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Alfred J.
Garrotto's
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March - April 2010
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I entered The Wisdom of Les Miserables: Lessons
From the Heart of Jean Valjean in the 17th Annual Writer's Digest
Self-Published Book Awards (Inspirational category). Although the book did not
win a prize, it got high marks in every category and merited the following
comment from the contest judge:
"Even Victor Hugo himself might be surprised (very
pleasantly) at the depths and
discoveries his memorable characters evoked in his readers, especially Mr.
Garrotto.
Those who have seen the stirring, moving musical and know the thoughtful lyrics
would
understand where the author is going, but he takes us further, deeper via the
main
character, using Jean Valjean as a moral compass for us all, a dedicated,
principled,
selfless man from whom we can learn a lot about ourselves."
My Favorite Books of 2010 (to date)
2010 Fiction (to
date) =
Cutting for Stone by
Abraham Verghese
2010 Fiction (Audio Book) (to date) =
The Lightkeeper’s Daughter
by Iain Lawrence
2010 Nonfiction (to date) =
The Naked Now by
Richard Rohr
2010 Nonfiction (Audio Book) (to date) =
[none yet]
Not a 2010 favorite, but still
a good read . . .
The Girl
With a Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
Most Recent
Blog Posts:
I
invite you to visit my
blog
site,
"The Wisdom of Les Miserables."
I have posted
"Highjacked by a Great Novel."
Plus, my personal favorite books of
2009
Alfred J. Garrotto's Profile

The
August 9, 2009, post at
Pleasant Hill Book Club features an interview
with me.
I am grateful to Adam Kondonijakos for his kindness in providing Contra Costa
County (CA)
authors with this platform. I hope you'll drop by to read this "tell all"
interview.

The Wisdom of Les Miserables: Lessons From the Heart of Jean Valjean
What can a 21st century seeker learn about
life, love, and spirituality
from a 19th century French novel?
Plenty!
"I
offer Victor Hugo’s flawed protagonist as a model for anyone in search of
practical wisdom for everyday living.
One of fiction’s most beloved characters, the former convict and life-long
fugitive,
represents humanity in both its brokenness and its potential for selfless—even
saintly—living.
"Reflection topics range from forgiveness and the primacy of conscience to the joys and sorrows of parenthood. Each Reflection explores a universal theme, including the daily call to spiritual and moral conversion and the life-lessons parents impart to their children. Questions at the end of each Reflection invite you to use the book as your personal wisdom journal.
"I have authored four religious nonfiction books and five novels. My experience as teacher and spiritual guide has prepared me to harvest the deeper meaning of Les Miserables and apply its inspiring message to modern daily life." -- Alfred J. Garrotto
San Francisco Bay Area graphic designer Douglas M. Lawson created the stunning cover art for the book.
Trade paperback, 248 pages, US$20.00, Published by Lulu Press, Inc., March 2008
What they're saying about The Wisdom of Les Miserables:
Ron Hansen,
author of the bestselling novels, Exiles, Atticus, Mariette in Ecstasy,
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Nebraska
and nonfiction works, including my own personal favorite, Faith and Fiction,
says about The Wisdom of Les Miserables:

“Alfred J. Garrotto
incorporates the text of Victor Hugo's
Les Miserables and creates a workbook out of the lessons Jean Valjean
taught through his life . . . . I particularly admired the author’s pithy answer
to the truth of fiction. I'll be ‘stealing’ that from him in the future.”
Mr. Hansen's photograph by Charles Barry
"Alfred J. Garrotto has succeeded
brilliantly in distilling the wisdom of a nineteenth century classic novel
and using it to illuminate our twenty-first century lives. This part
autobiography / part spiritual handbook
seems to me a classic in its own right, one that stands on the shoulders of
another classic."
Poet Tom Savignano, A Time To Ponder, A Time
to Sing and Prayers and Reminiscences
"An elegant collection of
inspirational meditations and exercises."
Darryl Brock,
bestselling author of If I Never Get Back, Havana Heat and Two
in the Field.
"I especially like the journaling feature--those thoughts that come
to us intuitively
when something fires our imagination so often get lost, but you've provided a
very handy way
for preserving them."
Maureen Boyd Biro, Author,
Walking With Maga (All About Kids Publishing)
“I found
The Wisdom of Les Miserables
enlightening on so many levels. I read your book
into the middle of the night until it was done! The whole book has my yellow
highlighter marks and comments
in the margins! Then, I went back, over the next week, and read it again,
making notes and answering the questions you provided....What a growing
experience!
I appreciated having that option to go deeper with the concepts and to use them
in my own spiritual journey.”
Pamela Ward,
former Director, Bay Area
Adoption Services, Inc.
"I am enjoying the personal spiritual
journey [The Wisdom of Les Miserables] offers.
It packs a big punch right in my heart. I would recommend it to anyone wants
to explore a deeper meaning in their life. I am an eclectic reader,
and a fan of Alfred J. Garrotto's books."
Reviewed on Amazon.com by “madm”
"The author’s sharing of his own
conversion, as he leads the reader through his reflection on the
major changes in the life of Jean Valjean, helped me reflect on my own
conversion.
The Wisdom of Les Miserables enabled me to see, through the mosaic of my life’s
experiences,
how I've changed from what I was to who I am today. The book also leads me to
reflect
on how I need to continue to change in order to become the person I was created
to be."
Deacon Al Fleischer, St. Ignatius Church,
Antioch, CA
"The questions are so
thought provoking . . . . Thank you for making me stretch and grow."
Sharon McKee
"A powerful, profound, honest book! The
Wisdom of Les Miserables reveals a path to transformation for each of us."
Artist Helen Tiernan, Benicia, CA
I am grateful to
B. Lynn Goodwin,
whose outstanding website,
Writer Advice
(Oct. - Dec. 2008)
features a review of The Wisdom of Les Miserables.
Take a look at:
http://www.writeradvice.com/hooked.html.
ORDER NOW FROM . . . Amazon.com - Barnes and Noble - Lulu Press, Inc.

Novels by Alfred J. Garrotto
Down a Narrow Alley
Circles of Stone
I'll Paint a Sun
Finding Isabella
A Love Forbidden
"Writing a novel is like driving a car at night.
You can only see as far as your headlights,
but you can make the whole trip that way."
E. L. Doctorow

Fellow authors,
I recommend Authors Den website for marketing your work.
Visit my personal den at
www.authorsden.com/alfredjgarrottohtm
where you can also purchase my
books.
The California Writers Club
is an organization
of professional writers, founded in 1909 by a group that included the great
Jack London.
I am
the proud recipient of the
California Writers Club
Jack London Award
(2001)
and
Mt. Diablo Branch's
Distinguished Service Award
(2009)

I am pleased to serve on the
board of directors of the
150+-member Mt. Diablo Branch
California Writers Club--100 Years of Great Writing!
founded in 1909 by an elite group of California authors
including the legendary Jack London.
Visit our Branch Website to learn more about us.
Also visit our state organization's website.
In addition to my many other involvements,
I continue to be active as a lay minister
at Christ the King Church, Pleasant Hill, CA.
(www.ctkph.org)
"To Hear the Gospel and Make a Difference"

Copyright © 2000-2010 by Alfred J. Garrotto
This site last revised
March
6, 2010