Chasing Rumi: A Fable About Finding the Heart's True Desire

by Roger Housden

Inspired by the poetry of Rumi, the great Sufi mystic, a restless young man heads out on an epic voyage of the heart that takes him from the hills of Florence to the mosques of Konya, Turkey, and into the heart of religious mysticism.

Genres: Fiction, Spirituality, Religion

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Roger Housden is the author of some twenty books of non fiction, including the best selling Ten Poems series. His new book, SAVED BY BEAUTY: ADVENTURES OF AN AMERICAN ROMANTIC IN IRAN, comes out on May 17 2011 with Broadway Books.

Reviews

[James Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This is a fable about finding the heart's true desire and it is elegantly written with not a spare word. Moving fluidly from start to finish it connects directly with your consciousness in a way similar to music. Housden uses his past experiences as a leader of tours to sacred sites; we feel we are in the hands of a sensitive cartographer of the the world that Celtic mystics talk about. The author also gives a subtle and sensitive delineation of the mystical journey of the soul. Many readers will be intrigued by the fascinating links he makes between Sufism, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Divine Mother.
This is a love story that reaches into the depths of the heart while traversing the bounties of the imagination.

[TheBookishHobbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up on a whim at my local bookstore, what can I say, the cover intrigued me. I did like this story and found is rather whimsical. Not fantastic enough for five stars, but pleasant enough for me. It was fun to travel through Florence and Turkey, while also learning a little bit about different historical figures. I am also intrigued to read Rumi's poetry since I loved what was referenced!

Overall, I think this was a nice bedtime story to end my night with, and one I think other people would appreciate if they give it a chance. :) Quick, yet enchanting.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“he would go this time not as an adventurer, not as a curious traveler. nor would he go because he didn’t know what else to do. he would go because of that trembling. he would go because his heart said so, without needing the words to say why.”

a darling read about finding yourself and true happiness, imparting invaluable life lessons. moderately theoretical, highly cultural, and lost momentum at the end.

[Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Fable About Finding the Heart's True Desire" - this book reads fast, but has a lot of depth. Many chapters have bits of wisdom in them. Throughout the fable, exactly how much time has passed is not often mentioned; I think this is on purpose. The time it takes to be in touch with one's heart is different for every person. With how much COVID has changed my life in the past year, I am certainly on that journey of finding my place again. I enjoyed the read, but at times I didn't fully buy into the message that Housden is sharing. Perhaps, this is a book that I will come back to and get more out of in the future. Books have a way of coming back at the right time.

[DORET · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that needs to be read and then read again in order to obtain the full message. Even though it is considered fiction, the message is there and a drive toward meditation becomes stronger.

[Carolyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. So horrible. I feel badly for Rumi that he has tobe associated with this tale.

[Frotsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story following in the footsteps of Rumi, a quest for the meaning of life. A lot of depth in a small package with few words. Certainly worth a read.

[Dion Yulianto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pemuda itu tinggal di kota terindah di Eropa, memiliki pekerjaan yang disukai sekaligus menjamin kehidupannya, serta dia dapat bekerja sekaligus mencari pahala. Georgiou ini pelukis orang-orang suci dalam ajaran Katholik ngomong-ngomong. Semua keindahan duniawi itu ternyata belum mampu menerbitkan kepuasan batin dalam diri si pemuda. “Betatapun indahnya dunia, tak ada satu pun yang mampu mengisi semua kehampaan ini,” keluhnya. Hatinya tersentil ketika temannya membacakan satu petikan dari syair karya Rumi. Nama yang asing, yang baru pertama kali didengarnya. Tetapi dari syair yang dibacakan Andros, temannya, pemuda itu mulai menemukan tanda-tanda bahwa kepada Rumilah hatinya akan menemukan jawaban dari segala pertanyaannya. “Keinginanmu tidak akan selalu bisa diwujudkan sesuai rencana. Yang bisa kau perbuat hanyalah mengikuti suara hatimu,” kata Andros.

Selengkapnya di https://dionyulianto.blogspot.co.id/2...

[Ana Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buena lectura para los que leemos a Rumi un para invitar a otros lectoras que lean a este magnífico poeta sufí.

[AHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love It so much.

[Lee F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially in this word...so calming

[Ivana Amidzic]

We don't really feel deprived until we are close.

[Rohit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cheap copy of The Alchemist

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short book. Can be read in a day, but I read it in two.

Chasing Rumi is similar to The Alchemist in that a young man gets wanderlust in the realm of spiritual truths. Although the story had already been played (I prefer Coelho's Alchemist), Housden snuck in a rather interesting Sufi technique: Drawing one's attention to the heart through the breath.

If meditation is our practice and we've gotten 'good enough' to be in a perpetual meditative state, then lots of wacky stuff starts to happen if we stay concentrated there. Stillness in movement, silence within sound, and all that jazz.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could feel where Georgiou was when I allowed it to happen. The book has moved me forward, not through it's depth or Roger Housden's literary prowess necessarily, but by reminding me of something I have allowed to dissipate. That's it really, it has reignited my desire for true beauty, reminded me of the truth that is. There is so much more than what is here in front of our eyes. We just need to see.

I also like how this book came into my life, as it proves a prevalent point in the novel of how things happen in your life right when you need them and for a reason. That is pretty cool.

I'm all Zen now. :]

-Cara

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...bawa pikiranmu turun ke hati..."

buku tipis ini terselip di rak yang nyaris tidak terlihat saat dulu ditemukan..dan langsung saya beli. ternyata saya kembali membaca buku yang tepat sesuai mood kali ini, dengan beberapa bagian yang seolah berbicara pada saya. endingnya memang terkesan terlalu cepat. terlalu singkat. dengan beberapa point yang sebetulnya akan lebih menarik jika dikembangkan lebih jauh. tapi dilihat dari sisi ide dan tema, saya sudah cukup merasa dapat 'teman'. meski hanya lewat fiksi. it was decidedly worth reading.

[Meyps · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Coelho and his musings on taking on the road to self-discovery and following the heart's desires, you'll like this book too.

For me, this one's even better than Coelho's though because it's shorter, yet filled with just the right amount of details and peppered with bits of Islamic icon Jelaluddin Rumi's engaging poetry...

[Rah~ri · Rating 3 out of 5]

tag sale book
very quick reading
one night/sitting
cute story
could have been much longer and deeper
this is almost a very nicely thought out outline for a much fuller book
but would appeal to most folks attention spans around me
I liked it and have enjoyed thinking back on parts of it since i read it few days ago

now just sad. have no good books to read, or so it seems,
am sure it's a lazy lie.
But am wanting to just have time to sit with a book and ...

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this brief fable. This was the same philosophy as in Deepak Chopra's book- The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire : Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence. All emotion, all action stems from the outer oneness- be open to it and all works out. Also made me want to read Rumi. F2F Discussion group enjoyed it.

[Kate Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick story about a young man's journey to the tomb of Rumi, but more about his journey inward. The theology is blended from multiple religions, and the storyline highlights the significance of women as a bridge for the relationship to God. Definitely some summative lines that are worth remembering (or at least keeping the book for, for reference).

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I checked it out cuz it was a cute little book with a pretty cover. I learned about Sufism and Rumi and Turkey and art from this book. It's honestly not superior writing, but it's still a good plot, interesting setting, and a sweet story.

[Pam Kellim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book a long time. But, it wasn't til after reading a lot of other books that I was ready to read this one and grasp what it was about. I really enjoyed it a lot. I read it in a few hours.

[Shamsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book for someone looking for religious inspiration.

[Marvin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very earnest but ultimately silly New Agey story about a Greek living in Florence who goes on a spiritual journey through Greece & Turkey, visiting holy men (& one woman) who inspire him.

[Samar · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book is great till the moment Giorgiou reaches Shams' Tomb ...

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. Not the best in the "spiritual journey" genre, but not the worst either.

[Glenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time keeping my mind on this one. It started to make more sense closer to the end of the book, though. I was just too distracted during this read. Hard to read in an airline terminal.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and filled with wisdom.

[Farrahnanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saya baca buku ini pas SMA. udah agak lupa-lupa inget. Yang saya inget cuma efek; gila, ini buku susah gue pahamin. lol

[M Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading The Alchemist (Paolo Coelho), Learning to Walk in the Dark (Barbara Brown Taylor), and then this book, Chasing Rumi, in that order! So great!