From critically acclaimed author and Pulitzer Prize runner-up Frederick
Buechner comes another powerfully honest memoir, The Eyes of the
Heart. Full of poinant insights into his most personal relationships,
this moving account traces how the author was shaped as much by his
family's secrets as by its celebrations.Within the innermost chambers of
his consciousness, Buechner, in his characteristically self-searching
style, explores the mysteries and truths behind his deepest connections
to family, friends, and mentors. Extraordinarily moving, this memoir
follows not chronology but the converging paths of Buechner's
imagination and memory.
Buechner invites us into his library-his own Magic Kingdom, Surrounded
by his beloved books and treasures, we discover how they serve as the
gateway to Buechner's mind and heart. He draws the reader into his
recollections, moving seamlessly from reminiscence to contemplation.
Buechner recounts events such as the tragic suicide of his father and
its continual fallout on his life, intimate and little-known details
about his deep friendship with the late poet James Merrill, and his
ongoing struggle to understand the complexities of his relationship to
his mother.
This cast of characters comprised of Buechner's relatives and loved ones
is brought to vibrant life by his peerless writing and capacity to probe
the depths of his own consciousness. Buechner visits his past with an
honest eye and a heart open to the most painful and life-altering of
realizations. heartbreaking and enlightening, The Eyes of the Heart is
a treasure for any who have ever pondered the meaning and mystery of
their own past.
As "one of our finest writers," according to author Annie Dillard,
Frederick Buechner provides yet another chapter in the tale of his life
in this gripping memoir tracing the complicated roots and path of his
inner life and family, with their multitude of intersections." The Eyes
of the Heart stands as a touching testimonial to the significance of
kinship to the author as well as to the legions of readers who have come
to regard him as one of their own.
