"Hugo;

        my commendations to you on this fine novel. It is refreshing indeed to pick up a novel that is as much a work in theology, philosophy and morality as it is 'a story'. And indeed the timing could not be more appropriate, given the current centristic view of the world shared by most westerners. That poverty existed in the world was something I had known for quite some time. But oftentimes, we overlook the poverty because we don't have images to match up with the poverty. Your book is a captivating piece of work that doesn't take the reader to these places inasmuch as you bring the places to us. The book is unique in that it might very well be 'genre-less' - it is indeed a fictional account of one man's journey not only to South America but equally to the inner regions of his own soul. Yet, there's no secret that this book is documentarian in nature as well. The images that scroll across the screen as we read this book are all too real. It's as much a case study in capitalism, environmental and social neglect, church and government neglect, and a study in the metaphysical, as it is a 'novel'. The book provides something for everyone on the great pendulums of life - the devout and the doubters, the capitalists and the humane, those lost and those found…the eye openers should strike us one and all.

        If anything, your book proves that with art we can achieve greatness when we stray from the norms. My appreciation to Eagle Vision for having the foresight to publish such an important work in a time when neglect and ignorance are at an all-time high among those of us who tread upon rich soil. When I met you at Chapters a couple of weeks back you signed the book I bought, indicating your wish that this book would inspire me. It not only inspired me, it helped me to grow in the very short time it took me to read it. The image of that child, observing the leaf in a puddle of sewer water, and yet finding joy in the midst of such despair found its way to my heart and mind. I wrote a poem that essentially attempts to capture that moment. Hopefully you will find in the words of that poem the degree to which your book did inspire me…

 Leaves in Puddles

 

These are the children of poverty

Born into this plight

Through no doing of their own

Walking through the village pathways

With shoeless feet and tattered clothes

And a sense of accepting what is less

Because they’ve never known there is more

In other corners of a hidden globe.

I see one young boy right now

Sitting in the middle of the village road

Observing a leaf trail slowly across a puddle

And laughing as though this were joy

That the unsuspecting leaf was a toy

And I wonder how it is heavenly possible

That amidst such earthly ruin and loss

The spirit is able to somehow rise

From such an impoverished little boy

Who can only hope there will always be leaves in puddles.

 

                                          April 9, 2005

 

“Dear Mr. Bonjean, I will begin by saying that I was the lucky recipient of your incredible book " In the eyes of Anahita" as a Christmas gift. As yet, I am not finished reading it, I am trying to savor it. I thought it would be an interesting read, I have spent time in different areas of Central Mexico and the Latin American culture is fascinating and important to me.  I was not prepared for a book that describes so eloquently a view of the world and our role in it, that I have been a student of for years. I am a member of an amazing book club, and this is going to be my selection for everyone to read.  Thank you for your insight, and your most amazing book!  Robin Grimstead, book club member”

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Mr. Bonjean,

I have just finished "In the Eyes of Anahita". I found it an excellent read, and many of the important themes parallel my own experiences and change of perspective after travelling.

I think the biggest benefit of your book will come as a result of changing those that, for whatever reason, do not travel to places like Peru, Chile and Argentina. I am encouraging many around me to read your book, so that they too can share in some of the insights that I have learned and that you do such a great job of presenting. For me, many of the ideas and values that we seem to share have been firmly cemented in my mind by reading your book.

Thanks, Ryan Phillips, world traveler.”

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hugo Bonjean,

I recently purchased your book in Saskatoon at the exhibition. I asked you to sign it to my son who was in a rehabilitation center for drug addiction at that time. You signed it " For Travis enjoy the reading & may it inspire you" and inspire him you did! He has been clean for a month now and he just finished the book this past weekend and he couldn't stop talking to me about it.

Sincerely, Shelly Mcketsy, mother.

P.S that was the best $22.00 i have ever spent on him!”

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“A few months ago while browsing around in a Chapters store in Calgary I came across your book In the eyes of Anahita, and what I read on the back of the cover sure interested me. I then decided to buy the book, and left it on my night table for a while, as I have a crazy schedule working full time outside the house, operating a farm with my family and raising our daughters with my husband. I love reading, but don’t have enough time…! Finally last week I started reading the book and couldn’t put it down. It is one of the most amazing books I have read, the message you convey, the questions you awoke in me were phenomenal…! I was born and grew up in Mexico City, I speak fluently French, Spanish and English, the poverty, the contrast between rich and poor that you talk about, I know it very well. I sure hope a lot of people can read that book and get the message you convey, that wealth is not the only thing in the world, and that the world is in dire need of more people like you that look at human life in a respectful manner no matter what. Rather than focusing on becoming richer and richer no matter what...

 I hope one day to have the privilege of meeting you and maybe discussing some of those issues. In the mean time, I will make changes in my life and I will be visiting some of the web sites you mentioned at the end of your book to see in what way I can maybe help making this world a better place for all of our brothers and sisters. I have passed the book to my two daughters to read and will definitively recommend it to as many people as I can.  I wanted to send you this note to congratulate you for having written such a powerful book

 Good luck in your life.

Marie.”

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hi Hugo,

I finally completed your book today. I bought it at the “Celebrations” Art and crafts show in Edmonton. You can add my name to your list of people who thoroughly enjoyed it. (I hope it becomes a best seller for you and our planet) I believe that we all have a calling however we need to be silent and calm to hear it. You have some tremendous insights, when you write about the light with-in- I too try to express a similar experience that I had, in 1986, through my art. Not everyone can see it but I truly believe we are all connected to the “source”, I watched my mother’s spirit leave her body after 7 weeks in ICU after a fatal car accident 8 years ago. So my faith continues to strengthen.

Thank you for signing my book – To Carmen enjoy the reading. May it inspire you!

Signed Hugo Bonjean

Thank you Hugo, you have inspired me. I think this might be the first Author that I have wrote to tell them that and I have read a lot of books over the years.

Hope to hear from you -continue to have a great Journey!!!

Carmen Haakstad”

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Dear Hugo,

I would just like to thank you again for taking the time to speak to our book club on Monday night.  I thoroughly enjoyed our evening with you.  The time flew by and I wish we could have had more time to talk with you and listen to you and your stories.

I want to let you know how much your book affected me.  It has given me a lot of insight into myself, both personally and spiritually.  I have already noticed some changes that I have made within myself and how I deal with certain situations.  People have often spoken to me about books that have impacted them and I have always been skeptical about it, but this was the first time a book has ever impacted me in such a way.  So many of your words echoed my thoughts and feelings, it was like you were inside my head.  I was wondering if you had already sent or considered sending your book to Oprah?  If anyone could get your message out there, she could.  And I think she would be on the same page as you in your thinking.  If you need it to be sent by someone other than you or your distributor I would be very happy to send it to her with my highest recommendations.

Thank you again for your time and also the wonderful cookies your wife so kindly baked for us.  You are a very well spoken man as well as a very well written one.  I wish you great success in spreading your word.

Yours truly,

Lauren Dawe”

                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I thoroughy enjoyed reading In the Eyes of Anahita. Hugo, you are a remarkable thinker and an inspiring man. My children and I just sponsored a foster child, a boy named Al Mamun from Bangladesh. I carry a new way of thinking in light of your book. Bravo to you and your family. What a wonderful thing it is when we learn to think outside the box, and begin to watch the dominos fall, one by one in the world. I wish you all the best." -Diane Dolsen, legal counsel.

                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------