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The Opening
The Opening addresses the age-old question 'what happens when we die?' with a spiritual fantasy of immense charm and imagination. At once an insightful meditation on life’s passages and a vision of unearthly realms, it creates its own enchanted worlds where characters connect with one another between here and the hereafter across the thinnest of lines. Joe St. John wanders out into a blizzard and falls through an opening that leads him to amazing, sometimes harrowing places where he encounters the major turning points in his life. Along the way, he revisits his missed opportunities, uncovers his life’s core trauma, and is given mysterious geometrical symbols that hold the key to his future. As Joe's soul hovers between two worlds he will discover the truth about life and death, and be confronted with the ultimate save his own life, or give it up for someone he loves.
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 29, 2011
The Opening, a new book by Ron Savarese, called to me. I’ve read enough to honor jewels that magically appear. Yet sometimes there are no clues – simply intuition – there is something there for me, and for you, Reader.
Further when I saw the cover, a screen shot of the Cosmos, I knew I would like it. Only once deeply engaged in the fast paced story did I realize the cover depicts a heavy blizzard. Or was I right in my first intuition? For this is a cosmic story as well as everyman’s journey.
Sadly, I have had little sympathy to spare for the troubles of investment bankers, males who have closed down their marriages, family, friends, even their own bodies but thankfully Savarese does. He skillfully evokes page-turning interest in his main character’s plight: the pit so many modern men, and their families, struggle with in today’s news, alienation, hard-heartedness, allurement of more and more money and things. The modern allegory we see living out before our eyes, read in Grisham, Updike and Cheever. Actually getting lost drunk in a snowstorm seems just right for this character as he had turned himself, all unknowing, into a man of snow, an iron man in the worst sense of the words.
But then the beauty and glory of the inner world opens before his eyes as the body shuts down. The traditional life review begins to manifest on the inner screen of his consciousness. As a Hospice Chaplain, I know this phenomena occurs: the past flashes by, regrets for youthful parents, playmates, brothers, significant others, many aged or dead, but seen in their prime. Just a regular Joe, dying alone, outside a bar in a heavy snowstorm.
Then the magic of the book starts: as a child he had three gifts: extraordinary dreams, his mother, and eventually the guidance of a mystical forest woman. From then on, I loved the book. Some authors choose, and it is a choice, to start hard and tough. Others aim for the beauty right away. This book is like an excitingly brutal football game, which millions of fans want. But after the win, what is the cost? The emotional cost to partners, family, friends, the player? That’s what trained journalist Savarese is examining in this quest novel. The impossibly high cost of material success and the extraordinary help and succor that is available, even if unasked. It takes vulnerability to get through our society’s normal barriers to the light-filled place. But that place within has been unwinding all along. When it is time to notice that, events cooperate.
The Opening is an excellent read, with its sharp eyed look at the modern male dilemma. But we are not alone on this Earth, men do find the right women, the lost find guides and, above all, our friends are there for us. No matter what. I knew this would be a great book when I read the opening Rumi: When I die, I will soar with the angels, And when I die to the angels, What I shall become, You cannot imagine.
Rev. Garnette Arledge is the author of On Angels Eve, making the most of your final time together and Wise Secrets of Aloha.
Further when I saw the cover, a screen shot of the Cosmos, I knew I would like it. Only once deeply engaged in the fast paced story did I realize the cover depicts a heavy blizzard. Or was I right in my first intuition? For this is a cosmic story as well as everyman’s journey.
Sadly, I have had little sympathy to spare for the troubles of investment bankers, males who have closed down their marriages, family, friends, even their own bodies but thankfully Savarese does. He skillfully evokes page-turning interest in his main character’s plight: the pit so many modern men, and their families, struggle with in today’s news, alienation, hard-heartedness, allurement of more and more money and things. The modern allegory we see living out before our eyes, read in Grisham, Updike and Cheever. Actually getting lost drunk in a snowstorm seems just right for this character as he had turned himself, all unknowing, into a man of snow, an iron man in the worst sense of the words.
But then the beauty and glory of the inner world opens before his eyes as the body shuts down. The traditional life review begins to manifest on the inner screen of his consciousness. As a Hospice Chaplain, I know this phenomena occurs: the past flashes by, regrets for youthful parents, playmates, brothers, significant others, many aged or dead, but seen in their prime. Just a regular Joe, dying alone, outside a bar in a heavy snowstorm.
Then the magic of the book starts: as a child he had three gifts: extraordinary dreams, his mother, and eventually the guidance of a mystical forest woman. From then on, I loved the book. Some authors choose, and it is a choice, to start hard and tough. Others aim for the beauty right away. This book is like an excitingly brutal football game, which millions of fans want. But after the win, what is the cost? The emotional cost to partners, family, friends, the player? That’s what trained journalist Savarese is examining in this quest novel. The impossibly high cost of material success and the extraordinary help and succor that is available, even if unasked. It takes vulnerability to get through our society’s normal barriers to the light-filled place. But that place within has been unwinding all along. When it is time to notice that, events cooperate.
The Opening is an excellent read, with its sharp eyed look at the modern male dilemma. But we are not alone on this Earth, men do find the right women, the lost find guides and, above all, our friends are there for us. No matter what. I knew this would be a great book when I read the opening Rumi: When I die, I will soar with the angels, And when I die to the angels, What I shall become, You cannot imagine.
Rev. Garnette Arledge is the author of On Angels Eve, making the most of your final time together and Wise Secrets of Aloha.
July 20, 2012
I thought this was an excellent book. When a middle aged man falls into a snow cave, and nearly dies, he hovers in that place between life and death and learns some hard truths about himself.
February 25, 2012
Joe St. John is dying in an ice cave. As he slowly fades away, his past comes to haunt him.
I think this story is as much as about the main character, Joe St. John's, decisions as it is about the character's cousin, Albert. I made the mistake of ignoring Albert. It was easy to do. Albert is portrayed as someone to be ignored. I read the book and was intrigued by a laundry list of missed opportunities by Joe through out his life. Joe made a lot of bad decisions like we all have but Joe is afforded an opportunity to look back and see the weight of his words and choices.
Through Joe reflections we see Albert there, woven in like a thread in a seemingly random fashion. It's not. Savarese constructed a tale with purpose and forethought. The character, Joe, is bombarded with regret and remorse until the final pages where he seeks the ultimate redemption. Lo and behold, Albert returns to the story and ties the entire reason for Joe's trip into the past into a perfect, neat and beautiful bow and presented to me for my approval. Approve, I do. My mind was blown.
I really liked this book. I liked how every word had value and was wonderfully cashed in at the very end as beautiful literary treasure.
I think this story is as much as about the main character, Joe St. John's, decisions as it is about the character's cousin, Albert. I made the mistake of ignoring Albert. It was easy to do. Albert is portrayed as someone to be ignored. I read the book and was intrigued by a laundry list of missed opportunities by Joe through out his life. Joe made a lot of bad decisions like we all have but Joe is afforded an opportunity to look back and see the weight of his words and choices.
Through Joe reflections we see Albert there, woven in like a thread in a seemingly random fashion. It's not. Savarese constructed a tale with purpose and forethought. The character, Joe, is bombarded with regret and remorse until the final pages where he seeks the ultimate redemption. Lo and behold, Albert returns to the story and ties the entire reason for Joe's trip into the past into a perfect, neat and beautiful bow and presented to me for my approval. Approve, I do. My mind was blown.
I really liked this book. I liked how every word had value and was wonderfully cashed in at the very end as beautiful literary treasure.
February 12, 2012
Author Ron Savarese’s novel, The Opening, is a wonderful story of redemption, forgiveness, and awakening to the healing power of love.
The main character is reeling from a string of bad investments and his wife’s battle with cancer. All he wants is a little peace. But the only place he’s been able to find it is at the bottom of a bourbon bottle.
After a night of hard drinking with some old high school buddies, Joe stumbles out into a howling blizzard too inebriated to realize he shouldn’t attempt the walk to his cousin’s home.
A child’s voice coming from inside the storm, and a fateful misstep, lead the emotionally bereft St. John headlong into an epic, luminous, and extraordinary journey of self-discovery and redemption. Will Joe St. John save his own life or give it up for someone he loves? Read it to find out!
I read it straight through.
The main character is reeling from a string of bad investments and his wife’s battle with cancer. All he wants is a little peace. But the only place he’s been able to find it is at the bottom of a bourbon bottle.
After a night of hard drinking with some old high school buddies, Joe stumbles out into a howling blizzard too inebriated to realize he shouldn’t attempt the walk to his cousin’s home.
A child’s voice coming from inside the storm, and a fateful misstep, lead the emotionally bereft St. John headlong into an epic, luminous, and extraordinary journey of self-discovery and redemption. Will Joe St. John save his own life or give it up for someone he loves? Read it to find out!
I read it straight through.
February 6, 2012
I would place this book somewhere between "What Dreams May Come," "The Five People you Meet in Heaven," and "The Celestine Prophesy." I'm still processing the book (as this type of book often calls for a lot of processing time), so all I can say is that the material presented to me, touched me. I liked it enough to tell many people to read it before I had reached the halfway point in the story. I have a lot of opinions and thoughts on the material presented in The Opening, but my thoughts are not going to matter to another reader. Read it and take from it what you will.
December 17, 2019
Live or pass on?
This story centers on a man who has become disenchanted with life and his family. When he is injured he drifts between life and death reliving his past and seeing a different view of what he thought was true and realizes he saw not what was; but , what he wanted to see.
This story centers on a man who has become disenchanted with life and his family. When he is injured he drifts between life and death reliving his past and seeing a different view of what he thought was true and realizes he saw not what was; but , what he wanted to see.
September 7, 2017
Very enlightening
When I got this book I didn't know what to expect. It was a page turner that's for sure. It makes you think about what death has in store for you. If you read The Shack this book will be just as good
When I got this book I didn't know what to expect. It was a page turner that's for sure. It makes you think about what death has in store for you. If you read The Shack this book will be just as good
August 6, 2018
A Wonderful Book!
An Absolutely Wonderful Book! I wish there would be a sequel. I will recommend this book to everyone I know.
An Absolutely Wonderful Book! I wish there would be a sequel. I will recommend this book to everyone I know.
December 29, 2011
I had a lot of issues with this book. First off, the grammar is pretty good and the spelling is, for the most part, fine as well. But the sentences...eek. Broken sentences just aren't my thing, and even though I know that I type and talk in broken sentences, if I was writing a book I would make sure THE ENTIRE BOOK was not composed of the same sentence structure. There were also a lot of cliches used, making the book less enjoyable because it's less original. The mixture between the cliches and the sentence structure contributed to how juvenile the storytelling felt. I didn't feel like this was an older author who wrote the book, I felt like it was something I would have come up with in 5th grade, especially with every little detail like, "The sun is shining and the sky is blue and the fresh fallen snow is pure white." The dialogue was awkward and formal, and everyone had the exact same dialect! Not fun. The biggest issue I had with the book, however, was the stories within the story; it was confusing and just aggravating, really. The other thing that was aggravating? The whole story was melodramatic and unrealistic. If the author wanted a story to be all mystical and whatnot, he could have made the language, the story, even more mystical instead of hindering that and making the story out like it is a regular drama. I also thought there were a lot of places the author could have added humor or even horror to. But nope, we get the same monotonous tone throughout the book. The one last thing I just have to comment on: What was up with naming the chapters the same thing over and over again? I understand we are supposed to believe the main character is having flashbacks or whatever, but there really is no need to name five chapters "The Light Place."
Edit: I'm sorry, the author was apparently extremely unhappy with my review. I do take the blame for misquoting the author, so I took the time to insert the exact quote from the book. I think it's pretty immature for an author to attack a reviewer online, especially since I took the time to read the book and that my opinion does not necessarily account for everyone else, I was simply stating what I thought.
Edit: I'm sorry, the author was apparently extremely unhappy with my review. I do take the blame for misquoting the author, so I took the time to insert the exact quote from the book. I think it's pretty immature for an author to attack a reviewer online, especially since I took the time to read the book and that my opinion does not necessarily account for everyone else, I was simply stating what I thought.
January 10, 2012
Life is always about choices. In Ron Savarese's debut novel "The Opening" his lead character makes some poor ones. Many times throughout the course of his life Joe St. John chooses bourbon over intimacy and success over personal relationships. But a choice in the past does not prohibit change in the now. With awareness and spiritual attunement the opportunity for redemption and soaring with angels is possible.
As the novel opens we learn of Joe's "appointment with death" early on. A drunken stumble in a snowstorm leads him into a life-threatening situation. From here, a near death type of experience ensues as the author deftly moves us back and forth through time. From his near frozen state in a snow cave, the story of Joe's life magically unfolds--his psychic abilities as a young man, his training with a spiritual teacher, his refusal to remain dedicated to the power of his own awakened nature, and the choices...all the choices.
As the book concludes, I have to admit I'm unclear whether Joe actually lives or dies. At least I'm uncertain what happens to the physical part of Joe. But I know for a fact that his spiritual self is alive and well...and that my own spirit was touched along the way.
As the novel opens we learn of Joe's "appointment with death" early on. A drunken stumble in a snowstorm leads him into a life-threatening situation. From here, a near death type of experience ensues as the author deftly moves us back and forth through time. From his near frozen state in a snow cave, the story of Joe's life magically unfolds--his psychic abilities as a young man, his training with a spiritual teacher, his refusal to remain dedicated to the power of his own awakened nature, and the choices...all the choices.
As the book concludes, I have to admit I'm unclear whether Joe actually lives or dies. At least I'm uncertain what happens to the physical part of Joe. But I know for a fact that his spiritual self is alive and well...and that my own spirit was touched along the way.
February 28, 2012
Joe is a very hard worker. He really wants to make sure he always has money for him and his family. The problem is, it's costing him valuable time with family and friends. His wife is fighting cancer, two kids in college, one in high school and for Joe a mid-life crisis. Joe begins to drink to much and to often. He's never really there for the family or his wife. His answer is to throw money at the problem. Joe grew up poor, lost his family young and learned money makes the world go around.. or does it? While visiting family at Christmas, Joe has an experience most only hear or read about. It could possibly change his whole outlook on life and the world around him.
Eskimo Proverb: Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven, where the love of our lost ones pours through, and shines down upon us to let us know they're happy.
A book that takes you through one man's life and shows him and us that the things we think are important are only a part of life. They aren't the most important things. It shows the lengths heaven will go to, to show you where you went wrong and how to fix it. It's moving, educational and a terrific read.
I found nothing wrong with this one.
Eskimo Proverb: Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven, where the love of our lost ones pours through, and shines down upon us to let us know they're happy.
A book that takes you through one man's life and shows him and us that the things we think are important are only a part of life. They aren't the most important things. It shows the lengths heaven will go to, to show you where you went wrong and how to fix it. It's moving, educational and a terrific read.
I found nothing wrong with this one.
February 5, 2012
The main character may not be the easiest one to warm up to, but may be worth the attempt. The reader meets Joe with a life that he doesn't seem to like and when he stumbles around, drunk, in a snow storm the reader will know that he/she will struggle with Joe's character. Joe is on the prickly side and does not appreciate what he has; he feels stuck in his life. The author focuses almost exclusively on Joe and his life rather than on any other characters and the reader will get to know him well.
As the snow storm continues, Joe reflects on his life, both current and past. He acknowledges certain truths and begins to understand himself better. The reader will find this an interesting and somewhat confusing journey. Joe will see that life is not all about careers and success, but that he should have placed a little more worth in personal friendships and relationships. The conclusion will leave the ending shrouded in mystery, but the reader will have to pick up this book to uncover what actually occurs. This book is recommended to adult readers.
January 9, 2012
This fictional book presents one more perspective on a final choice between life and death by the author. The chapters are short, making this a pretty quick read. It takes a few chapters before the reader is able to figure out the flow of the book. It would be a nice one for a book study. A discussion guide is also available.
February 17, 2012
I liked this book. It was only 240 pages which made it a quick read. It is about a guy that gets stuck "in between". He is stuck in between life and death and has visions of Heaven while also trying to fight for his life.
June 4, 2012
This was not really any better than just ok as far as I'm concerned. A man who was basically good but who has made some unfortunate decisions regarding his life is faced with the possibility of his death.
January 23, 2021
So many choices in life. So many other outcomes - ripples in a pond. The time between life and death, so short but endless. I had tears as he journeys to the past and finds the love that was there. I hope when it is my turn I get to meet everyone at my celebration. Well written!
April 15, 2012
Quick read that is a great reminder to not forget what is really important.
Want to read
October 27, 2012$0.0
April 10, 2013
Not horrible but not great. The end was strange....kinda weird new-agey stuff. The journey was interesting but strange.
September 1, 2015
Good read
Definitely kept my interest. I am interested in the adventure of crossing over. A bit of "It's a wonderful life".
Definitely kept my interest. I am interested in the adventure of crossing over. A bit of "It's a wonderful life".
November 9, 2016
I'm trying to figure out if he lived or died.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews