Longing & Be-Longing: Poems, Prayers & Reflections

by Paulette Rochelle-Levy

Full of poems and reflections from a lifetime of hope, loss, and joy, LONGING & BE-LONGING invites readers to read straight through or dip in frequently and take just what they need from it - a prayer, a laugh of recognition, perhaps even a small discovery that helps them view life from a new and more vibrant angle.
A unique approach to traditional Jewish prayers brings tradition to life with immediate vibrancy.
Adventurous psychotherapist and author Paulette Rochelle-Levy takes readers on a journey to muse on their own aliveness and the longing of each soul to return to love.

Take off your shoes
Take off your shoes
And dare to cross
Into the not too deep, not too cold
Rushing water of the springtime river.

368 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2021

Reviews

[Vincent F. A. Golphin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a volume of presentations at the 2012 International Colloquium of American Studies, on poetry in the United States, Marcel Arbeit, noted student on southern culture, writes, “Poems as Part of Everyday Life According to Fred Chappell.” On point, Arbeit writes that the North Carolina laureate thought that “bad poetry,...has too much pathos, lacks spontaneity, and is devoid of meaning...written by someone for whom poetry is no joy.”

Paulette Rochelle-Levy book avoids that trap with a blend of personal - at times embarrassingly private - reflections on her life and the conditions that plague early 21st century humankind. Longing and Belonging is an invitation to wholeness written by a poetic soul that drags its fractures into the light to make sense of an existence that plunges into nonsense.

This work of ten years and nine months is my Godwrestling, a challenging and joyous struggle through the solitude of the pandemic….This is written so that you may gain strength and wisdom for your own journey. There are so many places where we meet, even when we think we are lost and lonely.

With that, the self-described dancer, Jewish Spiritual Leader, and wholistic psychotherapist, walks readers through heartbreak, loss, cancer, love, loneliness, rejection, and disappointments toward belonging. Rochelle-Levy weaves a poetic memoir that seduces the wounded, lost and lonely - much of the current U.S. population - to follow her footsteps until they find themselves on the path.

The organized 339-page PDF, ARC I received from Reedsy Discovery, opens each of nine chapters on topics such as, “Saying Goodbye,” Healing” or “On Time”, then tosses in poems that expand her thoughts others dance alone. For example, “Psalm for Renewal” begins as a lament over the southern California fire losses where flames settle as “ashes and putrid air” on “blackened earth”, then ends with an entreaty that "dance is a prayer for healing".

From that point, the poet offers that the losses in all of life add up, then provides a stern lesson for poets and healers. “There is wisdom in insecurity, for real security does not really exist,” she declares.

Rochelle-Levy, a cancer survivor,, came to grips with mortality. “There are many kinds of death, in addition to the big Death,” she writes. In the end her key to belong is “to learn to belong to myself, to hear the voice of my own soul, my Higher Self, who has called me over and over to listen, to really listen to the voice of inner direction.”

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psychotherapist Paulette Rochelle-Levy invites the reader to “take off your shoes, take off your shoes and dare to cross into the not too deep, not too cold rushing water of the springtime river.” Through poems, prayers, and reflections Paulette takes you through her life's journey. The chapters invite you to muse on your own aliveness and the idea of longing, loss, and healing.  This unique memoir has humor, praise, and so many of the emotions humans live through.
Rochelle-Levy wrote this book during the pandemic. The worldwide experience and private experience prompted her to write something more personal. Something less basic than what she had written before. Each chapter has a short discussion on the idea, and then the chapter is filled with poems and prayers. While that sounds perfectly organized, there is chaos within the book that confused me as she bounces around in a stream of consciousness.
I enjoyed reading about her experience with religion. She includes a celebration of Dance as Prayer and prayer-poems in the Jewish tradition. I enjoyed her relationship with spirituality, and I loved reading her Jewish perspective. I loved the Dance as Prayer section and look forward to applying it to my own religion.
I received an electronic ARC (all opinions are my own) but it was not well-formatted. It caused some confusion about what lines went with which program. But I believe the written version negates this and reads nicely.
Throughout the prose, poetry, and prayers. Rochelle-Levy reveals her odyssey with the universal and its mystical expression.

Publication Date: May 21 (Paperback), June 6 (Kindle)

I received an ARC from the publisher: all opinions are my own.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚Longing & Be-longing
✍🏻Paulette Rochelle-Levy
Blurb:
Full of poems and reflections from a lifetime of hope, loss, and joy, LONGING & BE-LONGING invites readers to read straight through or dip in frequently and take just what they need from it - a prayer, a laugh of recognition, perhaps even a small discovery that helps them view life from a new and more vibrant angle.
A unique approach to traditional Jewish prayers brings tradition to life with immediate vibrancy.
Adventurous psychotherapist and author Paulette Rochelle-Levy takes readers on a journey to muse on their own aliveness and the longing of each soul to return to love.

Take off your shoes
Take off your shoes
And dare to cross
Into the not too deep, not too cold
Rushing water of the springtime river.

My Thoughts:
It's a book full of beautiful poetry, prayers and inspiration passages. I go back to the book ever so often and reread some of the poems, things I'VE highlighted and wanted to remember. I recommend this book to those that enjoy and uplifting book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Creative Path Press and Author Paulette Rochelle-Levy for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving a review to show my appreciation.

#NetGalley
#CreativePenPress
#PauletteRochelleLevy
#Longing&Be-longing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to have read this in paper form as the uncorrected kindle proof I had messed with the formatting somewhat so there were places where I had to mentally rearrange the layout to figure out whether particular bits were prose or poetry. I'm sure this will be sorted in the final drafts. On the whole I enjoyed reading this. As with any book of poetry there were some poems that resonated strongly and others that didn't at all. I enjoyed the author's reflections at the beginning of each chapter.

Other reviewers refer to this being a book of Jewish poetry, but as someone who doesn't define my faith according to any one religion I personally think it can be non-denominational. My favourite parts were these excerpts from the chapter "On Time":

What if I could pause
from rushing through Time
And cease viewing
Time as an avaricious competitor
Mocking my every attempt
To do it all, to get it all done
All at once

and

What if time is not an adversary
But rather a generous gift
A lavish offering
That asks only
That I say,
"Thanks
I'll use it well."

[Misha L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to see a book of Jewish poetry come out recently. Reading the collection, I felt that I (mid-20s and Jewish) was just much younger than the intended audience for the book. The poems were familiar and comforting to read through, full of Jewish experiences of seasons, friendships, and aging. I found myself skimming through the prose introducing each chapter. I think that older Jewish readers would enjoy this, especially those who also enjoy Jewish mysticism and poetry.

[Jessi Madrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book of reflection and poetry. This woman definitely has had a long and wonderful life and it shows in her writings. I would share with book with family and friends.

This book was recieved as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Matt Witten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poems and reflections from a woman who has led a long and interesting life. You can pick it up on any page and find something to love and think deeply about.