5 comments about Lauren Bacall: By Myself.

1. Lauren Bacall's 1984 autobiography details her humble beginnings, how modeling led to acting, and her marriages and love affairs. She met Bogie on the set of her first movie when she was 19 and he was 43 and married. They fell in love at first sight and had a good marriage until his death. Her next husband was Jason Robards, Jr.; his drinking made for trouble from the start. The ups and downs of her movie and Broadway careers and her love of politics (and politicians) round out the book.
   
   The woman who emerges from the pages is pretty much what I expected - strong, independent, and passionate - but also quite self-centered and spoiled. She's had a charmed life and makes no excuses for her shortcomings.
   
   The book is full of famous tinseltown names and fabulous jet-set locations. She writes as if she were talking, often using ungrammatical half-sentences which slowed me down sometimes, but that is a minor quibble. I heartily recommend it to her fans.



2. buy it used. good read for the beach. then see her movies.



3. I enjoyed Lauren Bacall's autobiography better than any autobiography I've ever read. Her style of writing is so personal, it's just a pleasure to read. It's written with heart, it's witty, poignant, and so honest. You'll also learn about the original "Rat Pack", and other celebrities. I can't say enough about this book!



4. I read this book 20 years ago when it first came out and I couldn't put it down. The love story between her and Bogey was sweet, but tragic. His death was so detailed in this book that when my own father was dying I couldn't help but relate back to her description of Bogey's final hours. It made me sob for her. The mention of Hollywood in the 50's and all of the corrupt politicians trying to blackball performers is deplorable. I believe Ms. Bacall is our current Kate Hepburn - a no BS kind of Hollywood woman that is still well-respected and greatly admired.



5. I have never considered myself a Lauren Bacall fan but having recently rewatched To Have And Have Not, her film debut, I became intrigued about her and Bogart so I picked up this book after reading such positive reviews here at Amazon.
   
   Well, was I surprised. First this is a very well written autobiography that demonstrates a keen intelligence and a reflectiveness on the past that is truly admirable. It is also incredibly honest and not just a recitation of a Hollywood star's accomplishments.
   
   From Bacall's youth in New York where she tried desperately to find a place in the theater to her ultimate return to the stage as a star after spending years in California as Mrs. Bogart and raising a family, every stage of her life is well examined.
   
   Bogart emerges as a truly good guy, not perfect but clearly they were a great match despite the obvious age difference.
   
   Some of the episodes in her life with Bogart have the added quality of capturing a period in Hollywood and the film industry that is long gone. Bacall isn't and doesn't need to be a name dropper but so many famous characters pop in and out of her story that it is a virtual who's who of 1940's Hollywood.
   
   What I initally picked up as a casual read turned into something much deeper. Lauren Bacall , who I knew little about before reading this is a woman who I came to really like as a result of this book.
   
   Well written and well worth checking out for filmfans, fans of Bogart or anyone interested in acting and theater and the celebrity life of the 40's and 50's.

1 comments about The Grasmere and Alfoxden Journals (Oxford World's Classics).

1. Dorothy Wordsworth's journals are an exquisite and delicate record of everyday life with the Wordsworths (Dorothy, William, Mary, his wife, and their close network of friends like Coleridge and Sara Hutchinson). Most interesting are her depictions of the landscapes and her descriptions of the marginalised peoples. Her journals note down destitute figures, a begger woman and her sons, a woman who drowned herself, two beggers, the plodding mail man etc.

   Dorothy opens the window to a domesticated William Wordsworth, the Poet, at work in the acts of creation. Sunday Morning [14th of March 1802] reads, "...while we were at Breakfast that is (for I had breakfasted) he, with his Basin of Broth before him untouched and a little plate of Bread and butter he wrote the Poem to a Butterfly! He ate not a morsel, nor put on his stockings but sate with his shirt neck unbuttoned, and his waistcoat open while he did it."

   Many literary critics have chosen to see Dorothy Wordsworth as a shadow of her brother, these readers say that Dorothy does not pocess a coherent self and they fault the patriarchal powers for her lack of an active self. I see Dorothy Wordsworth as a delicate, compassionate and kind person with "A Passion for the Particular."* She is, I feel, well aware of her self as a self, and also well aware of other selves as themselves. Her journal is littered with what she does achieves in her daily life.

   This journal is a fantastic bedtime read. Her unique and careful narrative style, her emphasis and focus on truthful detail, all these make reading the journal a real pleasure. I only wish I discovered her earlier.

   * This phrase is taken from the title of Elizabeth Gunn's book on Dorothy Wordsworth.

4 comments about Dona Gracia of the House of Nasi.

1. I read this after reading Naomi Ragen's fictionalized version of Dona Gracia's life, The Ghost of Hannah Mendes. The two books are complementary, as Ragen's romantic treatment of Dona Gracia's life adds depth (though not necessarily historicity) to the relatively few facts about her that we actually know and that Roth recounts.
   
   Roth writes in the style of an old-school historian, trying to weave a human tale from sometimes fragmentary records. The footnotes, in which he points out his disagreement with other historians of the Inquisition and of the converso Jews, and sometimes his own changes of mind about the sequence of events, are perhaps the most fascinating part of the book. He is also a master at historical detective work, getting the most he can from the documents available.
   
   At bottom, however, we don't know all that much about Dona Gracia, so Roth's extravagant claims that she was the most important Jewish woman in a millennium or more do not quite ring true. Were it not for that consideration, I would have given this fascinating monograph five stars.



2. Certainly, the title character must have led an interesting life. But I found this book less interesting than I had hoped, just a listing of one event after another. However, I did get some sense of how difficult the lives of Jews were in Southern Europe; even Iberian Jews who converted to Christianity were never safe from Christians who were happy to accuse them of backsliding in order to have an excuse to confiscate their property.
   
   The only way to avoid this problem was to move (as Dona Gracia did) to Muslim lands, because the Ottoman Empire was much less anti-Semitic than most Christian governments. In fact, the Ottoman Empire actually protected Jews in Christian Europe by insisting on decent treatment of Jews with ties to the Empire. One lesson of this book is that Jews never have permanent allies or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.



3. This is the biography of Dona Gracia, a Jewish woman who lived in the 15th century and whose personality is characterized by intelligence, shrewdness, generosity, and religious devotion. Born in Spain, she went to Portugal in 1492, following the expulsion of the Jews. In Portugal she was forcibly converted to Christianity and became one amongst many "New Christians," "Marranos," or "Conversos." At the age of 18 she married Francisco Mendes, the richest merchant in Lisbon at that time. Seven years later she became a widow and successfully took over her husband's business. Determined to reach Turkey where under the protection of the Ottoman Empire she would be able to profess her faith freely, she embarked on a long journey, which took 17 years. This journey took her to London, Antwerp, Lyon, Venice, Ferrara, Ancona, Ragusa, Salonika and finally Constantinople. Throughout her perils she proved to be highly courageous and an excellent businesswoman. She used her wealth and contacts to help Jews escape the Inquisiton, became the self-appointed protector of the conversos, built houses of prayer and teaching, devoted herself to good works, and was know as "the heart of her people."

   There are two importnat factors in the history of Dona Gracia: first, she represents one of the rare examples of fight against repression to the Jews by the use of commercial tactics (the Ancona Boycott), and the first to establish a Jewish colony in Paletine (Tiberias), a self-sustaining settlement for Jews and conversos from an hostile Europe.

   The author Cecil Roth is a well-known historian. He clearly demonstrates his admiration for Dona Gracia, his praises are many, and openly admits to the fact that he has not been able to find any historical proof to the contrary. Despite this embellishment, Dona Gracia remains a distant character, she carries an aura of mystery which contributes to her "divinity." Had the Jewish faith room for "canonization" Dona Gracia would certainly be a downright candidate. Her name stands amongst famous Jewish women, and as her contemporary the author Samuel Usque says, "she is much a heroine as Miriam, Deborah, and Judith."




4. This novel was amazing in detail and mesmorizing in content. It was well researched! I would recommend this to anyone who loves romance, intrigue, deceit and history.

5 comments about You Will Make Money in Your Sleep: The Story of Dana Giacchetto, Financial Adviser to the Stars.

1. This is not the sort of book I would typically read. I had never heard of Dana Giacchetto and could care less about his world of decadent wealth and "A-list" people. But I do know the author and her husband and some of the people mentioned in the story, so for that reason it interested me and I ended up reading the whole thing in a weekend. (It also resonated with my own family history; my grandfather was a charming, lovable sociopath who went to prison for fraud.)
   
   One reviewer here criticizes the book for not being objective, but the author's direct personal involvement is precisely what pulled me into the story and held me there. White's first-hand experience guides the reader into a world that most of us will never know, making both the excitement and the anxiety palpable. She was at once friend and victim of her subject, and the tension between those two poles - her efforts to reconcile her positive feelings for him against her negative experience - kept me engaged. I found her ability to tell the story with both compassion and anger remarkable, the thing that takes this beyond being just another true crime exposé or scathing portrait of a greedy sociopath. There is genuine feeling behind the facts, and for me this is far more compelling than (supposedly) "objective" reportage.
   
   Another reviewer complained that the book paints a negative portrait of Medford and of Giacchetto's family. As someone outside of that community, I did not feel the town was portrayed in a particularly bad light, and in fact some of the neighborhood "fun" of suburbia in the 60s comes through. But as David Lynch has shown us, the 'burbs have their dark side and White was right to acknowledge that. She clearly cares about the family and appreciates their eccentricities without denying their problems. Some of their essentially harmless quirks - the father's grandiosity and embellishment of reality, the mother's love of gambling and deal-making, their occasional reckless spending in order to impress others - resurface in their son in a more sinister form. And I was fascinated by the good boy/bad boy contrast between the golden boy Dana and his petty criminal brother that is woven throughout the book. It's a reminder that people are far more complex and multi-layered than we realize, that outward appearances tell only a small part of their story.
   
   It's easy to look back on such scenarios or to read about them second-hand and see all the red flags, to wonder how these otherwise intelligent people were taken in by someone so obviously not trustworthy. But real life isn't that simple. There are all kinds of factors that color our perception of any given situation or person, and plenty of delusion to go around. It takes a certain amount of guts to not only admit you were taken in, but to also make all of the gory details public, and to do so with a fair amount of sympathy and humor. I admire White's courage in telling her/Giacchetto's story without demonizing her subject or spinning it as a simplistic tale of Bad Person/Poor Victims.



2. The author (who lost what was a substantial sum of money relative to her not-so-large net worth) of this book is too close to the subject for it to be considered even remotely objective. Throughout the book, there were continual reminders that this book was written with too much passion and not enough solid research. The book demonstrated only the most elementary understanding of investments, risks, and returns - and, while focusing on one player (Giacchetto) who was probably a bad apple, did not explore the supporting cast of advisors, lawyers, and banks that enabled him to be successful. Instead, the author chose an extended exploration of the flaws of Giacchetto's family - certainly somewhat relevant in explaining his actions but not deserving of the degree of focus and emotion it received.



3. This book talks about a Medford, MA that I never knew. Dana's house was not a depressing place in a depressing city. It was fun for a kid. A pool, a pond and lots of fun chasing "Ceasar" and the other geese around the back yard and fishing in the pond. Drugs were not everywhere. Dana found them because he was looking for them. He had a 3 man band that played some good music. Over 20 years later I remember two songs they played a lot...Edge of a Cliff and Right Angle. Seems like Dana was dancing on a cliff and looking for the right angle in life. Medford was/is a great place. Dana always was eccentric and it was best for him to get out of the quiet family based community that was Medford. Like many of my friends and neighbors I also graduated from Medford High School and went on to college despite how terrible a place it seemed to be from Emily's description. I know you had to sell books but much like Dana...it is pretty laughable. His parents were always kind and generous and his younger brother Russell, my friend, was a good kid with a lot of energy...I would have liked to have read more of the truth about Medford and what a welcoming place 39 Winford Way was for me and Russell's other friends...I wish the entire family well.



4. I always wondered what happened when the dudes at subpop started rolling in cash after Nirvana broke. When you are so NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, and suddenly you are wallowing in it. I had no idea that the indie execs were sucked into a larger scam by a fame-obsessed scammer to the stars. Great storytelling and great stripped down prose. Keeps you from getting too nostalgic.



5. White's story is about Dana Giacchetto, con man to the stars. What is particularly startling about this book is that the author's husband lost $80,000 (out of $100,000) to Dana, yet she began work on the book in collaboration with Dana. (Eventually Dana stopped cooperating.)
   
   Dana began targeting the arts community (he had tried his hand in the area) after first working in a bank, reading Warren Buffett,and starting a band. Supposedly (per the SEC) about $20 million disappeared through Dana's activities. These were simply writing checks on Account A to deposit into Account DG (Dana Giacchetto's).
   
   Investments were made - eg. Blue Chips such as Coca-Cola (ala Buffett), Texas water companies, and Motorola's Iridium (a satellite phone communications venture that went nowhere). Overall, however, they did not earn the returns Dan promised, nor cover the costs of his lifestyle.
   
   Bottom Line: You won't learn any salacious (or otherwise) gossip about the stars in this book, not even any specifics about how Dana ran his con game.

5 comments about Speaking Truth to Power.

1. One thing that we all wondered was: "Why did Hill wait until Thomas was being evaluated for a position on the Supreme Court to make these allegations?" And it turns out that she did not and only brought these issues to thefore when found by an investigation into Thomas' background.
   
   There were also a lot of details that were not apparent about the nature of the trial: 1. The congressional hearings were NOT conducted by attorneys, and so the usual rules of courtroom conduct and gathering evidence were not adhered to; 2. Some of the detailed nature of the ugliness toward people that are caught in the middle of congressional hearings (the documentary on Susan McDougal was another example of how the sheer hostility that politicians can display toward anyone that gets in the way); 3. Details of the statements that Thomas made to her. It was also more clear that the environment in which she was working (a person-- among MANY others-- trying to get thhe letters of recommendation and make the ties that would get her a job somewhere) might have made her a lot more timid in telling Thomas where to go with his remarks.
   
   On the bad side, I can say that Hill's tone was the faintest bit melodramatic-- and this makes me wonder just how serious the comment made to her were-- noting that she offered information about the content of his statements but not direct quotes.
   
   All in all, the book is very balanced and level-headed-- if a bit more wordy than necessary. (It could have been shortened by about 50 pages without missing anything-- although it was not nearly the verbose disaster of, say something written by Ayn Rand. On account of this, I'm taking off one star.)



2. At the beginning of the book Hill writes, "I did not choose the issue of sexual harassment, it chose me." And that is undoubtedly true. Anita Hill is a household name and her name immediately brings to mind the issue of sexual harassment. Hill describes how the issue chose her in this book.
   You can tell just how truthful this book is by the way in which it was written. This is not the best written book. But, Anita Hill puts on no airs, she just tells the truth and the way she saw it in a simple, understandable voice.
   And the truth is, she was put through the ringer by people in power who did not want to a) acknowledge that sexual harassment is a problem, and b) change the current widespread problem of sexual harassment and thus change our current power structure.
   It is interesting to note how Hill relates the problem of sexual harassment to other crimes committed against women which are also motivated by power and control. These comparisons ring a bell of truth.
   Hill also writes about how at times, when one is a ethnic minority and a woman, one has to choose between honoring their gender and honoring their race. Her analysis of this is enough to read the book.
   I recommend this book to those who are interested in getting to know the real Anita Hill, those who are interested in insider politics especially when it concerns problems unique to women, and those who are interested in the way that different minority groups bisect each other.
   The reason I didn't give this book a higher rating is because, as I mentioned, it's not the most well written book. I feel that at times the writing was circular and repetitive. The words don't leap off the page. However, also, at times the writing is very direct and potent and say the truth in a manner that is clear and concise. At those times, ideas leap off the page.



3. Anita Hill proves that she was telling the truth with this book and I always knew that she was.
   
   It's so sad that so many were able to demonize and scandalize this woman and her intentions, but in the end, the TRUTH always wins.
   
   This powerful autobiography is a MUST READ, a book that you won't be able to put down or to forget. I'm so glad I read it.
   
   
   
   



4. When this book first came out, I was drawn to the cover, because I knew that there were many messages for me in this book. Yet, I hesitated to read this, because I had not voiced what I felt about those hearings.

   I actually looked over my shoulders, when I glanced through this book, before buying it, because I had decided that so many people around me demanded my opinion of this tragedy.

   When I watched the hearing, while I sat next to others, for whatever reason I waited to say whether or not I believed Dr. Hill. I wanted to process it all, in the privacy of my own space.

   Watching her, on many levels I related to her. Yet, I had some unanswered questions that reading this book, along with other books that reference this tragedy helped me to make my own decisions about what happened.

   Dr. Hill put a voice to many of the challenges that I had, as professional African-American woman, who wanted to speak about many issues that too high a number of African-Americans refused to communicate. Before reading this book, I wanted to be free to speak against some socialized rules that I grew up with, that are common in African-American families. But, I wanted to communicate that I am proud of being African-American.

   And as a result of reading this book, I gained tremendous courage to fully live my life's mission, which is to guide women and girls to earn trust in themselves.

   To this day, as a journalist, if an editor argues against Anita Hill, I refuse to write for that paper.

   Thank you, Dr. Hill.




5. I am so glad I read this book - it gave me insight into what a wonderful woman Anita Hill is in explaining the ordeal she went through in testifying at "the hearings." I must admit that at the time, I didn't believe Hill's testaments; she appeared nervous and uncertain whereas Thomas appeared very sure of himself, was outraged, and even went so far as to cry before the Senate Committee and television cameras. Of course, I now realize that was just an act.

   Anyhow, I thought that after the hearings were over, Anita Hill went back home to Oklahoma and went on with her life, the ordeal forgotten. After reading this book, I had no idea that Hill endured further harassment from students at the university where she taught, faculty, the media, and people who never knew her nor she them. It was downright outrageous and disgusting.

   Hill writes eloquently about her roots, her upbringing in Oklahoma, her years at Yale Univ. Law School, and her job at the EEOC where she worked under Clarence Thomas and the harassment she endured from him, her subsequent career change all the way up until the hearings. It's all interesting and worth reading.

   Anita Hill is the catalyst for which the laws of sexual harassment have changed and claims for which are now taken very seriously. It is very unfortunate that she had to take such torment and emotional brutality as a result of it, as if harassment from Thomas wasn't enough in and of itself.

   That Thomas is now sitting on the highest court in the land for life, knowing the content of his character and demeanor, is indeed disturbing. But I hope that deep inside he is sorry and feels the utmost remorse and guilt for his mistreatment of Anita Hill and all his other victims.

   The truth always come out - maybe not today or tomorrow - but eventually it does. Thomas knows what he did, and the world knows what he did despite his "categorical" denials.

   It is my hope that Anita Hill finds the peace and happiness she deserves. Her life will never be the same, as she herself admits, but unfortunately almost all movers and shakers's lives were and are forever changed.

   An insightful and honest book, I recommend it highly.

5 comments about Blown Sideways Through Life: A Hilarious Tour de Resume.

1. Claudia takes us on her journey... and in doing so makes a name for herself. This is a well written and thoughtful book. A one woman show! A standup and take notice comedy!



2. When I look back at the multitude of menial jobs I've worked in my life, I see that I could easily write a book about them, but Ms. Shear has beaten me to the punch! If I didn't know better, I would think I had written this book!She, like me, has worked a variety of jobs that run the gamut. If you've just up and quit your job, read this book. If you're shlepping away at a menial ball-and-chain, read this book. If you're floating from one occupation to another in the hope of finding the perfect career, read this book. If you've been working at the same company for 20 years and have no intention of ever leaving, read this book. If you're a CEO pulling in a six-digit salary, read this book. If you're independently wealthy and don't have to work, read this book.Regardless of which of the above statements applies to you, you will come away a more enriched person for having read BSTL.



3. As Ms. Shear says, "Everyone has a story that would stop... your... heart." I caught her show late late one evening on NPR as I was getting ready to do another speech to hopefully inspire some young people to leave Job Corps and do good with their life - I was burnt out and uninspired myself and just listening to what she had to say - nevermind watching her magnificent presence on the small screen - brought me back up. It took me years to find this book in a library; and I'm glad to be able to buy another copy - maybe another 10 copies to give to people I know need it. Anyone who has ever felt beat down by their work and their lives melded into an amazing wash of effort to keep one nostril above the waves; anyone who has ever felt walked on by the world will be inspired by this wonderful woman's story.



4. Blown Sideways Through chronicles Claudia Shear's search for the true job, and the 64 jobs she had to enjoy/endure so far) before she she found the job (or career) that was right for her. Brunch chef at Fire Island, nude model,proofreader, receptionist at an brothel; Shear always spins a good story, and amuses us with life's wierdness. This is also a truthful look at the life many of us live. We have jobs, not careers, working where we can to make the money we need to live our lives. Shear makes no apology for the meandering work path she has chosen. There is dignity and humor in her retelling of seemingly menial jobs (some of them were pretty horrid). I think her rant of the observed rudeness of a donut store patron, and the pevelent attitude of "looking down" on service industry people is a must read for every person. Funny, insightful and honest, this is a book that deserves a reprint.



5. I had imagined that every working adult would like a copy of this book. I've so-far owned two copies, both of which were lent out and never returned. I imagine that somebody out there (well, two actually) must have liked it as much as I do and I'm not mad at them, as the third time I went for a copy I found the book on tape, read by the author.

   I realise that it is now hard to find with no new printing in sight, but if you ever do spot a copy somewhere, you need it. If you went to university and ended up flipping burgers, buy it. If you've ever found yourself in a strange place after having lied your way into employment and about to do something you're having second thoughts about, buy it. If you're just entering the work force for the first or sixty fourth time, buy it!

3 comments about Listening to Olivia: Violence, Poverty, and Prostitution (The Northeastern Series on Gender, Crime, and Law).

1. Listening to Olivia is the book that many anti-prostitution activists wish they had written. Ms. Raphael has the ability to interweave Olivia's true story with the extensive research documenting various aspects of the reality of prostitution. The book is a terrific resource for anyone researching in this area. If you care about women, you MUST read this.



2. Listening to Olivia is a tremendously important and compelling book written on the subject of prostitution. Ms. Raphael tells Olivia's story in a raw, forthright manner, flawlessly interweaving testimony and research. Olivia is courageous as she shares her story in the hopes of helping other young women avoid her path. This book is a must read for providers working with women and girls, policy makers whose work impacts this vulnerable population, and parents who hope to raise daughters who stay safe from The Life. For those of us who work in prostitution prevention and intervention, this book will be seen as a key resource for years to come.



3. The newest addition to "The Northeastern Series on Gender, Crime and Law", Listening To Olivia: Violence, Poverty, And Prostitution by Jody Raphael (Senior Research Fellow, DePaul University College of Law's Schiller, DuCanto and Fleck Family Law Center) is the personal story of Olivia, a woman who spent nineteen years of her life as a stripper, a prostitute, and a heroine addict. She left a troubled home at 16 and became involved in Chicago's subculture of prostitution, drug addiction, and abusive men. A resourceful woman of color, Olivia was able to eventually break with "the life" and now works to support drug-dependent women. Especially commended to the attention of students of Urban Sociology and Women's Studies, Listening To Olivia is a compelling, informative, and gripping autobiography that uniquely illuminates the life led by low-income, non-white, young women in commercial prostitution today.

5 comments about Initiation: A Woman's Spiritual Adventure in the Heart of the Andes.

1. To those who think Elizabeth's book is just a self-absorbed ego trip, you have missed quite a bit. I have read most every available article and book on Peru and the tradition of the Andean Priests and the Q'ero. Although Elizabeth does bring us a very direct first-hand account which could be interpreted as self-important, I am inclined to conclude that most observers reaching this conclusion has been self-misled. (This book is a memoir by the way, says so on the back cover.)
   
   Of the many books out there on spiritual experiences in general, including writings about the Q'ero in Peru and the Huichol in Mexico, there is a great distinction between a first person story that dwells in the imagination (personal problems, alcholic background, etc.) and one that delivers important details. It is very easy to read a first person story and completely miss the important details. Perhaps it will take someone who has researched the foundations of Andean mysticism for a few years to realize when they are tripping over the nuggets. Elizabeths book has some real gold in it. Gold that has meaning to someone very interested in the subject.



2. Like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and The Teachings of Don Juan, Elizabeth Jenkins' first book presents powerful and often unbelievable spiritual experiences under the rubric of nonfiction. Jenkins, a family therapist, acts on an inspiration to go to Cuzco, Peru to learn about the spiritual path of the Incas. She becomes the only white woman admitted to a group that holds seance-like ceremonies; with this group, she has bizarre and eye-opening experiences. She later connects with a better teacher who encourages her to bring several seekers from the U.S. to Peru and collectively work toward reaching higher levels of spiritual consciousness. Is the story meant to be taken as literal truth, or does Jenkins use fictional methods to evoke a sense of wonder analogous to that of mystical experience? If a book does evoke a sense of mystical wonder, does it matter if it's true? Jenkins has succeeded in the difficult task of believably telling an unbelievable story. Initiation can be read as real religion or fantastic fiction; either way, it's a surprisingly enjoyable trip.



3. Look at the Editorial Review up above here... go ahead. In the first sentence you will notice mentioned the, quote, Andean village of Cuzco, Peru. This is as good a place as any to start with why this book should be considered memoir or even fiction, but certainly not a serious guide to a Real spiritual tradition.
   
   Why? Cusco, Peru is a city of 400,000 people, has internet access, credit cards, and also a multi-million dollar tourist industry. (It is the city where I live.) Peru is often considered the Number One tourist destination on Earth. As such, a booming Mystical Tourism industry has sprung up as well, capitalizing on the Western Worlds interest in the oh-so-Mystical Andes. Jenkins describes her experiences with Mystical Tourism, but calls it Mysticism.
   
   So, if you are interested in the genuine article, skip this book. If, instead, you want to read a romanticized account of a foreigner learning the spiritual ways of the Andes, read the Celestine Prophecy. The author of THAT book does us the favor of telling us up front it is Fiction.
   
   I say this with a great deal of love for the authentic and Vanishing spiritual traditions of the Andes and Peru in general.
   
   I say this because I am NOT interested in seeing the flea markets and open-air-markets of Cusco replaced by consumer-capitalist Super Markets-- AND at the same time, I am NOT interested in seeing the Real spiritual traditions of the Andes replaced with user-friendly, mass produced, soul-devoid styrofoam imitations. I am not interested in Spirituality as Entertainment or Presumptuous Self-Involvement.
   
   The author, sadly, perhaps without even realizing it, is promoting just that kind of shift in Peru. I hope readers will have the sense to see through the romanticized illusion. In the end, those who want to do something to promote spirituality in the Andes and in the world-- like the author presumably does-- should consider joining programs to increase the standard of living in this incredibly poor section of the world. While Jenkins and her foundation make money off of the Initiations they perform, Peruvians continue to be dirt poor. Where is the love for the Pachamama and the Apus in that? Where is the mysticism and mystery? Mystery? I would say that it looks rather obvious.



4. I tried to find a title for this review that was less harsh, but there's nothing else for it. I have read the book at least twice, and attended some workshops with another teacher of South American curanderismo, who speaks well of Juan Nunez del Prado. Juan has apprenticed with a true curandero in Peru.

   The emphasis on her 'specialness' and references to 'initiated fourth-level priest' on her website speak volumes of where Elizabeth herself is coming from. I contacted some of her 'fourth-level priests' in Europe asking if they knew another healer who lived in the same city they did. They answered back with a short 'no', and goodbye. How much REALLY did they want to help heal others, when they ignored an opportunity to learn about another potential teacher in their backyard?

   I agree with another reviewer, this is yet another book by yet another person promoting superficial spiritual tourism. Look at her website and see how many times you find the word 'initiation'.

   There is accurate info regarding South American curanderismo, particularly in the second section. My advice if you are seriously interested in helping people with their pain and suffering using Peruvian curanderismo, is to get this book and the one by colleague Joan Parisi Wilcox used (so you aren't putting money in their pockets), ignore the ego, and read for useful information. There is some there.




5. This is a superficial and at times naive account by a yet another starry eyed, eager and willing "shaman's apprentice". Elizabeth Jenkins worked as an English teacher in Cuzco when she met a "fourth level" shaman, Juan Nunez, who showed her around Peru. Juan immediately initiated her into the fourth level herself. The apparent ease and efficiency of this "initiation" process has, if i am allowed to be slightly cynical, allowed Elizabeth and Juan to create a major business catering to those who are looking to get something for nothing. About 20 times a year, Juan initiates yet another group of wide eyed tourists, and both E. and J. lead initiation workshops all over the world, including the US.

   This book will be of interest to people who are inclined towards safe "spiritual adventures". I would not recommend it to people who are looking for more resources on shamanic "technology", initiation or peruvian beliefs.

2 comments about A Healer's Journey.

1. I loved this book. I received it as a gift 7 years ago and have re-read it many times. Mrs. Chakravarti's story of how she discovered her healing gifts was fascinating. The accounts of the work she did/does and the positive effect she has had on so many lives filled me with hope and happiness. It really made me reflect on MY life. She also included many aruyvedic remedies and yoga postures. If you are a someone who approaches life with a spiritual, reflective slant, this book will appeal to you. I would love to travel to India to meet her!!



2. A Healer's journey is the fascinating story of Sree Chakravarti, from her birth to a well-to-do family, to the devotion of her adult years as a healer to all people in need. In her own down-to-earth words, she describes the challenges of her life and how they and the inspiration of Sai Baba helped turn her onto the path of healing. Intermixed are case histories of patients---my favorite portion. At the back of the book are diet and yoga suggestions for a number of the complaints she has treated over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in alternative forms of healing and spirituality.

5 comments about Chocolate for a Woman's Soul: 77 Stories to Feed Your Spirit and Warm Your Heart (Chocolate).

1. I got the book at the airport on the way to New Orleans...I cried, I laughed, I thought. The stories make you think is this where I am suppose to be? Is this the person I am suppose to marry? Is is my career? Am I being all that God intends for me to be? If my life ended today would I have accomplished all that I wanted to accomplish. I can't wait to read the others.



2. Take some chocolate-savoring time for yourself with this book of inspiration.



3. Sweet, inspirational, delicious .... taking time to hear other woman's stories is the essence of this brand of chocolate.



4. This book was absolutely the best thing that could happen to a woman who loves sharing her life with others. The stories were uplifting and gentle...the kind you share with your best friend when you are cozily chatting over a piece of pie and coffee. Having the book near makes it always possible to share a moment with a friend.



5. This book will warm your heart and inspire you! Anyone who needs a little spiritual pick-me-up should read this very touching anthology!