By Daniel Goodenough
Heart’s Way Press
2016
282 pages Fiction/Self-Help
The Shortlist
The Caravan of Remembering came across my desk recently,
and I thought I would give it a nod,
although I didn’t get it read. While it
is fictional, it also qualifies as a self-help book. David, a graphic designer
in Chicago, has reached a low point in his life. However, everything changes
when he is invited to come to the “caravan of remembering.” Through this
caravan, David is able to move toward a new life’s mission and receives help in
answering questions such as “Why am I here?” “What am I called to do?” and “Who
am I called to be to fulfill that purpose?”
These are the questions that we are all called to answer at
some time or other in our lives. Goodenough has woven these questions into a
dreamlike and intriguing plot, destined to provide meaning for the reader—and allow
readers to look again at their own destiny and their own purpose. There is
a guide to each chapter at the end of the book. It looked to me that the
questions and the quotes in the guide should be considered at the end of every
chapter before the reader moves on.
My feeling is that the book would be valuable at any stage
of life—and perhaps at more than one time in life. I can also see it being used
for a book club or a counseling group. The author suggests, “Caravan is a place
to be revisited as often as needed, with a process that is both a welcome
mentor and companion on the journey.” I appreciated this comment as I look back
on the number of times I have had to reset my life’s mission. My husband and I
did a lot of refocusing after we read David Brook’s book, The Second
Mountain earlier this year. The Caravan of Remembering serves
somewhat the same purpose.
Here is Daniel Goodenough’s website.
2 comments:
I'm writing as someone who is a creating community around The Caravan of Remembering - and am delighted to read your words here. There are indeed online and in person book clubs where we work through the book chapter by chapter, sharing our responses to the questions. Sharing with others seems to be a productive way of working with the book, as we hear one another and gain extra insight for ourselves.
Your readers might like to know that there is a monthly newsletter with quotes, Q&A with Daniel and thoughts and artistic expressions from readers - a subscription link is available on the Caravan website - caravanofremembering.com. There is also a contact link to learn more about the clubs.
I'll share a bit personally now as well. The Caravan of Remembering has given me a context for connecting to my personal calling. More than a book, it's a place, as books sometimes are, that I can revisit in my daydreams and musings. I can feel the campfires and imagine who might be there with me. The questions are evocative in a way that my logical brain can't fully wrap around - answers to questions come without me thinking about them, it's more of a knowing. As I continue to explore the questions, repeating them more than once, there's a deepening that happens, and I'm often surprised that there was another layer - especially when I find a question nearly impossible to answer at first...an answer always comes if I stay with it.
As for career, this work has definitely supported me. I can now see over time, a consolidation happening in my life of the things I have I loved and found meaningful. It is getting easier for me to identify what is aligned with who I am and why I am here, even if I don't always have the words to articulate it.
Sincerely,
Carissa Kazyss
Nanaimo, Canada
Thank you for extending the book review further, Carissa. Appreciate your insights.
Post a Comment