It is a privilege to be able to share my novel Buddha’s Wife with you this coming Wed. (Dec. 2nd) at BookWoman in Austin at 7:00 pm. (BookWoman, 5501 North Lamar, #A-105, Austin, TX 78751).
For those that are unfamiliar with this work of fiction, Buddha’s Wife is an inspirational story about friendship, family, loss, love and forgiveness. Thousands of books, texts and stories have followed Siddhartha’s path to becoming The Buddha (and his teachings), but little has been written about his wife Yasodhara, how she reacted to his leaving her and their newborn son in the middle of the night, and her desire to find compassion and enlightenment for herself and others.
You can order a copy, read and excerpt and see reviews at www.buddhaswife.com. There have been many wonderful reviews about the book. I’ve included some of them below.
Thank you for your precious time and attention. I hope to see you at BookWoman this Wed. at 7.
With Gratitude,
Gabriel Constans
www.buddhaswife.com
REVIEWS
Buddha’s Wife tells a fascinating story, little known in the west, about the woman whom Buddha left behind. Gabriel Constans focuses the reader’s attention on the strong and complicated women who surrounded Buddha and makes us re-think the nature of spiritual life.
— Chitra Divakaruni, international best-selling author, whose books include Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart and Palace of Illusions.
This book is an awesome read, insightful, woman loving – a challenge to all spiritual seekers to rethink, re-vise, and dream anew.
— bell hooks, professor, activist and author of national bestseller all about love.
A remarkable recreation of Yasodhara’s life. It is very readable and engages readers in the complexity of issues many women have raised about Gotama the Buddha’s life and practice.
– Katherine Thanas, Abbot, Santa Cruz Zen Center.
Mr. Constans novel is very easy to read and so smooth that I did not realize how far I had gotten until I looked at the page number.
– Coffee Table Romance
In a similar vein to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon, Buddha’s Wife retells an important story from the point of view of the women of that story. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
– Todd Mayville, The Elephant Journal
Every so often, a book comes into your hands that touches you – I mean really touches you – deep in your heart. Buddha’s Wife by Gabriel Constans does just that. This really is a book that captivates (I read it in two days because I couldn’t put it down!) and fascinates.
– Martha Jette, Gather and MJ’s Reviews
Constans writes with amazing insight into the emotions of the heart: the fear and pain of love rejected, the price and sacrifice of following one’s own heart, and the poison of hatred locked within…festering, of love turned to revulsion, and the freedom of forgiveness. Buddha’s Wife is written with sensitivity, contains powerfully poetic prose, is inspirational, and dramatically moving.
– Richard R. Blake, The Midwest Review.
Bravo, Gabriel Constans, for focusing on the women whose lives were changed forever by the Buddha’s quest for enlightenment! The fact that you are a man writing this way is even more special to me…. The last few chapters were
particularly moving and rich…Yasodhara’s decision to die as a poor renunciate is inspiring, as were Kisa’s, Ananda’s and Ambapalli’s love for her and each other. Add loyal and misguided Devadatta and confused Rahula to the mix for an intriguing cast of characters and a moving reconstruction of an ancient tale.
– Mira Prabhu, Author of the reincarnation trilogy Whip of the Wild God; Krishna’s Counsel; and Copper Moon.