The Storyteller [Kindle Edition]

The Storyteller by Sharon Tillotson is the spiritual and thought provoking tale of Suzy on her path to self discovery. After the death of her husband, Suzy is left trying to figure out who she is and what it is that she wants from life. Her business is doing the best it has done in years, she has reconnected with her two children, and all in all things are looking like they couldn't be better. Yet Suzy feels that something is missing, and through a series of self help seminars, she realizes what it is that she wants to do. She takes off to Africa to begin opening a foundation to help spread the message of ULove, or Universal Love.

The Storyteller jumps around in content, as the reader embarks on the journey of Sarah who is a Soul and is the guiding force in Suzy's life. Sarah happens to be a storyteller and tells about some of her previous reincarnations throughout different chapters. There were a few spots that seemed to be sluggish and were drawn out during the retelling of Sarah's reincarnations which were a little tiring at times. They quickly pick back up, especially in the telling of Suzy's story and it all comes together nicely. There are several thought provoking concepts throughout the book, and don't really follow one line of religion or the other. I found this refreshing because even though it is religious, the story doesn't follow just one path, which really helped prove the point of Universal Love. If you want a spiritual read that will make you sit back and re-examine your own life, then The Storyteller by Sharon Tillotson is for you.

"Sarah" is a Soul who's been through many incarnations in many different times. Currently, she's trying to help guide Suzy, a modern-day widow with a business of her own and a seeming inability to move past her losses, on her path of rediscovery. While we watch Suzy traveling her path, Sarah recounts for us some of her past incarnations and subsequent lessons learned. Sarah is a Storyteller, and most of her incarnations have utilized that gift. Suzy, however, is yet to discover who she is and what her main purpose may be.

Sharon Tillotson, a life-long intuitive and seeker, was guided to craft this book to share this story. Several stories describing Sarah's past lives are interspersed throughout Suzy's journey of discovery, loosely tied together by Sarah's own "thoughts" on the issues. As I was first reading, I found myself wishing it had been a collection of short stories, "soul" stories, perhaps introduced by Sarah's thoughts about each one. Although it all pulls together into a cohesive piece, the stories of the various incarnations are long enough that it reads a bit more like a collection rather than a novel. Essentially, though, it is a collection, but with Suzy's story interwoven into the mix. As I continued reading, I began to enjoy more the format of the book. Some of the stories were much more engaging to me than others. It wasn't a book I devoured, eager to finish, it was a book I tasted in sips (hence my relatively long- for me- read time). Some of the sips were very satisfying and thought-provoking, others, not so much. For me, the book dragged a bit in places, even though none of the sections was particularly uninteresting. It was like a languid journey across a varied landscape, with some scenery more enjoyable than others. I felt like it took a while to get going and to get me engaged in the story, but as I settled down and began to enjoy the ride, it became more about the journey; Suzy's journey as well as, perhaps, my own.

As Suzy discovers (or rediscovers or reinvents or remembers) herself, many transcendental ideas are explored and grown. Some of the ideas were thought-provoking, and some seemed a bit tired. I did really like the concept of shining a flashlight; that there were no evil ideas, just darkness that needed a little extra light focused on it to be understood and explored. We can choose to shine that flashlight wherever our own personal darkness lies. I think Suzy's story dragged on in places, but that can be said to highlight her own struggle of rediscovery. Life doesn't always move quickly, at times it drags, and this book reflects that.

Altogether, an interesting read if you're in the mood for something thoughtful and unhurried. It's a bit difficult for me to rate with stars; I wasn't really immersed or engaged throughout, but it was fairly thought-provoking and interesting. The story is really designed for the reader to be a spectator rather than a participant and observe Suzy's journey and the journey of the Soul called Sarah. The participation comes as you reflect upon what it all means for you, if you choose to do so. Your rating will vary, but for me, it's a:

3 /5 stars @ MotherLode blog

I had never thought much about reincarnation until I read THE STORYTELLER by Sharon Tillotson. Her book made me pause and consider the possibility.

The main story takes place in current day when a soul called Sarah tries to help Suzy, a recent widow, get on with her life and find her life's purpose. But Suzy is just one of the bodies Sarah has inhabited. Interwoven with Suzy's story are three other tales -- the first taking place in 10,000 BC in Eastern Europe; the second in 5,000 BC in what is now the southwestern United States; and the third during the time of Jesus. All of the stories captured my imagination and held my interest, and all of them combined to make a satisfying book.

Because this book was unlike any other I've read, I enjoyed the opportunity to learn something new, considering the idea of reincarnation and the philosophy behind it as presented by this author. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a spiritual (but not religious) saga.