"This was true mystical vision. This I could never have anticipated. But I knew that we were both on the same galactic journey into the great void that contains us all. I was standing before a boundlessness that could swallow the stars in a heartbeat."--from Breakfast at the Victory
Risky business . . .March 4, 2008 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was about to give up on this book, when I began to see it as a loose collection of essays on pre-Freudian depth psychology (what some would call mysticism). Taking incidents from his own life, the author finds those points where ordinary experience opened doors into altered states of awareness. These states are understood by him mostly in terms of traditions within the world religions. For readers unfamiliar with the mystical, Carse's explanations can founder in ambiguities that defy comprehension. I often followed his confident lead into clouds of unknowing only to get lost in the fog. But it's a testament more to his tenacity than mine that I stayed with him to the end of the book, intrigued by the occasional discovery I was able to make along the way.
Of particular interest was his attempt to come terms with the enigma that is Robert Frost. A man whose poems ring with a wonderful lucidity, Frost we now know was not anything like the thoughtful, country gentleman who seems to speak in his verse. Carse's study of Frost's persona - especially his role in the JFK inauguration - acknowledges the mystery of personality itself. Reading Carse, we can begin to understand how thoroughly we are a creation of how we are perceived by others, and how this identity is and is not who we are. For readers who love to puzzle over such things, Carse is a willing - and entertaining - companion. But proceed at your own risk.
Still with meNovember 14, 2007 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I came across this book in a bargain bin at a book-wholesaler-type-place in a strip mall in Traverse City, MI when I was in High School. I'm thirty now and haven't been back to Traverse since I left. But this book has gone with me everywhere--when not physically, then it is there in my outlook on life. Now I am re-reading it again. Thanks, Carse.
Breakfast at the VictoryAugust 9, 2005 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is insightful and inspiring. James Carse is a poetic and Talented writer with great ideas.
Poised and thoughtful. Mystic without dogma or preaching.September 27, 1998 5 out of 6 found this review helpful
A short and perfect connection between spirituality and everyday life. Perfect for people who need help finding a spiritual side and can't stand to take leaps of faith. If this book was widely read, we would live in a better world.
A "bible" for today - and tomorrow.November 28, 1997 13 out of 13 found this review helpful
My uncle had given me a copy last Christmas. We discussed the book, and its impact upon our lives, fairly often. When he was hospitalized late this year with what turned out to be fatal colon cancer, he insisted upon having his copy with him in the hospital. When you read Breakfast at the Victory, you'll understand why. Its one of those once-in-a-decade books that affect you for the rest of your life.
