Call It Wonder: an odyssey of love, sex, spirit, and travel by Kate Evans

Call It Wonder: an odyssey of love, sex, spirit, and travel Reviews

• 
  Debbianne DeRose

  Must the phrase “coming of age” be reserved for adolescence? Like the oft-pigeonholed “midlife crisis,” we do ourselves a disservice when we relegate soul-testing personal growth to succinct rites of passage predicated solely by a fellow’s (or a gal’s) physical age. Kate Evans’ memoir is a series of comings-of-age, one after another like waves lapping onto the shoreline. We get to tag along on her womanly surfboard as she transmutes angst and confusion into expansive revelation and self-actualization. Or at least… acceptance, in the interim.
  
  One of my favorite lines: “I didn’t want to live a small life, huddled in a cocoon because it felt safe. Weren’t cocoons meant to be temporary?”
  
  Her epiphanies are shared in a highly approachable way. I think that memoir, far from being self-indulgent, is the most humble teaching format because the author is saying “hey, here’s my experience—maybe you’ll find pearls that resonate, or maybe you won’t. But I share it nonetheless for the benefit of those who might.” There is no proselytizing going on here, and no pretense anywhere in sight. Yet it’s chock full of useful take-aways. What human hasn’t been fraught with angst, at one time or another, over emotional entanglements with others (or within herself)? We can never glean too many perspectives on becoming self-sovereign and happy.
  
  Particularly, I loved how she incorporates ideas and experiences that might be considered “woo-woo”—like communication with the dead, seeing people’s auras, out-of-body experience, clairaudience. But she never uses such terminology. She just mentions these things as a casual observer of occasional “woo-woo” infusions into her otherwise normal/extraordinary life. (Which is perfect, since extrasensory anomalies are more “normal” than we normally assume!)
  
  If you love memoir, you’re likely to eat this one up, because it’s beautifully word-crafted, terminally honest and rich with vicarious adventure. It’s vaguely reminiscent of “Eat, Pray, Love” but this protagonist may be slightly more relatable in some ways. Come to think of it, early on in her timeline it’s more like “Love, Eat, Kvetch”—but who amongst us hasn’t been THERE? Have your tissues at-the-ready because “Call it Wonder” has the power to evoke strong emotion—and that, I believe, is the ultimate raison d'être of art.
  
  The author does something rather daring and delicate by frequently intermixing time frames and tenses, but manages to pull it off. It’s not nearly as disorienting as the movie “Memento” in its slicing and dicing of linear reality, though. In fact, it’s quite clever. It pulls you in, necessitating that you really pay attention in order to keep up. I’m sure that this could be a sticking point for some, but in a world that sometimes appears to be “dumbing itself down” in a literary sense, I say, hey, more power to you, Ms. Evans!
• 
  Kate

  Toni Morrison said: “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
  
  So that's what I did.
  
  :)
• 
  Heather Diamond

  At first, Call it Wonder reminded me a bit of those Victorian curiosity cabinets, also known as Cabinets of Wonders, packed full of wondrous but seemingly unrelated objects. It’s a book about sexuality and gender identity that is also a book about spirituality, an intellectual coming of age, a medical crisis, and intentionally becoming houseless. What could these threads possibly have to do with each other, I wondered, and what shape would they take once woven together? Like those cabinets or maybe a Faberge egg, this memoir continues to open into the past, so that we encounter the narrator on the road and in a state of physical emergency only to plunge into the story behind the story where we learn that she has been married to both a man and a woman, that she has what some might consider paranormal experiences, and that her thinking and her actions haven’t always aligned. The wonder of this beautifully written book is in its orchestration. We repeatedly see the narrator struggle with social norms and belief constrictions in search of fluidity and freedom. In search of self-definition. Call it Wonder made me think about what happens when we take off the doors and step outside of convention and open ourselves to both a sense of wonder and the willingness to wander. A lovely book I savored and am very glad that I read.
  
  
  
• 
  Alisa Moore

  Call it Wonder is a compelling Tales of the City meets Eat, Pray, Love meets Pema Chodron’s, When Things Fall Apart. Raw and edgy, Kate brings her readers on a shotgun ride through the unexpected twists and turns of her life, “sliding doors” between time and space, with each chapter. With Kate, life is unapologetically open-ended, messy, inspired, brilliant, devotional, sexual, and in the end, joyful and resilient. With her writer’s lens, she becomes the protagonist of her own story, and even as she speaks, she knows those very words will become thread for the tapestry that is Call it Wonder. Kate’s open-hearted memoir reminds us to keep asking questions and stay present with both the inevitable joys and suffering that are life. As I devoured Kate’s book, I suspected that, like me, Kate is as comfortable in an ashram as she is in biker bar, as comfortable with wine-talk, as she is with God-talk. Kate walks in many wondrous worlds, and we as her readers are privileged to peek inside her world and heart. Having read her book and resonated so deeply with her story and her observations, my internal landscape has shifted a bit closer toward freedom. – Alisa Moore, M.S., Author, Behind the Scenes: How the Universe Conspires to Support Us.
• 
  Kelly Cressio-Moeller

  Kate Evans says in her expansive memoir, "Call It Wonder"', Transformation is who I am, who we all are." This is the heart of this book. She takes us through many trials and changes (career, lifestyle, sexual discovery) and navigates through these years with sharp self-examination, reflection, and honesty. The book starts with a shocking health crisis and then unspools by altering back and forth between past and present in a way that never is confusing but encourages the reader to keeping reading and cheer her on. By the end of the book, she has completely embodied the idea that it's not what happens to you that matters but, indeed, how your react to it. She deeply trusts and relies on the power of her intuition - what feels right - and hushes the inner critic away with great success. I was both simultaneously inspired and envious! It's a very human book from a beautiful human spirit - I recommend reading it this Summer next to your favorite body of water.
• 
  Cliff Helm

  Kate has the ability to take your cognitive being through and incredible journey. Through her talent you ride an amazing rollercoaster of emotions ranging form fun and laughing to shocked, sad and teary eyed. She has the ability to write in such a fashion that weaves time in and out of the present and past with much ease. I highly recommend this book to any reader that would like to leave their senses engulfed with a diverse set of emotion. To anyone that wants to be taken away on a journey from their present day life. Once you start reading her story, you will want to continue non-stop to the ending. You will find it very difficult to put this book down once opened. She tells a story of much inspiration and dedication to herself and others. This book is a delight to read and a gift to your senses.
• 
  Sage Curtis

  I think, much like the serendipity Kate writes toward, that a book sometimes finds you when you need it most. Kate’s book has been on my shelf since her release party years ago, but I cracked it open only recently. And there, amongst familiar landscape and a cast of characters I know by association, was insight I needed and a story that was both cathartic and spiritually guiding. If you’re at a crossroads, I highly recommend Kate’s book as a tool to understanding how your intuition and agency can change your whole life.
• 
  Lisa Francesca

  This is a good read, rich in sensory detail and wise sayings to ponder. Not only a memoir but portraits of places, like Santa Cruz, and communities. I especially liked the profile Evans created of the gifted writer and teacher Gabriele Rico, and all the thoughts about a writers' life. I knew Evans was a great storyteller from her blog, and her clarity and compassion, and zest for life, are all evident here as well.
• 
  Byddi Lee

  I'm usually not into reading memoirs, but I came across this author, Kate Evans, the Author Fair in San Jose and her talk was so inspiring I decided to read her book. What a wonderful surprise and treat - I read it in three days! It was so engrossing. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I worried for her. I rejoiced with her. She inspired me. A great story, beautifully written.
• 
  Suzanne Falter

  An enjoyable read!
  
  The author has a warm voice that puts its arm around the reader. I learned about the value of showing up as who you are. Even in tough relationships and circumstances. Also a great glimpse into some interesting locations like life in Santa Cruz CA and the world down under. An enjoyable read!
• 
  Chris Englert

  I loved this book so much I bought it twice by accident! I feel like I know the author; almost every twist of her tale was something relevant to me. Such a great book to motivate, inspire, and overcome. Cheers!
• 
  Abby Lewis

  This was a Goodreads win and I'm glad i won, such an honest open memoir and such an entertainment to read!
• 
  Beth

  Excellent book. An incredible journey of discovery. Can't wait to read more written by Kate Evans.
• 
  Steve Williams

  She is a great local writer, who I shall meet someday soon. Doc Steve
• 
  Sarah

  An inspirational glimpse into one woman's "dream life," and the journey of heartache and self-acceptance it took to get her there.
• 
  Kristin Matthews

  I really enjoyed reading about Kate's journeys and self-discoveries. I relate to her in many ways; the teaching and passion for writing and travel.
• 
  Cathy

  I really enjoyed getting to know Kate through her memoir. We met, virtually, after I left my teaching position in China; she was heading to China to teach at the same college. She sent me the Kindle version of her memoir for free, and I'm sorry to say it took me two years to finally get around to reading it.
  
  Kate tells of her life as she dates, marries and eventually divorces her first husband, then falls in love with and marries a woman (Emily), divorces her, and then marries a man. Dave appears nerdy and straight-laced at first, but reveals a bohemian nature that he shares with Kate. They seem perfectly matched in their love of yoga, meditation, adventure and going with the flow. I wish I could be so free spirited.
  
  Kate is honest about her wild younger self, her fantasies, her fluctuating sexuality, her love of writing and teaching, her disillusion with academia, and her physical illnesses. She struggles with defining whether she is heterosexual or homosexual but finds that sexuality can be fluid and often defies categorization. After all, you love who you love, and there's no explaining it. Kate captures wonderfully the ephemeral nature of love and life. In her memoir, she shows great capacity to learn and grow, from being a clinging and jealous spouse to her wife, Emily, to being more secure in her own individuality. I love how she comes to the conclusion that she doesn't need anyone else to complete her, that she is complete and perfect just the way she is. I am also inspired by the life she is carving out for herself, on her own terms. An enjoyable book all around.
• 
  Susan

  I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It was a very interesting book. Not something I would have bought but I'm glad I read it. The author had a very profound journey and is worth reading. My only criticism is it jumped around in the timeline and it was confusing as to which events happened first. I wish dates would have been used at the start of the chapters or page breaks. But despite that, it was good. If you like reading biographies this is a good book for you but if you don't like them, I'd skip it.