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Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Christina Vo has always struggled with the concept of “home.” The daughter of an emotionally distant father and a mother who died when she was just fourteen, she continues to grapple with that legacy of loss and her constant quest to, as a fortysomething, find a reconciliation with the shape her life has taken. In January 2021, feeling a call to be closer to the land, she decides to leave San Francisco—this time permanently, she hopes—and set off on a road trip with one of her closest friends, David.
Christina and David begin their journey with an ayahuasca ceremony in Santa Barbara, then continue on to Ojai and ultimately Santa Fe—two magical lands that serve as deep portals for healing. Throughout their travels, Christina reflects on the recent and distant past: her relationships, her past experiences in Santa Barbara and Ojai (where she stayed for nine months around her fortieth birthday, two years ago) and her evolving understanding of her relationship with her parents. All the while, she ponders how the past has shaped her current identity as a single, childless, and motherless woman in her forties. Within the context of intimate friendship, she discovers how thin the veil between worlds can be, and gradually comes to realize that her mother’s spirit has accompanied her since day one of her journey.
Deeply reflective and ultimately joyful, Vo’s memoir takes us on a journey between two worlds—the physical and the spiritual—that eventually brings her to a newfound understanding of how to deepen connections with others, as well as to a place of peace and home within herself.
Christina and David begin their journey with an ayahuasca ceremony in Santa Barbara, then continue on to Ojai and ultimately Santa Fe—two magical lands that serve as deep portals for healing. Throughout their travels, Christina reflects on the recent and distant past: her relationships, her past experiences in Santa Barbara and Ojai (where she stayed for nine months around her fortieth birthday, two years ago) and her evolving understanding of her relationship with her parents. All the while, she ponders how the past has shaped her current identity as a single, childless, and motherless woman in her forties. Within the context of intimate friendship, she discovers how thin the veil between worlds can be, and gradually comes to realize that her mother’s spirit has accompanied her since day one of her journey.
Deeply reflective and ultimately joyful, Vo’s memoir takes us on a journey between two worlds—the physical and the spiritual—that eventually brings her to a newfound understanding of how to deepen connections with others, as well as to a place of peace and home within herself.
Product Details
- Publisher: She Writes Press (April 25, 2023)
- Length: 224 pages
- ISBN13: 9781647423988
Raves and Reviews
“The Veil Between Two Worlds is written with grace, insight, and deep honesty. With beautiful writing, the author courageously tells the story of a Vietnamese American who is searching for spiritual peace, revelations, and life in a new land.”
—Barbara Rose Brooker, author of Night Songs and The Viagra Diaries
“Christina Vo’s The Veil Between Two Worlds beautifully conveys her midlife spiritual journey to come to terms with her grief and intergenerational wounds, and to reckon with how they've impacted her patterns of vulnerability and intimacy. With engaging and self-reflective candor, Vo’s spiritual travel memoir shows us the slow yet conscious ways that we can bridge the gap between our default patterns and our deeper awareness. Vo embraces the guidance of friendships, Mother Earth, and sacred mirrors on her path towards deeper reckoning and healing.”
—Anne Liu Kellor, author of Heart Radical: A Search for Language, Love, and Belonging
“Whip-smart and insightful, this memoir of a spiritual journey felt supremely satisfying to read. This quietly moving story flows through an asynchronous exploration of Vo’s restless life of wandering, traveling and searching for love. The narrative is propelled by her astute observations of people and environments, and ultimately through the steadiness of listening to her own soul. I loved the feminine wisdom in this book—savored its pages like a delicious and soothing cup of hot tea.”
—Elise Marie Collins, author of Super Ager: You Can Look Younger, Have More Energy, a Better Memory, and Live a Long and Healthy Life
“Deeply cerebral and enthralling. Ms. Vo writes with introspection and keen reflections of her spiritual and emotional journey to find home and a sense of self.”
—Amy Le, author of Snow in Saigon
“The Veil Between Two Worlds leaves you beyond satisfied, in both worlds. There is something to be said for following one’s own authentic path so that you can arrive in a place that is specifically for you. Christina Vo takes us on a successful truth-telling journey that sometimes feels frightening, and yet is gloriously riveting.”
—Saeeda Hafiz, author of The Healing: One Woman’s Journey from Poverty to Inner Riches
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