Found a copy of S.I. Hayakawa's "Language in
Action" at an estate sale and at the beginning of the chapter on Affective
Communication, he uses this quote from T.S. Eliot:
What I call the
"auditory imagination" is the feeling for syllable and rhythm, penetrating
far below the conscious levels of thought and feeling, invigorating every word;
sinking to the most primitive and forgotten, returning to the origin and bringing
something back, seeking the beginning and the end.
Throughout my writing life I've felt that if I get the right
words in the right order it would create in the reader a deep resonance that
was almost like music. I think T.S. Eliot's descriptions gets closer to what I
had tried to express.
I like to think that the preface to
Heart Chants accomplishes this feeling.
In the beginning was
the wind. And when the earth came, the wind cared for it. And when the darkness
came, the wind breezed across it beautifully. And when the dawn came and laid
its lightness over the darkness, We, the People, were created. And the wind
kissed our faces.
Sales of
Heart Chants
have been building, sufficient that it went as high as #56 in one of its
subcategories and past the #100 rank in another category. These are highly
transitory, so I have no idea where it may be ranked if you check on its
status.
But I'm pleased good reviews continue to arrive:
Heart Chants by Randy
Attwood is an enticing novel rich in Native American lore and steeped in
mystery. Packed with intrigue from the start, Phil McGuire is back, and with
cracked ribs as he threw himself into the hands of three Chinese men to save a
beautiful Chinese damsel in distress, Hsu Chi. As he lays recovering in bed two
Native American girls go missing and as a favor to a friend and assistance with
his recovery another Native American girl Zonnie comes to stay with him. Hsu
Chi finds him as well and a love affair sparks between them. While Phil is
recovering with the aid of two beautiful women a young half white half Navajo
man, self proclaimed Ko-yo-teh, is following the vision of his grandfather to
rid the land of the white people. Increasing suspense builds as the reader is
plunged into Ko-yo-teh's world and Phil assists in solving the mystery of the
missing girls. The elements within the novel merge together as the developing
plot becomes progressively more compelling for a riveting, unforgettable, and
unsuspected ending.
The amount of research
and knowledge of the Navajo poured into this story is incredible. Randy Attwood
spared no expense so to speak as he lavishly and with great respect brings
forth the mystical Navajo legends and thought. There is also an acceptance as
in the first segment of the Phil McGuire series of peoples of varying cultures.
In this novel Randy Attwood brilliantly entwines mystery and suspense with a
twist of Native American history which is truly the humble beginnings of
American history unknown to most.
The written words in
Heart Chants flow with ease keeping the reader always turning one more page
seeking the treasures and secrets each offers. Randy Attwood has an unflawed
ability to create characters that capture the reader's attention; one may find
themselves both loving and hating even the most despicable misguided
personalities. From beginning to end Heart Chants is an exciting novel that is
in my opinion arguably one of the best releases of the New Year.
Heart Chants is an
impeccably written novel with a truly unique plot that is truly a must read.
I keep expecting the paperback version of
Heart Chants to be available on the Amazon
site any day now.
