Ann Cowart Lutzky

Those Beautiful Eyes Ann Cowart Lutzky

This lushly beautiful novel glides smoothly between ancient and modern realities, from temple gardens to San Francisco bedrooms, Greek Islands and African riverboats, giving a far-reaching perspective on human desire and compassion. In a farming village between Mesopotamia and Mohenjo-Daro, 2700 B. C., a young mother is about to become a medicine woman. Anarisha lies ill with fever that takes her into other identities. She lives out an alternative present, as priestess/courtesan of the goddess Inanna, and visits the lives of her own descendants-married multiracial filmmaker Michael Dagan; Michael's obsession, the beautiful Maria; and his "player" businessman father, Davidglobal-villagers of the 20/21st century. Within interconnected worlds, each a netherworld of self-delusion, Anarisha faces her greatest challenge. She must transcend the power of earthly attachment to reach the farther shore, as the Buddha named it, of all-seeing compassion. With exquisite voice, Lutzky provides a spellbinding experience of Anarisha's journey to serene awareness. Current intriguing knowledge of ancient archetypes, rituals, mythology and culture is interwoven with abundant insights into our last five decades-especially concerning nature and male/female relationship. Like beautiful eyes, this mesmerizing saga of the human family is both erotic and spiritual as it contemplates passion, impermanence, and transformation.