An engaging introduction to what, Lindal says, is a world just outside our grasp.
Fictionalized account of one soul’s discovery of the spiritual self.
Challenging conventional views of both faith and psychology, Lindal, a clinical psychologist, takes readers on a journey into what he calls the Spiritual Dimension. This dimension, at once hidden and yet accessible to people, is the home of all human souls. In a bold, helpful approach, Lindal uses fiction heavily laced with autobiography to introduce his concepts. The story follows Rikki, a man born and raised in Iceland who encounters the spiritual world, in various forms, at a young age. He eventually meets Old Soul, a wise being in the Spiritual Dimension who agrees to be his “fylgja,” a guardian spirit or supernatural mentor. Through discussions with Old Soul, Rikki learns that all people are incarnations of much older souls, which reincarnate many times in order to experience emotions, especially negative ones: “Life on Earth is essentially about discovering who you are through creation, that is, the creation of experiences that bring about emotions within you.” Through these experiences, souls mature and evolve. Rikki also learns that challenges in his life, ranging from a speech impediment to his latent homosexuality, are choices he made before his incarnation for the sake of richer life experiences. Eventually, Rikki discovers that Old Soul is in fact his own “over-soul,” a term for the spiritual manifestation of a person that exists simultaneously with the physical incarnation. A major theme of the book is that each person creates his or her own reality. This is done before life begins, but it is also done as we live life, since we have free will to make our own choices. Knowledge of this reality, the author says, is helpful to people as they struggle through life’s problems and face life’s big questions. Though Lindal’s views are out of the ordinary, they are by no means unique. His choice of fiction to couch a discussion of the Spiritual Dimension works well, as it allows the book to describe the author’s ideas in a personalized manner. Though fully readable, Lindal’s subject matter and style may confuse readers looking for a conventional self-help book. The work, therefore, has more value as an entrée to his worldview rather than as a psychological aid.
An engaging introduction to what, Lindal says, is a world just outside our grasp.Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0993790447
Page Count: 338
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Oct. 16, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Anyone who believes in true love or is simply willing to accept it as the premise of a winding tale will find this debut an...
True love flares between two people, but they find that circumstances always impede it.
On a winter day in London, Laurie spots Jack from her bus home and he sparks a feeling in her so deep that she spends the next year searching for him. Her roommate and best friend, Sarah, is the perfect wing-woman but ultimately—and unknowingly—ends the search by finding Jack and falling for him herself. Laurie’s hasty decision not to tell Sarah is the second painful missed opportunity (after not getting off the bus), but Sarah’s happiness is so important to Laurie that she dedicates ample energy into retraining her heart not to love Jack. Laurie is misguided, but her effort and loyalty spring from a true heart, and she considers her project mostly successful. Perhaps she would have total success, but the fact of the matter is that Jack feels the same deep connection to Laurie. His reasons for not acting on them are less admirable: He likes Sarah and she’s the total package; why would he give that up just because every time he and Laurie have enough time together (and just enough alcohol) they nearly fall into each other’s arms? Laurie finally begins to move on, creating a mostly satisfying life for herself, whereas Jack’s inability to be genuine tortures him and turns him into an ever bigger jerk. Patriarchy—it hurts men, too! There’s no question where the book is going, but the pacing is just right, the tone warm, and the characters sympathetic, even when making dumb decisions.
Anyone who believes in true love or is simply willing to accept it as the premise of a winding tale will find this debut an emotional, satisfying read.Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-525-57468-2
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
Dated sermonizing on career versus motherhood, and conflict driven by characters’ willed helplessness, sap this tale of...
Lifelong, conflicted friendship of two women is the premise of Hannah’s maudlin latest (Magic Hour, 2006, etc.), again set in Washington State.
Tallulah “Tully” Hart, father unknown, is the daughter of a hippie, Cloud, who makes only intermittent appearances in her life. Tully takes refuge with the family of her “best friend forever,” Kate Mularkey, who compares herself unfavorably with Tully, in regards to looks and charisma. In college, “TullyandKate” pledge the same sorority and major in communications. Tully has a life goal for them both: They will become network TV anchorwomen. Tully lands an internship at KCPO-TV in Seattle and finagles a producing job for Kate. Kate no longer wishes to follow Tully into broadcasting and is more drawn to fiction writing, but she hesitates to tell her overbearing friend. Meanwhile a love triangle blooms at KCPO: Hard-bitten, irresistibly handsome, former war correspondent Johnny is clearly smitten with Tully. Expecting rejection, Kate keeps her infatuation with Johnny secret. When Tully lands a reporting job with a Today-like show, her career shifts into hyperdrive. Johnny and Kate had started an affair once Tully moved to Manhattan, and when Kate gets pregnant with daughter Marah, they marry. Kate is content as a stay-at-home mom, but frets about being Johnny’s second choice and about her unrealized writing ambitions. Tully becomes Seattle’s answer to Oprah. She hires Johnny, which spells riches for him and Kate. But Kate’s buttons are fully depressed by pitched battles over slutwear and curfews with teenaged Marah, who idolizes her godmother Tully. In an improbable twist, Tully invites Kate and Marah to resolve their differences on her show, only to blindside Kate by accusing her, on live TV, of overprotecting Marah. The BFFs are sundered. Tully’s latest attempt to salvage Cloud fails: The incorrigible, now geriatric hippie absconds once more. Just as Kate develops a spine, she’s given some devastating news. Will the friends reconcile before it’s too late?
Dated sermonizing on career versus motherhood, and conflict driven by characters’ willed helplessness, sap this tale of poignancy.Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-312-36408-3
Page Count: 496
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2007
BOOK TO SCREEN
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
