Early praise for
Quarks of Light
“As I started out to read Quarks of Light – What you see when you open your heart, a near-death experience, I had an idea in my mind as to the type of spiritual or religious theme that may be shared in Mr. Gentile’s story. Of course, that idea was based on my own religious/spiritual upbringing and belief system. What I found was not expected. Instead it opened up my mind and heart to something greater, something that anyone can believe, regardless of their specific belief in a God or other knowledge of life now or life after death.
Quarks of Light provides a personal insight into the experiences of Mr. Gentile at various times of his life, as a young child, and each separate life-threatening health-related crisis.
As I read the various accounts and experiences I was filled with such love for Maria and Melanie, Rob’s daughter and wife, as well as the many doctors and health providers he encountered along his journey. I wept when he met Jay and came to know Molli.
In addition to the specifics of each experience, described in surrealistic detail, this story opens up a far greater understanding of how each of us is part of each other and how our lives, in life and after death, are entwined. It provides a deeper recognition and desire to open our hearts to the goodness around us and to seek and share the love that permeates within our souls, regardless of our individual beliefs. We are one. We are each a part of the light.”
As an agnostic, I approached Quarks of Light with caution. Gentile’s story of recovery and its redemption was impressive to me, and yet as I read it I lost two dear friends to untimely death, so it was difficult for me to completely credit God with its positive outcome. Nevertheless I was impressed with the depth of detail and faith expressed, and the clarity of its prose. If there are such things as miracles, this book without doubt captures the course of one.
“I don’t have enough words to describe this book! I do, however, believe that this is exactly what the entire world needs to hear right very now. What an amazing journey, and proof that there is more to life than what we are currently focused on. We all have something to take away from his experience, the good and the bad. Everyone and everything are connected through God’s perfect light. All of Humanity needs to read this book, and then it can be saved.”
“I’ve just finished Quarks of Light. If the emotional ups and many downhill / dark moments don’t bring you to tears you are not human. God has blessed this man for a reason and gave him a job to do. Testify! Life has a purpose, love others, share it often.”
“My emotions started bubbling up during the first few paragraphs. By the end, I had mascara running down my face, and couldn’t breathe out for fear a flood would tidal out my nose! I was left with a feeling of EVERYTHING. Joy, sadness, euphoria, loss, excitement… thoughts of beginnings, endings, and the state of our species. And myself. This is a stunning book. I LOVE Quarks of Light.”
“While there have been many books written on the ‘near death,’ or more accurately, actual death and returning experience; Quark’s of Light far exceeds these in message and content. Wonders encountered on the other side, and the all-time question, ‘What happens when we die?’ is amazingly addressed in Quark’s of Light, with stunning detail. The book voices the full story of watching the suffering of those we love, the pains of having a special needs child, and the damaging effects – and sometimes even the ultimate destruction; social media has caused on our children. As finely tuned athlete’s, we fight through the continual physical, emotional and spiritual pain…until we can’t. Quark’s of Light discusses this too, in the unique way of relationship we have with each other, and the intimacy offered to us by our Creator – 1 John 4:8 ‘Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.”
“I once heard a story about the publishing giant Louise Hay, who was on stage welcoming an audience of thousands to a weekend-long spiritual, health and wellness event sponsored by her company, Hayhouse Publishing. Ahead lay dozens of workshops, classes, lectures and meditation sessions led by a wide variety of teachers, researchers and authors. Louise surprised everyone by declaring that every one of the session leaders would actually be communicating the exact same thing. How could this be? Some sessions were about meditation, some about nutrition, some about energy medicine, some about music therapy and so forth. Louise said that even though the instructors came from different media, had different life paths, different methods, different approaches, that the attendees might look for the common message in every teacher’s lecture.
Rob Gentile’s astonishing, beautiful, and miraculous near-death experience story is very different from and yet somehow exactly the same as the stories of other “NDEers” in the manner that all those Hayhouse workshops were. The “different-ness” opens me to the possibility that no matter who you are, where you come from, what your past experiences are; no matter how separated you’ve become from yourself or your source, miracles can – and do – happen to anyone.
And it is the sameness of his story to other NDEers that confirms, also, that miracles truly do exist. The more I encounter the unique-yet-similar experiences of those with profound spiritual breakthroughs, the more that “sameness” leads me to trust in Life, in Love, in the power of compassion and forgiveness. The more I see the miracles in my own life. The more I trust that we are spiritual beings first and physical humans, a distant second. The more I understand the “oneness” that is referenced by spiritual teachers, but that I could never grasp. Because in one way or another, all near death experiences seem to point to the same thing.
I am no researcher, just someone extremely interested in what is revealed to near death experiencers and how those revelations change them forever. I’ve read hundreds of NDE accounts; and I strongly recommend Quarks of Light. It is with profound love that Rob bares himself, his story, his vulnerability. The twists and turns of his unfolding challenges and the miracles that result left me in awe of the power of love and surrender. And I realized the common message that Louise Hay urged her workshop attendees to become aware of, the thread that runs through all Truth, all Life, all Stories. It is here in this book, too, waiting for you to discover! Indulge yourself in Quarks of Lights and perhaps it will jumpstart your own discovery of miracles.
“I loved this book! Rob Gentile tells a compelling narrative of having a massive heart attack, then flatlining. He tells of the things he saw on the other side, including a visit from a relative who had taken his own life, with a message of hope. Of a doctor who, against all hope, refused to give up. In addition to his narrative of his visit to ‘the ethereal,’ he also shares his experiences of returning to this life, and his thoughts and musings about it all, relying heavily upon his personal journal, recorded while these events were fresh. He was told he needed a heart transplant to survive, and indeed, he did receive a new heart, accompanied by a number of unlikely events along the way. While awaiting a heart to come available, he experienced a second visit to the ethereal, where more understanding was made available. He saw a network of lights covering the whole world, showing him how we are all interconnected. For more on this, you will have to read the book. Also, he gets a message of hope and love about his daughter, who has Rett Syndrome. During his recovery, and helped by his new heart, he has strong urgings to connect with the family of his donor. I found this part of his journey both heart-warming and heart-wrenching—in ways that lifted me up. In the end, we are all connected. Separation is an illusion. Each individual is important, and there is hope for all. All in all, a good read. I highly recommend it. 5 stars out of 5.”
“This book delves into the existence of coincidences or no coincidences, free will, love and miracles. A very compelling read. Decide if it coincides with your beliefs of the afterlife.”
“This story impacted me at a visceral level…I have such a strong sense of identification with this journey or, perhaps better-said, the spirit of the journey, that a deep and powerful excitement overwhelms me. I know this sounds strange, if not totally nuts, but I feel the way I imagine someone would if they come round a bend and walked smack dab into a place, they have been yearning for yet dared not dream existed. I am filled with gratitude and joy. What on earth is going on with me? Thank you eternally.”
You will have people who believe its fiction, but also those who know it is real. Some parts were beyond my knowledge but will read again and again to hopefully gain wisdom. I don’t know what should be said in a review, but just know you need to follow through with publishing. Your life story touched me in ways, I could go on and on. THANK YOU for your bravery in telling it. I also need to: FIRST: To start journaling again. A new book has sat beside my table for months, with nothing in it. SECOND: To be kinder, gentler and more understanding to those I love, and those who irk me. THIRD: To remember who our CREATOR is and share with anyone who will listen. I would like to know when its published so I can buy copies to give to those I know would like to read.”
“Thank you for the privilege of being one of the first to read this great book! Wow, this book is amazing! There are so many points and subjects embedded, that just about everyone could pick out a couple instances in their own life that match up exactly with what Rob experienced and went through. It expresses how our conversion is completely a gift of Love from God. Rob’s ability to share his innermost feeling during his highs and lows, and then connect them all back to God and to the Light; confirms that there are no coincidences. Once we start to cooperate with the quiet voices, we will start to experience great joy. We will be able to look back and see that the Voice/Light/God has always been with us. Rob’s story is for those that have to face their inner most fears, and for those who love someone that has had a spiritual awakening, this book allows the complete understanding of the spiritual conversion and experience – and to those that know in the inner most self, that they (we) are here to complete a mission from God, to do His work, through His grace.”
– Rey Gonzales, Houston, Texas
“Guided by the memories captured in a lifetime of journaling, Quarks of Light: What I saw that opened my heart, a near-death experience is an emotion packed journey of a man struggling to understand his life to this point and what may lay ahead. Rob Gentile weaves his memories of a childhood and youth spent desperately searching for identity and meaning; the challenges he and his wife, Melanie, encounter raising their special needs daughter, Maria; and the devastation of facing a massive heart attack at age 56. With hope of a meaningful recovery quickly dissolving before his eyes, he begins to question whether the potential outcomes justify the attempts at recovery. With life offering more questions than answers, Rob can’t help but attempt to take more control of the world around him. Family, friends, co-workers, medical professionals and even casual strangers ultimately help him piece together the understanding that surrendering control is his gateway to where the greater knowledge is housed.
Regardless of your beliefs or life’s path, you will find yourself often in the pages of this book. You may relive your experiences as a “Melanie,” keeping it all together and putting on a brave face as a loved one struggles with medical issues. Pages later you may see yourself as an individual, friend or parent of someone challenged every day to fit into a world that doesn’t seem to understand. As a person of faith, you will look to the examples of “Paul,” the “Rev” and others, and seek opportunities to be generous in sharing your own path of spiritual enlightenment and to provide physical and emotional comfort when you can. You will find yourself wanting to be kinder and more welcoming to casual conversations. And, of course you will see yourself as Rob, trying to make sense of the unexplained in your life.
While you will not find all your answers in this book, the discoveries that he shares will provide comfort and hope to anyone who reads it.