I couldn’t put this book down. The lessons learned and taught in this story are deeply profound, insightful and inspiring. All readers will be able to relate in their own way, ask questions personal to their own lives and experiences, and reveal their own truths. Highly recommended read.
Loved this book! It is a page turner and very inspiring! I would recommend it to anyone wanting to read an uplifting story of courage and hope!
I have read hundreds and hundreds of books, and this has become one of my favorites. Robert has two passions in life: helping teenagers overcome personal challenges, most of them self-induced, and climbing mountains. He comes up with an ingenious plan to combine both into one and then tragedy strikes. As I came to the last third of the book, the suspense was so powerful, that I couldn’t wait to learn if Robert could provide help for himself as he had done for countless others. Coincidentally, Robert was also faced with helping employees of three companies that were merging into one to face those challenges, the exact same situation that I have in my life. The author used his life experience and great ability to write to help me overcome my personal doubts regarding this situation. In fact, I am going to pass this book around to my fellow employees to inspire them to overcome our current situation. Thank you, Mr. Langedijk. One thing I found hard to believe: That this is his debut novel. What a gifted novelist. Can’t wait for more.
HALL OF FAME – TOP 100 REVIEWER – VINE VOICE
Canadian author Jack Langedijk received his BFA in Montreal at Concordia University and his MFA at York University in Toronto and has taught acting and directing at Concordia University and Ryerson University in Toronto. Jack’s gift is his humanistic enthusiasm and he shares his passion for life in workshops in leadership and listening and hearing to the spectrum of audiences that embrace children at the elementary school level through families and even corporations, an interest that resulted in his founding QUEST-I’m-ON, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to create and foster healthy relationships within schools, workplaces and homes. In ‘because’, his debut novel, he weaves personal lessons with a fictional setting that articulates and instills fresh strategies for social issues such as teen bullying. Yet dealing with such topics his overall message is the power we have to overcome obstacles and achieve our dreams and goals.
Reading Jack’s first novel the first response is one of surprise that a man who has not published before writes so succinctly and professionally and passionately. His language is at all times appropriate to his characters and the people who he has created as characters are so three-dimensional they seem like familiar friends.
The synopsis by the author is a fine one: “I’m not supposed to be here!” The tragic accident on Mount Everest changes everything for Roberto Sanchez, a loving 48-year-old husband to Monique, and father to Jenny. As a professional mountain climber and motivational speaker, he had reached the summit of many mountains and helped others reach theirs. Now facing the toughest climb of his life, Roberto is troubled by his own ideals and morals. As his family life tumbles through turbulent events, he is no longer the giver of service but the recipient – a shift that instills anger and pushes away the people he loves most. When Jenny receives her father’s private journal – the one he promised as her inheritance, once he was dead – it is a race against time for her to get to him…before it’s too late.”
Superb writing and a thoughtful story make this a book that deserves no[t] only a wide reading audience but seems molded for a film. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, September 15
This was the best book I have read in a while, and I read constantly. It was so enjoyable to read about a man who helped so many young people. His honesty in revealing his own failures was like a motivational speech from the heart.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book I did not want to put down. I almost feel that I should immediately start reading it again to fully absorb all the incredible insights and deep spiritual teachings. Thank you Jack A. Langedijk for an amazing read.
See Churchill’s review on Amazon
I was given a copy of this book quite some time ago, but life got busy and I sat it aside and never got back to it. I’m kicking myself now, having read it this past week. I thought perhaps I would write a review, given that I can’t stop thinking about the character’s circumstances and how, to a small degree, some of his challenges mirrored mine. I have pondered and reflected on the story, which, for me, is the mark of a great book – the ideas, characters, and circumstances stay with me long after I’ve closed the final page. Because is that kind of a book.
As other reviewers have noted, the tale is a roller coaster of emotions. It pulled me in and held me captive from the first to last page. I found deep meaning to not only his enduring spirit and desire to overcome, but in his hours of despair – he spoke to me. I will one day pick this book up again – the writer has transformed me for a day, and beyond.
I would recommend this to anyone facing challenges that are binding their spirit or slowing their course along life’s path. There is real healing in the pages of this timeless story. I’m glad I took the time to let it impact and change me.
Sometimes, when we’re very lucky, the right book ends up in the right hands–and this is what happened to me. I read “because” quickly, but its messages kept me thinking long after. The book asks us to think about how we decide who we really are and what we must do to hold on to our ideas of ‘self’ when things dramatically change. Along with Robert I learned that, while we can’t always change what happens to us, we can reframe the events in our lives in order to survive, and even thrive. As well, ‘because‘ reminded me to appreciate all of the ‘sherpas’ in my life–the ones I know and the ones I have yet to meet (help and good advice often arrives from the most unexpected sources). Finally, the book does a great job of weaving music through the storyline. Even each acknowledgement comes with its own soundtrack. In the spirit of matching music to ideas, I dedicate “I Can See Clearly Now” (Jimmy Cliff) to this book. An excellent, worthwhile read.
This morning we woke up to this glorious review for my book from Charles Dimov, an Amazon Top 100 Reviewer. This is a wonderful New Year gift for us and just as the Chinese saying “good things come in pairs”, because is on special promotion for you this weekend too!
A wonderful tale … Rejuvenating – Touching – Inspiring
I cannot say enough about Jack Langedijk’s book. I just finished reading it – and am feeling completely inspired.
For anyone facing change, a challenge, or hardship – this is a wonderful book to read. It takes you through a tragic part of a remarkable man’s life… and looks at his transformation and ability to cope/or not – with the biggest hurdle of his life.
It is a fantastic character development story, with an emotional punch. If you are going through any hardship, or challenge – you will want to read because. There were emotional moments that gripped you in a pit of despair… with a breakthrough moment that brings you back to that sense of clarity – to see the path forward.
This gripping novel has renewed my own hope in my personal challenges.
If you are looking for an inspiring novel – to get you back on your feet and ready to re-appreciate life… this is the one for you!
I loved every minute of it!
I will be recommending because to my friends! 🙂
(provided for a fair and balanced review)
You can get your copy of because from www.because.zone or the retailer of your choice.
PAPERBACK LINKS:
Amazon CA | DE | ES | FR | IT | UK | US | Lulu | Walmart
Paperback version is also made available through Ingram Book Group that distributes to more than 39,000 retailers, libraries, schools, internet commerce companies, and other channel partners, including Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo (Canada), and other well-known book retailers and wholesalers around the world.
EBOOK LINKS:
Amazon AU | BR | CA | CN (Chinese version) | DE | ES | FR | IN | IT | JP | MX | NL | UK | US | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Page Foundry | Scribd
FOR LIBRARIES:
Library Services Centre LSC | Library Bound | Baker & Taylor | OverDrive (self-published section)
Jack Langedijk sure knows how to write a powerful, inspiring and captivating novel.
A novel where we believe it was written for us, and at the perfect time in our lives.
I believe this book needs to be in schools, through a story to teach our children lessons and values.
Through Robert’s journey we realize we have all traveled through the same journeys, learning the lessons of life. The lessons become like “Oprah’s light bulb moments”. We learn we are all human, we all have pain, failures and triumph’s. Not only are we transported to Robert and Monique’s world, we are also transported back to our own. The AH HA moment…
The book captivated me, I couldn’t put it down.
I learned a lot about myself, through Robert’s life.
I wondered through the book how it would end, and it wasn’t disappointing.
BRAVO JACK A LANGEDIJK
I can’t wait for another book.
This book is a real tear-jerker that leaves you with a desire to give back to humanity. The writing puts you in the shoes of many characters and makes you feel like you’ve walked a mile in their footsteps. I hope there’s a sequel because I would be interested in the further stories of some of the other characters.