The Living Room

Title: The Living Room - A Novel of Life, Dealth, Love - and Miracles



Author: Bill Rolfe
Book Trailer: Click here
Author's website (also indicates where the book is available): Click here

Book summary (Back cover): When success and even love are not enough, you need a miracle…
Daniel Clay has good looks, money, and a rising career as a New York investment advisor. Meanwhile, his personal life is barren of love and family. But when a distant relative dies and leaves him a house in England, Daniel embarks on a life-changing journey—toward love and his soul’s awakening.
He meets and falls in love with Claire, a children’s palliative care nurse. With her help, he opens his home and heart to comfort young patients in their final days. As Claire tends to the children in a beautiful glassed-in room overlooking the sea, Daniel prays for miracles. Just when his prayers are answered, a mysterious illness strikes him down and relentlessly drains away his life. With no hope for a cure, Daniel holds fast to a deep secret that he can never reveal. And now, he needs a miracle of his own.


My views:


I believe in miracles and I do believe that sincere prayers can result in miracles – I’ve personally witnessed this, yet at the same time, I don’t exactly believe in dreams, I rarely have dreams.
So when I learnt that this book was based on dream that the author, Bill Rolfe had and in the dream he was asked to write this book, I was a bit skeptical.
Having read the book, I am so glad that I took up the author’s request for a book review. The main protagonist of the book – Daniel Clay, has worked hard to make his way up the corporate ladder at an investment firm in New York. He works tirelessly days and nights almost all days of the week and has been nominated for partnership.

His mentor and senior partner in this investment firm, Art Rothschild, tells him to concentrate on a personal life as well. Daniel respects Art, but getting a personal life, a life partner seems to be Daniel’s biggest challenge. Things suddenly change...

An attorney has been calling Daniel’s office persistently about a personal matter, a deceased Uncle in England, whom Daniel never even knew of. For the first time in several years, Daniel takes time off to visit England to see his newly inherited house and sell it off.

He could not have imagined what life had in store. The house, has a loving warm aura and one room in particular, with a splendid view is extra special. In the course of carrying out minor repairs around the house, so as to make it more saleable, Daniel injures himself, meets Claire, a palliative children’s nurse. They date and she makes a strange request.

This ‘healing room’ becomes a guest room for the terminally ill children. One of the first guests dies, Daniel is unable to bear the pain and becomes the receptacle for miracles, but at a great personal cost. Claire, who has by now fallen in love with Daniel needs a miracle of her own. I will not act as a spoil sport and tell you what happens.

This book is very well written, it does not deal nor refer to any religion and is more grounded on spirituality; it flows flawlessly and is a book of hope, love and miracles.

I also appreciate that all of the author's proceeds from this book will be going directly to charities that help children with life threatening illnesses and their families, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation.


INTERVIEW WITH BILL ROLFE


1) You have mentioned that it was a dream that prompted you to write this book. Post this dream have you become more aware of miracles around you?

I have definitely become more aware of the miracles that happen around me since having the dream. Even just little things at the times when you really need them in life.

2) The power of prayer, comes shining through in this book. What advice would you like to give someone who doesn't believe in a supreme power (say an atheist?)

I think the only advice I could give would be to just go with what's in your heart. I don't think people like to be preached to, I know I wouldn't either. All I can say is it is nice to have someone or something to speak with or pray towards at times in your life when you really need it. I have also found that showing gratitude for the things I have has been a good practice for me.

3) I understand the sale proceeds of this book will go to charity. Can you share some light on which charity you support and why?

Right now my first goal is to try and support the Make A Wish Foundation. They help to grant wishes to children who are battling against life-threatening medical conditions. Ultimately, I hope to sponsor a wish child if I'm able to in the future.


The story behind the book: Late one night back in July 2002, I fell asleep and had a dream. It was unlike any dream I had before, or since. It was like watching an extended movie, and it ended with instructions for me in the rolling credits. I awoke in shock and glanced at the clock next to my bed, only to discover what seemed like hours of sleep had only been a few minutes.

I got up, sat at my desk and spent the rest of the night writing everything down. Never having written anything before, I took the next few weeks to follow the instructions from the dream – share the story in a novel. After a few months of being inspired by the story, but at the same time feeling overwhelmed with the project, I put it away. However, I couldn't forget it.
Now, after more than nine years of struggling with the process and battling against my own self-doubt, I’m ready to share the story.
The Living Room was my dream.

Source of the photograph: Downloaded from Flickr and used as per the terms of the Creative Commons License