informative, and insightful with many solid pieces of advice that one can ponder on easily given the circumstances they find themselves in.
While reading it, I realized that in search of hope, some self-analysis is very much needed. It is something I am still learning how to do. Me from a few months ago wouldn't even pick up this or any other book no matter the topic. Me today is grateful for the opportunity to read and learn how people from different walks of life handle the cards that have been dealt to them.
That is the second reason this book won me over. As a child and then a young adult, I always liked hearing stories about other people, how they live, how they think, how they behave, and what adventures they find themselves in. I felt that in reading about other people's perspectives and lives, one day I will be able to get there myself, I will find my purpose, I will reach my goals, and I will learn to live. I had hope. As you could have guessed, navigating life hasn't been easy for me. Not that it is easy for anyone else but in my case, it always seemed that I was sinking further into the darkness instead of pulling myself together and reaching for the light.
So, if you love stories, yearn for knowledge, are a history buff, and need a little bit of a push toward the light and hope that awaits you at the end of the tunnel, this is your book. Adria did a wonderful job in creating this collection of personal wisdom from people of different cultural, social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Yes, the book was written at a time when the world was facing a serious threat visible only under the lens of a microscope, but in all honesty, you could have picked this book up at any point in life and the message would still transcend the time.
In the very foreword, Dalai Lama gives us a valuable lesson on the power of our emotions, on the knowledge we should acquire as often as we can, on kindness we should practice daily with ourselves and others, and the need to let go of the past so we could change our future.
Later, through the letters, you can dig deeper into the history of certain countries and the struggles their people have gone through. The pride in one's origin and all the individual and collective accomplishments is almost palpable from the pages, but so are loss and grief. The circle of support, the grieving process, and getting back on track after the derailment differ. Some letters will resonate, and some will not. A few will for sure nudge you into a self-reflection and help you identify the source of your issues and possible solutions. Others will shame you into thinking "Why am I even complaining." (Guilty as charged).
Do I feel hopeful after reading the book? I can't say because my emotions have been suppressed for a long time. I am still trying to entangle all that mess and make some sense of it.
Did I feel my mindset shifting while reading this book? For sure, yes. I would rate it a very strong 4 out of 5.
My admiration and respect for Adria and all those who decided to share their most intimate thoughts with the rest of the world will never end. In my search for hope, their words will be my guide.
******
The Vine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Adria L. Dunn; The Vine
One reason I've picked out to review this particular book was because of its title "The Vine, Messages of Hope From Around the World."
I thought that in it, I will find what I was desperately looking for a long time; hope. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the book. It is an extensive read, 313 pages of personal testimonies about life, love, death, grief, pain ... and hope. Well written, informative, and insightful with many solid pieces of advice that one can ponder on easily given the circumstances they find themselves in.
While reading it, I realized that in search of hope, some self-analysis is very much needed. It is something I am still learning how to do. Me from a few months ago wouldn't even pick up this or any other book no matter the topic. Me today is grateful for the opportunity to read and learn how people from different walks of life handle the cards that have been dealt to them.
That is the second reason this book won me over. As a child and then a young adult, I always liked hearing stories about other people, how they live, how they think, how they behave, and what adventures they find themselves in. I felt that in reading about other people's perspectives and lives, one day I will be able to get there myself, I will find my purpose, I will reach my goals, and I will learn to live. I had hope. As you could have guessed, navigating life hasn't been easy for me. Not that it is easy for anyone else but in my case, it always seemed that I was sinking further into the darkness instead of pulling myself together and reaching for the light.
So, if you love stories, yearn for knowledge, are a history buff, and need a little bit of a push toward the light and hope that awaits you at the end of the tunnel, this is your book. Adria did a wonderful job in creating this collection of personal wisdom from people of different cultural, social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Yes, the book was written at a time when the world was facing a serious threat visible only under the lens of a microscope, but in all honesty, you could have picked this book up at any point in life and the message would still transcend the time.
In the very foreword, Dalai Lama gives us a valuable lesson on the power of our emotions, on the knowledge we should acquire as often as we can, on kindness we should practice daily with ourselves and others, and the need to let go of the past so we could change our future.
Later, through the letters, you can dig deeper into the history of certain countries and the struggles their people have gone through. The pride in one's origin and all the individual and collective accomplishments is almost palpable from the pages, but so are loss and grief. The circle of support, the grieving process, and getting back on track after the derailment differ. Some letters will resonate, and some will not. A few will for sure nudge you into a self-reflection and help you identify the source of your issues and possible solutions. Others will shame you into thinking "Why am I even complaining." (Guilty as charged).
Do I feel hopeful after reading the book? I can't say because my emotions have been suppressed for a long time. I am still trying to entangle all that mess and make some sense of it.
Did I feel my mindset shifting while reading this book? For sure, yes. I would rate it a very strong 4 out of 5.
My admiration and respect for Adria and all those who decided to share their most intimate thoughts with the rest of the world will never end. In my search for hope, their words will be my guide.
******
The Vine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Vine by Adria L. Dunn
