Into the Niger Bend: Book One of the Barsac Mission (Into the Niger Bend)

Average customer rating:

Another uncanny insight into the future by Verne.

Into the Niger Bend: Book One of the Barsac Mission (Into the Niger Bend)
Jules Verne
Manufacturer: Amereon Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
French | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0884119114

Customer Reviews:

Another uncanny insight into the future by Verne........1998-04-16

At the moment when the existence of the radio was only a rumor travelers in southern Saharan Africa are guests in a technologically advanced and surprisingly modern city being built in the desert unknown to the Western European world. Verne forsees the use of helicopters and explosive bullets in warfare against local native peoples in the surrounding countryside as well as tunnel boring machines similar to that used to construct the channel tunnel and other major recent tunnels. I read Into the Niger Bend in about 1960 in conjunction with City in the Sahara, the companion volume. My review above may have mixed elements of these 2 connected stories. At the time the 2 books were in the collection of the North Hollywood branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. I highly recommend them.

Into the Niger Bend (Barsac Mission, Book One)

Average customer rating:

Into the Niger Bend (Barsac Mission, Book One)

Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GM8WSE

Product Description

Science fiction action-adventure in the heart of Africa. Reminiscent of H.R. Haggard and other "jungle" novels. A scientific expedition finds itself in strange circumstances in the Dark Continent. Chills! Thrills! Collosal!

Book Description

Disgraced outcasts, they hold the fates of empire and gods ...

A dedicated priestess of Boq'urak, Thia has spent the whole of her young life in devout worship -- until she inadvertently discovers the unholy truth about the deity she serves. Cruelly thrust back into a world she does not know, she has become an exile in a land torn asunder by terror and conflict. But Thia will not be making her journey alone. An outcast warrior priest, a mysterious healer, an enslaved prince, and an embittered spy must join with her to save a realm ravaged by invasion -- and rescue the future from the terrible wrath of a demon god.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent beginning to a new trilogy.......2006-08-12

Storms of Destiny was the first fantasy novel I've read in quite a while, and it grabbed me immediately. A first-rate fantasy requires that an author do several things simultaneously, and Ann Crispin does all of them well. One is to introduce a cast of distinct and interesting characters. The second is to create a believable new world. The third is to keep the story moving as the characters and the world come together. A fourth item that deserves special mention for military history buffs like myself is that Crispin has done a good job with armor, weapons, and tactics: the novel's major battle is a complex and compelling tale all by itself. Finally, she has written a good yarn that not only stands satisfyingly on its own but provides a nice set-up for the next book. Storms of Destiny is a winner.

Excellent First in Series!.......2006-05-13

This is the first book of A.C. Crispin's that I have read. I inhaled this book, and was unable to put it down. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. It's a great fantasy read!

A Good Read.......2006-03-03

Storms of Destiny is a fantasy adventure from the word go. In retrospect I would say that it was a mix of Dragonlance and Planet of the Apes. A strange mix, you say? It won't seem quite as strange once you read the book.
"In a world at peril, five exiles must band together to stop a god.

Banished from their former lives, an unlikely group of comrades -- a warrior disgraced, a disillusioned priestess, a fiery revolutionary, a mysterious non-human healer, and an enslaved prince -- are drawn together in a desperate race to stop an invading army. But they soon discover the danger is infinitely greater, for their true enemy is none other than a malevolent, vengeful god who has destroyed many worlds..."

There are five primary characters (for the forces of good):
The Exiles of Boq'urain: Storms of Destiny is the first book in a trilogy about five adventurers who must defeat the demon Boq'urak. The story begins with the warrior-priest Jezzil infiltrating an enemy fortress. It goes horribly wrong and his comrades quickly find themselves outnumbered. His training tells him that he should fight to the death, but he wants to live. He flees for his life, instantly marking him as an outcast to the Pen Jav Dal

Thia is a 19-year-old novice priestess. A wrong turn in a forbidden tunnel, reveals the true nature of the god she worships; Boq'urak. She flees the temple, barely escaping with her life. She finds herself lost, not only in a world that she has never known existed outside the temple, but also in her spiritual direction. She had spent her life in the service of a monster and now has no one to pray to for help.

Khith is a generless, furred creature that lives in the jungles that surround the city of the ancients. He, er "it" is a sorcerer, healer and scholar. His thirst for knowledge about the ancients eventually gets him the boot from his community.

Prince Eregard is the youngest of the King's sons. The Crown Prince Salesin (his oldest brother) is an overpowering, greedy, manipulative tyrant and he isn't even the king yet. Even his own father (the King) fears him. In an effort to stop an uprising the King asks Eregard to sail to Katal to discover the source of the unrest (I bet you couldn't guess that Salesin's greed has a lot to do with it). On the long journey, the ship is captured by pirates (I love pirates) and Eregard is forced into slavery.

Talis Aloro hates men, plain and simple. She was savagely raped by her uncle and her father did nothing to set things right. She also happens to be the right hand...er, woman to the man who is plotting against Eregard's kingdom.

The story moves between the points of view of these characters, showing the reader the world through many different eyes.
There are a few places that seem to drag as she sets the stage, but they are few and far between. The first book of a trilogy always has the hardest duty; setting up the world and characters for the rest of the books to run with. She did a remarkable job of getting all of the pertinent information across without just spelling everything out for you. The story ends with several unanswered questions, setting us up to dive right into the next book the moment it is released.

Ann Crispin has wove an incredible story here. She fleshes out her characters to the point that they are almost tangible. Her battle scenes are brilliantly laid out; you can almost smell the blood on the battlefield. Swordplay, revolutionaries, magic, strange creatures (both good and bad), not one but two formidable enemies and an underlying moral about freedom (with it's many levels) and the cost of keeping it, this book has it all. If you enjoy fantasy at all, you will love this book. It was a fun read.

I can't wait to pick up the next one.

Tough book, but it ultimately shines.......2005-12-20

It's been a while since I've read an A.C. Crispin book, so I had forgotten how in your face she writes. Her Star Trek books are one of the few earlier ones to actually use the words "make love" or anything like that (back when Trek books just didn't acknowledge stuff like that openly, though the subtlety was always there), and she's not afraid to write about sensitive topics. Thus, Storms of Destiny hit me hard right at the outset. It's an extremely strong fantasy with vivid characters that don't fit any of the standard stereotypes, except in the broadest sense. Even better, the story is self-contained, though the ending opens up a lot of vistas for the rest of the series to explore. The book is brutal, but it's also quite effective.

Thia, a young priestess of the god Boq'urak, has never seen life outside the cloister. She also hasn't been much for the rules, being secretly taught to read and write by a mentor and how to get around secret passages in the complex. Using one of those passages to make it to dinner on time, she encounters a horrible rite that sours her entire belief system, revealing Boq'urak to be almost evil incarnate, and so she runs away. Eventually, she meets up with a warrior priest on the run from his own people for abandoning his fellow soldiers to die, a gender-neuter healer of a race of scholars who is exiled because he investigated the ancient ruins around his home too diligently, an enslaved prince who was captured by pirates as he was reconnoitering a rebellious province and sold into slavery, and a bitter spy for that same rebellion. Together, they must aid the prince's realm as it reels from invasion, as well as fight off Thia's demonic god before he can kill them all.

Crispin doesn't shy away from descriptions of battle, though she's no Michael Stackpole. No, it's the sex that's brutal (though thankfully, not "on-screen" much). Talis, the spy, was brutalized by her uncle and now has sworn off men. Thia's on the run from a god who brutalizes some of his "Chosen Ones" much the same way, and the woman who Prince Eregard loves has to marry Eregard's oldest brother, who is nothing but horrible to her. And he's not even the villain of the book! These scenes do not quite reach the level of rape, usually because either something happens to forestall it or because Crispin moves away from it in the telling, but it certainly isn't pleasant to read about. This roughness is a clear contrast with Thia herself, who is the ultimate innocent, as is Princess Ulandra, who is just as clean, and neither understands this sort of thing. The innocent love that develops for both of them (I'm not going to tell you who their partners end up being, because it's not clear until the end of the book) is quite pleasant when compared to all that came before.

Crispin has a way with her characters, grasping them and clearly showing us (rather than telling us) what makes them tick. She spends almost forty percent of the book getting them all together, so we get to see them as individuals before they are in a group. They all eventually end up in the same city, which is a bit of a coincidence, but one I can live with. The brother/sister relationship that develops between Jezzil (the warrior priest) and Thia is quite sweet and it's interesting to see just how sheltered both of them have been all their lives. When Jezzil finally comes to a decision about his loyalties, it's quite clear that the women who have befriended him are a big part of it, and it stems from the character we have seen.

In fact, all of them grow and change in believable fashion, and they are all a joy to read about. They're interesting, their backgrounds are interesting, and those histories always inform what they're currently doing. The only thing that I might have liked to have seen is a bit more foreshadowing for one sequence between Eregard and Talis after his secret is revealed (Talis was Eregard's final owner before it becomes known that he's really a prince). That came a bit out of nowhere, but it does show the effect that his wearing of the slave collar for over a year has done to him quite well. While I found the coincidence of them being in the same city to be a bit much, I did think that the reasons for them getting together, once they all had met, were quite realistic.

Finally, I'll mention the plotting. Crispin has given us an interesting story that moves from the demon chasing them all to fighting off an invasion, and the last two chapters suddenly turn all of the events of the book on their ear, paving the way for the next book. Crispin's description of action is quite good, but it's the quieter moments where she really excels. The unpleasant scenes are *quite* unpleasant, but the tender moments are a nice salve for those wounds. These characters form a bond that is a treasure to behold, and Crispin doesn't just give it to us. She shows it to us as it develops, and we believe it. The prose is wonderful and each scene does exactly what Crispin wants it to do.

I can't find any major faults with Storms of Destiny, and the only quibbles I have are mentioned above. If you go into the book knowing there are some harsh scenes and are prepared for them, then it's an even better book. Even without knowing, I quickly righted myself and could not put the book down. It will be a long wait for the next one, and I plan to have it as soon as it's published.

David Roy

Great setup, but a little draggy.......2005-10-16

A. C. Crispin has written a great introduction to a new fantasy world. Or maybe an after-Apocalypse novel. Or maybe just the first book of a decent trilogy. It's hard to tell, and it could be all of these things. The problem with this book, and why I didn't give it five stars, is that, while Crispin's writing is uniformly excellent, the book is overplotted, and the infodumps overwhelm the action. It is hard to keep going, but I persevered and it was worth it.

I am waiting patiently for volumes two and three.

Walt Boyes
The Bananaslug. at Baen's Bar

Book Description

Survive or perish in the dark heart of tomorrow.

HELL ROAD

In the ruins of a nuke-shattered America, every man, woman and child of the apocalyptic frontier makes a perilous journey to the future. But there is a fork that divides the path toward humanity reborn . . . and the road deep into the hell that is Deathlands. Ryan Cawdor made his choice long ago, in this barbaric new world that conspires against hope . . .

MONSTERS, MUTIES AND FREAKS

Eerie remnants of pre-Dark times linger a century after the nuclear blowout. But a traveling road show gives new meaning to the word chilling. Ryan and his warrior group have witnessed this carny's handiwork in the ruins and victims of unsuspecting villes. Even facing tremendous odds does nothing to deter the companions from challenging this wandering death merchant and an army of circus freaks. And no one is aware that a steel-eyed monster from the past is preparing a private act that would give Ryan star billing . . .

In the Deathlands, all you get is a one-way ticket.

Customer Reviews:

What the &^$%?.......2005-12-30

If you like Deathlands, don't read this book. If you like understandable plots that are interesting, don't read this book. If you don't do drugs, don't read this book. Basically? Don't read this book.

AXLER INFO.......2004-10-02

I HAVE NOTICED THAT NO ONE HERE REALIZES THAT AXLER HASN'T WRITTEN A DEATHLANDS BOOK SINCE #15. GOLDEN EAGLE HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT WRITERS THAT THEY USE UNDER HIS PSEUDONYM BECAUSE HE OWNS THE BY-LINE FOR THE BOOK. IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON ANY OF THE FIRST 15 BOOKS IN THE SERIES, YOU WILL NOTICE A VERY DRASTIC DIFFERENCE IN THE WRITING STYLE AND GENERAL ATMOSPHERE THAT THE AUTHOR CREATES....THIS MAY EXPLAIN SOME THINGS TO THE READERS.....

Axler writes a nail biter.......2004-05-17

I don't know what kind of spores the other reviewers have been breathing but I had a lot of fun with this one. I loved the the traveling road show idea and I loved the mountian lion. I would like to see more of him. The magus was way cool. If I had a bitch it would be that it was too short. This was another good one in a great series.

I like the way that Axler builds up to confrontations. It seems to take a long time and every page is a nail biter. The more wacked out the Deathlands get the better the read.

It's OK to skip this one...........2004-02-06

This book can be documented as a lazy effort. True Deathlands content, connective flow was replaced by the use (or mention) of past characters. Trader? Come on. WHen /if he is brought back, do it in style, the real JA style. The Carny theme was OK but end it there. Why start a completely whole new and possibly exciting encounter like the fungus, just to have one member of the team turn a valve and save everyone. Had I not finished the book it would have been better. Time is limited at my household so I try to choose wisely what I read. This time I choose poorly. Will I read the next one? Of course, doubt it can get any worse.
But this one deserves a 1.0. JA, hope your're reading this...

What the ****?.......2004-01-11

This story makes absolutly no sense. The author is trying for science fiction instead of just action but ends up with a horrible mess. The total insanity includes
1. A giant mutant mountain lion who can communicate telopathicely with a member of the party, tortures his victims so that he can prove he is alive, and has either lived through everthing that is happening or a precog.
2. A prenuclear war experiment that involves hallucinagenic snow, mind controlling fish(or a lake it is never really explained) and a symbiotic fungi.
3. Very limited action, one running gun battle and a fight between Doc Tanner(the most infirm of the group) and the secondary bad guy.

4 Titles By James Axler Deathlands Series : Salvation Road - Destiny's Truth - Skydark Spawn - Damnation Road Show

Average customer rating:

4 Titles By James Axler Deathlands Series : Salvation Road - Destiny's Truth - Skydark Spawn - Damnation Road Show
James Axler
Manufacturer: gold eagle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000WMGX4S

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

Product Description

Where do you go for comfort? Millions of people throughout the world turn to Mary, Mother of Jesus, for healing, loving comfort. Her intercessions have brought about miracles, her flowing grace has changed lives and her divine heart has sustained weary souls. In The Healing Touch of Mary, you can share in the power and inspiration of these miracles through the many true stories and achingly beautiful photographs of Madonnas from around the world. From the young girl who shares her glow-in-the-dark Mary statue with a frightened friend...to the woman in a car wreck to whom the Blessed Mother appears and holds her until her rescue...to the youngster whose broken fingers are healed with Lourdes water, these stories embody the power of Mary's intercessions.

Customer Reviews:

Must have!.......2007-08-27

This book is both encouraging and uplifting. You will not be the same after reading of the powerful healings through Mary. It is a quick and easy read. Makes a great gift for someone needing encouragement due to sickness.

A compendium of more than sixty personal accounts.......2007-06-10

Compiled, organized and edited by photojournalist Cheri Lomonte "The Healing Touch Of Mary" is a compendium of more than sixty personal accounts by men and women from around the world revealing the Blessed Virgin Mary's compassionate, loving, faith-nurturing divinity for all of humanity. Enhanced with full-color photographs of the Madonna drawn from Nicaragua, Peru, Italy, France, and the United States, "The Healing Touch Of Mary" offers dramatic, heartwarming stories of Her miraculous, modern-day appearances to Christians in need. These inspirational stories range from a girl who shared her glow-in-the-dark statue of Mary with a frightened friend, to a woman in a car wreck to whom the Blessed Mother appeared, to a child whose broken fingers were healed by Lourdes water, and so many, many more real-life examples of the Madonna's intervention into the lives of those who needed her most. "The Healing Touch Of Mary" is highly recommended reading for Christians of all creeds and denominations, but most especially for members of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Catholic communities.

The Healing Touch of Mary.......2007-01-04

Wonderful book!!! One of the best i seen on Our LAdy for some time. The writing is very good. I would have liked more traditional pictures , but that being said it is treasure of a book. A+

Truly a Healing Touch.......2006-03-08

These stories tell of real healings through faith in and love of Mary. They inspire anyone who reads them to believe that they too can be healed of whatever their dis-ease might be. This book is an inspiration.

Great stories of faith.......2006-02-02

Cheri Lamonte's The Healing Touch of Mary is an inspirational and deeply spiritual book, which brings the reader into direct contact with hundreds of anecdotes and personal experiences of the maternal role of Mary in the life of all believers. Our society needs books that motivate us to believe and conquer the pessimism brought on by faithless doubt. I find it to be a great contribution to the world of inspirational books."

Father Albert R. Cutié,
Radio and Television talk-show host, advice columnist and author of REAL LIFE, REAL LOVE: Seven Paths to a Strong and Lasting Relationship

Book Description

The United States is facing a health crisis of epidemic proportions: children are gaining weight younger and faster than ever before. With the prospect of becoming the most obese generation of adults in history, they are already turning up with an alarming assortment of "grown-up" maladies, from type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure. This book takes a clear-eyed look at what's behind the statistics and diagnoses, and what can be done about the major health crisis among American children.
Sharron Dalton begins with the basics: what obesity is, what causes it, and why it matters. Integrating information from scientific and popular sources, she reviews past remedies and their results and compares specific strategies and programs for children. When a third of our children are overweight or likely to become so, it's everyone's problem--and this book argues for a united approach, promoting the role of parents, health professionals, and school and community leaders. For each group, Dalton outlines actions to combat the epidemic. She suggests ways for parents to respond to their children in interactions centered on food and physical activities. And she illuminates a number of issues raised by childhood obesity, from the pain of fat discrimination to the economic, social, and political ramifications of an epidemic of obesity among the young.
At once authoritative and nontechnical, no-nonsense and compassionate, Our Overweight Children is a clear call to action--a prescription for treating the most dire problem threatening our children's health and our nation's future.

Download Description

The United States is facing a health crisis of epidemic proportions: children are gaining weight younger and faster than ever before. With the prospect of becoming the most obese generation of adults in history, they are already turning up with an alarming assortment of "grown-up" maladies, from type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure. This book takes a clear-eyed look at what's behind the statistics and diagnoses, and what can be done about the major health crisis among American children. Sharron Dalton begins with the basics: what obesity is, what causes it, and why it matters. Integrating information from scientific and popular sources, she reviews past remedies and their results and compares specific strategies and programs for children. When a third of our children are overweight or likely to become so, it's everyone's problem--and this book argues for a united approach, promoting the role of parents, health professionals, and school and community leaders. For each group, Dalton outlines actions to combat the epidemic. She suggests ways for parents to respond to their children in interactions centered on food and physical activities. And she illuminates a number of issues raised by childhood obesity, from the pain of fat discrimination to the economic, social, and political ramifications of an epidemic of obesity among the young. At once authoritative and nontechnical, no-nonsense and compassionate, Our Overweight Children is a clear call to action--a prescription for treating the most dire problem threatening our children's health and our nation's future.

Customer Reviews:

A MUST READ FOR ALL WHO CARE FOR CHILDREN.......2004-06-30

Inspiring and practical- Sharron Dalton's account of childhood obesity is a must read for anyone who cares about our future (our children). Adults who are struggling to help children in their care achieve a healthy weight and active lifestyle will find this book a valuable resource. As a health care professional working with overweight children for many years, I've found this book to be a thorough and practical guide for the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity. The personal burdens that overweight children bear is covered with depth and warmth. Dalton's kind and helpful tone guides you through each recommendation for change that will help to treat overweight children, and help prevent obesity in others. Reasonable steps to take for schools, governmental agencies, teachers and parents are provided in detail to inspire us and to help us get started in being a voice for the health of all of our children.

Book Description

From Chippendale to Stickley, this comprehensive guide to the vast, varied, and popular world of American furniture includes more than 3,000 examples, carefully selected to give a broad representation of each style and manufacturer. Black-and-white photographs of each piece are accompanied by descriptions, including distinguishing marks and the most up-to-date prices paid at auction. Short accounts of what is often the fascinating history of individual factories--together with useful hints on dating their output and identifying fakes--make this book an indispensable reference work for the dealer and collector alike.

Average customer rating:
Create with the Designers: Designer Scrapbooks with Sandi Genovese (Create With Me)
Sandi Genovese
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Papercrafts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Scrapbooking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Sandi Genovese's Three-Dimensional Scrapbooks: Techniques for Building Texture and Style into Your Pages

Creative Scrapbooking: Over 300 Cutouts, Patterns & Ideas to Embellish & Enhance Your Treasured Memories

Designer Scrapbooks with Sandi Genovese

Create with Me: Designer Scrapbooks with Anna Griffin w/DVD&CD-ROM(Create With Me)

Scrapbook Borders Corners & Titles: Fresh Techniques and Innovative Ideas for Designer Pages (Memory Makers)

ASIN: 1402732481

Book Description

Crafters already know Sandi Genovese as the host of the popular TV show DIY Scrapbooking—which runs daily and has 5,000,000 viewers—and one of the most respected names in paper crafts. So they’ll be thrilled to have a DVD that lets them watch Sandi presenting her signature techniques (die-cuts, pockets, frames, and pop-ups) whenever they want. As always, Genovese provides loads of inspiration and guidance.

Book Description

The Washington, D.C. Home Book is quite simply the most complete reference to the home industry of Washington, D.C. and surrounding Metro areas. This handsome, easy-to-use directory is designed in a concise and organized manner, to be both practical and inspirational. The Washington, D.C. Home Book offers consumers a detailed sourcebook for building, designing, and decorating upscale homes in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. Whether interested in remodeling a kitchen or building a million-dollar-plus dream house, this book can give consumers the information they need to get the quality service and product they want...and deserve. Over 40 sections of home industry professional showcased to inspire the consumer, including: Custom Home Builders * Interior Decorators * Architects * Kitchen and Bath Designers * Landscape Architects and Contractors * Swimming Pools and Spas * and much more.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful book on shamanic healing.......2007-08-27

I've been wanting to read this book for a while, and finally had the chance to sit down and do so. I'm very glad that I did; it'sd a wonderful resource that I think more people need to know about.

Harrell, a modern shamanic practitioner, offers up her story of how she used shamanic techniques to heal herself from the effects of childhood sexual abuse. She works within a first person narrative, using her words to illustrate her journeys to the Upper and Lower worlds to visit with guides and retrieve pieces of her soul. Rather than abstract descriptions of what "should" happen, she tells the story of her own experiences, both the good and the bad. A warning: while her descriptions of abuse are not incredibly graphic, they may be triggering for some people, so be prepared. There are techniques for healing in her story, but not without the price of facing the past.

I generally am not a fan of narrative shamanic texts, a common format in core shamanism/neoshamanism books. However, this one is an exception. I felt that, rather than trying to impress me with credentials and pidgin-English-speaking guides, Harrell simply wanted to offer up the solutions that helped her in the hopes of sharing healing with others. Hers is a humble story, and instead of 200 pages of ego-stroking and no meat, I got a lot of ideas for working with my own traumas; while I was never abused as a child, I've had my own traumas both as a child and an adult, and this book has planted a few seeds in my mind.

The book is not without its potential controversy. At one point Harrell writes about how one of her guides reveals that the reason she was raped was that she owed a debt from a previous life to her rapist. I know this made me look a bit askance, as I've seen New Agers take this idea to the extreme of saying that anything bad that happens to a person is caused by bad karma. However, due to the nature and quality of the book, I trust the author to be honest, and she never comes across as the least bit fanatical or off-balance.

Additionally, I would have liked to have seen more content. It seems that she mainly hit the highlights of her journey, and it's a little unclear how long it takes her to get from one section of the story to the next. Granted, she is revealing a very personal part of herself here, so it may be that she only tells what she's comfortable with. Still, I'd be curious as to some of the backstory, what happens inbetween the meetings with the various guides, and a timeline of when these journeys happened. The book as it is, though, progresses nicely, so even if she chooses to forever keep the rest under wraps, this is a worthy project.

Overall, I recommend this to those who have experienced trauma in their lives, as well as those who work with such people in a spiritual role, and want some good ideas for healing through shamanic techniques. It's not a huge how-to book, though there are some basic pieces of information at the end. Rather, it's one person's story of how she utilized these techniques to do some pretty serious healing on herself. It gives hope for those of us who sometimes feel that maybe we're not doing things right, or that perhaps there is no healing to be had.

A heart-wrenching, uplifting journey.......2007-07-25

In this intimate account of childhood sexual abuse, S. Kelley Harrell shows how the deepest wounds can lead to the greatest connection with the self and the divine. Instead of simply retreating into victimhood, Kelley discovered ways of using shamanic techniques to explore her inner landscape and heal herself. These lessons now help her treat other clients who are struggling to recover from trauma. She tells her story in such a way that readers can relate, and begin to understand how their own stories can bring them in touch with their inner strength and wisdom.

Insightful and Enlightening .......2007-07-25

Through a quirky set of coincidences I read this book last year. It led me to read more about Shamanism and incorporate some of the principles into my own mediations. Whether your interest be to expand your thought base, your own trauma or someone else's, or from a spiritual perspective I highly recommend this book!

The Path of Shamanistic Healing.......2006-05-02

As both a follower of the Shamanistic path and an incest survivor, I was both excited and nervous to read this book. I was worried that it would end up being another book in the "white light, fluffy bunnies" mindset, without much substance. My worries couldn't have been more wrong.

S. Kelley Harrel is so honest, so open. She tells you all of her foibles along her path, her struggle to reach the place of wisdom her guides try to show her. She tells you everything, and brings you along her journey.

She lets you in to her most sacred of places, and without preaching, without over-embellishment, she tells you exactly how it was that she found peace, resolution. This is an excellent book, whether you're a survivor or not, whether you're pagan or shamanistically minded or not. It's an honest walk through the healing process, and I'm proud to recommend this book to you.

Absolutely excellent.

Experiencing true shamanic healing.......2005-03-31

You become immersed in this book from the beginning. Kelley Harrell draws you and walks you into the experience of her personal shamanic journey of her own healing. From one whimsical depiction of a goddess to an abrupt shift into a recall of childhood trauma that reveals the inner workings of the child's perception and terror, she pulls you along. You and she are going to watch this movie together.

Dialogue with her guides reveals true expression of the victim so many of us have been and have experienced in others. "Why me?" she pushes at her guides with reference to her inner child victim as the reality of her dreamtime world shifts and turns around her with the literal blinking of an eye. One soon gets that it is not the questions but her incessant ranting of the question that is slowly unraveling. Even the pain and confused complection of victimhood is not going to stand much longer in the presence and face of Love. Without explicit warnings, one can feel the undoing of her fear and pain beginning to turn in the midst of the suspense in the relationship with the perpetrator. One can feel the author's transformation and wonder at it all. And in the middle of it, in the midst of rich graphical depictions of her dreamtime worlds, she is winking at you.

Through the journey Kelley shows and demonstrates that true healing and transformation of trauma and relationships comes through the experience that all the players in our trauma are also gifts of the Divine and that Love has always been present. It is one thing to read various spiritual teachers words of this so called "Reality". It is a far better thing to experience it. Kelley takes us there.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books