This is the personal story of a Canadian woman who goes on an internal and external journey that brings her to the state of self-knowledge and self-acceptance. She comes to terms with her past of sexual abuse as well as dealing with her feelings about how women are treated in several Middle Eastern countries she visits.

This is a very visceral book as it deals with the author's personal feelings and experiences at a very deep level. Written in a memoir-style, the reader feels almost as though they are walking beside the author as silent witnesses to her life.

Both women and men will find great value in this book and will find themselves coming to terms with their own internal prejudices, feelings, and self-discoveries. It is not a book to be read quickly, as one section at a time will bring up more than enough feelings to ponder and release. This book will be especially valuable to women dealing with self-acceptance and abuse issues, as it could help them to put words to some of their feelings and experiences.

PAGE TURNERS

Circles in the Sand, E.J. Samadhi Whitehouse (Trafford): This deeply personal and engaging memoir documents one woman’s journey through the Middle East in a quest both spiritual and political. Her struggles to come out as a lesbian are mirrored back to her by witnessing other women she encounters struggling with their own oppression

Regional Magazine established 1990 Resources for Connecting, Healing & Awakening Freely distributed throughout BC & Alberta, Canada Priceless - 100% Canadian owned 23,000 - 30,000 copies at many locations.

Circles in the Sand

(June-July issue)

E.J. “Samadhi” Whitehouse • Trafford Publishing • ISBN 1-41204190-2 • $31.50
On first glancing through this book you may feel some mystification as to why
a woman who struggled with her identity, self-worth and a difficult past would
choose to travel in the Middle East, given what we generally know about the lives
of women there. When you read the book you will follow her through painful memories
and extraordinary experiences, come to appreciate the mosaic as she builds
it, and realize how putting the pieces together has brought her to the present.
Samadhi’s story is not a litany of woes, it is a strong story, fascinating and
emotional, and I will not tell you any more details for it is a book to read fresh and
let the impacts fall where they may. For women readers, you may find yourself
within the pages, to little or great extent; for some it will be piercingly painful, for
some it will be a validation of your own story, for some it will be an extraordinary
revelation of how we may travel far and wide (in the world and within ourselves),
and yet come home a courageous and inspiring survivor.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “poor” and 5 meaning “excellent,” the following has been evaluated for Circles in the Sand:

Structure & Organization:4
Grammar: 4.5
Cover Design: 4

Judge’s Commentary:
Ms. Whitehouse is a natural, very articulate, honest, sensitive, introspective writer, taking her almost unbelievable life experience and translating it into a genuine heartfelt memoir--which results in a real pageturner. Still young even after all those experiences, she has an authentic voice, which she no doubt will use in subsequent memoirs, books.

The reader is easily drawn straightaway into her story with a trip with her father, an incidident which sets the tone, purpose and direction of the book—a smart, wise, fast beginning. From there we travel with the author, often in disbelief at the abuse and lack of support from her family--which she must endure and work through. Ms. Whitehouse’s prose flows easily, evenly and is even lyrical at times.

An amazing story of abuse and recovery on her own. Personal memoirs have sold well in the last few years, so there is an audience for this book.

With a definite tale of abuse, there is also one of her adventures in the Middle East, which in itself is timely, per the need to know more about the Islam religion and Middle East cultures.