by Helen Barton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 14, 2017
A high-reaching work on spirituality that lacks cohesive narration.
Debut author Barton ponders spiritual and philosophical questions from various angles in this esoteric meditation on Christianity, karma, time, space, and other topics.
What is the purpose of the soul? How do we form our belief systems? These are among the questions that the author tackles in this ambitious discussion. In 10 chapters, she teases out aspects of the spiritual realm and its worth in the modern world, broaching concepts as broad as perception itself. The text appears to document the author acting as a medium for a being named “John,” who discusses various topics with a group of listeners who respond in italics, paragraph by paragraph. In a chapter on belief systems, John asks the listeners to catalog their beliefs and inquire into their origins. In another, on perception, he challenges listeners to define what creates a perception. John offers analogies and scenarios to ensure that the listeners understand each tenet under discussion, but these sometimes become hypothetical (“Just supposing you [have] been asked to be driving from A to B”). As the chapters progress, the ideas leap from the spiritual to the metaphysical, with discussion of other dimensions, “Earth time,” karma, and vibrations, among other topics. John introduces some new terms (“Disconnection to the physical is through what is called your Silver Cord”) and some empowering ideas (“To feel that you are a victim of your circumstances is to say that your Divine Essence has no intent or Will to Good for you”), all of which contribute to a heady volume of tough questions and tougher answers. The subtitle of this book could have been “Do you see?” as the narrator says that phrase many dozens of times, apparently assuming that the listeners (and readers) are, indeed, understanding each aspect of philosophy at hand. However, the book provides no clear context for either John or the listeners, so it’s hard to discern who’s taking part in the conversation and where, exactly, it’s all going. As a result, spiritual seekers looking for enlightenment from this experimental volume will have to work hard to find it.
A high-reaching work on spirituality that lacks cohesive narration.Pub Date: Aug. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-64045-858-1
Page Count: -
Publisher: LitFire Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by E.T.A. Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1996
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
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by Ludwig Bemelmans ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1955
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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