You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man’ tag.
Tag Archive
Spiritual Fiction novelist, Judy Croome, reviews Jesse S. Hanson’s, Song of George
October 13, 2011 in author, Poetry, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man by Jesse S. Hanson, spiritual fiction, spirituality | Tags: book review, jesse s. hanson, Judy Croome, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, South Africa, spiritual allegory, Spiritual Fiction, Zimbabwean bush | Leave a comment
“Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man”is not a novel…it’s pure Art. This intense, unusual story contains original prose, poetry, song lyrics and artwork, all welded together by a thread of human suffering reminiscent of the great Russian authors such as Dostoevksy.
Although they are very different stories, at times the struggles and comradeship of George’s disciples reminded me of Solzhenitsyn’s “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” with its portrayal of just how much anguish humanity can endure despite enormous odds, for “We lay like scattered bones on the floor of her lair, mother earth some, broken splintered things, white against the dirt, the pain is gone.”
In “Song of George” much of the suffering comes from in the treatment of the inmates by the guards, but even more comes from their supposed distorted realities. One of the major themes in this nuanced novel is the exploration of how one defines madness (is George mad or is he a visionary? And who is to decide which he is?)
When you pick up this book, expect a challenging read in more ways than one: dense with characters, packed with philosophy and resonating with compassion, “Song of George” forces the reader to examine different realities through the lives, minds and experiences of three students interviewing (mainly) numerous inmates in a prison mental institution.
Despite the need to concentrate hard, the pace of the story is fast and the author’s portrayal of his multitude of characters is simply superb. Each character is unique and fascinating, even the less appealing ones such as Jaiden. The author’s compassion and understanding for those of us classified as “insane” clearly runs deep.
Throughout the book I felt I was reading profound truths about life. From the suggestion of reincarnation (in Toby’s story) to a conversation about “low burning fires” the student Jeff eavesdropped on, the themes of this immense novel are shrouded in a sense of futility and despair at the ugliness of a world that denies ultimate truths in favour of modern commercialisation, materialism and alienation. When George was freed on parole, the collapse of the inmates’ fragile serenity at the loss of their holy man, is symbolic of the apocalyptic threat to humanity facing us as we turn away from the universal language of Love and a spiritual path.
And yet this was an uplifting story. The glimpses of hope were there: Harold/Horatio’s relationship with his sister Illy, who believed in him against all reason, ultimately becoming his safe haven, almost a “reward” for his innocence despite all that had been done to him. The final scene, despite the ambiguity of the closing paragraphs, also suggests that all hope is not lost when the little girl on the stoop shames the boys tormenting George into helping him.
With its weighty philosophical nature, this novel needs more than one reading to be fully appreciated. Like all good novels that endure, each reading of “Song of George” will, I’m sure, raise more questions and offer new spiritual insights for its readers.
Recording Artist, Denis Moreau on spiritual allegory, Song of George
February 23, 2011 in author, Book Reviews, Folk Rock, Guru, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man by Jesse S. Hanson, spiritual fiction, Spiritual Master, spirituality, Writing | Tags: book review, boundaries of sanity, Denis Moreau, human condition, jesse hanson, jesse s. hanson, literary voice, notions of sanctity, review of Song of George, singer/songwriter, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, spiritual thread, spiritually inspired, spiritually inspired recording artist | Leave a comment
Spiritually inspired recording artist, Denis Moreau has offered some very unique and insightful comments, after reading my spiritual allegory, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man. My wife, Lilasuka, and I are big fans of Denis, so the comments are special, coming from him.
Here is a brief bio of Denis from his facebook profile:
Born in Temiscaming Quebec, a small paper mill town, Denis received his musical training early, in the church choir. By the time he was 15, his attention leaned toward the music of the day. Inspired he learned how to play guitar and harmonica then soon lost interest in all others matters. He hitchhiked across Canada and parts of the US mingling with the citizens and sharing his music.
At 25 years of age, yearning for spiritual awakening, he donned the robes of a monk. For the following 15 years he was fully engaged in meditation, devotional practices, and welfare activities. His services led him to different parts of Canada, the United States, and the Far East.
In 1995 he renewed his efforts in music while living in New York City. Since, he has been recording and touring many festivals and venues performing in theaters, clubs, coffee houses, retirement communities and charitable outreaches.
And the following are Denis’ comments regarding Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man:
“Here is a voice that defies the boundaries of sanity, and beckons me to drop certain preconceived notions of sanctity.
This voice wanders in the midst of horror, cynicism, absurdity, and wisdom, inviting me to bare my soul before the human condition— all along urging me to look for the spiritual thread tying it all together.” –Denis Moreau
ILLUSTRATIONS by Christine Sherwood from Jesse S. Hanson’s novel, Song of George
December 8, 2010 in author, Promotiing and Marketing, spiritual fiction, spirituality, Writing | Tags: All Things That Matter Press, books, Christine Sherwood, fiction book, Illustrations, Illustrator, jesse hanson, jesse hanson's novel, jesse s. hanson, jesse s. hanson's blog, jesse s. hanson's novel, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, Spiritual Fiction | Leave a comment
I’ve just created a new page here on my blog to display Christine Sherwood’s wonderful pencil illustrations (they’re full size on the new page) for my spiritual fiction novel, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man. See the link at the top of this page or click https://jesseshanson.wordpress.com/song-of-george-illustrations-by-christine-sherwood/
horns blowing – an updated repost by a reluctant self-promoter
November 24, 2010 in author, Sant Mat, spiritual fiction, spirituality, Writing | Tags: All Things That Matter Press, artists, fans, horns blowing, jesse hanson, jesse s. hanson, literature, musician, promote, reluctant self-promoter, self promotion, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, spiritual brothers and sisters, Spiritual Fiction, spirituality, The Primatives, writer | 3 comments
Unfortunately, these days, more than ever before, if one is pursuing artistic endeavors, one is put in the position of having to promote, promote, and self-promote. It’s true for musicians, writers, visual artists, any type of artist. With a great measure of success, perhaps, one gets beyond it to a greater or lesser extent… i wouldn’t know.
i’m saying this because having spent years writing a spiritual fiction novel, putting my heart and soul into it, and with it now enroute to becoming a product (It was since published in July, 2010 by All Things That Matter Press), i find myself in such a position. True, i have been involved in self-promotion all along, not only in regards to my music with The Primatives, but in the submission process for short stories (excerpts in my case), poetry, and the novel manuscripts themselves. But now it’s become even more necessary, lest my work become just another bubble that forms and pops instantly and quietly into oblivion in the vast ocean of published literature.
So i’m just asking that my friends, my fans, my brothers and sisters in spirituality, and my associates in general, bear with me as i make the efforts in this process of trying to inform the world about the existence and merits of my novel and other work. Please don’t find me arrogant, although i don’t claim to possess true humility either. And please don’t find me a bore, as it seems to be a necessary and unavoidable process, one in which i may at times, in my lack of knowledge, pursue innapropriately. Try and try my best i may have some measure of success or i may fail, but it would certainly be a failure, in one sense, if i should lose or annoy my friends and supporters.
As always, i thank you for reading, jesse s. hanson
Jerry Schwartz Reviews Song of George
November 2, 2010 in author, Book Reviews, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man by Jesse S. Hanson, Writing | Tags: Jerry Schwartz, jesse hanson, jesse s. hanson, Novel Review, pixels of young mueller, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, Spiritual Fiction, Spiritual Fiction Review | Leave a comment
I was quite gratified by this review of Song of George, by Jerry Scwartz, author of Pixels of Young Mueller. It’s very perceptive and it clearly conveys some of what I would like people to know about my book.
As always, thanks for stopping by my blog and feel free to make comments to your heart’s content. (:<)> jesse s. hanson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man. Jesse S. Hanson. All Things That Matter Press, 2010. 248 pp. $16.99.
I enjoyed reading Jesse Hanson’s Song of George, the story of “a guru in the prison mental ward.” Graduate students Ansel, Ozwald, and Jeff are permitted to study and record the inmates of floor 41 for two months, during which time they learn not only what life is like in a large federal correctional institution, but also of the effect that George, the “unlikely holy man,” has on his fellow inmates.
Hanson’s unorthodox approach to telling George’s story appealed to me from the beginning. Through a hodgepodge of quotes, songs, inmates’ recollections, messages of George transcribed by Ansel, and poetry, the spirituality of Hanson’s work shines as he relates his tale. I give Hanson extra points for making George a vegetarian. (How spiritual can you truly be when you are eating your fellow creatures?)
Admittedly, on several occasions, I became lost when reading this book. For instance, at one point, when the narrative switched to verse, I found myself wondering who “wrote” the poem. One of the inmates? Or was it the author stepping out from behind the curtain to assist me? My solution was to keep reading, and each time, I was rewarded. I love it when an author takes chances, and I like it even more when those risks pay off.
Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man is well written, engaging, and inspirational–four out of five stars.
The Unheard Voices Project* A re-post from Open Democracy-free thinking for the world
October 6, 2010 in author, Uncategorized, Writing | Tags: jesse hanson, jesse s. hanson, Open Democracy, overcrowded prisons, prisoners, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, Sylvia Scholar, The American Prison System, the land of the free, The Unheard Voices Project, the war on drugs | Leave a comment
“The United States has 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of the world’s prisoners.”
My friend, Dr. Sylvia Scholar, has been an unfailing source of encourageent to me in my literary efforts, especially in regards to my recently published novel, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, which is set in the mental ward of a fictional U.S. Federal Prison.
It’s through Sylvia that I’ve become aware of the remarkable UK based forum, “Open Democracy-free thinking for the world“. The following series of posts from The Unheard Voices Project, published by Open Democracy, clearly reveal the devastation caused by America’s stubborn and brutal insistence on waging the drug war on their own hapless individual citizens who are easily detained and prosecuted. Long term prison sentences and life with a record for these, while the real corporate criminals of our society live high and easy.
These articles are not of the world of fiction. “Truth is stranger…” as the very profound cliche’ states. Please take a few minutes, go to the website http://www.opendemocracy.net/unheard-voices and read about this most American phenomenon as reported by The Unheard Voices Project.
As always, thanks for stopping by. You’re certainly more than welcome to comment.
jesse s. hanson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Unheard Voices Project
The Unheard Voices Project is a documentary archive of testimonies from offenders, ex-offenders, family members, and experts on the far-ranging consequences of the American criminal justice system.
Unheard Voices was inspired by Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation Institute, another documentary archive project that gathered video testimonies from survivors and other witnesses to the Holocaust. In many respects, the American criminal justice system, and the drug war that has driven its explosion, has resulted in a cultural holocaust. So many people are in prison, so many families and communities have been destroyed, and so many generations have been lost, that those who do succeed us will need a living record of the devastating impact these policies had on American society.
The United States has 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of the world’s prisoners. At 2.5 million, the US has more prisoners than China. Not more prisoners per capita, more prisoners. And there are an additional 5 million under what’s known as “Correctional Supervision” (probation, parole, and court monitoring). On top of that, the security and livelihood of millions more has forever been altered by an arrest or conviction record. This so-called “Land of the Free” punishes more of its citizens than the rest of the world, prompting even the conservative Economist to declare that “never in the civilized world have so many been locked up for so little.”
The testimonies of The Unheard Voices Project testimonies will help put a human face on a critical social issue that has been overwhelmed by fear, politics, racial prejudice, and intolerance, in an era where the public attitude has been, “out of sight, out of mind.”
When the stories hit home, the policies begin to change.
Thursday 30th September
Tuesday 28th September
Sunday 26th September
Monday 5th July
My new approach to blogging and a borrowed post about the great Sant, Tulsi Sahab
September 27, 2010 in author, Guru, Sant Mat, spiritual fiction, Spiritual Master, spirituality, Uncategorized, Writing | Tags: Ajaib Singh, blogging, Christian, controversial, facebook, Hindu, inter-faith, jesse s. hanson, jesse s. hanson's blog, Muslim, New Age, Official Page for the Sant Mat Satsang Podcast, Sant Mat, Sikh, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, ten Sikh Gurus, Tulsi Sahab, Tulsi Sahib, velunerability, vulnerable | 5 comments
THE POST
Sant Tulsi Sahab: Unravel the Fourteen Inner Levels Within You
English rendering of Hindi translation, by Maharshi Santsewi ji Paramhans, of a verse composed by Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras, founder of Modern Lineage of Santmat, excerpted from the October 2004 edition of the Hindi Monthly “Shanti Sandesh” (Message of Peace) published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppa Ghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India – 812003.
– English Translation by Pravesh K. Singh:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati
Once a Muslim gentleman, named Taki, called on Sant Tulsi Sahab. He submitted to his (Tulsi Sahab’s) kind attention, “You are the Guru to Hindus and Pir to Muslims. I have come to you to learn some divine secrets from you. It would be a great favour, if you could enlighten me.” Sant Tulsi Sahab said, “Ask! What’s it you wish to know?” Taki asked, “Where does Khuda [God] live? What is the way to find Him?” What Sant Tulsi Sahab said in reply in verse form is presented below:
Original Verse:
“Sun ay Taki na jaaio jinahaar dekhanaa | Apane mein aap jalawaye diladaar dekhanaa || Putalee mein til hai til mein bharaa raaj kul kaa kul | Is paradaye siyah ke jaraa paar dekhanaa || Chaudah tabak kaa haal ayaan ho tujhe zaroor | Gaafil na ho khayaal se hushiyaar dekhana ||Sun laamakaan pay panhuch ke teree pukaar hai |Hai aa rahee sadaa se sadaa yaar dekhanaa || Milanaa to yaar kaa naheen mushkil magar Taki |Dushawaar to ye hai ki dushawaar dekhanaa || Tulsi binaa karam kisee murshad raseedaa ke | Raahe nizaat door hai us paar dekhanaa ||
Translation:
O Taki! Listen! Never look or search outside to find God | He is within you; behold His Light which is illuminating your inside (the Inner Sky)||
All the secrets of God–Realisation are hidden inside the black `til’ (Point) that is located within your pupils |However, those secrets will be revealed to you only if you learnt to see beyond the dark curtain (that is, beyond the empire of darkness that is seen on closing our eyes) ||
Rigorous practice of inner meditation would unravel the fourteen levels (including the seven levels of `pind’ or body and the seven levels of`brahmaand’ or the macro-cosmos (namely, ajnaa chakra, sahasradal kamal, shoonya, maha-shoonya, bhanwar gufaa, and sat lok) | But for that to happen, you will have to alertly focus your attention at the place prescribed by the Guru ||
On reaching into the `shoonya’ or void, you would listen to the Sound or Word… | …The sound (primeval or Quintessential Sound) through which God has been calling you right since you separated from Him ||
It is not difficult to find the dearest (God), but O Taki…| …it is difficult to look beyond that difficult curtain of darkness ||
Tulsi Sahab says, but for the merciful grace of an accomplished Guru… | It is almost impossible to find the way out beyond the three coverings or veils of darkness, Light and Sound, and to meet the Supreme Lord! ||
Some People Might Say…
September 19, 2010 in author, Guru, Sant Mat, spiritual fiction, Spiritual Master, spirituality, Uncategorized, Writing | Tags: All Things That Matter Press, allegory, God Man, jesse hanson, jesse s. hanson, jesse s. hanson's blog, sacreligious, Some People might say, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, spiritual fiction novel, spirituality | Leave a comment
Others, less inclined toward the possibility of Divine intervention, might say, “It’s too pious – even naive, this allegory of a God Man.
NEW: The Primatives Official Website
September 17, 2010 in author, Band Schedule and Announcements, Folk Rock, spiritual fiction, Spiritual Master, spirituality, The Primatives Music Events, Writing | Tags: All Things That Matter Press, Audrey Hanson, coffee house band, contemporary folk, djembe, Folk Rock, guitars, Holy Man, Jack Huston, jesse hanson, jesse s. hanson, jesse s. hanson's blog, Lilasuka, Lilasuka Hanson, mrdanga, silver flute, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, spiritual Master, spiritual practices, spirituality, spiritually inspired, The Primatives, The Primatives Official Website | Leave a comment
The following is a copy of the post I made yesterday on the new The Primatives Official Website http://theprimativesrock.wordpress.com/. All part of my effort to keep all my stuff as together as possible. As always, Thanks to the friends of The Primatives for all your support.
Bhot Accha, You Found UsPosted on September 16, 2010 by jesse s. hanson
Bhot Accha, you found us.
Just developing this site. I’m planning for this to be the main outlet for info and updates re: The Primatives
I’ve put our CD’s on the home page and will be getting some audio samples of our music on there soon, as well. Also due to popular demand, and because I want to anyway, there will be a lyrics page, and/or pages.
This page will be the place to go for updates on Primatives happenings. Hope you’ll check in once in awhile and see what we’re up to.
Just for the record and for those not really familiar with us, The members of the band are: my wife, Lilasuka (Joy) Hanson (silver flute, vocals, mrdanga, and other percussion), Jack Huston (electric bass and vocals), myself Jesse S. Hanson (guitars, vocals, songwriting), and on a really good day, when she’s not completely overwhelmed with work as and auto mechanic and the rest of her life, our daughter, Audrey Hanson (djembe and vocals).
The band has been pretty busy of late, with performances at the New Vrindavn cmmunity in West Virginia. Also played our annual Rock the Quarry benefit for The Panhandle Trail in Collier Township, just outside of Pittsburgh. That was cool, as it gave us a chance to reconnect with the Donoughe family from Mount Lebanon, who we hadn’t seen for some time since the closing of our two haunts, The Coffee Den in Mount Lebanon, and The Inspiration Cafe in Washington, PA.
Personally, as many of you know, I’ve gotten my novel, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, which you can take a look by clicking on the following link: https://www.createspace.com/3469737 published with All Things That Matter Press http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com/ and so I’ve been spending a ton of time promoting that. Along with that I’ve been recording another wonderful album of Heritage Songs for Jordan Umbach in my BlueHome Recording studio. Getting close to done with the recording part of that and moving into the mixing. It is going to be a rather spare album, instrumentally, which is great because it will show Jordan’s songwriting in it’s best light to date, in my opinion.
I’ve finally begun writing some new songs, and I’m continuing to write fiction and poetry. There’s really not enough time in a day -certainly not enough in a lifetime. Well, it’s all just going through so many motions anyway. As far as I’m concerned, my most important work is my spiritual practices and deepening my relationship with my Spiritual Master. It’s the hardest work, but the most rewarding.
Signing off for now, this is your webmaster wanna be, jesse s. hanson
An Early Observation regarding Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man
September 4, 2010 in author, spiritual fiction, Writing | Tags: Doug Donoughe, Guru, Holy Man, jesse s. hanson, jesse s. hanson's blog, Master, novel, Song of George, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man, Spiritual Fiction, spiritual Master, spiritually inspired | Leave a comment
I liked this early observation about the structure/style of my novel, Song of George: Portrait of an Unlikely Holy Man that Doug Donoughe posted on my facebook wall.
Doug Donoughe I think should reserve judgment until I finish the book, but I just started reading Song of George and I am very impressed. I find its defiant lucidity to be strikingly reminiscent of Joseph Heller’s seminal Catch-22 and I look forward to seeing where it goes from there. The writing coherently submerses me in the madness, allowing me to partake in the thought process of its characters (particularly in the way the story provides information in pieces so that comprehension slowly dawns on the reader rather than providing a matter-of-fact interpretation of an experience which is anything but mundane) without degenerating into mere avant garde (which of course can be brilliant, but is often used as a crutch by others).