The Gift of Gabe

	Brian Joseph’s debut novel, The Gift of Gabe, explores synchronicities and spiritual 
inspirations through rock ‘n’ roll and poetry, with believable characters and a friendly writing
style that makes you feel at home with an old friend.
	The title itself could be viewed as a pun, the gift of the gab. Inspired by shathiyats,
Sufi poets who channeled spiritual inspirations without fully understanding the purpose or
meanings of the words they wrote, Brian Joseph has discovered similar patterns in the lyrics of
the Beatles’ John Lennon and George Harrison. However, the novel is more than just an analysis of
lyrics, exploring rock and roll side by side with the most influential books ever written about
higher consciousness. The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix mix with Gnostic traditions, Jung,
William Blake, and Joseph Campbell to create a novel that is as original as it is inspirational.
	The story is simple. A social worker meets a mysterious old man, Gabe, in a chance
encounter that leads to further meetings and chats by the fireplace. Gabe is the archetypal Wise
Old Man, imparting his wisdom to a young pupil on his hero’s journey. Some might compare them to
Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, but Gabe is a delightfully realistic character full of life and positive
energy, a jolly old man any one of us could encounter in our lives. Some people are lucky to have
him as a school teacher, a grandfather or a friend. Gabe doesn’t preach, he merely suggests books
to read and music to listen to, and allows the narrator--and ultimately the reader--the space to
learn at their own pace. And his blueberry pies sound delicious.
	Perhaps more of a story could have been written for the narrator, ala Jostein Gaarder’s
Sophie’s World, but then The Gift Of Gabe isn’t just a book to be read--it’s to be experienced.
The interconnectedness of all things is a major theme in the novel; Jung’s idea of synchronicity,
the ocean of the collective unconscious we all swim in, and if you allow yourself to be carried by
the currents of Joseph’s storytelling, you’ll discover delightful insights when you least expect
them.
	Each meeting with Gabe introduces new music to listen to, new books to read, new ideas to
ponder. Due to copyright laws, Joseph obviously couldn’t quote lyrics in full, but a list of songs
and a bibliography would be a nice touch in a second print run. I read the book in one sitting,
without pause, and I regret not taking the time to put the book down and act on Gabe’s music and
book recommendations. It’s the kind of book you can read several times, and get something new out
of each experience.
	Cut yourself a slice of blueberry pie, get out your Beatles collection, find a comfortable
chair, and go with the flow of The Gift of Gabe, it’s an experience worth having.

Review by Rick M. Gned