Customer Reviews

The Other Side of the Mountain: The Journals of Thomas Merton Volume 7:1967-1968

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As in other volumes of the Merton Journals, the volume editor provides an introduction and background for the text. In this case, the editor's introduction is weak in summarizing this journal and closing the seven volumes - but the words of the journal invariably speak for themselves. The journals are a joy to Mertonphiles. As with the previous volume (Learning to Love), the text is a bit distressing. Merton is petty, catty about his fellow monks, rarely reflective, and seems to live the life of a Bon Vivant - drinking wine and beer, picnicking, going out on the town, etc. - not the usual vision of a cloistered contemplative monk of a "strict observance." At times, he appears to be a perpetual college student. One can't help but wonder if he wrote and lived as he did just to prove to later readers of his work that he was not a saint. One particular event in this volume seems to be significant - even more than the celebrated meetings with the Dali Llama. His reaction to the death of his Aunt Kit in a ferry accident in New Zealand reveals the loneliness of a man orphaned in his early teens, leaving the reader to wonder how much of a persona he put up and how truly insecure he was.

As the final volume progresses, it appears that Merton is just going through the motions in keeping the journal. Some entries are casual or offhanded - his departure from Gethsemani, for example. He also hints about not returning. One feels he is living in a dream or living a dream. He is letting go of his past. He discusses getting his affairs in order with the Merton Trust at Bellarmine. He speaks of not having his papers (of which he says there are plenty) "merely to rot or get lost in the monastic library." He wants his papers to be read and seems to be planning for how people will view him in the future.

A few final words on the Journals of Thomas Merton. It was well worth reading the seven volumes and they are now a permanent part of my library. They covered the majority of his life as a religious, and a bit of the time before. The editing and preparation of the journals was very well done. The volumes are meticulously indexed, a great help to readers and scholars. The journals are unvarnished Merton. The text bears careful word-by-word reading because flashes of brilliance and insight appear quite unannounced. Publication of the journals is a literary event, but not necessarily a spiritual event - his spiritual legacy has been distilled into his other books. These will continue to be the medium by which most people will come to know Merton.

As an avid Thomas Merton fan who owns almost every book this Trappist monk ever wrote, I have been eagerly anticipating each new volume of the Merton journals as they have been released over the past few years. This final volume is the last in a simply superlative set, every volume of which is a "must have" for any Merton devotee.

As the books are journals that were not really intended for publication, the voice is not "Thomas Merton, Best-Selling Author and Religious Thinker". The voice we hear now is "Thomas Merton, Sinner Just Like the Rest of You, But Doing the Best He Can". And the bottom line is that I really like this voice! I like Merton! Not just the best-selling author Merton, but the every-day guy Merton - who makes mistakes, gets angry or even irratible, and sins in spite of himself.

Highly recommended for any Merton fan, but also of interest to religious scholars and biographers (the books are well indexed) and even everyday folks who are merely interested in the life and times of a Trappist monk in the 20th century.

IF You are a died in the wool Merton fan this journal is a must read. It (along with the other 6 volumes) helps the reader understand the person behind the books. It took me a long time to read this book because I chewed on a few pages each day and tried to picture the last year of Merton's life in my mind as I compared it to my own struggles. I loved the book! Give it 5 stars.

IF you are looking for quick insights to the contemplative mind and think Merton is a good place to look, you are correct, but this is not the volume for you. Remember this is a journal, not a book. It is open with Merton's struggles and anxieties. Often Merton quotes small portions of other works and sketchy notes that are important to him, but confusing to the reader. You probably will not finish the volume. Give it 1 star.

IF you are interested in the biographies of notable Christians, and I am, you will find this volume intriguing, inspiring, and at times troubling as you wrestle with the imperfections of a person that many put on a pedestal. Give it 3 stars and prepare to wrestle.

IF you journal, and I do, you will feel an urge after each section to go to your own journal and fill in a few pages. Give it 5 stars and sharpen your pencil.

That's as much as I can say about this book, but it should be enough for you to know if you want to add it to your library.

I found this book at my local "Catholic" bookstore and it re-arranged my head for the better. After being a pretty regular journal writer, I found myself completely taken with the "place" that Merton created as he wrote day-to-day. I discovered that I simply "lost track" of about four decades of my life......either that or his style and words brought me so completely into my past and present that time lost all meaning and I was both myself now and myself then. Since I read his last journal as my introduction to Thomas Merton in general, I have read several of his journals.......I still cannot believe that he died in Thailand when I was in high school since I feel his
presence in Fall River MA each night as I write in my own little book....must be the sign of a truly awesome writer.

Patricia Walsh

The book came very quickly and was in great shape. I love the book itself and appreciate the availability of so much literature through the Amazon affiliates. The only problem is I spend too much money, I should go to the library but this is so convenient. . . Thank you.

I would suggest this book to the scholar anxious to follow Merton's life story ,but it is certainly not a book for those interested in developing their christian faith and needing a book to help them know the Lord more.It is so full of contradictions,I am not even sure that it represents an adequate picture of firm christian life , let alone monastic life.I would imagine that his experimentation with so many other forms of spiritually led him to lose his identity.And what of the statement in the previous volume that he was to remain faithful to "M" all his life.A year later he was burning her letters without even opening them!A rather open form of fidelity! The book is probably a must for historical scholars,but for those wishing to find a book that steers the pilgrim in the rough and tumble of spiritual life, this book is not for you!