Scan barcode
pammoore's review
5.0
Wow. Dani Shapiro's writing is beautiful, vivid, almost poetic. I loved the short chapter/scenes and the way they flowed without necessarily following a chronology. And the ending. The ending was gorgeous and perfect. I've already read Hourglass (loved) and I am excited to read everything else Shapiro has written.
janae126's review
4.0
Yo. Her struggles spoke to me, and I’m fairly certain that has skewed my overall rating and perception of the book as a whole.
Everyone is looking for a way to quiet the mind, find meaning, blah blah etc. I liked how she wrote her truth as it pertained to her “present day” as well as different times throughout her past. She was ultimately searching for what Judiasm meant to her. Not, a quest to become more in touch with her religion, but to use it to help guide her to find more peace. Which, we could all use some more of, no? I also appreciated that she undertook this quest while not neglecting her family, rather being mindful of them, and trying to include them where she saw fit.
Maybe a 4 - 4.5? Skewed slightly for its relatability, which isn’t a bad thing.
Sidenotes-
I really enjoyed the format of varied length “sections.”
I may or may not be more interested in Jewish culture now, not because I am Jewish, rather because I am not.
“Yoga donuts” better have not forever ruined yoga for me….
Everyone is looking for a way to quiet the mind, find meaning, blah blah etc. I liked how she wrote her truth as it pertained to her “present day” as well as different times throughout her past. She was ultimately searching for what Judiasm meant to her. Not, a quest to become more in touch with her religion, but to use it to help guide her to find more peace. Which, we could all use some more of, no? I also appreciated that she undertook this quest while not neglecting her family, rather being mindful of them, and trying to include them where she saw fit.
Maybe a 4 - 4.5? Skewed slightly for its relatability, which isn’t a bad thing.
Sidenotes-
I really enjoyed the format of varied length “sections.”
I may or may not be more interested in Jewish culture now, not because I am Jewish, rather because I am not.
“Yoga donuts” better have not forever ruined yoga for me….
suvancat's review
4.0
Perhaps a biased rating as I love anything written by Dani Shapiro. I find her very honest and smart.
marthagal's review
4.0
This book was great. I thought it was going to be another project-for-a-year-memoir (like [b:Eat, Pray, Love|19501|Eat, Pray, Love|Elizabeth Gilbert|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269870432s/19501.jpg|3352398] or The Happiness Project), this time about finding spirituality. But it's much better than that - instead of being a formulaic project, it's a book-length meditation on the meaning of life, on joy, on mortality, and on God and faith. It's beautifully written and deeply absorbing.
Early in the book, it's clear that the author is a pretty anxious person:
"Nothing - absolutely nothing I could put my finger on - was the matter. Except that I was often on the verge of tears. Except that it seems that there had to be more than this hodgepodge of the everyday. Inside each joy was a hard kernel of sadness, as if I was always preparing myself for impending loss."
Um, hello, that's me. I struggle with many of the questions and feelings that Shapiro does, and I found it really comforting to read this book. Both because I identified with her, and because though this book doesn't offer any answers, I feel like I understand just a little bit more how I want to live and how I want my life to be.
Early in the book, it's clear that the author is a pretty anxious person:
"Nothing - absolutely nothing I could put my finger on - was the matter. Except that I was often on the verge of tears. Except that it seems that there had to be more than this hodgepodge of the everyday. Inside each joy was a hard kernel of sadness, as if I was always preparing myself for impending loss."
Um, hello, that's me. I struggle with many of the questions and feelings that Shapiro does, and I found it really comforting to read this book. Both because I identified with her, and because though this book doesn't offer any answers, I feel like I understand just a little bit more how I want to live and how I want my life to be.
lory_enterenchanted's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
3.5
A book engaging with Jewish tradition AND with Buddhist tradition, checking off the last 2 boxes on my spiritual memoir challenge.
Not a traditional narrative, but a collection of shortish vignettes. Family issues and the search for the Divine. The sacred in the everyday. Nicely done, if not exceptional.
Not a traditional narrative, but a collection of shortish vignettes. Family issues and the search for the Divine. The sacred in the everyday. Nicely done, if not exceptional.
clementinereads's review
5.0
I bought this book because I'd heard Dani Shapiro's name tossed around at a gathering of a whole lot of writers I respect. From the first scene I was in love. The language is perfect. Dare I say, delicious? But I had expected that. What I hadn't expected was insight into my own exploration of spirituality. Just before I finished Devotion I had a day that turned out to be the absolute antithesis of what I'd wanted and expected. As I started to melt down I thought of Dani Shapiro and her teachers. I thought of Sylvia Boorstein and the nature of impermanence. And I felt better. Much better. I made peace with how not okay everything was. I thank Dani Shapiro and Devotion for that.
jenleecat's review
2.0
On the 4th page, and already tears are welling up with the words..and understanding of what Dani Shapiro is conveying. I hope it continues to break me open......
It didn't continue. Sort of petered out and I felt like the author was going round and round in circles saying the same thing over and over. There were bits and pieces that sparkled but very few. Glad I'm done reading it so I can move on to something else.
It didn't continue. Sort of petered out and I felt like the author was going round and round in circles saying the same thing over and over. There were bits and pieces that sparkled but very few. Glad I'm done reading it so I can move on to something else.
kbratten's review
3.0
Exploring the neuroses of what, to me, seems like a very stereotypical New York Jew. Dani navigates her complicated family and faith history and her personal crises with a mindfulness of figuring it out. I was moved, but not enthralled with the book, but I appreciate most of all her willingness to delve into her own weaknesses and confusion and figure herself out.
asanford's review
5.0
I loved listening to this book. Hearing her journey and how she handled trials and changes and belief and love. She is someone I’d like to be friends with, to practice yoga with, and chat about who we are and what we believe.