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More than one year on the New York Times bestseller list! Richard Bach's timeless and uplifting classic of hope and love
"We're the bridge across forever, arching above the sea, adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it, choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds, testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and love!"
"The opposite of loneliness, it's not togetherness. It is intimacy."
"Look in a mirror and one thing's what we see is not who we are."
"Next to God, love is the word most mangled in every language. The highest form of regard between two people is friendship, and when love enters, friendship dies."
"There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go."
"We're the bridge across forever, arching above the sea, adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it, choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds, testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and love!"
"The opposite of loneliness, it's not togetherness. It is intimacy."
"Look in a mirror and one thing's what we see is not who we are."
"Next to God, love is the word most mangled in every language. The highest form of regard between two people is friendship, and when love enters, friendship dies."
"There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go."
285 pages
First published June 12, 1982
350 people are currently reading
6442 people want to read
About the author
Richard Bach
163 books3,775 followers
Since Jonathan Livingston Seagull - which dominated the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List for two consecutive years - Richard Bach has touched millions of people through his humor, wisdom and insight.
With over 60 million copies of his books sold, Richard Bach remains one of the world's most beloved authors. A former USAF fighter pilot, Air Force captain and latter-day barnstorming pilot, Bach continues to be an avid aviator-author, exploring and chronicling the joys and freedom of flying, reporting his findings to readers.
His most recent works include Travels with Puff, which recounts Bach's journey from Florida to Washington state in his small seaplane, Puff, and Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student, which incorporates Bach's real-life plane crash.
In October 2014, the never-before-published Part Four to Jonathan Livingston Seagull was published.
Readers can find more about Richard and his work at www.richardbach.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 568 reviews
March 12, 2014
This book has ruined lives.
Of almost every woman who has read it.
(I was coaxed into reading it by one!)
They all, poor things, lead the rest of their lives believing that there was a soul mate out there for them.
Fiction: The book itself, a semi auto-biographical tome with the author discovering his ‘soul mate’ (his second wife in real life – an actress whose claim to fame is a bit part in the 1969 Sci-Fi TV series - Star Trek). And how there’s one (soul mate) for everyone.
Fact: The author and his soul mate divorced! Post the divorce, the author did put up a short story on his website. This story was an allegory of his life and books that he had written. He summed it all up in one sentence in the end: “Everything in this book may be wrong.”
The reviewer rests his case.
The women hopefully, will take note!
Of almost every woman who has read it.
(I was coaxed into reading it by one!)
They all, poor things, lead the rest of their lives believing that there was a soul mate out there for them.
Fiction: The book itself, a semi auto-biographical tome with the author discovering his ‘soul mate’ (his second wife in real life – an actress whose claim to fame is a bit part in the 1969 Sci-Fi TV series - Star Trek). And how there’s one (soul mate) for everyone.
Fact: The author and his soul mate divorced! Post the divorce, the author did put up a short story on his website. This story was an allegory of his life and books that he had written. He summed it all up in one sentence in the end: “Everything in this book may be wrong.”
The reviewer rests his case.
The women hopefully, will take note!
July 13, 2008
What a beautiful and inspiring lovestory! I am coming to really admire Richard Bach's stories. I think in order to really reap the rewards within the pages, it is helpful to be in a similar phase of life, i.e., to be yourself on a spiritual journey seeking the many wonders of lifes mysteries (with as open a mind as you can muster!).
In this book (which is best read in my opinion in between "Illusions" and "One") is the autobiographical journey Richard embarks on to find his soulmate. The love he and his wife find with eachother and the growth that they have is so beautiful and powerful you get caught up in it yourself.
I wish Richard and Leslie Bach the best of luck, hope, peace, and love wherever their souls happen to be (which is to say everywhere and in everyone ;-) ).
In this book (which is best read in my opinion in between "Illusions" and "One") is the autobiographical journey Richard embarks on to find his soulmate. The love he and his wife find with eachother and the growth that they have is so beautiful and powerful you get caught up in it yourself.
I wish Richard and Leslie Bach the best of luck, hope, peace, and love wherever their souls happen to be (which is to say everywhere and in everyone ;-) ).
October 26, 2014
Put aside for the moment the fact that author Bach divorced his so-called "soulmate" (which rather kindles the wick of the dynamite tied to the support columns of this "bridge across forever"). I respect the author's apparently earnest wide-eyed enthusiasm, but the WRITING... I knew I was in trouble early on when I encountered this: "How long have I been missing you, dear soulmate, I thought, dear wise mystical lovely lady?" Some three hundred pages later, I was floundering around in "Unless one is ready in advance for the shock, sudden wealth buries one in complistiquesque multibranch crosswebulated tangleworks weight-freighted toward intricationary ponderositives." Had I read this as a lovelorn teenager, looking for life's answers, no doubt I would have eaten this up. Reading it now, I can't help but feel that almost every word of it seems self-absorbed or rings untrue. And don't even get me started about the parts on astral projection. I know this is a much-beloved book and several friends of mine have it on their lists of Top Reads. I dunno, I guess it's too complistiquesque for me.
June 3, 2014
This is the first book by Richard Bach that I read… someone recommended this to me and I chose this for the book club that I formed with my friends.
I have to say that I had a very hard time getting through the first 60% of it (most of the book club members gave up after first few pages).
I agree with many people here that his writing is not on the level… it lacks any structure which makes it somewhat convoluted and hard to follow, and Bach spends too much time discussing his flying experience, which I understand was an essential part of his life and his discovery, but in my opinion didn’t have to be the center piece on his pages.
When I read the book I knew nothing about his first marriage and abandoned kids and his third marriage after Leslie. Then I learned about these facts… and frankly I was not surprised at all.
He came out as a very self-absorbed individual, who only cared about himself, stubborn, and irrational in my opinion. Remember the episode when Leslie was sick and needed him to come over and he actually didn’t go on principal? On principal?!!! What kind of spiritual or even not spiritual person would do this to a friend?!!! He injected this stupid idea into his mind that he could not loose his freedom in order to stay free. So he created a steel wall that blocked him from actually being free as being free means not being afraid to open yourself to new experiences and changes. He claimed to be a spiritual person during his search for his soulmate, but the very fact that he would run/fly away every time he faced a change proved the opposite! A truly spiritual person recognizes the work he/she needs to do and does this change. Like they say… “If you want to change the word around you, change yourself first”.
This quote is demonstrating Richard’s sick idea of "The perfect-woman-in-many-women design” - which as for me has nothing to do with a soul mate if a person truly understands what a soul mate is and wants to find one:
"If the perfect mate, I thought, is one who meets all of our needs all of the time, and if one of our needs is for variety itself, then no one person anywhere can be the perfect mate!
The only true soulmate is to be found in many different people. My perfect woman is partly the flash and intellect of this friend, she's partly the heart-racing beauty of that one, partly the devil-may-care adventure of another. Should none of these women be available for the day, then my soulmate sparkles in other bodies, elsewhere; being perfect does not include being unavailable.”
Richard’s thoughts about Leslie are within the same lines:
"I've got my freedom from all my other women-friends; why not from Leslie? They don't criticize me for being distant, for leaving when I want; why does she? Doesn't she know? Too long together, and even courtesy is gone . . . people are more courteous to strangers than they are to their own wives and husbands! Two people tied to each other like hungry dogs, fighting over every little scrap between them. Look at us, even us. You raised your voice to me! I didn't come in to your life to make you angry. If you don't like me as I a m, just say so and I'm gone! Together too long, and it's chains and duties and responsibilities, no delights no adventure no thank you!"
I can’t say that I found Richard and Leslie love story inspirational. I probably would not want to take Leslie’s place... She suffered a lot and most of the time she was the only one who was doing the work.
True partnership requires 100%-100% commitment… and in my opinion it was 170% on Leslie’s part and maybe only 30% on Richard’s side.
Leslie about soul mates: “ Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.” to make that dull compromise. "A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys”
I agree with the commentary that soul mates don’t have to be married forever… or ever for that matter. If you read Paulo Choelo’s “Brida” you would remember that they were soul mates but Brida could not fall in love with him. After all… a soul is from another dimension… but in this dimension soul mates have to make in the physical world as well and sometimes a soul came here with the purpose that doesn’t involve being together with his/her soul mate. But whether soul mates end up together or not, they probably from the start know that they are soul mates and they are both willing to do the work together to become better individuals. Richard and Leslie just probably got aquatinted with each other, became friends and spent a lot of time together – so the soulmate aspect of the story is questionable to me.
Richard didn’t recognize Leslie as a soul mate at first… and in my opinion even after. He tried to connect with himself “then” which allowed him to see a possibility of seeing what life he can have as one possibility and he liked it…. As another possibility was to crash on the plane. But I think the main problem of their marriage to fail was that he didn’t finish his work before getting together with Leslie or during their relationship. She was more spiritual and connected than he was and he even deluded to this on pages of his book.
But despite pure writing, lack of good character… I am really glad I finished this book. I have been on a spiritual discovery path in the last couple of years… so I’ve attended some lectures and read a bunch of books, fiction and non-fiction, and have become very much interested in the subject of souls, reincarnation, destiny, life after death, energy, universe, out of body experience…
Some of my favorite parts are:
"To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there."
Leslie tells Richard: “The opposite of loneliness, Richard, it's not togetherness. It is intimacy.“
Future Richard to Now- Richard:
Future Richard: "You want to find your soulmate?"
Now Richard: "Yes! Since always, you know that!"
Future Richard: "Your armor," he said. "It shields you from any woman who would destroy you, sure enough. But unless you let it go, it will shield you as well from the only one who can love you, nourish you, save you from your own protection. There is one perfect woman for you. She is singular, not plural. The answer you're looking for is to give up your Freedom and your Independence and to marry Leslie Parrish."
Part of Leslie’s break up letter to Richard:
"I want to be very close to someone I respect and admire and love, somebody who feels the same way about me. That or nothing. I realized that what I'm looking for is not what you're looking for. You don't want what I want.” "If we change in different directions," she said, "then we don't have any future anyway, do we? I think it's possible for two people to change together, to grow together and enrich instead of diminish each other. The sum of one and one, if they're the right ones, can be infinity! But so often one person drags the other down; one person wants to go up like a balloon and the other's a dead weight. I've always wondered what it would be like if both people, if a woman and a man both wanted to go up like balloons!"
Parts of Leslie and Richard talk when he called her after the break up letter:
Leslie: "Listen, Richard, really: I'm not mad at you. I was furious the other night, and disgusted. Then I was sad, and I cried. But after a while I stopped crying and I thought about you a lot, and I finally understood that you're being the very best person you know how to be; that you have to live with that until you change and no one is going to make that happen except you. How can I be mad at you for doing your best?"
Richard: "I told you I was selfish, a long time ago," I said. "I promised you that I'd always act in what I thought was my own best interest, and I hoped you'd do the same. . . ."
Leslie: "Spare me your definitions, please!" she said. "It is by not always thinking of yourself, if you can manage it, that you might someday be happy. Until you make room in your life for someone as important to you as yourself, you will always be lonely and searching and lost. . . ."
Leslie to Richard: “Boredom between two people," she said one evening, "doesn't come from being together, physically. It comes from being apart, mentally and spiritually.
Richard: We’re the bridge across forever, arching above the sea, adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it, choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds, testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and LOVE! But our future is your past, too. Soon as you get yourself free of this time-belief and on with your dream-practice, you'll understand. As long as we believe in sequential time, we see becoming, instead of being. Beyond time,we're all one."
Richard on pre-planned dying: “It struck me, reading near-death experiences, they're the same as the out-of-body experiences in the astral-travel books! Dying is nothing more than an out-of-body, from which we don't return! And out-of-bodies, they can be learned!” "Hold on a minute," she said. "You're suggesting we choose a pretty sunset and leave our bodies and not bother to come back?”
"Someday, yes."
She looked at me sideways. "How much of you is serious?” "Hundred percent. Really!"
Leslie’s fictitious add about the man she is searching for: “ "Wanted: a one hundred percent man. Must be brilliant, creative, funny, capable of intense intimacy and joy. Want to share music, nature, peaceful quiet joyful life. No smoking
no drinking no drugs. Must love learning and want to grow forever. Handsome, tall, slim, fine hands, sensitive, gentle, loving. Affectionate and sexy as can be."
I have to say that I had a very hard time getting through the first 60% of it (most of the book club members gave up after first few pages).
I agree with many people here that his writing is not on the level… it lacks any structure which makes it somewhat convoluted and hard to follow, and Bach spends too much time discussing his flying experience, which I understand was an essential part of his life and his discovery, but in my opinion didn’t have to be the center piece on his pages.
When I read the book I knew nothing about his first marriage and abandoned kids and his third marriage after Leslie. Then I learned about these facts… and frankly I was not surprised at all.
He came out as a very self-absorbed individual, who only cared about himself, stubborn, and irrational in my opinion. Remember the episode when Leslie was sick and needed him to come over and he actually didn’t go on principal? On principal?!!! What kind of spiritual or even not spiritual person would do this to a friend?!!! He injected this stupid idea into his mind that he could not loose his freedom in order to stay free. So he created a steel wall that blocked him from actually being free as being free means not being afraid to open yourself to new experiences and changes. He claimed to be a spiritual person during his search for his soulmate, but the very fact that he would run/fly away every time he faced a change proved the opposite! A truly spiritual person recognizes the work he/she needs to do and does this change. Like they say… “If you want to change the word around you, change yourself first”.
This quote is demonstrating Richard’s sick idea of "The perfect-woman-in-many-women design” - which as for me has nothing to do with a soul mate if a person truly understands what a soul mate is and wants to find one:
"If the perfect mate, I thought, is one who meets all of our needs all of the time, and if one of our needs is for variety itself, then no one person anywhere can be the perfect mate!
The only true soulmate is to be found in many different people. My perfect woman is partly the flash and intellect of this friend, she's partly the heart-racing beauty of that one, partly the devil-may-care adventure of another. Should none of these women be available for the day, then my soulmate sparkles in other bodies, elsewhere; being perfect does not include being unavailable.”
Richard’s thoughts about Leslie are within the same lines:
"I've got my freedom from all my other women-friends; why not from Leslie? They don't criticize me for being distant, for leaving when I want; why does she? Doesn't she know? Too long together, and even courtesy is gone . . . people are more courteous to strangers than they are to their own wives and husbands! Two people tied to each other like hungry dogs, fighting over every little scrap between them. Look at us, even us. You raised your voice to me! I didn't come in to your life to make you angry. If you don't like me as I a m, just say so and I'm gone! Together too long, and it's chains and duties and responsibilities, no delights no adventure no thank you!"
I can’t say that I found Richard and Leslie love story inspirational. I probably would not want to take Leslie’s place... She suffered a lot and most of the time she was the only one who was doing the work.
True partnership requires 100%-100% commitment… and in my opinion it was 170% on Leslie’s part and maybe only 30% on Richard’s side.
Leslie about soul mates: “ Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.” to make that dull compromise. "A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys”
I agree with the commentary that soul mates don’t have to be married forever… or ever for that matter. If you read Paulo Choelo’s “Brida” you would remember that they were soul mates but Brida could not fall in love with him. After all… a soul is from another dimension… but in this dimension soul mates have to make in the physical world as well and sometimes a soul came here with the purpose that doesn’t involve being together with his/her soul mate. But whether soul mates end up together or not, they probably from the start know that they are soul mates and they are both willing to do the work together to become better individuals. Richard and Leslie just probably got aquatinted with each other, became friends and spent a lot of time together – so the soulmate aspect of the story is questionable to me.
Richard didn’t recognize Leslie as a soul mate at first… and in my opinion even after. He tried to connect with himself “then” which allowed him to see a possibility of seeing what life he can have as one possibility and he liked it…. As another possibility was to crash on the plane. But I think the main problem of their marriage to fail was that he didn’t finish his work before getting together with Leslie or during their relationship. She was more spiritual and connected than he was and he even deluded to this on pages of his book.
But despite pure writing, lack of good character… I am really glad I finished this book. I have been on a spiritual discovery path in the last couple of years… so I’ve attended some lectures and read a bunch of books, fiction and non-fiction, and have become very much interested in the subject of souls, reincarnation, destiny, life after death, energy, universe, out of body experience…
Some of my favorite parts are:
"To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there."
Leslie tells Richard: “The opposite of loneliness, Richard, it's not togetherness. It is intimacy.“
Future Richard to Now- Richard:
Future Richard: "You want to find your soulmate?"
Now Richard: "Yes! Since always, you know that!"
Future Richard: "Your armor," he said. "It shields you from any woman who would destroy you, sure enough. But unless you let it go, it will shield you as well from the only one who can love you, nourish you, save you from your own protection. There is one perfect woman for you. She is singular, not plural. The answer you're looking for is to give up your Freedom and your Independence and to marry Leslie Parrish."
Part of Leslie’s break up letter to Richard:
"I want to be very close to someone I respect and admire and love, somebody who feels the same way about me. That or nothing. I realized that what I'm looking for is not what you're looking for. You don't want what I want.” "If we change in different directions," she said, "then we don't have any future anyway, do we? I think it's possible for two people to change together, to grow together and enrich instead of diminish each other. The sum of one and one, if they're the right ones, can be infinity! But so often one person drags the other down; one person wants to go up like a balloon and the other's a dead weight. I've always wondered what it would be like if both people, if a woman and a man both wanted to go up like balloons!"
Parts of Leslie and Richard talk when he called her after the break up letter:
Leslie: "Listen, Richard, really: I'm not mad at you. I was furious the other night, and disgusted. Then I was sad, and I cried. But after a while I stopped crying and I thought about you a lot, and I finally understood that you're being the very best person you know how to be; that you have to live with that until you change and no one is going to make that happen except you. How can I be mad at you for doing your best?"
Richard: "I told you I was selfish, a long time ago," I said. "I promised you that I'd always act in what I thought was my own best interest, and I hoped you'd do the same. . . ."
Leslie: "Spare me your definitions, please!" she said. "It is by not always thinking of yourself, if you can manage it, that you might someday be happy. Until you make room in your life for someone as important to you as yourself, you will always be lonely and searching and lost. . . ."
Leslie to Richard: “Boredom between two people," she said one evening, "doesn't come from being together, physically. It comes from being apart, mentally and spiritually.
Richard: We’re the bridge across forever, arching above the sea, adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it, choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds, testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and LOVE! But our future is your past, too. Soon as you get yourself free of this time-belief and on with your dream-practice, you'll understand. As long as we believe in sequential time, we see becoming, instead of being. Beyond time,we're all one."
Richard on pre-planned dying: “It struck me, reading near-death experiences, they're the same as the out-of-body experiences in the astral-travel books! Dying is nothing more than an out-of-body, from which we don't return! And out-of-bodies, they can be learned!” "Hold on a minute," she said. "You're suggesting we choose a pretty sunset and leave our bodies and not bother to come back?”
"Someday, yes."
She looked at me sideways. "How much of you is serious?” "Hundred percent. Really!"
Leslie’s fictitious add about the man she is searching for: “ "Wanted: a one hundred percent man. Must be brilliant, creative, funny, capable of intense intimacy and joy. Want to share music, nature, peaceful quiet joyful life. No smoking
no drinking no drugs. Must love learning and want to grow forever. Handsome, tall, slim, fine hands, sensitive, gentle, loving. Affectionate and sexy as can be."
April 3, 2009
This is so far the most beautiful love story that I've ever read! I liked the storytelling and the heartfelt words nicely written. The plot is not corny as say Spark's A Walk to Remember or Segal's Love Story. Love here is depicted by the long and ethereal flights taken by the lovers. Their love soared heights and when they are up there, with the way Bach used to describe their emotions - you can feel the intensity of their feeling for each other and their union with forever (like the boundless sky)! This will make you remember your first love or make you remember how much you love your spouse or will perhaps make you fall in love again!
March 22, 2020
An autobiographic love story belongs to one Pilot author and one movie star. At the beginning they start to relationship as friend. Later on, Richard accepts to alter his life style because he thinks, if he would not be free then he has a serious relationship. He feels himself a rabbit against to her who catches by the short hairs from hunter. Afterward they love each other.
Leslie's letter is so impressive. At the end of the book it explains that how their soul leaves from their body and they met there. It is good story.
Leslie's letter is so impressive. At the end of the book it explains that how their soul leaves from their body and they met there. It is good story.
January 6, 2012
This book was a find for a quarter or some low price somewhere as a take along for a vacation months ago. I got it as Jonathan Livington Seagull has stuck with me in my mind for decades. I though why not??
As it turns out I am at a point in my life where I wonder if I will be alone the rest of my life or will I find someone "special". This love story has given me hope. Right now, that is enough.
Enjoy it!!!!!
As it turns out I am at a point in my life where I wonder if I will be alone the rest of my life or will I find someone "special". This love story has given me hope. Right now, that is enough.
Enjoy it!!!!!
Read
August 14, 2011What a terribly sh!tty book. My first 0-star rating. I don't understand how anyone can give this book any stars. It honestly lessens my opinion of them as human beings. Are they thirteen years old? Have they not actually lived lives themselves, with all its depth and nuances and complications?
I should've known what I was in for, as it was one of the two books ever that my boyfriend said he couldn't finish. But I was seeking revenge, for him reading The Plague after I told him it was Boring. Lesson learned - when revenge is your primary motivator, things tend to backfire.
To be clear: this book is the boringest, tritest piece of superficial dreck ever. Truly barf-worthy. It didn't help knowing that Bach and his "soulmate" ended up getting a divorce, but even aside from that, as a piece of literature, this book suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked.
This man cannot even write. Two exclamation points within the first page. To emphasize "I'm going to meet my soulmate today!" "Just think, today's the day I meet her!" or some such sh!t. Uggghhh what a waste of day.
I should've known what I was in for, as it was one of the two books ever that my boyfriend said he couldn't finish. But I was seeking revenge, for him reading The Plague after I told him it was Boring. Lesson learned - when revenge is your primary motivator, things tend to backfire.
To be clear: this book is the boringest, tritest piece of superficial dreck ever. Truly barf-worthy. It didn't help knowing that Bach and his "soulmate" ended up getting a divorce, but even aside from that, as a piece of literature, this book suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked.
This man cannot even write. Two exclamation points within the first page. To emphasize "I'm going to meet my soulmate today!" "Just think, today's the day I meet her!" or some such sh!t. Uggghhh what a waste of day.
January 4, 2020
Tiesiog ne.
February 7, 2021
„Nutūpiau iš padebesių ant žemės, buvau turtingas ir benamis. Leidausi į keturis milijardus penkis šimtus milijonų sielų turinčios planetos gatves, ieškodamas moters, kurios, pasak pačių geriausių kada nors gyvenusių žmonių, iš viso pasaulyje nesama.“
Pirmoji šiais metais perskaityta knyga ir man taip pasisekė, kad pasirinkau būtent šią. Po pirmų, beje, įžanginių sakinių, jau norėjau verkti iš džiaugsmo, nes supratau, kad visa istorija bus parašyta jautriai, tikrai, išmintingai, pasveriant kiekvieną mintį, perduodant kiekvieną autoriaus išgyventą jausmą. Ta pilnatvė širdyje, kurią jaučiau visą laiką, kada pasiimdavau knygą į rankas, taip ramino, visos žinios, kurias jis norėjo perduoti, taip gražiai sugulė man į galvą, kad skaitant, atrodydavo, nebijai nei išsiskyrimo, nei mirties. Jau seniai nejaučiau to lengvumo jausmo skaitydama knygą ir taip suprasdama pagrindinį veikėją arba, tiesiog, patį Ričardą Bachą, ne todėl, kad pritarčiau jo mintims, nes jo pasaulėžiūra yra visiškai priešingai manajai, tačiau todėl, kad jis viską perteikia taip aiškiai ir taip įtikinimai, kad tau telieka viską priimti ir be jokių pykčių susitaikyti bei palaikyti jį jo gyvenimo kelionėje.
O ta gyvenimo kelionė yra tokia įvairi ir tokia didelė... Ir kaip gerai, kad Ričardas Bachas išleido šią savo biografiją ir su savo skaitytojais pasidalijo savo mintimis skirtingais gyvenimo etapais, suteikė tiek daug žinių.
Ieškoti sielos draugės, "Tobulos moters", tokį tikslą sąmoningai išsikėlė sau Ričardas Bachas ir labai nuosekliai jo siekė, tačiau ar tokia moteris gali egzistuoti vienoje moteryje? Ir kaip atpažinti meilę, kaip nebijoti jai pasiduoti ir atsisakyti laisvės? Tai tik viena knygos dalis. Ričardas Bachas savo istorijoje paliečia tikrai svarbias temas - žmogaus būtį, "pomirtinį" gyvenimą, gyvenimo tikslą, savižudybę. Tai nėra tipinė klasika, ji tikrai turi kur kas daugiau gilumo vien dėl to, kad istorija nėra išgalvota, ji yra apie Ričardą Bachą jo akimis, jo mintimis ir jo jausmais. Ir dėl ko ši istorija liūdna? Kad ir kaip gražiai gali baigtis istorija knygoje, ji ne visada baigiasi taip gražiai realiame gyvenime. Prisipažinsiu, kad skaityti apie tolimesnį jo gyvenimą, nutrūkus knygos veiksmui, buvo beveik nedrąsu, visgi, netgi perskaičiusi dvidešimties metų naujienas, susijusias su jo meilės istorija, nenustebau ir netgi nenusiminiau, galbūt tikrai labai gerai supratau patį autorių ir to "tikėjausi" (žinant, kad viskas įvyko prieš dvidešimt metų, lengviausia buvo "pasigooglinti" ne knygos pabaigoje, o pradžioje, bet, nors tai ir nėra tipinis romanas, o tikrų žmonių tikras gyvenimas, intrigos sau nei už ką nesugadinčiau).
Tikriausiai nenuostabu, kad jau planuoju skaityti kitas autoriaus knygas. O šią rekomenduoju kiekvienam: romantikos, biografijos mėgėjui. Žmogui, ieškančiam atsakymų į milijonus klausimų. Tam, kuris pasiilgo tikrų emocijų, ironijos, tikrumo, gražiai dėstomų minčių ir gražaus žodyno. Beje, didelis ačiū vertėjui, vertimas yra tobulas.
Pirmoji šiais metais perskaityta knyga ir man taip pasisekė, kad pasirinkau būtent šią. Po pirmų, beje, įžanginių sakinių, jau norėjau verkti iš džiaugsmo, nes supratau, kad visa istorija bus parašyta jautriai, tikrai, išmintingai, pasveriant kiekvieną mintį, perduodant kiekvieną autoriaus išgyventą jausmą. Ta pilnatvė širdyje, kurią jaučiau visą laiką, kada pasiimdavau knygą į rankas, taip ramino, visos žinios, kurias jis norėjo perduoti, taip gražiai sugulė man į galvą, kad skaitant, atrodydavo, nebijai nei išsiskyrimo, nei mirties. Jau seniai nejaučiau to lengvumo jausmo skaitydama knygą ir taip suprasdama pagrindinį veikėją arba, tiesiog, patį Ričardą Bachą, ne todėl, kad pritarčiau jo mintims, nes jo pasaulėžiūra yra visiškai priešingai manajai, tačiau todėl, kad jis viską perteikia taip aiškiai ir taip įtikinimai, kad tau telieka viską priimti ir be jokių pykčių susitaikyti bei palaikyti jį jo gyvenimo kelionėje.
O ta gyvenimo kelionė yra tokia įvairi ir tokia didelė... Ir kaip gerai, kad Ričardas Bachas išleido šią savo biografiją ir su savo skaitytojais pasidalijo savo mintimis skirtingais gyvenimo etapais, suteikė tiek daug žinių.
Ieškoti sielos draugės, "Tobulos moters", tokį tikslą sąmoningai išsikėlė sau Ričardas Bachas ir labai nuosekliai jo siekė, tačiau ar tokia moteris gali egzistuoti vienoje moteryje? Ir kaip atpažinti meilę, kaip nebijoti jai pasiduoti ir atsisakyti laisvės? Tai tik viena knygos dalis. Ričardas Bachas savo istorijoje paliečia tikrai svarbias temas - žmogaus būtį, "pomirtinį" gyvenimą, gyvenimo tikslą, savižudybę. Tai nėra tipinė klasika, ji tikrai turi kur kas daugiau gilumo vien dėl to, kad istorija nėra išgalvota, ji yra apie Ričardą Bachą jo akimis, jo mintimis ir jo jausmais. Ir dėl ko ši istorija liūdna? Kad ir kaip gražiai gali baigtis istorija knygoje, ji ne visada baigiasi taip gražiai realiame gyvenime. Prisipažinsiu, kad skaityti apie tolimesnį jo gyvenimą, nutrūkus knygos veiksmui, buvo beveik nedrąsu, visgi, netgi perskaičiusi dvidešimties metų naujienas, susijusias su jo meilės istorija, nenustebau ir netgi nenusiminiau, galbūt tikrai labai gerai supratau patį autorių ir to "tikėjausi" (žinant, kad viskas įvyko prieš dvidešimt metų, lengviausia buvo "pasigooglinti" ne knygos pabaigoje, o pradžioje, bet, nors tai ir nėra tipinis romanas, o tikrų žmonių tikras gyvenimas, intrigos sau nei už ką nesugadinčiau).
Tikriausiai nenuostabu, kad jau planuoju skaityti kitas autoriaus knygas. O šią rekomenduoju kiekvienam: romantikos, biografijos mėgėjui. Žmogui, ieškančiam atsakymų į milijonus klausimų. Tam, kuris pasiilgo tikrų emocijų, ironijos, tikrumo, gražiai dėstomų minčių ir gražaus žodyno. Beje, didelis ačiū vertėjui, vertimas yra tobulas.
July 1, 2011
Michael Bakhtin formulated the idea called dialogism while studying the nature of the literary form called 'novel'. Bakhtin identifies 'polyphony' as the greatest quality of the genre, by which he means its ability to include diverse voices within the same work. Different contradictory elements exists in a single literary work, complementing each other.
A good literary piece is one which reflects different ideological strands without affecting the central or dominant voice of the 'author'. Richard Bach's theme in the novel 'Bridge' is his search for 'soulmate' and his concept of love, and also how he find out his true soul mate. However, this idea is one among the many ideas he discussed in the work; at the same time, the idea of 'love' dominates in the work.
You can find different voices in this text; Bach who is against the institution of marriage; against the institutionalized church; against govts' intervention of individual freedom; and so on and on. Contrary to this, he a married man, he is searching for spiritual harmony, he is conservative supporter of the governmental system.
The concept of soulmate, according to Bach, is “perfect woman among many”; you cannot find a single perfect woman, but can find perfection among many. He went afer many woman and enjoyed the lifestyle. The pilot, Bach, visited several places and found new and new women everywhere . The idea does not mean he is a licentiousness, instead he believed in the superiority of the human self, and does not want to be the slave of any system. He searched for the perfection of his own self.
Bach believed in a particular religious philosophy in which an individual attains perfection by himself. He can converse with the spirits and can foresee the things. The power of the human soul is above any powers in the world.
The concepts of love and music and everything he possesses is in contrast with Leslie, his real soulmate. Love means understanding each others freedom and unique identity, she thought. The life is full of learning, they learned from each other, progressed the life with mutual trust and love.
A good literary piece is one which reflects different ideological strands without affecting the central or dominant voice of the 'author'. Richard Bach's theme in the novel 'Bridge' is his search for 'soulmate' and his concept of love, and also how he find out his true soul mate. However, this idea is one among the many ideas he discussed in the work; at the same time, the idea of 'love' dominates in the work.
You can find different voices in this text; Bach who is against the institution of marriage; against the institutionalized church; against govts' intervention of individual freedom; and so on and on. Contrary to this, he a married man, he is searching for spiritual harmony, he is conservative supporter of the governmental system.
The concept of soulmate, according to Bach, is “perfect woman among many”; you cannot find a single perfect woman, but can find perfection among many. He went afer many woman and enjoyed the lifestyle. The pilot, Bach, visited several places and found new and new women everywhere . The idea does not mean he is a licentiousness, instead he believed in the superiority of the human self, and does not want to be the slave of any system. He searched for the perfection of his own self.
Bach believed in a particular religious philosophy in which an individual attains perfection by himself. He can converse with the spirits and can foresee the things. The power of the human soul is above any powers in the world.
The concepts of love and music and everything he possesses is in contrast with Leslie, his real soulmate. Love means understanding each others freedom and unique identity, she thought. The life is full of learning, they learned from each other, progressed the life with mutual trust and love.
February 11, 2019
Kiek daug dviprasmiškų minčių man kyla rašant atsiliepimą apie šią knygą. Knygos pati pradžia mane sudomino, toliau skaitant jau vis gundydavo mintis pasiduoti ir nebegaišti laiko, dar vėliau vėl įsitraukiau ir nusprendžiau pabaigti iki galo. Knygos siužetas paremtais tikrais autoriaus gyvenimo faktais, tačiau labai primena fikciją ir nepasidomėjus rašytojo biografija, yra neįmanoma atskirti, kas romane yra išgalvota. Dažniausiai tai knygose yra didelis pliusas, tačiau šįkart man būtų buvę daug geriau nežinoti, kad tai tikra meilės istorija. Mane dažnai siutino pagrindinio herojaus egoizmas, kvaili poelgiai, tačiau gal taip buvo siekiama pabrėžti, koks gi jaunas ir kvailas aš kadaise buvau ir kokia nuostabi ir kantri buvo ta mano išrinktoji. Taip, išties Leslie Parrish knygoje aprašoma kaip tikrai verta visų pagyrų moteris, kuria sunku nesižavėti, bet kartais jos pasiaukojimas atrodė per didelis ir visiškai neįvertinamas.
Nepaisant to, man tikrai patiko ta nesaldžioji jų meilės istorijos dalis, visos kliūtys ir išmoktos pamokos, taip pat ir kartu patirti nuotykiai bei augimas kartu.
Visgi nežinau, ar patikėjau ta knygos mintimi apie to vienintelio sielos draugo paieškas. Taip, mintis yra graži ir apipinta gražiomis mintimis, bet išties abejoju, ar sielos draugas gali būti tik vienas, ir ar tai būtina sąlyga didžiajai gyvenimo meilei. Tas abejones ir knygos idėjos visą žavesį griauna ir autoriaus tolimesnė biografija ir faktas, kad, deja, bet išsiskyrė jų keliai su ta taip sunkiai atrasta sielos drauge ir ta amžinybė baigėsi dar šiame jų gyvenime... Ir tada lieka neatsakytas klausimas, ar gerai, kad knyga suteikia naivių iliuzijų ir neveikiantį amžinos meilės receptą, ar būtų geriau turėti knygą, kuri atsakytų į klausimą, kokie dalykai gyvenime yra pakankamai reikšmingi, kad du sielos draugai turėtų pasukti skirtingomis kryptimis, be tolimesnių bandymų išsaugoti tą tiltą per amžinybę...
„Tačiau niekas niekad negalėjo atsakyti man į tuos klausimus, išskyrus mano vidinį balsą, o juo aš nedrįsau pasikliauti. Todėl plaukiau per gyvenimą tarytum banginis, lyg jūros vandenį didžiuliais gurkšniais siurbdamas į save, ką kiti žmonės rašė, sakė ir galvojo, ir nukošdamas planktono dydžio žinių trupinius, kurie atitiko tai, kuo man norėjosi tikėti. Man atrodė teisinga viskas, kas galėjo pagrįsti tai, ką aš žinojau. Tokio pagrindimo aš ir ieškojau.
Štai iš visų vienos rašytojos knygų, kad ir kiek jas skaičiau, negalėjau pasisemti nė mažulytės žinių krevetės. O iš kito rašytojo tekstų pasiėmiau tik vieną: „Mes esame ne tai, kas atrodome.“ Valio! Nuojauta man sakė, jog tai TIESA. Likusi knygos dalis gali būti grynas jūros vanduo, bet banginis pasiliks sau šį sakinį."
Man patiko ši knygoje rasta mintis, kuri puikiai gali perteikti mano įspūdį apie šią knygą. Vienas perkošęs visas šioje knygoje pateiktas mintis ir idėjas nepasiliks sau nieko, kitas galbūt atras daug įkvepiančių minčių, supras kažką naujo arba ras tą taip ieškomą patvirtinimą į ilgai neraminusias vidinio balso abejones. Aš pati čia radau gražių minčių, kelias vertas dėmesio idėjas ir kelis patvirtinimus į savo jau prieš tai padarytus atradimus. Visgi manau, kad dėl šių teigiamų dalykų greičiausiai per daug to jūros vandens reikėjo prakošti, kad galėčiau šią knygą rekomenduoti kitiems. Gal nebent jaunesnei SAU... nors tikriausiai ir tai ne, nes kai kurias klaidas visgi reikia gyvenime padaryti patiems ir žiūrint atgal nesinorėtų, kad būčiau tam tikrus dalykus supratusi anksčiau.
Bet tikriausiai ši knyga visai patiktų sentimentaliems romantikams besidomintiems aviacija, nes tikrai jau čia (per)daug tų aviacijos terminų ir meilės skrydžio laisvei.
Nepaisant to, man tikrai patiko ta nesaldžioji jų meilės istorijos dalis, visos kliūtys ir išmoktos pamokos, taip pat ir kartu patirti nuotykiai bei augimas kartu.
Visgi nežinau, ar patikėjau ta knygos mintimi apie to vienintelio sielos draugo paieškas. Taip, mintis yra graži ir apipinta gražiomis mintimis, bet išties abejoju, ar sielos draugas gali būti tik vienas, ir ar tai būtina sąlyga didžiajai gyvenimo meilei. Tas abejones ir knygos idėjos visą žavesį griauna ir autoriaus tolimesnė biografija ir faktas, kad, deja, bet išsiskyrė jų keliai su ta taip sunkiai atrasta sielos drauge ir ta amžinybė baigėsi dar šiame jų gyvenime... Ir tada lieka neatsakytas klausimas, ar gerai, kad knyga suteikia naivių iliuzijų ir neveikiantį amžinos meilės receptą, ar būtų geriau turėti knygą, kuri atsakytų į klausimą, kokie dalykai gyvenime yra pakankamai reikšmingi, kad du sielos draugai turėtų pasukti skirtingomis kryptimis, be tolimesnių bandymų išsaugoti tą tiltą per amžinybę...
„Tačiau niekas niekad negalėjo atsakyti man į tuos klausimus, išskyrus mano vidinį balsą, o juo aš nedrįsau pasikliauti. Todėl plaukiau per gyvenimą tarytum banginis, lyg jūros vandenį didžiuliais gurkšniais siurbdamas į save, ką kiti žmonės rašė, sakė ir galvojo, ir nukošdamas planktono dydžio žinių trupinius, kurie atitiko tai, kuo man norėjosi tikėti. Man atrodė teisinga viskas, kas galėjo pagrįsti tai, ką aš žinojau. Tokio pagrindimo aš ir ieškojau.
Štai iš visų vienos rašytojos knygų, kad ir kiek jas skaičiau, negalėjau pasisemti nė mažulytės žinių krevetės. O iš kito rašytojo tekstų pasiėmiau tik vieną: „Mes esame ne tai, kas atrodome.“ Valio! Nuojauta man sakė, jog tai TIESA. Likusi knygos dalis gali būti grynas jūros vanduo, bet banginis pasiliks sau šį sakinį."
Man patiko ši knygoje rasta mintis, kuri puikiai gali perteikti mano įspūdį apie šią knygą. Vienas perkošęs visas šioje knygoje pateiktas mintis ir idėjas nepasiliks sau nieko, kitas galbūt atras daug įkvepiančių minčių, supras kažką naujo arba ras tą taip ieškomą patvirtinimą į ilgai neraminusias vidinio balso abejones. Aš pati čia radau gražių minčių, kelias vertas dėmesio idėjas ir kelis patvirtinimus į savo jau prieš tai padarytus atradimus. Visgi manau, kad dėl šių teigiamų dalykų greičiausiai per daug to jūros vandens reikėjo prakošti, kad galėčiau šią knygą rekomenduoti kitiems. Gal nebent jaunesnei SAU... nors tikriausiai ir tai ne, nes kai kurias klaidas visgi reikia gyvenime padaryti patiems ir žiūrint atgal nesinorėtų, kad būčiau tam tikrus dalykus supratusi anksčiau.
Bet tikriausiai ši knyga visai patiktų sentimentaliems romantikams besidomintiems aviacija, nes tikrai jau čia (per)daug tų aviacijos terminų ir meilės skrydžio laisvei.
September 24, 2023
48-oji XX a. Aukso fondo knyga. Ši knyga yra iš tų, apie kurias prisiklausai ir prisiskaitai nuomonių dar iki jos patekimo į rankas. Daug kur rašyta, kad tai klasika, "knyga, kuri gali pakeisti gyvenimą". Kiti atsiliepė kaip apie sentimentalų romaniukštį. Taigi, man knyga patiko. Patiko savo laisvės pojūčiu - skrydžiai lėktuvu( kažkodėl lydėjo Antuano de Sent Egziuperi šešėlis?), laisvas "kur noriu" gyvenimas, neprisirišimas prie turtų. Pagrindinė mintis - paieška, sielos draugo, meilės objekto paieška. Kaip jie randami - tai ir yra didžiausia žmonijos paslaptis. Šiai knygai skaityti reikalingas tam tikras nusiteikimas ar gyvenimo tarpsnis. Nusivylęs ir nelaimingas žmogus jos nemėgs
November 16, 2007
Pure platitudinous puke. One of the worst books I've actually kept reading until I finished (although I honestly don't know how I did it). This is probably the only one star rating you'll see from me, because there are too many good books out there to squander time on the crummy ones. I just stop reading those I don't enjoy partway through, and I don't rate them.
I also have a problem with writing bad reviews, because I don't think it's fair to the writer. If I don't like it, and I do happen to finish (which isn't likely), fair enough, that's my opinion and I'll simply leave it out of the mix.
In this case, I'll break my own rule and say that this book is as cheesy as they come, and would have never found a publisher had Bach not had such enormous success with the one about the bird.
I like a good love story, but the gooey and self-indulgent way this one is written could even appall Mister Rogers enough to ralph on his own cardigan sweater.
"How long have I been missing you, dear soulmate, I thought, dear wise mystical lovely lady?" That's an actual excerpt, and there's an entire book of this howdy doody crap. Corny, amorous drivel mixed with a smug author's excessive self-absorption just doesn't make for good reading.
I also have a problem with writing bad reviews, because I don't think it's fair to the writer. If I don't like it, and I do happen to finish (which isn't likely), fair enough, that's my opinion and I'll simply leave it out of the mix.
In this case, I'll break my own rule and say that this book is as cheesy as they come, and would have never found a publisher had Bach not had such enormous success with the one about the bird.
I like a good love story, but the gooey and self-indulgent way this one is written could even appall Mister Rogers enough to ralph on his own cardigan sweater.
"How long have I been missing you, dear soulmate, I thought, dear wise mystical lovely lady?" That's an actual excerpt, and there's an entire book of this howdy doody crap. Corny, amorous drivel mixed with a smug author's excessive self-absorption just doesn't make for good reading.
December 2, 2011
This book really wasn't for me. It was a task to make myself pick it up and read. I found the writing construed and self absorbed. If Richard truly believes in soul-mates and forever and that this woman was the one then why is he no longer with her? Also why is there no mention of his children from his previous marriage? Such a shame. The one thing that does show through is Richard's selfishness.
I found one quote that I liked so I suppose all is not lost.
When asked about beautiful women being tragic Leslie replies
'When everything depends on looks, you get lost gazing in mirrors and you never find yourself.'
I found one quote that I liked so I suppose all is not lost.
When asked about beautiful women being tragic Leslie replies
'When everything depends on looks, you get lost gazing in mirrors and you never find yourself.'
May 18, 2019
Not one of my favorite works of his.
November 10, 2007
I read this book again to see if it still hit as hard as it did when I discovered it in college amid the long distance angst of having met my future husband...and the lines and writing still sounded as strong as they did then and still amazes me how some books find you when you need to find them...the odds of coming across this book at that time were so very small yet there it was echoing what I felt I was living...now I am not sure it reads as well as then. More emotional memory than stellar writing but it will always have a home on my shelves.
Read
March 28, 2016واقعیت این است که ما همگی در این سیاره، تنها هستیم. هر کدام از ما کاملا تنهاییم و هرچه زودتر این حقیقت را بپذیریم، به نفعمان خواهد بود. بسیاری از مردم تنها زندگی می کنند، چه ازدواج کرده باشند و چه مجرد باشند. بدون هیچ یافتنی، همیشه در جستجو بوده اند...!
February 22, 2022
با حرف زدن از باند فرودگاه و اتاقک خلبان، داستان به داستانهای اگزوپری شبیه نمیشود. باید فضاسازی داشته باشد، نه اشارهی صرف.
December 2, 2012
Though it has "love story" in the title, this is less of a "romance" and more of a mental and emotional journey for the lead character/narrator "Richard." What happens to him in the (somewhat of a love story) isn't all that remarkable or interesting to be honest, but Bach captures the purity of emotions emotions perfectly. As Richard jumps from seeking love to avoiding and dances around his long running on-again off-again relationship you can't help but say to yourself at times, "Man, that's exactly how I felt."
Bach's semi-autobiographical character of "Richard" doesn't come off well. The criticism of this book is typical that Bach is a one dimensional author and "Bridge" is simply "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" if replaced learning about flight with learning how to love and the bird with a human who is kind of a jackass. But that is kind of the point. That there is no lesson to be learned from "Richard," that sometimes, often in romantic relationships, we are the one who is most in our own way. Don't read it as a philosphy book like "JLS" or "Illusions" (another favorite of mine), but for the honesty in which Bach puts emotions on the page. Your read of "Bridge" will be less about hearing what happens to Richard, and more about being reminded what happened to you. Very real for a very fake book.
On that note...you'll know what I mean when you get to the last fifth or so. The book reaches it's emotional climax, it resolves the main characters and the writer admits that that should probably be the end right there. It's not. He goes on for an extended prologue that really can be described only as Bach having jumped the freaking shark. Absolutely love the book. But when the narrator talks about how this is the part he should end the book, just put it down and don't join him on the awful tangent that holds the final pages of the book.
Bach's semi-autobiographical character of "Richard" doesn't come off well. The criticism of this book is typical that Bach is a one dimensional author and "Bridge" is simply "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" if replaced learning about flight with learning how to love and the bird with a human who is kind of a jackass. But that is kind of the point. That there is no lesson to be learned from "Richard," that sometimes, often in romantic relationships, we are the one who is most in our own way. Don't read it as a philosphy book like "JLS" or "Illusions" (another favorite of mine), but for the honesty in which Bach puts emotions on the page. Your read of "Bridge" will be less about hearing what happens to Richard, and more about being reminded what happened to you. Very real for a very fake book.
On that note...you'll know what I mean when you get to the last fifth or so. The book reaches it's emotional climax, it resolves the main characters and the writer admits that that should probably be the end right there. It's not. He goes on for an extended prologue that really can be described only as Bach having jumped the freaking shark. Absolutely love the book. But when the narrator talks about how this is the part he should end the book, just put it down and don't join him on the awful tangent that holds the final pages of the book.
July 3, 2010
The ultimate love story told from a man's point of view... it was not only a great read because it was from a male point of view, but because it taught me much more than I ever expected to learn about love from any book, and especially for one written in novel form... it also reminded me of the importance of listening to that voice inside each of us we may not always be in tune with... most important it helped me realize that sometimes one person can be all the roles we seek such as friend, lover and confidante, and other times it may take more than one person but if we truly know what we are looking for then we have a much better shot at finding it... as I have said before when reading Richard Bach's books one can take them at face value as a simple novel, or be deeply thought provoking and offer insights one may have never before even considered prior to reading his works... I would recommend any and all of his writings with zero hesitation, whether you are looking for easy reading, or furthering your ongoing journey of personal growth ♥
February 11, 2012
This exquisite metaphysical love story based on the author's relationship with his wife, and soulmate, Leslie Parish is one of my favorite reads. It is told in a mystical style that explains multi-dimensional soul aspects interacting across time.
One of my favorite passages occurs when the writer, Bach, travels to the future and sees his now finished book shelved, and tries to read the title. When he returns to the here and now, he recalls, "It said something about a bridge." These types of moments when dream sequences give us a glimpse of the future was seared into my brain, and I've fondly tried to follow this type of "seeing" as I develop writing projects.
For anyone who longs to find their soulmate, this book will give you hope.
One of my favorite passages occurs when the writer, Bach, travels to the future and sees his now finished book shelved, and tries to read the title. When he returns to the here and now, he recalls, "It said something about a bridge." These types of moments when dream sequences give us a glimpse of the future was seared into my brain, and I've fondly tried to follow this type of "seeing" as I develop writing projects.
For anyone who longs to find their soulmate, this book will give you hope.
October 12, 2017
“Ik pa brīdim, es rakstu, ir jauki aizvērt acis un tumsā sacīt sev pašam:”Es esmu burvis, un, kad acis atvēršu, redzēšu pasauli, kuru pats esmu radījis un par kuru vienīgi pats esmu pilnībā atbildīgs.” Tad plaksti atveras lēni kā priekškars, atklājot skatuves vidi. Un mēs esam pārliecināti, ka tur atrodas mūsu pasaule, tieši tāda, kādu mēs to esam uzbūvējuši.” (90.lpp)
Jā, bija labas nodaļas un citādi. Nē, neiekritu grāmatas valdzinājuma varā. Jā, grāmata lika man ieskatīties interneta dzīlēs un izlasīt Baha biogrāfiju. Nē, netiku apburta no šī vīrieša un viņa radītā stāsta. Jā, esmu lasījusi grāmatu par kaiju vārdā Džonatans Livingstons. Nē, uz doto brīdi nav nekādas vēlmes lasīt vēl kādu Baha gara darbu.
Jā, bija labas nodaļas un citādi. Nē, neiekritu grāmatas valdzinājuma varā. Jā, grāmata lika man ieskatīties interneta dzīlēs un izlasīt Baha biogrāfiju. Nē, netiku apburta no šī vīrieša un viņa radītā stāsta. Jā, esmu lasījusi grāmatu par kaiju vārdā Džonatans Livingstons. Nē, uz doto brīdi nav nekādas vēlmes lasīt vēl kādu Baha gara darbu.
May 4, 2009
Me? Read a love story?
Very out of character for me, but I have always loved this book. I think mostly because it's about real love. Not fairy tale bulls*^t, but terrifying - "I'm exposing myself to you, do not crush me, please" love.
The kind you try to sabatoge even though it's wonderful.
Read it even if you don't like love stories - if nothing else you get to be a voyeur to a facinating love relationship between 2 adults, that isn't mushy or cheesy.
Very out of character for me, but I have always loved this book. I think mostly because it's about real love. Not fairy tale bulls*^t, but terrifying - "I'm exposing myself to you, do not crush me, please" love.
The kind you try to sabatoge even though it's wonderful.
Read it even if you don't like love stories - if nothing else you get to be a voyeur to a facinating love relationship between 2 adults, that isn't mushy or cheesy.
April 22, 2013
This is one book that's resonated with me through my core when I read it years ago, and again recently. This is my kind of love story, and my kind of lady (the woman who would eventually become the author's wife). Love it.
March 14, 2015
We aren't dust, We are magic! The book is highly recommended to those who believe in the concept of soul mates. It has been written as a first hand experience of a writer in quest of his soulmate and then his own fears to acknowledge her and how he manages to overcome them.
August 27, 2025
Ah maldito Richard, siempre tiene una forma de escribir que parece que te está hablando de justo el momento en la vida que estás pasando... o tal vez es así.
supongo que con el diario del futuro uno sabe cuánto tiempo paso en esa relación con el alma gemela que busca acá, ese es todo el libro, y más allá de todo... yo viviría esa aventura, me encantaría que así me suceda, o tal vez, solo la actualidad nos hace desear tanto algo que tan poco se ve, la modernidad que nos ataca cada vez más... aunque, cada época tiene la suya, supongo que la mía es esta.
Es un lindo libro que da un poco de esperanzas, por lo menos para aquellos que tenemos esa personalidad de perseverantes, quien te dice, que capaz yo también pueda construir mi puente hacia el infinito
supongo que con el diario del futuro uno sabe cuánto tiempo paso en esa relación con el alma gemela que busca acá, ese es todo el libro, y más allá de todo... yo viviría esa aventura, me encantaría que así me suceda, o tal vez, solo la actualidad nos hace desear tanto algo que tan poco se ve, la modernidad que nos ataca cada vez más... aunque, cada época tiene la suya, supongo que la mía es esta.
Es un lindo libro que da un poco de esperanzas, por lo menos para aquellos que tenemos esa personalidad de perseverantes, quien te dice, que capaz yo también pueda construir mi puente hacia el infinito
October 17, 2017
Jeigu šią knygą būčiau skaičiusi būdama paauglė, neabejotinai skirčiau bent 4 žvaigždutes. Dabar gi skiriu perpus mažiau. Tai darau dėl daugelio priežasčių: rašymo stiliaus, banalios siužeto linijos, nuobodaus pagrindinių veikėjų vystymosi ir t.t. Jeigu knygos autorius būtų paauglys, galėčiau pateisinti visus prieš tai paminėtus knygos trūkumus, bet dabar tai yra tiesiog prastos literatūros požymiai. Aš net nenoriu pradėti kalbėti apie autoriaus iliuziją, kad visame tame didžiuliame ir nuostabiame, kupino įvairiausių netikėčiausių nuostabiausių įvykių, pasaulyje (naudoju autoriaus stilių) yra tik vienas vienintelis idealus žmogus kiekvienam iš mūsų. Tebūnie, autoriaus teisė tuo tikėti, tačiau pasirinkti "nepaprasto grožio aktorę", kuri dar yra ir labai protinga, intelektuali, išsilavinusi, stilinga, muzikali, geraširdė ir aktyvi kovotoja už neteisybę - kaip tą vienintelę ir tikrą pagrindinio herojaus moterį, ar neprimena pigios romantinės novelės? Ar tikrai ši nepaprasta moteris negalėtų tapti kitų nepaprastų vyrų "vienintele ir tikra meile"?
Vienintelis dalykas, kuris man patiko šioje knygoje, yra antroje jos dalyje piešiamas Lesli ir Ričardo bendravimas, bendras tobulėjimas, augimas individualiai ir poroje, vienas kito palaikymas ir išklausymas, abipusė pagarba ir vienas kito stūmimas į priekį. Man atrodo, tai labai teisingas požiūris į tai, kokie santykiai turėtų būti. Ar ši dalis verta knygos skaitymo? Nemanau. Dar kartą šios knygos neskaityčiau, todėl ir kitiems nerekomenduoju.
Vienintelis dalykas, kuris man patiko šioje knygoje, yra antroje jos dalyje piešiamas Lesli ir Ričardo bendravimas, bendras tobulėjimas, augimas individualiai ir poroje, vienas kito palaikymas ir išklausymas, abipusė pagarba ir vienas kito stūmimas į priekį. Man atrodo, tai labai teisingas požiūris į tai, kokie santykiai turėtų būti. Ar ši dalis verta knygos skaitymo? Nemanau. Dar kartą šios knygos neskaityčiau, todėl ir kitiems nerekomenduoju.
November 20, 2013
I read thus book in grad school in the late 80s . It was such a good read about the fairy tale love affair between Richard Bach and actress Leslie Parrish.
I really enjoyed it at the time. I have included a review from amazon.
Amazon.com Review
Bestselling author Richard Bach explores the meaning of fate and soul mates in this modern-day fairytale based on his real-life relationship with actor Leslie Parrish. "This is a story about a knight who was dying, and the princess who saved his life," Bach writes in his opening greeting. "It's a story about beauty and beasts and spells and fortresses, about death-powers that seem and life-powers that are." Yes, it is all that, and more. On the earthly plane this is about the riveting love affair between two fully human people who are willing to explore time travel and other dimensions together even as they grapple with the earthly struggles of intimacy, commitment, smothering, and whose turn it is to cook. Their love affair and happy ending inspired many enthusiastic fans. Years later, some of these fans were devastated to discover that this match made in heaven didn't manage to stick (the couple are no longer together). But in an interview, Bach explained that lovers don't have to stay married forever to be lifetime soul mates. Read this as a lesson about love's enchantments and possibilities, but don't count on this book to keep you and your mate on the bridge across forever. --Gail Hudson
I really enjoyed it at the time. I have included a review from amazon.
Amazon.com Review
Bestselling author Richard Bach explores the meaning of fate and soul mates in this modern-day fairytale based on his real-life relationship with actor Leslie Parrish. "This is a story about a knight who was dying, and the princess who saved his life," Bach writes in his opening greeting. "It's a story about beauty and beasts and spells and fortresses, about death-powers that seem and life-powers that are." Yes, it is all that, and more. On the earthly plane this is about the riveting love affair between two fully human people who are willing to explore time travel and other dimensions together even as they grapple with the earthly struggles of intimacy, commitment, smothering, and whose turn it is to cook. Their love affair and happy ending inspired many enthusiastic fans. Years later, some of these fans were devastated to discover that this match made in heaven didn't manage to stick (the couple are no longer together). But in an interview, Bach explained that lovers don't have to stay married forever to be lifetime soul mates. Read this as a lesson about love's enchantments and possibilities, but don't count on this book to keep you and your mate on the bridge across forever. --Gail Hudson
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