My Buy Essay

Posts Tagged ‘book reviews’

Attitude books serve to be overweight tomes of unfathomable concepts, no distrust designed this by the by to limit readership to those already involved in this ethereal endeavor at the scholarly level. Same occasionally a publication comes along that breaks gone away from from the pattern, in 1971 R. D. Lang published his soil breaking feat Knots, a Book that could be infatuated on sundry extraordinary levels, and more importantly, enjoyed sooner than a wide audience.

Although using a different shape Erik Quisling has produced a equivalent contrive with Fables From The Mud. Using relatively undecorated concepts we are introduced to some decidedly lenient conditions. Whereas Lang hardened the nursery poetry Jack and Jill characters, Quisling uses a Clam, an Ant, and a garden Worm to inquire his theories. And as we come to grasp, these lowly creatures have the unaltered wants and needs as humans. Often our wants and needs are involved to palliate, and by modeling those concepts into the sustenance of creatures with a falsely humble lifestyle, those concepts can be boiled down to ideas and needs that can be freely understood.

Each page-boy is adorned close to a uninvolved threshold depiction, it took me a while to catch on. The starkness of the drawing actually enhances the message.

Our cardinal meet is with an Annoyed Clam, he is angry because of his ineptness to mutate the the world at large, what can a mollusk do? We pore over as he moves during a variety of emotions, becoming increasingly disillusioned with his life. Dialect mayhap manic is a huddle that we can effectively use. As with all three of these funny stories, Erik Quisling has a twist in the tale.

Next up is the Ant, a rocklike hand, and an important fellow of camaraderie at the worker point, blue collar be means of and through. Before taking a wrong fork in the road, he discovers the ‘stone garden’, a place talked hither in ‘Ant Hill’ mythology, a land of wonder. But is it really?

Lastly is the Worm, this aging warrior has seen it all! He has achieved capacious things in his life, and we take care of him reflecting on his gone and forgotten battles. The adrenalin highs, the polish of overcoming, and the conception of campaigns definitely conducted, to do not be up to save the aching emptiness he now feels. Residing in the now quite decomposed skull of Common Grant, the worm realizes that all the battles using nothing. The achievements of the erstwhile are no more than a convulsion memory. He has a particular matrix long in his warrior person, but can he fulfill it?

Erik Quisling uses some very, bloody dark humor in Fables From The Mud. It may be a impatient interpret, but it is a exceedingly contemplative assignment, and one that once you drain it, you wishes have a yen for to over on the stories. Minimalist it certainly is, but it is superbly benefit the rate of admission. There is something as a replacement for person in this book.

Fables for the Mud is slated in return an October let off and you can order a sample at the end of one’s tether with numerous online booksellers.

The Alchemist is one of those “esoteric” feeling books that makes you feel like life is vivid again.

It certainly plays on the feeling that “there is something more” that you’ve forgotten and the thought that you are part of a bigger plan.

As you follow Santiago, the shepherd boy on his adventure, you will automatically question your own adventure in life; are you living up to your higher purpose? Why have you forgotten your way? What else is out there that you should be doing? Have you betrayed what you were meant to do with your life?

Asking questions like this…feeling the feelings that go along with such questions…it really is a wonderful way to live. For the short time that you read this book, you will feel more alive. You will feel more in tune with “the universe”. You will feel that wonderful 1-in-the-morning-stare-out-the-window-and-listen-to-the-wind feeling…that is…unless you don’t know what that feels like.

Santiago follows his dreams, which take him from Spain to Morocco and then Egypt, all in search of a special treasure. During his travels he learns lessons from messengers that seem placed in his path at the right moment, just when he needs them.

The author, Paulo Coelho, is a Brazilian writer who is very well-liked. I heard that Madonna loves him. I have read several of his books, but I think this is the best one. He has churned out quite a few more books in the last few years that I have not read yet, so it is certainly possible that he has outdone The Alchemist. I’ll check it out.

A few of his books have been non-fiction and about his own life. From what I can piece together, Paulo is a member of a little-known Mystic Catholic sect which seeks after spiritual growth. They assign previously unknown international mentors to their members…older men who have attained a high degree of spiritual power (and worldly success?). I won’t even go into some of the weird stuff they do, but if you want to an idea, pick up “The Pilgrimage”, also by Coelho.

But do read The Alchemist; it is just such a good book. It will definitely give you a wisdom-buzz…or an “esoteric-buzz”.

Today I was reading an interview with Paulo, in which he talked about watching for “Omens” in your life that only you will recognize. It’s a language the “Universe” speaks to you through…like coincidences, songs, feelings, synchronicities. This is a theme he definitely speaks a lot about in The Alchemist.

Some people complain that the book is too simplistic, that you would be stupid to believe that there is some “plan” for your life that you should have followed; that you should wake up, take your head out of the “touchy-feely” clouds and get back to work.

If you are prone to such thoughts, perhaps this book is not for you. However, if you enjoy waking up your soul from time to time, there is no better place to do it than in the clouds.

One of my favorite “reads” are almanacs. From the formerly named Information Please almanac to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, these handy paperback books contain a wealth of information on virtually any subject, particularly the more generalized tomes such as Information Please.

In November 2005, I visited my locally owned drugstore and found that they had free copies of Grier’s Almanac available for customers. Similar in design to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, I took a copy home with me.

Although not peppered with stories such as can be found in the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Grier’s contains the usual “zodiac” information which farmers in time’s past would rely on to help them determine when to plant. In addition, you can find information on daily weather predictions, a fishing calendar, an exhaustive list of holidays for the year, and interesting chronological information on events that happened on particular dates throughout history. In the back of the almanac is a section devoted to all kinds of classified ads.

As with most almanacs in this particular genre, Grier’s has its share of ads. Some are helpful and include ads for insurance and gardening, while others are bizarre and include ads for oils and candles to help make your opposing lawyer stupid. Okay, if it works than that is great!

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Grier’s is that 2006 represents their 200th anniversary edition. For two straight centuries the almanac has been published including throughout the Civil War period, a remarkable feat indeed.

Grier’s is written for the southern states only from Virginia to Texas. As mentioned, copies are free and can be found in many drugstores, feed and seed establishments, and retail outlets throughout the south. Annual circulation reportedly exceeds three million copies.

Congratulations to Grier’s Almanac Publishing Company of Atlanta for 200 consecutive years of service!