Rope in the Waterthe

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Travel is one of the most exciting ways in which we can change our lives. It is also one of the enduring themes of Western literature, from the legendary quests of King Arthurx2019;s knights, through Shirley MacLainex2019;s pilgrimage along the Camino, to Elizabeth Gilbertx2019;s odyssey in Eat, Pray, Love. When Sylvia Fraser set off on her 7,500-mile journey of self-discovery, she was at a critical point in her life when she wanted some purpose larger than herself, x201C;something deeper, something more.x201D; As a solo traveler, free of the props, masks and distractions of daily life, Fraser decided to treat India as a fabulous dream in which everything that happened did so for the purpose of teaching her something of value. This approach reflects Indiax2019;s 5,000-year karmic beliefs that state: x201C;What you see is who you are.x201D; x201C;You reap what you sow.x201D; And, most importantly: x201C;Change yourself and you change everything.x201D;For three months, Fraser followed the interwoven paths of other questers to such sacred sitesas the city of Varanasi, dense with the smoke of hundreds of burning corpses; the glittering Golden Temple of the Sikhs in the Punjab; a Hindu ashram up Mount Abu, and a Buddhist retreat where she meditated 11 hours a day for 10 days under a vow of silence. Yet, it was often in Fraserx2019;s interaction with ordinary people that she gained her deepest insights. Whether camel-riding through Rajasthanx2019;s golden deserts, trekking through lush jungles with their flocks of jade parakeets, climbing mountain fortresses, or losing herself in a fluorescent sea of brilliant turbans and saris in the hot crush of an urban bazaar, Fraser brings alive the sense-luscious tapestry of India. Most unforgettable is the miracle that saved her life while swimming in the Arabian Sea, giving her books its title: The Rope in the Water. Humorous and intelligent, this is an inspiring journey for all those interested in worlds beyond their own. REVIEWS: x201C;This is a story whose pacing never flags. . . .I was caught up in the spellx201D; - NOW magazinex201C;You feel searing heat, see the vivid colors, and even feel jostled by the seething crowds. . . Her self-deprecating humor, incisive observations and breathtaking honesty make the story-telling compelling. . .perfect for an armchair travelerx201D; - broadcaster Pamela Wallin. x201C;. . .as difficult to classify as India herself. . . .Using her sonorous prose, Fraser opens a window to the soul of India. Her journey evokes a feeling of longing - if only we could join her, we could each find something we seekx201D; - Regina Leader Postx201C;Ever the clear-eyed journalist, Fraser presents India whole. And oh, the writing! . . . The result is a book that doesnx2019;t so much tell us about India as take us therex201D; - Calgary Herald. x201C;A brave meditation on the work of spiritual transformationx201D; - Globe and Mail"Part travelogue, part memoir, part journal of self-discovery, full of delightful vignettes and character studies, all are seamlesssly woven together and all are fascinating" - Hamilton Spectator ". . .the vicarious pleasure of seeing the sites in an exotic place through the eyes of a fine writer and an engaging storyteller. . . What more can a reader ask for?" - Edmonton Journal 'Sometimes poignant, often humorous, she paints a vivid picture of the contradictions of India and its people" - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix x201C;The reader is also swept away, feeling the calmness and humor of her experiencesx201D; - Good Timesx201C;Like a dream unfolding, . . .an immensely rewarding readx201D; - Macleanx2019;s". . . an absorbing, candid and self-deprecating memoir. . . .Both engrossing and entertainingx201D; - Winnipeg Free Press"Hypnotic and magical. . . a valuable, helpful, honest and enjoyable book" - Lucinda Vardey, author of God in All Worlds "Sylvia Fraser lets herself float in the current of India. Thanks to her questing intellect and fearless curiosity, we are carried along with her to strange and wonderful new shores" - Marni Jackson, author