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reflections: a journey of transformation
Accused, threatened, homeless, and hunted, Afarin leaves behind her life as she knows it, the life she has worked so hard to build, and goes to the woods to take refuge in the wilderness. Now, she has to learn to survive, and learn she does.
This book is a memoir about the author's four years in the woods: how she makes sense of the events of her life, how she demystifies words, and how her transformation catches her by surprise.
This book is a memoir about the author's four years in the woods: how she makes sense of the events of her life, how she demystifies words, and how her transformation catches her by surprise.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 28, 2023
I loved reading this book!!! It is well written, meaningful, regularly accompanied by relevant quotes of prominent personalities and philosphers!
We're following the author, Afarin Rava, who is also the main character and a beautiful, courageous woman in her quest for a new life. Alone with her three dogs, surrounded by the forest, she struggles to rise above adversity; it's like a revival! And we're given a chance to accompany her! It's brilliant! A beautiful experience!
We're following the author, Afarin Rava, who is also the main character and a beautiful, courageous woman in her quest for a new life. Alone with her three dogs, surrounded by the forest, she struggles to rise above adversity; it's like a revival! And we're given a chance to accompany her! It's brilliant! A beautiful experience!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2022
Perhaps some readers will find this a cheerless memoir. I, however, found it to be an uplifting read. In the face of much adversity, Afarin Rava leaves her known world of convenience to seek peace away from a corrupt society. She accepts a monastic kind of existence, living alone close to Nature and in the company of three little dogs. She is undaunted by the new challenges she encounters day by day in a wilderness cabin. She finds her newly purchased home unsatisfactory due to many hostile and calamitous inequities in the property. In others words, she has been duped, but she does she throw in the towel? Absolutely not! Instead she stalwartly takes on the task of building the style of cabin she imagined she’d purchased.
Even here, away from city life she encounters neighbors with their own agenda and not very kind of helpful. One she refers to as a pyromaniac—and in the woods this is extremely dangerous. One neighbor she hires to assist her with the more difficult electrical and plumbing tasks—and he leaves her high and dry. Is there weeping and gnashing of teeth in store for her? Absolutely not. She hires a handyman to finish the job.
I found the protagonist of her own story to be a courageous, indefatigable, and resourceful human being. I congratulate her on her challenging feat of not only building the cabin she envisions, wants and needs, but also documenting her trials and errors, reflecting on them in this memoir. Moreover, she expresses gratitude for each and every opportunity. She is grateful for all that comes her way—good or bad.
If you read no other book this year, be sure to read this one.
Even here, away from city life she encounters neighbors with their own agenda and not very kind of helpful. One she refers to as a pyromaniac—and in the woods this is extremely dangerous. One neighbor she hires to assist her with the more difficult electrical and plumbing tasks—and he leaves her high and dry. Is there weeping and gnashing of teeth in store for her? Absolutely not. She hires a handyman to finish the job.
I found the protagonist of her own story to be a courageous, indefatigable, and resourceful human being. I congratulate her on her challenging feat of not only building the cabin she envisions, wants and needs, but also documenting her trials and errors, reflecting on them in this memoir. Moreover, she expresses gratitude for each and every opportunity. She is grateful for all that comes her way—good or bad.
If you read no other book this year, be sure to read this one.
June 16, 2022
A GIFT TO ANY READER
As always, Afarin gives a candid account in this second memoir. Her journey brings to light the horrifying results of lying, brutality, missing integrity, and loss. When opening her book, the reader is with her and experiences the myriad emotions, struggles, then victory of this brave, brilliant author. What would have diminished if not killed the average soul, Afarin chooses and shines a light on the unique path worthy of following. This memoir is worth repeated reading, as it is a gift to any reader.
As always, Afarin gives a candid account in this second memoir. Her journey brings to light the horrifying results of lying, brutality, missing integrity, and loss. When opening her book, the reader is with her and experiences the myriad emotions, struggles, then victory of this brave, brilliant author. What would have diminished if not killed the average soul, Afarin chooses and shines a light on the unique path worthy of following. This memoir is worth repeated reading, as it is a gift to any reader.
November 16, 2022
Reflections is about Author Afarin Rava's journey as she starts a new life in the woods. You get the sense rather than fleeing something she has chosen to leave something momentous behind. A memory that caused her a lot of pain. All through the memoir we gradually see little revelations about what exactly went down in her past. It is clear that it is a painful subject to the author and it almost destroyed her, having lost her reputation, her job, her possessions, her goodwill and her entire life.
As Afarin shares glimpses of her interactions with her neighbors, her realtor, a couple passing by we see how cruel, thoughtless and selfish people can be. She doesn't try to sugar coat the interactions often leaving us with a less than positive impression of the people surrounding her.
What I loved about the book was the dauntless way she goes about building a cottage, seeking help where she needs it. Building a home is a huge step but once she decides to do so she just plunges forward- no doubts and reservations. Afarin is a an unusual woman, all through out her challenges and her problems she never stops expressing gratitude for the bad that comes with the good. She knows and accepts that the people who come into her life are always leaving her with life lessons and making her stronger along the way and for that she appreciates them. Usually I'm reluctant to read memoirs but the narration style of the author makes this an engaging read and at no point is the reader left bored but rather there is a sense of curiosity as to what will happen next. Great job Afarin Rava! If I had to describe Reflections in one line I would say it is a wonderful memoir about the resilience of a woman.
As Afarin shares glimpses of her interactions with her neighbors, her realtor, a couple passing by we see how cruel, thoughtless and selfish people can be. She doesn't try to sugar coat the interactions often leaving us with a less than positive impression of the people surrounding her.
What I loved about the book was the dauntless way she goes about building a cottage, seeking help where she needs it. Building a home is a huge step but once she decides to do so she just plunges forward- no doubts and reservations. Afarin is a an unusual woman, all through out her challenges and her problems she never stops expressing gratitude for the bad that comes with the good. She knows and accepts that the people who come into her life are always leaving her with life lessons and making her stronger along the way and for that she appreciates them. Usually I'm reluctant to read memoirs but the narration style of the author makes this an engaging read and at no point is the reader left bored but rather there is a sense of curiosity as to what will happen next. Great job Afarin Rava! If I had to describe Reflections in one line I would say it is a wonderful memoir about the resilience of a woman.
July 29, 2022
I looked forward to reading Reflections: A Journey of Transformation, by Afarin Rava. Her earlier memoir, Languages & Life Lessons, shared with readers her life growing up in a family that moved often, not to another part of a town or state but to new countries with new languages and cultures. She intersperses these memories with lessons she learned.
Her new book Reflections is a continuation of her life. And it’s not always joyful. She starts with her journey from California, where she had been teaching at a college and teaching English to inmates, through Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and finally to Arkansas. There she has purchased a small cabin on a piece of land. Her encounter with an Arkansas state trooper is a harbinger of what she will experience in the next few years: dishonest real estate agents, dishonest neighbors, and so on.
A reflection follows each chapter. It’s in the reflections that we read the story of what caused her to leave California. The story is at times shocking, scary, and maddening with the injustice involved.
But Afarin perseveres. As she—yes, SHE herself—rebuilds the cabin she purchased and then builds—yes, SHE herself—a brand-new cabin because the first is too damaged to repair, she also rebuilds her life, at all times grateful for what she has, even in the midst of questioning the nightmare she lived in California.
This is an astounding book of one woman’s ability to turn what could have left her a victim into a life of success and gratitude. I highly recommend it to all. And I look forward to reading part 3 of Afarin’s amazing life.
Her new book Reflections is a continuation of her life. And it’s not always joyful. She starts with her journey from California, where she had been teaching at a college and teaching English to inmates, through Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and finally to Arkansas. There she has purchased a small cabin on a piece of land. Her encounter with an Arkansas state trooper is a harbinger of what she will experience in the next few years: dishonest real estate agents, dishonest neighbors, and so on.
A reflection follows each chapter. It’s in the reflections that we read the story of what caused her to leave California. The story is at times shocking, scary, and maddening with the injustice involved.
But Afarin perseveres. As she—yes, SHE herself—rebuilds the cabin she purchased and then builds—yes, SHE herself—a brand-new cabin because the first is too damaged to repair, she also rebuilds her life, at all times grateful for what she has, even in the midst of questioning the nightmare she lived in California.
This is an astounding book of one woman’s ability to turn what could have left her a victim into a life of success and gratitude. I highly recommend it to all. And I look forward to reading part 3 of Afarin’s amazing life.
November 17, 2023
Absolutely delightful & insightful memoir.
In “Reflections” Ms. Rava shares her story of hardship, sacrifice, and new beginnings with humor, sincerity, and humaneness. Through her beautiful writings, the author reveals her deepening commitment to forgiveness about situations that brought her to where she is now. In turn, this forgiveness starts to melt a shell that has been in place around the author for protection.
As the author reveals more details of her past struggles, I, as the reader, started to feel like a trusted confidant as I read this beautiful memoir. This is an author I would love to have tea with and share silence as we drank our tea. I believe it is in this silence that I would come to know the author’s deepest self: a soul that relishes silence and reflection. Afarin Rava possesses great resilience and has used this journey of forgiveness to plant the roots of a new life and new heart opening with independence and trust.
I honestly think this book is one of those amazing gems of a book that a reader can’t believe they didn’t find sooner. The writer’s life journey expresses the learning and trust of the profound lesson that what is needed appears with its own divine timing. I feel every reader will find this book at the divine correct time and breathe deeply into the remembrance of gratitude that the author tenderly conveys.
In “Reflections” Ms. Rava shares her story of hardship, sacrifice, and new beginnings with humor, sincerity, and humaneness. Through her beautiful writings, the author reveals her deepening commitment to forgiveness about situations that brought her to where she is now. In turn, this forgiveness starts to melt a shell that has been in place around the author for protection.
As the author reveals more details of her past struggles, I, as the reader, started to feel like a trusted confidant as I read this beautiful memoir. This is an author I would love to have tea with and share silence as we drank our tea. I believe it is in this silence that I would come to know the author’s deepest self: a soul that relishes silence and reflection. Afarin Rava possesses great resilience and has used this journey of forgiveness to plant the roots of a new life and new heart opening with independence and trust.
I honestly think this book is one of those amazing gems of a book that a reader can’t believe they didn’t find sooner. The writer’s life journey expresses the learning and trust of the profound lesson that what is needed appears with its own divine timing. I feel every reader will find this book at the divine correct time and breathe deeply into the remembrance of gratitude that the author tenderly conveys.
August 9, 2024
Afarin Rava's book, reflections: a journey of transformation, is a thoughtful and astonishing memoir of parallel triumphs; one of spirit, and one of concrete and nails. To escape persecution and save her life, Rava moves into a shoddy and almost uninhabitable remote cabin where she simultaneously builds a new foundation for her own self, and for that of a new home. Through steadfast forgiveness and gratitude, hard work, and acts of grit and bravery, Afarin becomes the sage carpenter she was always destined to be. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I am in awe of this author.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews