Title: The Fellowship of the Saint
Author: Ali Hussain Al-Ridha
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 9781546286899
Pages: 108
Genre: Spirituality
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington
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Pacific Book Review
On the outskirts of Humbleton lies a beautiful wooden cottage. A cottage that translates the rays of the sun into poetic revelations houses a wise but very lonely man. After the sudden demise of The Saint’s wife, he could not find it in himself to join humanity. So, he sits in his beautiful cottage wallowing in loneliness. Drowning and slowly chipping away at his soul.The constituents of Humbleton can at least benefit from the wisdom of The Saint. He tells them about life, death and everything in between. They look to him for simplification of life’s complexities. Loneliness may be corroding his heart but through the deafening silence of it, he has found the meaning of things. Despite his deplorable existence, he has a lot of wisdom to impart.
Ali Hussain’s writing is simple and intricate all at the same time. It achieves a delicious balance between short cute sentences and warped ideas. He does this with expert artistry. He does not seek to condescend or lecture but rather have a meaningful conversation with the reader. His knowledge, intelligence, and passion for the subject matter are evident through his diction. Simplicity does not take away from the fact that this is a dense matter. The idea of presenting The Saint’s teachings through prose poetry is simply genius ad fresh.
This book is not meant for someone who seeks answers. Or, one who will follow advice blindly. It is a conversation. It is a discussion. It is meant for someone who already has ideas of their own but is looking to hear a different point of view. It is a direction on how to live life. It is not a religious roadmap to living. The reader should dive in with an open mind. It is not meant for a specific religious denomination either. It is about spiritualism.
“Grace is when God gives us relief whenever there is pain, serenity wherever there is fear and acceptance whenever the end is near” This is a beautiful and oh so apt view of things. It is life affirming and inspiring. From the arrangement of the words down to the sentiment, it is profound. Of everything The Saint says, this could very well be the most comforting. It does not give false hope. It directs you to find solace in reality. ‘The Fellowship of the Saint’ does a lot of that.
This book isn’t that many pages but it is substantial. It is a passionate and honest review of the quintessence of existence. It is insightful and beautifully written. It may reiterate life’s observations but does not repeat them. The Fellowship of the Saint is enjoyable and enlightening.
