The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Julia’s father, a successful New York lawyer, suddenly disappeared four years ago.  No one has heard from him since.  A love letter her father wrote years ago to a woman in his native country of Burma turns up and Julia is intrigued.  Her father never spoke to anyone about the first twenty years of his life.  Since a small village in Burma is the only lead Julia has she heads there to find answers. 

This book is two stories in one.  In the present it is the story of a daughter learning about her father’s life from a local villager.  In the past it is a love story that defies all odds and makes your heart sing.  A masterfully told tale of enduring love, the twists of fate and the journey life takes us on to discover what is truly important.