You can read this review at the Amazon page for "Save Send Delete: here: https://www.amazon.com/Save-Send-Delete-Danusha-Goska/dp/1846949866
“Save
Send Delete” by Danusha Goska is A Diamond of a Book That Shines a Bright Light
on Our Own Personal Relationship with God and the Universe.
It is rare to find
books written today that are so brutally honest and so bravely written; a book
that has ability to affect its reader at so many different levels. Based on a
true story, Goska (a.k.a. Mira, the story’s protagonist) forces the reader to
openly confront and internally discuss their own belief system through her
“fated” year long e-mail debate/relationship with a celebrity Atheist
scientist, “Rand.”
The
author’s “no holds barred” writing style forces the reader to wake up, take
notice and face our own views about God, religion, faith and love. I was held
captive with her imagery, tone, prospective and story telling expertise. The
author’s vivid description made me feel as though I was a passenger on her
roller coaster life’s journey from the mountains of Tibet to the slums of
Patterson, NJ. I could actually see, hear, taste, smell and touch her words. I
have read very few books written today that have felt this “real” to me in all
its beauty and brutality.
But
more importantly, I believed Mira’s tenacious faith in God and humanity. I
believed every emotion Mira felt. Goska is never condescending with her message
nor demanding that the reader share her views, but after reading her
viewpoints, it is very hard to find fault in her well-constructed arguments.
While
some readers may not like or appreciate the e-mail format of the book, I cannot
imagine a different format for this novel. One vital component of this book is
the on-line relationship that develops between Mira and Rand. This format
enables the reader to experience the emotional undertones of their
relationship. They fight, they banter, and they often disagree but always
maintain respect for each other’s opinions and ideas.
Mira,
an extremely intelligent, self-assured, modern woman and accomplished writer,
sometimes struggles between her confident, pragmatic side and her softer, more
vulnerable side. Like all of us, she does not always have the right words for
what she wants to say or the courage to express her first thoughts or emotions
to Rand, especially when she starts to fall in love with him. But she always
manages to resolve these inner conflicts and tell Rand exactly what she is
thinking without compromising her own beliefs or alienating him. They actually
listen to each other. We all could learn some listening skills from this couple
in today’s tumultuous society.
This
story is multi-faceted and will appeal to many different audiences. While it
convincingly defends the existence of God and one woman’s unshakable faith in
God, it also serves to lift the human spirit itself. Mira, the main character,
is not perfect nor does she fit the stereotype of being the “perfect” Catholic.
She has had more than her fair share of anguish and strife but continues to see
the good in mankind and selflessly give to others. Through her, the reader is
truly able to experience God’s unconditional love and believe in hope again.
But,
this is not just a book about God, religion, and the power of the human spirit,
it is also a story about human relationships and how these relationships can
make or break us. Mira plays many different roles in her relationships (daughter,
sister, friend, student, teacher, and lover). It is through these relationships
that one gains a true sense of Mira, her compassion, her loyalty, her
tenaciousness and her sometimes brutal honesty. She does not sugar-coat the
facts; I find this aspect of her personality very refreshing.
Because
I used to be a teacher, the interactions between and Mira and her students
touched me most. Mira’s dedication to her students is something that all
teachers should strive to possess. Some of the stories the author tells about
her students broke my heart but Mira was always there for them, no matter what.
Great teachers have the ability to inspire but this gift is often squelched in
today’s learning environments.
However,
I also found myself caught up in the budding on-line romance between Mira and
Rand. Their relationship grows from a debate between two antithetical mindsets
to a romantic love affair between two brilliant minds. I admired Mira for
standing her ground with Rand and not letting him push her around. Mira is one
strong woman with an enormous heart coupled with just the right dose of
chutzpah and school girl infatuation. I will not go further lest I spoil the
ending for all of you who have not yet read the book.
It
was by accident, that I stumbled upon this book, much like Mira stumbled upon
her relationship with Rand. My own relationship with God faltered a bit after
losing both of my parents. Like Mira and Rand, my parents had diametrically
opposing views about God which I hadn’t thought much about until I read this
book. I do not know how my parents came to terms with this chasm in their
relationship but would like to believe that their love for each other was
greater than their need to think alike. They accepted each other for who they
were, just as Mira and Rand accepted each other. In any event, I feel a bit
stronger in my faith after reading this book and will no doubt be re-reading it
when I am running low on faith or self-worth.
“Send
Save Delete” is an amazingly inspiring work of art. It definitely deserves a
place on your bedside table and in every single book club discussion across
America. Very few books possess the innate ability to start meaningful and
soul-searching conversations about so many different topics.
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