{"id":9,"date":"2021-04-25T18:05:10","date_gmt":"2021-04-25T18:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=9"},"modified":"2025-09-04T23:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T23:13:46","slug":"the-winding-way-home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/","title":{"rendered":"The Winding Way Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"9\" class=\"elementor elementor-9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fa99086 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fa99086\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-01830a2\" data-id=\"01830a2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e45cfc elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9e45cfc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/The-Winding-Way-Home-title-e1625601056513-1024x825.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-111\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/The-Winding-Way-Home-title-e1625601056513-1024x825.png 1024w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/The-Winding-Way-Home-title-e1625601056513-300x242.png 300w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/The-Winding-Way-Home-title-e1625601056513-768x619.png 768w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/The-Winding-Way-Home-title-e1625601056513.png 1428w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" style=\"width:100%;height:80.6%;max-width:1428px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-109dc0f elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"109dc0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #f2b668;\">\u00a0a novel by Wesley J. Wildman<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f9f69bc\" data-id=\"f9f69bc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-311d3a1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"311d3a1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cc0c388\" data-id=\"cc0c388\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a85688f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a85688f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c9ad9fc\" data-id=\"c9ad9fc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d242d1 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3d242d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"670\" height=\"863\" src=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1625599049-1.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-113\" alt=\"The Winding Way Home by Wesley J. Wildman\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1625599049-1.png 670w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1625599049-1-233x300.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" style=\"width:100%;height:128.81%;max-width:670px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d2f4716\" data-id=\"d2f4716\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46a7bde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46a7bde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Available now!\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Worldwide through major &amp; local retailers<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ac2d6c elementor-align-center elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"5ac2d6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Winding-Way-Home-Wesley-Wildman\/dp\/1736075047\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&#038;keywords=winding+way+home&#038;qid=1625599435&#038;s=books&#038;sr=1-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Order on Amazon<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2abc16d elementor-align-center elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2abc16d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/the-winding-way-home-wesley-j-wildman\/1139777087\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Order on Barnes &amp; Noble<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90eca08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"90eca08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">From <a href=\"https:\/\/wildhousepublishing.com\/wifi\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Wildhouse Fiction<\/span><\/a>, September 15, 2023<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7937fcf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7937fcf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-57e210c\" data-id=\"57e210c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a1e67d elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a1e67d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u201cSide by side we watch this new summer day blossom into beauty even as it leads us through the stations of agony. We know the rhythm so well but familiarity and repetition never mute the pain. Not even love mutes this pain. But love has surely transformed us, the sorry souls who live in pain.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2014<em> The Winding Way Home<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bec434c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bec434c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A moving story with rare spiritual depth<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc9f628 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc9f628\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When disaster strikes Jesse and Alexandra\u2019s family, their lives shatter. Jesse\u2019s grief triggers a full-blown psychiatric crisis, which spurs a most unusual spiritual quest in an attempt to find a way to feel at home in what suddenly seems like a cruel world. In the midst of her own trauma, Alexandra is diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, further pitching the family into desperation. Jesse\u2019s weekly breakfast with two of his children, along with Alexandra\u2019s determined efforts to fight the erasure of her memories, holds the family together despite the agonizing uncertainty surrounding all of them. Jesse and Alexandra find themselves drawn into the horrifying world of missing and abducted children and the minds of their captors, and eventually adopt an abduction survivor named Maddy and her young children. Together, they forge a new and expanded family, and create a home where everyone can heal. This is a family saga, a love story, an account of child abduction and its exacting aftermath, a tale of hard-won hope, and a profound exploration of the spiritual potential of ordinary life in the face of the unthinkable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65d35ef elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"65d35ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45aba1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"45aba1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Praise for <i>The Winding Way Home<\/i><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-023cba3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"023cba3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">As a one-time English professor, having absorbed countless works of fiction, I have never read a novel more devastating nor more beautiful.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Patricia Browne<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Former Professor of English, St. Catherine\u2019s University, St. Paul, Minnesota<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c75b36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"8c75b36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">Disturbing, inspiring, daring, heartwarming, this is a novel of family, of terrible events, of deep and patient love (the erotic is not neglected), and of ultimate experiences and mysteries. The prose is engaging, the storytelling deft and resourceful, the vision of life opening into a larger vision of Being itself.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Brian Jorgensen<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Professor Emeritus, Department of English, Boston University<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e2f9c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"9e2f9c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">The <em>Winding Way Home<\/em> is a story about constructing meaning after unspeakable evil renders reality absurd, about the power of love to transfigure traumas that are beyond the reach of healing, and, ultimately, about the immense beauty, unspeakable wonder, and infinite spiritual vitality of everyday life. Providing a searing vision of the depth dimension of human existence shorn of all supernatural obfuscations, it's a must read, especially for the spiritual but not religious crowd.\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 David Rohr<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Center for Mind and Culture, Boston<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e73aede elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"e73aede\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">Wildman creates an engrossing multigenerational narrative of present-day America that resonates with <i>East of Eden<\/i> and <i>One Hundred Years of Solitude<\/i>. He also brings to us the mind and heart of Jesse, a quintessential religious naturalist, who creates a fascinating version of reality.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Ursula Goodenough<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">President, Religious Naturalist Association and Professor of Biology Emerita, Washington University in St. Louis<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af71fb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"af71fb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">This is a novel I can heartily recommend. It is contains profound insights about the sometimes extremely weird workings of the mind, shocking struggles with monstrous evil, the challenges of family relationships, the maturation processes of children with different characters and backgrounds, and, most of all, the healing power of human love. Wildman\u2019s characters are sharply drawn and engagingly different. Their complicated interactions with one another constitute the unifying theme of the novel. The novel is evocatively religious in its sensibilities without references to anything supernatural. It poses haunting questions and tentative answers to these questions, each of which merits serious reflection.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Donald A. Crosby<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Colorado State University<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bdbe61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"0bdbe61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">In this hauntingly beautiful novel, Wildman demonstrates that even the most heinous tragedy can be transformed through the alchemy of agape love. <i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> wilds mysticism and metaphysics to explore the intricacies of the mind, overcoming unspeakable trauma, relatable familial struggles, the bondage and freedom of death, and the resilience of the human spirit. It is an enthralling journey.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb1bb51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"bb1bb51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">In <i>The Winding Way Home<\/i>, Wesley Wildman integrates his theological background with the life concerns that confront human beings daily. The story raises questions about what does and does not have priority in individuals\u2019 and families\u2019 lives, whether there is anything that impacts those lives from beyond day-to-day contexts, and how to connect with a loved one now absent or deceased. The family dynamics include both traditional and non-traditional settings, with happy and struggling relationships, personal growth and change, experiences of connecting beyond the visible to the invisible. I found myself pondering what is (or is not) real and how the Holy might (or might not) impact my experiences and those of others. I strongly encourage others to immerse themselves in the story as well as in the spoken and unspoken questions raised in it.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Bishop Susan Hassinger<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9946bb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"9946bb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is traumatic, transcendent, and exhilarating. Through a cornucopia of characters, arresting themes, and captivating plotlines, Wildman explores the duality of joy and sorrow and the meaning of life. In less capable hands, the darkness might obscure the graceful beauty that emerges from the lives of ordinary people. There is nothing cheap about this grace. Rather, there is an affirmative spirituality in the face of the awful things that fate brings our way.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 William David Hart<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Margaret W. Harmon Professor of Religious Studies, Macalester College<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5179a97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"5179a97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">TS Eliot wrote that 'humankind cannot bear very much reality'. This sophisticated and searching novel is about just that - bearing reality, in the face of almost unimaginable trauma. Skillfully chronicled, it also breaks innovative ground in understanding the human imagination. Warmly recommended.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Christopher Southgate<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Professor of Theodicy, Exeter University<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae58c85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"ae58c85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is a captivating novel in which Wildman draws on various religious, philosophical, and scientific perspectives at strategic points in a well-crafted, human-interest story dealing with heartbreak and hope. Realistic, complex characters create a warm patchwork quilt \u2013 many personalities, talents, and challenges pieced together with strong relational threads throughout the story. The narrative moves at a comfortable pace with authentic dialogue appropriate to the situation, which richly contributes to the plot, to character development, or to psychological insights. Wildman conveys tragedy and its emotional aftermath with sensitivity, often reflecting the turmoil and spiritual struggles within his characters\u2019 psyches. The novel\u2019s multifaceted layers of misfortune, frustration, and resilience make it an ideal book club selection.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Joyce Ann Konigsburg<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Department of Religious Studies, DePaul University<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f086be9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"f086be9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is an astounding and achingly beautiful story about what love can do\u2014the enduring love of an ordinary family searching for healing in the face of unspeakable tragedy, the fierce love of an extraordinary mother protecting her children from monstrous evil, and the mystical love of a less-than-ordinary sannyasi learning to see, accept, and even worship the world as it is most truly, intensely, profoundly. The novel is a slice of life that opens out onto reality as a whole, reality in all its wonder and possibility, complexity and depth, wildness and ambiguity, grace and horror. As readers, we are invited to taste the bliss of surrender and given a glimpse into a strange but adventurous spirituality, a spirituality of suchness, a spirituality that reveres\u2014yes, loves\u2014what is, without the illusory comforts of supernatural fictions. Wildman\u2019s courageous novel belongs on the shelf of anyone who has become disillusioned with traditional religious \u201canswers\u201d to the problem of suffering or has tried to find meaning, hope, and authentic spiritual sustenance in the midst of trauma and unredeemable loss. In the closing words of the luminous protagonist, \u201cLove conquers nothing but it changes everything.\u201d<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Demian Wheeler<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Associate Professor of Philosophical Theology and Religious Studies, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-618de61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"618de61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is a multilayered, page-turner of a novel about a family living, loving, and learning to be human in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy. The story focuses on the father's spiritual attempt to join devotion to his daughter's memory with loyalty to the moral complexity of a world saturated with value but shorn of the supernatural. The novel shows us how one man strives to live meaningfully in the world as it is, rather than as he would like it to be, and in so doing, how he learns to revere its staggering beauty and goodness along with its pain, loss, and violence.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Michael S. Hogue<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Author of American Immanence: Democracy for an Uncertain World<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f1a71f elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"7f1a71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> offers a different kind of answer to, or perhaps an exploration of, the age-old question of how people make sense of their suffering. In addition to a compelling story about how an extended family deals with the aftermath of heinous crimes, the novel explores questions of theology, spiritual technology, and the sometimes fuzzy lines between madness and genius. Wesley Wildman brings his formidable and edgy thinking about religion and spirituality into the form of a novel for everyone to encounter.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Daniel J. Ott<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Dean of the School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts at Eastern Mennonite University<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0acbf5f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0acbf5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65db146 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65db146\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">News about the Book<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-630dd54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"630dd54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>September 26, 2023 \u2013&nbsp;<i>BU Today<\/i> published an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/articles\/2023\/wesley-wildman-on-writing-fiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">interview<\/a> with Wesley, focusing on the challenges he faced when transitioning from technical nonfiction to writing fiction. The interview also gives some insight into why Wesley decided to write fiction in the first place, and why he wrote this particular book. It even includes some clues about the next three novels in the pipeline, in case you&#8217;re hungry for more.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71ae18a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"71ae18a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7494cf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7494cf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reader Responses<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5051670 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"5051670\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is such a deep, powerful, emotional, and intellectually stimulating read. I cried cathartically multiple times. The topic of child abduction is a harsh one, which led to many heartbreaking yet healing conversations with my loved ones. How the story transitions from active grief and disbelief closer to near acceptance of what happened, coming to terms with and feeling joyful alongside the characters, is simply amazing, and reflects an extreme talent. As a reader, I truly lived every word of the book and gained a lot of appreciation for non-traditional worship and religion. The story and its characters also made me think a lot about suffering and whether suffering has or can have a purpose\u2026 Ultimately, it is a rare form of torture to never know what happens to Becca, but this harrowing uncertainty allows for the strong faith that Jesse is able to develop, and that the reader experiences alongside him. Somehow, you have to make sense of senselessness and uncertainty. I will be recommending this book to many friends!<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Anna Dechantsreiter<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Medical student, Berlin, Germany<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59695ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"59695ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\"><i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is an absolutely delightful and moving tale that brings you into the marvelous mind of Jesse - a fascinating character! I fell in love with both his mind and his intrepid character. As a neurodivergent person myself it was thrilling to read a novel that captured the workings of a uniquely functioning brain and sensory system in such great detail. I loved how Wildman described Jesse\u2019s unique form of synesthesia and the empathy the people in his life had for him as he struggled to craft a livable life after the tragic loss of his daughter. I loved the portrayals of each of the relationships he had with his family members - the unique love he had for each person in his life, particularly with his sons, including a son who is on the autism spectrum, and also the portrayal of his beautiful marriage with Alexandra. I also, of course, fell in love with Maddy, an amazingly resilient and brilliant young woman, whose journey of recovery was a joy to behold. I finished the novel feeling immense gratitude to Wildman for writing this novel and deep happiness for the time spent reading it. I wish that more people were like Jesse, Alexandra, Maddy and, frankly, any of the main characters in this book. The world would be such a very different and better place.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Ryan Roth Gallo, Modesto, California<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Attorney-at-law, Visual Artist, and Lead Vocalist for 20th Century Fox<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-913b1d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"913b1d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">I loved this book; I connected with it in so many ways. It penetrated deeply into my emotions and my psyche, and the story is absolutely riveting. The characterization is outstanding. ALL of the characters are totally believable. I loved these people and shed many a tear as I read. I identified with so much of the Jesse\/Alexandra love relationship and the raising of their family. Most astounding were the characterizations of Maddy and Michael, who survive the most horrendous circumstances with enormous impact on their lives. Wildman\u2019s insight is nothing less than amazing. As to the primary themes of the novel, there was much I connected with. There was my lifelong obsession with Hermann Hesse, especially <i>Siddhartha <\/i>(similar to Jesse, Siddhartha discovers the eternal now, the presence of all things simultaneously, the acceptance of the world in all its totality, good and bad, as he looks into the river, and the peace and bliss he experiences as a result). Though I have never achieved the exalted state Siddhartha and Jesse achieve, I have had enough personal experience (Zen studies, transcendental meditation, and more) to believe totally in that vision. This is a very important book that I rank up there with the best books I have ever read. It is not just for theologians and philosophers; it should get out there to a large readership. If I were still teaching, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to assign it and recommend it to students, especially those living in difficult situations. This book could have a significant impact on anyone\u2019s life. It IS for everyone.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Robert Wheeler, Whiting, New Jersey<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">Department of English, Howell High School, New Jersey (Retired)<br>Department of Humanities, Ocean County College, New Jersey (Retired)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-637e65a elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"637e65a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">If I had to choose one word to describe <i>The Winding Way Home<\/i>, it would be <i>unflinching<\/i>. The plot occurs between two bookends of undeserved suffering, first in a child, then in an older adult. We do not merely witness \u201cbad things happening to good people,\u201d but rather \u201cunthinkable things happening to exceptionally wonderful people.\u201d In dealing with one traumatic loss followed by another, the protagonist turns away from the intrusive vision of omnipotent deities toying with humans for their own amusement and painstakingly crafts an alternate vision for himself composed entirely of the material of <i>what is<\/i>. Through Jesse the protagonist, Wildman dismisses without hesitation the orthodox conceptions of God as a personal being who directly interferes in human affairs, but he does not leave us in a spiritual vacuum. Instead, Wildman invites us to marvel, even to worship, the awesome spectacle of existence. It is important that the novel tracks Jesse for decades because this gives him, and by extension us, time to practice the discipline of letting things be what they are. And it is a discipline. It comes hard to Jesse, and it comes at a cost. To read this novel is to suspend all paradigms and try on Jesse\u2019s worldview. In doing so, the reader takes on a bit of that cost, relinquishing tidy but unsustainable assumptions about how things should be and choosing instead to allow the joyful and the miserable to lay atop one another, like Jesse\u2019s image-stacks, in their own kind of awe-full beauty.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">\u2014 Krista Zobel<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-job\">English and Humanities Departments, Rivier University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Manchester Community College<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4842aa7 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4842aa7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f626730 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f626730\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About the Author<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e64e2c3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e64e2c3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f79c91\" data-id=\"3f79c91\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59fa4a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"59fa4a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-78\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2-1568x1567.jpg 1568w, https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WILDMAN-116-sq-2.jpg 2044w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" style=\"width:100%;height:99.95%;max-width:2044px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ca27d2\" data-id=\"4ca27d2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-753f36c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"753f36c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Wesley J. Wildman was raised in a quiet corner of Australia, fell in love with universities, and became a professor in the United States. A veteran author of academic and trade non-fiction, <i>The Winding Way Home<\/i> is his first novel. He lives with his wife in Boston, where they raised their two children. For more, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/wesleywildman.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WesleyWildman.com<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5ba84b4b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5ba84b4b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70216538\" data-id=\"70216538\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f8826b4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f8826b4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9c8aade\" data-id=\"9c8aade\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dfcc3d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5dfcc3d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Wesley J. Wildman<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f5df092 elementor-grid-3 elementor-shape-rounded e-grid-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"3f5df092\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-twitter elementor-repeater-item-dc10550\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wesleywildman?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-envelope elementor-repeater-item-182bf57\" href=\"mailto:wwildman@bu.edu\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Envelope<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-link elementor-repeater-item-9bc67e2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wesleywildman.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-link\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-35559ca\" data-id=\"35559ca\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f78279a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f78279a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Wildhouse FICTION<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d9535d elementor-grid-4 elementor-shape-rounded e-grid-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"0d9535d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-twitter elementor-repeater-item-dc10550\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wesleywildman?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-instagram elementor-repeater-item-78cfa8d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/WildhousePublications\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Instagram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-instagram\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-facebook elementor-repeater-item-8a3fd55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WildhousePublications\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-facebook\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-envelope elementor-repeater-item-0cf904a\" href=\"mailto:info@wildhousepublications.com\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Envelope<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-link elementor-repeater-item-9bc67e2\" href=\"https:\/\/wildhousepublications.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-link\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1f10f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b1f10f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><em>Please direct all inquiries to info@wildhousepublications.com<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0a novel by Wesley J. Wildman Available now!\u00a0 Worldwide through major &amp; local retailers Order on Amazon Order on Barnes &amp; Noble From Wildhouse Fiction, September 15, 2023 \u00a0 \u201cSide by side we watch this new summer day blossom into beauty even as it leads us through the stations of agony. We know the rhythm&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The Winding Way Home<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":271,"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":385,"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions\/385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewindingwayhome.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}