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Glenn Murphy's Reviews > Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom
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If you're not spiritual or religious, this book is probably not for you. The Anam Cara, or “soul friend” is a Celtic/Christian concept, and that fusion of Celtic mysticism and Christian theology is at the core of O'Donohue's writing.
I wanted to like this book more, but I just couldn't get into O'Donohue's writing style. He tried way too hard to be “poetic”, and it just didn't work for me. I also thought that he used too many quotes from other authors, didn't work those quotes into the text very smoothly, and sometimes they just didn't seem to have much to do with what he was talking about. And his “exercises” for the reader could do with a lot more explanation. What does it mean to “just focus on the well at the root of your soul”? There are some thought provoking passages in the book, and O'Donohue does sometimes manage to convey beautiful ideas with beautiful language, but more often I found his prose a bit awkward and sometimes incomprehensible.
I wanted to like this book more, but I just couldn't get into O'Donohue's writing style. He tried way too hard to be “poetic”, and it just didn't work for me. I also thought that he used too many quotes from other authors, didn't work those quotes into the text very smoothly, and sometimes they just didn't seem to have much to do with what he was talking about. And his “exercises” for the reader could do with a lot more explanation. What does it mean to “just focus on the well at the root of your soul”? There are some thought provoking passages in the book, and O'Donohue does sometimes manage to convey beautiful ideas with beautiful language, but more often I found his prose a bit awkward and sometimes incomprehensible.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
October 16, 2009
– Shelved
October 16, 2009
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Finished Reading
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Lela
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rated it 5 stars
Mar 16, 2013 04:09PM
In due time, as the years roll, you go back, if and when you choose to do. You will discover. Maybe?
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I agree with this point. I am reading this book right now and I think for a person who does not have a religious mindset it is really hard to follow. Language is intuitive and not demonstrative, you either agree and embrace this vision of life or you don't. There is no convincing if one person is not naturally attracted to this type of spirituality. I think the book is beautifully written though, and I love the quotes from different authors. I live in Ireland so it is interesting for me to learn about Celtic culture a little bit. Even though it is too far from my mindset to fully understand it.
