Juan Manuel Alonso-Carriazo Bustillo

Tenia Suenos hasta que conoci a Dios. Juan Manuel Alonso-Carriazo Bustillo

This is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary life: a story that deserves to be told, and deserves to be read. Its central theme is the most serious subject possible, the journey of a soul towards a full relationship with God. Despite its philosophical and theological content, it is accessible and eminently readable. It tells of a golden infancy, a troubled childhood and then the amazing first meeting with the Divine. There follows an adolescence beset by difficulties, rejection and heartbreak, yet now lived with purpose and direction, guided by that Love and the golden thread of grace. It ends with adulthood, again with trials, but arriving at acceptance and peace. On one level, it is a tale of many adventures, some sad and tragic, but ultimately full of light and triumph. Told initially as a series of meetings between a youth and the narrator over several years, it is framed by the two intertwining lives; it draws the reader in from the start to the elegant and unusual ending. On another level, it is a mystery story -surreal, poetic and dream- like. Places and characters are anonymous, some disguised. We don't even know the names of the protagonists until the end. It is a true story, but as characters enter, spark vividly and then fade away, the air of mystery keeps us guessing. It will provide inspiration and encouragement to anyone seeking to find themselves and to understand what encountering God can really mean.