The Goddess Letters

by Vicki Matthews

WINNER 2013 New York Book Festival
FINALIST 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards

The dreams hold Selena prisoner. Without warning they carry her to bloody battles, a chat with Socrates, or the gardens of an ancient goddess who reveals the truth of women’s betrayal. Then Selena is returned to her bed where it often takes days to recover.

The blessing in Selena’s life is Rob. He has loved her since their college days in Chicago, yet even he isn’t sure if his outspoken girlfriend is crazy, some kind of prophet, or an idiosyncratic mixture of both. But before Rob can decide, the dreams create chaos and he soon finds himself married to Becca in Chicago, while Selena lives in LA, now a popular actress. All Rob has left is an occasional exchange of letters with his lost love.

Years later, Selena and Rob’s lives collide when the dreams reunite them in horrifying nightmares controlled by Jacobi, who will kill to maintain the patriarchal world he helped create. But Selena has learned a staggering truth that could help women claim cultural equality, and despite Jacobi’s potent threats, she considers sharing all she knows. Yet can one woman make a difference in a world on the edge?

The Goddess Letters is a tale of love and cultural crisis that celebrates heroes and unlikely visionaries. A testament to passion of all kinds, it honors those who have the courage to fight for the old, be it love, beliefs, or entire civilizations.

340 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2012

About the author

Vicki Matthews is an author, teacher, and naturopathic physician passionate about re-establishing balance at all levels of life. She has been an outspoken advocate for alternative healing and spiritual pursuits most of her adult life, and has appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show twice to share aspects of this message. She is also the author of the award-winning novel, The Goddess Letters, which addresses cultural imbalances in our world.

Reviews

[Ingrid Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in first person and somewhat surprisingly told through the eyes of "Rob" The Goddess Letters is a love story spanning several decades and would have worked perfectly well had it simply been a love story...

First up, those of you who have read many of my reviews will know that I have a leaning and preference towards stories that are written in first person as opposed to third because I feel that first person narrative is the best way to get into a character's head. So I was excited when I first started reading this book and intrigued that it was also being told from the male point of view. That excitement if I am totally honest, soon gave way to frustration as I couldn't, in the beginning connect with Rob. It seemed (initially at least) that it was blatantly a female writer attempting to get into a male head and not quite succeeding. I was also ranting to myself that surely this would have been SO much better had it been told through the eyes of Selina, seeing as Selina was the one having all of the dreams and the visions and I found myself mentally berating the author for wasting such a golden opportunity!

HOWEVER and thankfully there is a however, by the time I got mid-way through the book, I started to realise that what the author had done was actually quite clever. Selina WOULD have been the logical choice, however by writing through the eyes of Rob, Vicki Matthews was fully able to explore the issues which define this book to spectacular effect.

Let me back track a little...Selina who by the end of the novel is a world famous Hollywood actress has been having these dreams, these nightmares since her college days with Rob. Without giving too much away they involve a sinister Atlantean (ish) character called Jacobi who is hell bent on preserving the Patriarchal society which he has created and which Selina, an ardent feminist has been railing against and attempting to change. I loved her interactions with Danu, the Celtic Goddess and also liked Rob's strong non-religious beliefs as they were the perfect vehicle for the author to explore the controversial issues around why the bible was "really" written, something that I have touched briefly upon in my own novel. I also thought that his marriage to Becca whilst seriously flawed and passionless was realistically portrayed.

I did feel that there was at times a distance in the writing that I wish hadn't been there and Selena's dreams whilst clearly described were a little too clinical and just weren't interactive enough for me. I wanted to be "there" at "that" stoning. I wanted to see it, watch it, feel the emotion and break my heart over it.

Overall, this is a well told story, dealing with the struggles and injustices that women have been experiencing since the beginning of time. We do, like it or not still live in a patriarchal society and I would recommend that people read the book and reflect upon whether or not there are changes that they can make...

You can find me at www.ingridhall.com

[Roses Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob wants his life to mean something. His family doesn't come from the best part of town and hopes to leave someday. His chance comes in the form of a man named John Pine who tells him if he's willing to commit himself and go to college he will pay for the entire thing. Rob decides it's an offer he cannot refuse so he accepts. Rob applies himself and graduates later moving on to Chicago to further his studies as an Economist. It's here in college that he meets Selena. Selena's parents sent her away from California to attend college to keep her away from her friends they don't like and her boyfriend. Selena doesn't have much of a choice so she applies herself as much as possible and embraces college life.

Rob has liked Selena since the beginning, but Selena has a boyfriend so for a long time he's content to just be her friend. They do a lot of things together, hang out, study, etc. That's when the dreams start. Selena has dreams that are so realistic that she can remember everything that has happened to her and one time even woke up with a bruise on her that came from inside the dream. Rob does the only thing he can, he comforts her and holds her while she sobs uncontrollably. Slowly as time goes by, Rob and Selena grow even closer and when she breaks things off with her boyfriend Rob takes the chance and makes his move. Selena and Rob understand one another. While he doesn't think her dreams are real and that she's in serious need of some help, he continues to support her and even suggests that she write her dreams down. The interesting thing about her dreams? They are all historical dreams. They are not random dreams, they appear to be dreams with a purpose, some sort of message in them. But what that message is neither of them can begin to imagine what that might be.

Selena and Rob grow even closer as they approach graduation, moving in with one another and upon graduation decide to get married. But life ends up getting in the way for this happy couple. Selena is offered the job of a lifetime to act in a movie and she takes off for California to pursue her dreams. Selena ends up getting cast in a film that will take place overseas so she takes off leaving Rob behind for months and a big fight prior to her leaving. Distraught and alone with no girlfriend, he runs into his friend from back home in Texas, Eddie. Eddie keeps Rob company and eventually introduces Rob to his relative Becca. Becca and Rob begin to see one another and he finds in her comfort that he lost when Selena took off. One thing leads to another and Rob finds himself with a woman pregnant with his child and a girlfriend he must now break up with. Selena knows she must let him go, so she walks away, leaving Rob to marry Becca and give birth to their daughter Meg.

Rob has learned to bury his broken heart deep within, immersing himself into his marriage and life as a father. But Rob has never forgotten Selena. Selena continues to become a rising star, making quite a name for herself staring in films of a controversial nature. He doesn't hear from her for a long time, but one day sitting in his University office he finds a letter from Selena requesting her records of her dreams she wrote down for him. This causes Rob and Selena to begin to communicate back and forth through mail and phone in secret. The letters go on for years as their lives develop apart, but for Rob his feelings for Selena have never died. When Selena starts having the dreams again and Rob starts having versions of his own, they can't help but think that there is really something going on. They eventually stop ignoring the signs with the immersion of Jacobi who wants to kill Selena and those she loves to get her to stop staring in films that give other women cause to believe that their lives have purpose outside of the house. Can either Selena or Rob stop Jacobi before he kills someone they love or one of the two of them?

This book was interesting right from the start. With all the dreams that Selena was experiencing and things from the dreams bleeding over into real life when she awakes, it was easy to get hooked to this story. This book showed the pain and heartache that Rob experienced in the twenty years that they are apart and write letters back and forth. I especially loved the letters and dreams that Selena wrote about. It really gave you insight into what she was thinking and experiencing since the story is told in Rob's point of view and not hers. Compelling story that was thoroughly enjoyable, 5 stars!

***Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for a honest review***

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob meets Selena when they are both attending the University of Chicago. Rob is studying economics. Selena is struggling with the course she is taking so he tutors her. She is from a wealthy family from California and has a boyfried there. Selena has realistic dreams that leave her shaken. She feels like the dreams are real and there is a message for her in them. Rob thinks she is reading too much into the dreams. When Selena and her boyfriend break up she and Rob start seeing each other. They move in together. They grow closer. Rob has bought a ring and plans to propose but things get in the way. Selena is offered a part in a movie. She is on set for awhile and Rob goes to a bar with a friend of his named Eddie. Eddie introduces Rob to his cousin Becca who Rob starts seeing. He realizes that he has to break things off with Becca because he truly loves Selena when Becca tells him that she is pregnant.

This is a love story between two people who truly love each other but are unable to be together. It is also about Selena's dreams who influence her life. She understands that it is important for society to embrace our gentler side to have a balance. I think what makes the book so interesting is that it is told from Rob's point of view. I received this book as a free book from Goodreads.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads giveaways.

I won't be harsh with this review because ultimately the writing style just isn't for me. This was the fist narrative style book I've read, I have to admit I am not fond of it. It reminds me of a Grandparent telling you a story you don't want to hear, a lot of things you don't care about dispersed with a handful of interesting tidbits that keep you listening.

I will say that the main story was good and different from anything I've read before. I enjoyed all the different takes on religious views and the yin and yang aspect of society. I loved the hint of a happy ending too, but as a whole I'm just not a fan.
I didn't understand the random choices of description in odd places like how Becca made certain things or what snack Rob was going for, while other parts seemed to lack the description necessary.

Over all its an interesting read with a lot of engrossing fact about women throughout history, faith and life as a whole.

[Mariam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Goddess Letters is one of those captivating novels that have you staying up all night reading, glued to the book! I most definitely admired the pace at which the novel progressed: explicit detail, nothing too sudden, and most importantly, a satisfying story that keeps the readers constantly curious! Honestly, I tend to steer away from any novel that even slightly brings up the topic of religion, however, The Goddess Letters was rather subtle around the religious area and introduced new ideas to the story rather than a positive or negative outlook underlying religion. I have to admit, the last few chapters had me holding my breath, but that is precisely what makes the read more enjoyable. Needless to say, The Goddess Letters, has a very satisfying conclusion that I applaud Ms. Matthews for. Overall, it was a brilliant novel and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling read.

[Cindycohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers an eye-opening message about the need for balance in our world which has essentially forgotten the significance of the feminine influence.
The best part of this book is that the author has managed to weave that underlying message into a compelling love story that is engaging from beginning to end.
Through time travel sequences in her dreams, the main character, Selena, is guided through a fascinating journey of historical times and events that punctuate the dangers and realities of our overly patriarchal world. Characters in the dreams reveal to her how she can help the world reclaim balance.
The author has listed an impressive bibliography, and has drawn from historical facts that I found surprising, and in most cases was simply not aware of.
Not at all surprising that this book has been winning so many awards.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Goddess Letters is a timely, spiritually significant love story that captures the reader and takes him/her on a journey not only through the history of the main characters (Rob and Selena), but throughout the history of civilization(s). The book is easy to read and flows extremely well. It is a feel-good book with a powerful message. Once you start reading it, you won't want to stop.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

blech.

I didn't even get halfway before I decided it wasn't worth continuing.

[Rachel Morton Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads. Thank you!

Overall this book was an interesting read. I felt that I really got to know the characters and wasn't ready for it to end.