Heart's Calling [Paperback]

Michael DiBenedetto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2000

Heart's Calling is the story of Michael Allen, a man's man who is not quite ready to join the world of his father when he lands on the crooked porch of the Second Avenue Shelter and Hotline. Staffed by a collection of down to earth volunteers, Allen is drawn into their curious world, mingling with, among others, a living Christ, a bulimic angel and a miniature man with a god complex.

Interacting with the bizarre and intense, Allen's heretofore-unchallenged life comes under question, leading him to embark on a journey of self-discovery through issues such as addiction, intolerance, and men and masculinity.

With the help of a therapist and his new collection of friends, Allen struggles to break free from his father and define for himself what it means to be a man.

Funny and touching, the story depicts the process of change as it is, often painful, sometimes humorous, always challenging.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The author is a practicing Psychotherapist, writing about the therapeutic process in a way that is not only educational for the reader but inspiring.

From the Author

Heart's Calling is, in part, a fictionalized account of my experiences during the late seventies at an organization called Everyday People, a suicide and crisis intervention service provider staffed by counterculture types.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 297 pages
• Publisher: Spring Hill Pub (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967439108
• ISBN-13: 978-0967439105
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,019,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We WERE the people our parents warned us about., February 2, 2000

By 

Al Boss (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart's Calling (Paperback)

I loved reading this book. I thought "Heart'sCalling" was incredibly evocative. I could picture the people,hear the conversations, and almost even imagine the (ugh) smells! I read the book mostly on the bus to and from work, and at least once per trip I'd find myself snickering and laughing and grimacing to such an extent that the people in the surrounding seats would look at me as if I were a refugee client from the Second Avenue Shelter itself. The author has managed to capture and convey the essence of several subcultures and societal fringe dwellers: social service providers, drug users, those who pursue mental health (and those who should but don't), volunteers, college students, liberals, conservatives, radical vegetarian anarchist food hippies, you name it. What's more, he's managed to unite us all with a common thread of humanity and shred of decency. "Heart's Calling" applies to more workplaces and life experiences than you might think. My previous job was at a Pacific Northwest healthcare software company, not some emergency shelter in the Midwest. The read still rings true to me.

There's a certain magic about the kind of people who are drawn to work in emergency services, a strange and wonderful electricity between them and in their interactions with their clients. I've been trying to explain it to "outsiders" for years. This book does a better job than I could ever hope to. From now on, if anyone asks me what my work is like, or what my life has been like, I'm just going to give them a copy of "Heart's Calling", a glass of red wine, and some good cheese and dark chocolate.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just One More Chapter..., July 14, 2000

By 

Patrick Doran (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart's Calling (Paperback)

My sister called me long distance a few weeks ago to tell me about "Heart's Calling" by Michael DiBenedetto. Recently I called her back to thank her for recommending it. This is definitely one of those books where you tell yourself "Just one more chapter and then I'll turn off the light", except then one chapter turns into three and before you know it the clock says 2 a.m.--but then, I guess lack of sleep is a small price to pay in return for the enjoyment a book like this offers. I found the images vivid and the dialogue realistic, and by the last chapter I felt a little wistful because, as strange as this may sound, I knew these characters were leaving my life, and I wasn't ready yet! I felt as if I had come to know these people, especially the lead character, Michael Allen. It was like I had known him for years. I understand this guy. A question for the author: When is the sequel?

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Compelling, April 28, 2000

By 

Netty Doyle (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart's Calling (Paperback)

I read this book in a matter of five days. I had a difficult time putting it down and couldn't wait to pick it up again. I found the characters to be intriquing. They made me constantly try to guess what they would do next. Even though my guess was wrong, I was more pleased with the writer's endings than my own. I went from disliking Michael to having great sympathy for him to finally cheering him on. I especially enjoyed the ending. Even though I didn't want it to end that way, it was very touching and left me a lot to think about. This was a wonderfully written book.