Local Author: Dennis Paige

Jolts, Synchronicities, Dream Catchers, and Milagros is the memoir of Dennis Swiftdeer Paige, an environmental educator and performer from the Midwest of the USA. In an honest and heartfelt account, he shares his life growing up in the 1950s, discovering his life's purpose, delving deep into his spirituality, and the people and events that have guided him along the way.

It details everything from inspirational hikes through the mountains to the author's failed marriage, from a UFO encounter to the spirits who blessed his wedding day. His memories of meeting everyone from school teachers to First Nations elders to presidents are recounted with the same consideration for, not what station the person holds, but what good they are doing in the world. The episodes featuring the school where he worked with impoverished children and dedicated teachers were particularly touching. His love for the natural world shines from every page, and the descriptions of wild areas and animals are beautiful and evocative.

The memoir is written in an unusual format that I haven't seen before -- instead of chronological, the episodes of his life are divided into four sections, as listed in the title. Jolts are negative and unfortunate things that have occurred throughout the author's life. Synchronicities details events, large and small, that seem to be connected in some way. In Dream Catchers, he shares some of the people who have inspired him, and in Milagros, events and encounters that seem so fortuitous, surely a guiding hand was involved. I loved this format for a memoir, and found it really refreshing. It was a relief to get all of the negative events out of the way at the start, to be honest! This format also served to highlight the deeper meaning of the book, that it's not just what happens in your life that's important, but how it affects you and changes you.

I found this book to be an inspiring and thought-provoking account of a person who, despite all the pressures of the modern world, hasn't lost sight of what's really important, and is passionate about sharing that message with others.