The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)

Customer Reviews:

The Titan's Curse.......2007-10-16

I thought that The Titan's Curse was a fantastic read because the plot was about a boy around my age who seems to always be getting into trouble, but not just any normal trouble. The boy's name is Percy Jackson and his father is the god named Poseidon. Yes, his father is the ruler of the ocean and the brother of Zeus. However, because his mother is a mortal Percy is a demigod, which means he's half god and half mortal. Oddly enough, Percy is getting into trouble with Greek and Roman mythological monsters from Homer's epic adventure, The Odyssey. Some of the monsters Percy runs into are a manticore, an ophiotaurus, and literally bits and pieces of the Titan Lord himself. This book is part of an unfinished series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
There are a few reasons why I thought this book was such a great read. One reason I read this book with so much enthusiasm was because I was always on the edge of my seat. There was so much excitement that I had trouble setting the book down and doing my homework. Oddly enough, I would choose to read this book a hundred times over playing video games. Another reason I enjoyed the book was it had a steady pace. The book had a nice steady build up to the climax, and a nice steady decent from the climax. This made me feel like there was just the right amount of action and suspense throughout the book. A third reason I couldn't stop reading this book was I could relate Percy's life to my own. For example, Percy thinks he is more experienced than he really is. On page fourteen, Percy says, "The di Angelos were in danger. They might be long gone by the time I found my friends. I knew monsters. I could handle this myself." Sometimes, I think something similar when I become over confident after I do a good deed or make a funny joke.
There are many great parts in this story, but the best part is during the battle in San Francisco between a group of three demigods, a goddess, a huntress, and a small portion of the ever growing army of the Titan Lord. This battle is the best part because most of the action and excitement is released in this short blossom of words.
Even though the book is great overall, there could be some improvements. One improvement could be the dialogue. Sometimes I found the dialogue to be a little on the cheesy side. For example, Percy's demigod friend Annabeth calls him "seaweed brain" because he is a son of Poseidon. I understand that the author was trying to put humor into the book, but such an obvious nickname was more silly than humorous. However, even with the missed humor, many people would like this book. If the reader likes mythology, action scenes, and books in a series, they will absolutely love this book. If I could give this book a rating, one being the best and ten being the worst, I would pick one because I was so engulfed in the words and the story every time I picked up the book. Fortunately for all readers who like the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Titan's Curse is the third book, so there are two more wonderful pieces of work before this book, and the series still isn't finished because I am sure more will be written. But readers beware: once you start reading the series, you won't be able to stop.

The Titan's Curse.......2007-10-10

This book is a my daughter's favorite! My nine year old daughter loved this whole series and wouldn't leave me alone until I got her the 2nd (and ultimately the 3rd) book. She loved the hidden twists and turns to the story. She thought the book was quite exciting. She likes the mix of ancient mythology and action. She reads one to two 100+ books a week and this is her Favorite series, by far, of all the books she has read.

Simply Outstanding!.......2007-09-23

I think The Titan's Curse is an oustanding book. It will enchant readers so that they will never put the book down! I'd say it is as good as any Harry Potter book. This book is a must have for kids around 10 years old. The Titan's Curse is about the gods and the titans. Kronos' forces are putting him back together piece by piece! Artemis chases an important monster and she is caught by Luke and Atlas. Annabeth is also trapped. 5 campers from Camp Half Blood are sent on a quest to free Artemis. There is a prophecy that says when one specific half blood turns 16 he or she will save the gods or destroy the gods. It could be Percy Jackson or Thalia. This thrilling story will get people hooked immediately!

A Titan of a Tale.......2007-09-01

This book thoroughly lives up to the quality of adventure and plot seen in the first two. It still has the savvy wit, and yet the characters are still visibly growing. I'm excitedly looking forward to the next book, because I absolutely have to know what happens next. :)

Can't get enough!.......2007-08-26

Although I was a little concerned at the new angle taken on this book, it was still a wonderful read. Percy is now growing into the role he was destined for and understands the struggle for power in the mortal and Olympian worlds. This series is a must read for Harry Potter fans! Adults will love this series as much as young adults!

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

Average customer rating:

Excellent resource
Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner
Excellent For Beginners!
Fantastic!
Non Fiction

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Scott Cunningham
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0875421180

Amazon.com

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is the essential primer from one of the best known authors on Wicca. Focusing on the importance of individualism in your spiritual path, Cunningham explains the very basics of Sabbats (holy days), ceremonies, altars, and other nuts and bolts of Wicca that a solitary practitioner may have trouble finding elsewhere. While Wicca shouldn't be your sole point of reference when considering Wicca as your way of life, it is one of the best starting points. --Brian Patterson

Book Description

Cunninghams classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God. Wicca also includes Scott Cunninghams own Book of Shadows and updated appendices of periodicals and occult suppliers.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource.......2007-10-10

A great book for the beginner especially an isolated beginner. Very easy to understand and personalize to meet the needs of the solitary wiccan.

Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner.......2007-10-03

One of my first books that introduced me to the realm of Wicca. I love the easy-to-read format that Mr. Cunningham used and the breakdown of terms for the average reader to understand. I myself do not have access to a coven so this was a geat book to get started with.

Excellent For Beginners!.......2007-09-20

Yes, this is your typical Wicca 101 book. But I must say Mr Cunninham's is one of the best, if not THE best! If you're a beginner of the Wiccan path, this is an excellent starter book!

Fantastic!.......2007-09-09

This is a great book! I recommend that if you are looking it to Wicca take a look at books by Scott Cunningham.

Non Fiction.......2007-09-03

Wicca : a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, is what it says, quite practically. It goes into detail of the basics of that particular religion, with rituals, accoutrements, observances, stuff to get and to use, all that sort of thing. It is particularly aimed at those who are by themselves, and have no friends or like minded others around.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Imaginative but Long
Ok
Blah Blah Boring
Fresh take on a classic tale
entertaining

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel
Gregory Maguire
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060987529
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Amazon.com

Gregory Maguire's chilling, wonderful retelling of Cinderella is a study in contrasts. Love and hate, beauty and ugliness, cruelty and charity--each idea is stripped of its ethical trappings, smashed up against its opposite number, and laid bare for our examination. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister begins in 17th-century Holland, where the two Fisher sisters and their mother have fled to escape a hostile England. Maguire's characters are at once more human and more fanciful than their fairy-tale originals. Plain but smart Iris and her sister, Ruth, a hulking simpleton, are dazed and terrified as their mother, Margarethe, urges them into the strange Dutch streets. Within days, purposeful Margarethe has secured the family a place in the home of an aspiring painter, where for a short time, they find happiness.

But this is Cinderella, after all, and tragedy is inevitable. When a wealthy tulip speculator commissions the painter to capture his blindingly lovely daughter, Clara, on canvas, Margarethe jumps at the chance to better their lot. "Give me room to cast my eel spear, and let follow what may," she crows, and the Fisher family abandons the artist for the upper-crust Van den Meers.

When Van den Meer's wife dies during childbirth, the stage is set for Margarethe to take over the household and for Clara to adopt the role of "Cinderling" in order to survive. What follows is a changeling adventure, and of course a ball, a handsome prince, a lost slipper, and what might even be a fairy godmother. In a single magic night, the exquisite and the ugly swirl around in a heated mix:

Everything about this moment hovers, trembles, all their sweet, unreasonable hopes on view before anything has had the chance to go wrong. A stepsister spins on black and white tiles, in glass slippers and a gold gown, and two stepsisters watch with unrelieved admiration. The light pours in, strengthening in its golden hue as the sun sinks and the evening approaches. Clara is as otherworldly as the Donkeywoman, the Girl-Boy. Extreme beauty is an affliction...

But beyond these familiar elements, Maguire's second novel becomes something else altogether--a morality play, a psychological study, a feminist manifesto, or perhaps a plain explanation of what it is to be human. Villains turn out to be heroes, and heroes disappoint. The story's narrator wryly observes, "In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats." --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Is this new land a place where magics really happen?

From Gregory Maguire, the acclaimed author of Wicked, comes his much–anticipated second novel, a brilliant and provocative retelling of the timeless Cinderella tale.

In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings.... When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats....

We all have heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty . . . and what curses accompanied Cinderella's exquisite looks?

Extreme beauty is an affliction

Set against the rich backdrop of seventeenth–century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister.

Clara was the prettiest child, but was her life the prettiest tale?

While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, burning all memories of her past, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household––and the treacherous truth of her former life.

God and Satan snarling at each other like dogs.... Imps and fairy godmotbers trying to undo each other's work. How we try to pin the world between opposite extremes!

Far more than a mere fairy–tale, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel of beauty and betrayal, illusion and understanding, reminding us that deception can be unearthed––and love unveiled––in the most unexpected of places.

Customer Reviews:

Imaginative but Long.......2007-08-17

Maguire does a nice job of painting the sisters as woeful humans and Cinderella as this spoiled little girl, but the book runs too long. It was imaginative of him to design such a twist to the original piece, though. Props for creativity.

Ok.......2007-08-15

I guess this book was just not my style. I liked the fact that the ugly stepsisters were made to seem kind, and human, which we all know was not the original story line. But this book was very slow moving, and in the end not all that satisfying. I did read the whole book, as some parts held my interest. Other parts of the book I found myself daydreaming.

Blah Blah Boring.......2007-07-15

Ugly Stepsister was the reading choice of my book club and it was roundly disliked. The choice was based on the much better received Wicked, which I have not read.

The book was extremely slow to start. Although the characters were interesting, the writing itself was flat and uninspiring. It took me four weeks just to get through the first 100+ pages. By the date of the book club, seven weeks after I started the book, I still hadn't finished. In fact, the only reason I finished it was that I'd promised my fellow club members I would.

Our next book club read is Middle Sex (or Middlesex), which I hope is a better read. I can't imagine it will be much less entertaining. Thank goodness Harry Potter is being delivered next week so I can get the memory of Ugly Stepsister out of my head!

Fresh take on a classic tale.......2007-07-10

This was a different take on the cinderella story. It was a little too gloomy and different from the original for me. Still it was an intriguing work.

entertaining.......2007-06-26

When I read Wicked, I changed my mind about the classic good guy bad buy image in books/movies. This was no different. It was delightful to discover the 'evil step sisters' were not that bad at all... that Cinderella was not as she appears in the classic Disney movie is refreshing. I enjoyed this book from page one.

Average customer rating:

nice book!
A keeper for the home library
One of the most fascinating books
Chasing dreams
Just Okay

The Alchemist - Gift Edition
Paulo Coelho
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060887966
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world, and this tenth anniversary edition, with a new introduction from the author, will only increase that following. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

Download Description

My Heart Is Afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky."Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Customer Reviews:

nice book!.......2007-10-11

I like this book very much. This is a real adventure with very interest philosophical thoughts. I was slightly disappointed with the book final. It will be more logical to expect that the real treasure could be a wisdom, a new knowledge, or sometihng like this. However, this is a very nice book; I am very happy that I bought it.

A keeper for the home library.......2007-09-11

This is a special book that makes an uplifting gift to someone wanting to seek their dream, but isn't sure to take that first step. I will read this again.

One of the most fascinating books.......2007-09-06

The Alchemist is an amazing book for anyone "searching for answers". It really reinforces the notion that it's all about the journey - not the destination. Well written and far more complex than the simple writing style might lead you to believe. This edition was a gift for a friend - it's beautiful to look at, as well.

Chasing dreams.......2007-08-23

A co-worker brought her copy of this book in one day for me to see. It was love at first sight and I knew I wanted my own copy. A month later, I bought one for myself on my birthday. I read it in two afternoons. It is a really good book. I would suggest it to anyone. It is very simple writing but the message is quite deep.

Just Okay.......2007-08-03

I liked THE ALCHEMIST, but didn't love it. It starts out very well, but it quickly gets bogged down by excessive symbolism and a lot of detail that didn't seem essential to the story.

The major point of this book is to pursue your life dreams, as opposed to making excuses for not doing so. I certainly support this message, but I felt that Coelho took 165 pages to convey a relatively straightforward point. This book is also heavily unrealistic in spots (the wind talks, the sun, etc.), which diminishes the power of its message, at least to me.

I read the most recent trade paperback edition of THE ALCHEMIST, and would suggest that you read the four-page introduction by Paulo Coelho before purchasing this novel. In that introduction, Coelho summarizes the main themes and ideas of THE ALCHEMIST in a crystal clear manner that I thought was more effective than the novel itself. If the message resonates with you, then by all means buy this book and enjoy it. Otherwise, you probably will not like it.

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

The Sea of Monsters
THE SEA OF MONSTERS
Wow. . .what an ending!
Percy's Odyssey is another fantastic trip into modern Greek myth
The series continues with the fun where it left off..

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)
Rick Riordan
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1423103343
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Book Description

Percy Jackson's seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get . . . well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy's friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.In this fresh, funny, and hugely anticipated follow up to The Lightning Thief, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their beloved camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family -- one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Customer Reviews:

The Sea of Monsters.......2007-10-10

This book is a winner. My nine year old daughter loved this whole series and wouldn't leave me alone until I got her the 2nd (and ultimately the 3rd) book. She loved the hidden twists and turns to the story. She thought the book was quite exciting. She reads one to two 100+ books a week and this is her Favorite series, by far, of all the books she has read. She likes the mix of ancient mythology and action.

THE SEA OF MONSTERS.......2007-10-06

The Sea of Monster's was a thrilling book that is appropriate for young adults and adults. It was action packed and clever.:)Anyone who is interested in greek mythology would thoroughly enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd book, and have already ordered it!!!!

Wow. . .what an ending!.......2007-09-28

This is a fabulous sequel to Riordan's first book. It is full of action, adventure, and it sparks some curiosity about future events. . . not to mention the ending will wow you!

Percy's Odyssey is another fantastic trip into modern Greek myth.......2007-09-13

In the second book of the modern Greek-mythological Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Percy discovers that Camp Half-Blood is in danger as their borders are weakening. Even worse, his cross-dressing satyr best friend Grover is in danger of getting married. Percy, his friend and daughter of Athena, go on a quest to save Grover and retrieve the Golden Fleece, doing a great impression of Odysseus along the way. While the book isn't as imaginative and strong as the first in the series, it continues Riordan's witty prose and clever updating of Greek mythology and Greek hero quests (I just go geek for that stuff). Percy's issues with his absent father are compounded with the discovery and shame of his half-brother. Percy's father-issues reflect a very grown up issue: that of feeling abandoned by our God. At heart, this intelligent series isn't just about the greater and universal truths of Greek mythology and the problems of identity and growing up, but about family and the bonds of blood, even the most dysfunctional family in history: that of the ancient Greek divinity. Grade: A-

The series continues with the fun where it left off.........2007-08-29

The next edition of the Percy Jackson series, picks up a few months after the first book The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)left us. This time Percy, our young half-god hero, has to deal with even more problems then ever.

The half-blood camp is now in danger of being attacked and over run by monsters who were once held out of it's grounds by a tree. The tree has been poisoned and time is running out before the camp will be over run for good. It's up to Percy and his friend Annabeth to get the golden fleece from an evil cyclops who has also captured Grover, his satyr friend.

Joining Percy this time is a young cyclops, Tyson who turns out to be more then he seems, much to Percy's surprise. His great strength and immunity to fire will come in more then handy for Percy on his quest to stop things before they even get worse. Now with Charon banned from camp, his rival daughter of Ares being put on the quest instead of him and Luke, his former friend still out there causing trouble things have gone from bad to worse over the short summer break.

The follow up is pretty good and continues the story nicely. It was lacking in a few places that the first book did deliver on. Like the variety of monsters and fun that seemed to flow through the first adventure. This time it was mostly focused on cyclops and lacking of the character development that was fun the first go around. But that is minor problems if anything. The book delievers the same fun and situations that we fell in love with the first time around. The action is constant as are the refernces to mythology that Rick Riordan uses nicely in a cute and fun twist to relate it to modern times. The explanation for why there are so many Starbucks around was just one of many weird notions that Riordan came up with and for some reason in this universe as we are reading it, we don't question the logic we accept it and want more of it.

If you enjoyed the first, this is must get. It picks up the characters and adventure where it left us and adds in even more twists and turns then we were left with the first go around. Its a never ending story that keeps building up to more and more to look to and figure out. Slight bits of info are leaked to us in this book that will come into play later but are still left open for interpretation.

I can't say this book is better then the first but it is just as good and will most certainly leave you wanting more. Riordan seemed to plan everything out quite well and the reader will also realize that this is getting quite good and deep. As an older reader I can say this book is fun for people of all ages. Check it out, its an adventure you will love to continue on gladly.

Average customer rating:

Hello Percy!
READ THIS!!!!
The Lightning Thief
Gods in the Modern World
Meh

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)
Rick Riordan
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786838655
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Book Description

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he cant seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worsePercy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. Percys mom decides its time that he knew the truth about where he came from. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friendsone a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of AthenaPercy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Hello Percy!.......2007-10-15

This book was FANTASTIC! As a huge Harry Potter fan, I have been searching for a new series and this one has certainly taken Harry's place. The weaving of Greek mythology through out the story was engrossing and you come to love Percy, Grover and Annabeth just as much as Ron, Hermonie and Harry...at least I have. These books are totally different than the Harry Potter books, but Riordan has created the same type of "magical" story telling that Rowling fans love. I have read all the books now and I anxiously await book 4!

READ THIS!!!!.......2007-10-10

This book was the most terrifying and joyable book. I highly recommend reading this book and making sure that you read the rest of the series. I liked this book because of the surprizing acts of the heroic trio.
Percy Jackson, Grover, and Annabelle.

This is my son's review and he read this book when he was in the fourth grade and enjoyed it.

Biscuitnator

The Lightning Thief.......2007-10-09

Isaiah Adams The Lightning Thief By: Rick Riordan I would like to start off by saying, this book was one of the most exiting books I think that I have ever read. It always kept me on my toes. It is from the genre mythology. I would say that this book gets a five star rating. This was a very action packed book that always left you wanting more. It is all about a boy named Percy who finds out in a very dramatic way that he is a half-blood, and gets sent out on a quest to retrieve what was stolen from Zeus the god of the sky: the lightning bolt. A half-blood is someone who is half mortal and half immortal. They have to be shielded from the regular world because their scent attracts monsters. When going on the quest Percy takes this girl who he met at Camp Half-Blood named Annabeth, and he takes his friend Grover who is half donkey and half male. I can really relate to the way Percy feels a lot of the time. Like when he gets angry, he feels like doing every first thing that pops into his head. When he is sad he cannot always say exactly why. The author really uses Percy's emotions to draw you into the unique story-line and make you feel as if you were the one who had to do the quest. The writer, Rick Riordan, writes in a way that is funny yet deep and meaningful at the same time. He can make his images seem real to the reader through his imaginative descriptions and at times he had me laughing out loud. This book reminds me of another book called the series of unfortunate events. That does not mean that this book is very depressing, but Percy has to do a lot of things that are against his will and has to face things that are very difficult for him to deal with all by himself. In all I would recommend reading this book. It will take you on an exploration of drama, emotion, and comedy. Enjoy!

Gods in the Modern World.......2007-10-08

Although I might disagree that the USA is the centre of Western Culture, this is a fun read. Percy Jackson is just such an interesting character. When we meet him first he's in his Sixth school in as many years and this school is a school for troubled kids. Strange things keep happening around him, he's got ADHD and Dyslexia and his stepfather hates him

When he realises that he's the son of a Greek God and that because of this he's the subject of interest from monsters from myth and legend. He gets a chance to go to Camp Half-Blood, where Mr D (or Dionysus) supervises the half-gods. However someone has stolen Zeus' Thunderbolt and Percy is the primary suspect. Will he survive to find the real thief or will the Gods kill him.

Meh.......2007-09-27

This book is a little elementary. Also, it seems like a lot of concepts were taken from Harry Potter. I think there is even a blatent reference to the Potter novels in the book. I like the concept and the use of Ancient Greek themes, but I think the market of people who can enjoy this book is rather small: 8-12 year olds with a comprehension of Ancient Greece.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books)

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Not Free SF Reader
This book changed my perspective on "Life, the Universe, and Everything"
Not sure what all the fuss is about this book
A Master Teacher
a piece of the puzzle.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books)
Joseph Campbell
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691017840

Amazon.com

Originally written by Campbell in the '40s-- in his pre-Bill Moyers days -- and famous as George Lucas' inspiration for "Star Wars," this book will likewise inspire any writer or reader in its well considered assertion that while all stories have already been told, this is *not* a bad thing, since the *retelling* is still necessary. And while our own life's journey must always be ended alone, the travel is undertaken in the company not only of immediate loved ones and primal passion, but of the heroes and heroines -- and myth-cycles -- that have preceded us.

Book Description

Joseph Campbell's classic cross-cultural study of the hero's journey has inspired millions and opened up new areas of research and exploration. Originally published in 1949, the book hit the New York Times best-seller list in 1988 when it became the subject of The Power of Myth, a PBS television special.

The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages of mythology but also its relevance to our lives today--and to the life of any person seeking a fully realized existence.

Myth, according to Campbell, is the projection of a culture's dreams onto a large screen; Campbell's book, like Star Wars, the film it helped inspire, is an exploration of the big-picture moments from the stage that is our world. It is a must-have resource for both experienced students of mythology and the explorer just beginning to approach myth as a source of knowledge.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-25

In the Hero with a Thousand Faces Joseph Campbell traces the myths and stories associated with the heroic archetype through all the varied cultures and types, also looking at a psychological viewpoint at times. Very interesting from a storytelling point of view, and at something that resonates so strongly around the world.

This book changed my perspective on "Life, the Universe, and Everything".......2007-05-12

Wow. Now that I've read this book I can't believe that I'd never heard of Joseph Campbell before. I started this book slowly, taking in the general idea and getting the point Campbell is making: all myths, religions, epic tales, etc. follow the same basic over-arching pattern. The pattern is plotted out in extreme detail in the book, so I won't go into it here, but it is spot on.

Anyone who has any interest in religion, philosophy, psychology, or the human condition needs to read this book. ALthough it starts out a bit slow and self-evident, by the end you realize that you are reading a book written by a true master teacher. Campbell's clearcut objective explanations are superb and unarguably true. Using examples from the Bible, the Iliad, the Koran, native American folklore, Hindu tales, fairy tales, Eskimo tales, Chinese legends, African tribal rituals, and too many more cultural tales to mention, Joseph Campbell definitively lays out the monomyth and its structure.

The beauty of Campbell's writing is how it sneaks up on you. I was following the general theme of the book and feeling as if I was learning something until around the middle of the book it all clicked. This book is not just about myth, philosophy, or religion, it is about mankind's constant struggle to nail down and explain the human condition. What troubles us is that we can't ever do it.

For this reason, in every culture, there is always a hero story. A hero story that describes the life and adventures and discoveries of one man who broke through the confusing walls of this world we live in and became truly enlightened. What makes this book so perfect, though, is the painstaking detail with which Campbell recounts different parts of different myths, religious tales, legends, and folklore to illustrate the "monomyth" that all these stories are telling.

Be sure to also read the footnotes, as valuable information and references to other interesting novels are often found there as well.

Not sure what all the fuss is about this book.......2007-04-24

I got this book because many people mention that it is the way to learn how people tick. It has been mentioned that this can help with character development in writing.

I couldn't read it.

Maybe I am just not cerebral enough because I thought it was full or obscure references and difficult passages that lost me time and again. I could boil down what I got out of it, which is basically Freud's doctrine about how we all want to sleep with our mother's (or fathers).

There has to be something better out there than this.

If you don't enjoy Psychology / Mythology textbooks you won't like this.

I give it 3 stars because I didn't read the whole thing. Maybe all of the good stuff is after the first 100 pages...

A Master Teacher .......2007-02-22

The master teacher's words live on... It's amazing how Campbell's writings and teachings gain greater power and meaning over time. I recently watched a library rental tape of the PBS aired talks he did with Bill Moyers in 1987. I now plan to purchase these tapes as well as his books.

a piece of the puzzle........2006-12-29

Campbell has got it all figured out. He and Jung are a must read for any one looking to see religion for what it is rather than the misinterpreted mumbo jumbo that has been handed down as fact. This book is also important for writers. Since I am now a writer, and have been devoting myself to that, Campbell's works have been very helpful. Lucas used this book when creating Star Wars. Some of his characters seem plucked from this book. It is a must have for almost any writer, especially fantasy writers looking to create a complete myth/world.

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Wondering why you were born? Look no further.
Other Books
Accessible and clear
One of the best storytellers of our time!
Intellectual stuff

The Power of Myth
Joseph Campbell , and Bill Moyers
Manufacturer: Anchor
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385418868
Release Date: 1991-06-01

Amazon.com

Among his many gifts, Joseph Campbell's most impressive was the unique ability to take a contemporary situation, such as the murder and funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and help us understand its impact in the context of ancient mythology. Herein lies the power of The Power of Myth, showing how humans are apt to create and live out the themes of mythology. Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics. For example, when discussing the mythology of heroes, Campbell and Moyers smoothly segue from the Sumerian sky goddess Inanna to Star Wars' mercenary-turned-hero, Han Solo. Most impressive is Campbell's encyclopedic knowledge of myths, demonstrated in his ability to recall the details and archetypes of almost any story, from any point and history, and translate it into a lesson for spiritual living in the here and now. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Finally available in a popularly priced, non-illustrated, smaller-format edition, which is ideal for the college market and general reader alike, this extraordinary best-seller is a brilliant evocation of the noted scholar's teachings on mythology.

Customer Reviews:

Wondering why you were born? Look no further........2007-09-21

5.5 stars

The Power Of Myth pretty much explains why we are here, and what we can do about it.
I can't think of any single book that showed me as much about myself, my mind, and how I fit into the grand dance of history as Powers Of Myth. It takes the great Bill Moyers interviews and lays them out in a beautifully logical fashion.
There is more deep thought and simple logic about the world's religions and myths here than in any other book I have found; Campbell's favorite theme, that all religions come from the same sources and have the same message, is clearly explained. More importantly, the wonderfully wise author takes that information and shows us how to use it to make our lives richer and more meaningful. What a glorious man, and what a glorious book. It's not only a fine introduction to Joseph's extraordinary work, it's a fitting summation, and a tribute to how much one man can learn and share and grow in a lifetime.
Makes a perfect gift for anyone at any age who likes to think.
My highest recommendation.

Other Books.......2007-09-03

A more popular look at myths and mythology, using this format to relate Campbell's studies and other works to mythological type influences that we see today, even in major media and popular culture or entertainment situations.

When Campbell points it out, you sometimes realise what you are subconsciously missing.

Accessible and clear.......2007-08-06

This is the audio to a PBS special from the 80's. It's done in a conversation between Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell. For some people this may feel like there is no structure and that it meaanders through the topic. But, for me it felt more like I was sitting in a living room as they talked to each other.

I've talked to people with lots of knowledge on this topic and they've said that Campbell is sort of the popular science or myth-light version of this topic. It was just the right amount of depth for me and interesting how he personalized myth for people in modern day.

One of the best storytellers of our time!.......2007-07-28

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. This is a great book written by a very engaging storyteller. Joseph Campbell describes the monomyth in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces as embodying all the necessary elements of the hero's journey in the many myths in human history. Campbell discovered through extensive research that humankind shares a universal monomyth in its various religions and legends especially pertaining to the creation of the world and humankind. Campbell borrowed the term monomyth from James Joyce's book Finnegan's Wake. Campbell's intuitive insight in human myth proves that for thousands of years these myths display a certain standard structure, which he summarizes beautifully in his book.

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a
region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there
encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back
from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons
on his fellow man (Campbell 30).

There are at least four major stages that a monomyth has however, in his book, Campbell goes on to describe seventeen stages that some monomyth's posses. The four stages making up the cycle of a monomyth are "passage: separation-initiation-return:" In the passage stage the hero is summoned to journey or embark on an adventure by some kind of event that takes place or from a message, he receives. The hero may embark on this passage willingly or reluctantly. During the separation stage, the hero meets with a mentor or wise man who gives the hero either an amulet or some words of wisdom to be of help to the hero on the adventure. It is during this stage that the hero will go through his first transformation, also known as "crossing the first threshold," as he crosses over to another world or dimension leaving behind the old world. In the initiation stage, the hero goes through several trials or tests. The hero often receives help in these ordeals along the way by allies or from a supernatural force. As the hero completes these ordeals successfully, he proves himself more worthy to continue the adventure. Most importantly, during this stage the hero must pass through a major ordeal that will expand his consciousness, and thereby change his character forever. Often, this ordeal entails the death of an ally or enemy. Once the hero successful accomplishes his ordeal he is rewarded with a gift, it could be intrinsic like the "holy grail, or it can be new found knowledge to better the world with. The last stage the hero travels is that of the return whence he came. Often the hero will undergo further trials on his return before he is permitted to cross the threshold back to the world he left. During his return journey, the hero will use his newfound wisdom or gift to make a safe return home. Once home the gift is used to cure some ill in the hero's home or to impart new wisdom to his neighbors.

Campbell points to the significance of the monomyth in the fact that it describes the cycle that Moses, Jesus, and Buddha had gone through according to their religious adherents. This is not to mention the hundreds of other monomyths told throughout human history. The monomyth proves that humankind shares a common creation DNA in a sense. The monomyth is the perfect vehicle for one to study the Humanities by.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy.

Intellectual stuff.......2007-06-27

I have tremendous admiration for the author Joseph Campbell and also for Bill Moyers, who did the interview. Both are tremendously intelligent, well-read and capable of verbalizing opinions and explanations in a very concise way. One would glean more from reading this book if a bit of "reqired reading" had been done previous to the reading. Our book club found the book challenging because we lacked the necessary background. Having such background would have made the book read faster and also would have enlightened our understanding as we read. However, we were all glad we did read it.

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An influential work on four 20th century seminal works
Fascinating yet slow
TYPICAL 19TH CENTURY RACIST TRACT
a century later and still going strong
A Good One to Start With

The Golden Bough: Fifteen Volume Set
James George Frazer
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0333977084

Amazon.com

Before Joseph Campbell became the world's most famous practitioner of comparative mythology, there was Sir James George Frazer. The Golden Bough was originally published in two volumes in 1890, but Frazer became so enamored of his topic that over the next few decades he expanded the work sixfold, then in 1922 cut it all down to a single thick edition suitable for mass distribution. The thesis on the origins of magic and religion that it elaborates "will be long and laborious," Frazer warns readers, "but may possess something of the charm of a voyage of discovery, in which we shall visit many strange lands, with strange foreign peoples, and still stranger customs." Chief among those customs--at least as the book is remembered in the popular imagination--is the sacrificial killing of god-kings to ensure bountiful harvests, which Frazer traces through several cultures, including in his elaborations the myths of Adonis, Osiris, and Balder.

While highly influential in its day, The Golden Bough has come under harsh critical scrutiny in subsequent decades, with many of its descriptions of regional folklore and legends deemed less than reliable. Furthermore, much of its tone is rooted in a philosophy of social Darwinism--sheer cultural imperialism, really--that finds its most explicit form in Frazer's rhetorical question: "If in the most backward state of human society now known to us we find magic thus conspicuously present and religion conspicuously absent, may we not reasonably conjecture that the civilised races of the world have also at some period of their history passed through a similar intellectual phase?" (The truly civilized races, he goes on to say later, though not particularly loudly, are the ones whose minds evolve beyond religious belief to embrace the rational structures of scientific thought.) Frazer was much too genteel to state plainly that "primitive" races believe in magic because they are too stupid and backwards to know any better; instead he remarks that "a savage hardly conceives the distinction commonly drawn by more advanced peoples between the natural and the supernatural." And he certainly was not about to make explicit the logical extension of his theories--"that Christian legend, dogma, and ritual" (to quote Robert Graves's summation of Frazer in The White Goddess) "are the refinement of a great body of primitive and barbarous beliefs." Whatever modern readers have come to think of the book, however, its historical significance and the eloquence with which Frazer attempts to develop what one might call a unifying theory of anthropology cannot be denied. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

Most readers are familiar with the one volume version of The Golden Bough as an abridgement of the third edition, made by Frazer in 1922. The two-volume edition that was familiar to Hardy and Yeats remains a sketch. The full length third edition is Frazer's definitive statement in which the King of the Wood appears in a radically new guise. That is the edition reprinted here.

Download Description

The origins of magic, myth and religion are examined in this fascinating classic of anthropology.

Customer Reviews:

An influential work on four 20th century seminal works.......2007-09-23

This book is a seminal work because it had a crucial influence on four important works of the twentieth century: T. S. Elliott's poem the Waste Land, Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces, Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code, and Francis Ford Coppolla's movie Apocalypse Now, screenplay by John Milius.

Sir James George Frazer's book written in 1922 was a groundbreaking work on ancient religion, paganism, and roots of early Christianity. Frazer does an in-depth examination of the sacrificial killing of god-kings to ensure bountiful harvests, which Frazer traces through several cultures, including in his elaborations the myths of Adonis, Osiris, and Balder.

Frazer spent his life writing fifteen volumes of history of myth and religion. This book sums up his theory of magic and its connections to paganism, as well as fusing ideas from Jessie L. Weston's book From Ritual To Romance and Gnostic texts that serve as a link to early Christianity's influence from ancient nature cults. His chapter titles say much about where his work goes and why it is so influential on iconic twentieth century works. The King of the Wood explains the original nature of the task imposed upon the hero, it undoubtedly influenced both Campbell's and Coppola's works. The Myths of Adonis, Attis, and Osiris looks to establish a chain of descent connecting early Aryan and Babylonian ritual with classic, Medieval and modern forms of nature worship. Our Debt to the Savage explains the role of the Medicine Man or doctor in fertility ritual. The Killing of the Devine King analyzes how this title is prevalent in so many of humankind's legends, and was a definite influence on Coppola's Colonel Kurtz character. Sacrifice of the King's Son regarded as an object of awe certainly influenced The Da Vinci Code.

Frazer's book is interesting and fun to read. I especially became interested in it from the movie Apocalypse Now. There is a scene in the movie that shows Colonel Kurtz's nightstand in his cave. Weston's book is one of three on the nightstand. The other two are Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which the film is based on. The other book is Jessie L. Weston's book From Ritual To Romance. Anyone wanting to understand the movie Apocalypse Now, especially the character of Colonel Kurtz, and what Milius and Copolla were trying to tell their audience need to read these three books!

As a graduate student reading in philosophy and history I recommend this book for anyone interested in literature, myth, history, philosophy, religion and fans of Apocalypse Now.

Fascinating yet slow.......2007-03-30

Sit back and let Frazier lead you through a compendium of European myths and Classical cultures. It's fascinating for a while, but it's one of the few books I've tried repeatedly to finish.

Why is anyone buying this particular edition? The one listed as a "Board Book" with ISBN 0020955707 is IDENTICAL in text and covers, it just has a different publisher name. And it's significantly cheaper, if purchased used.

TYPICAL 19TH CENTURY RACIST TRACT.......2007-01-28

nothing really extraordinary here. lots of slandering dark-skinned peoples with the word "savages" thereby excusing genocidal and land-grabbing actions by the more "civilized" Xtian believing "aryans" who of course have evolved beyond all that superstition by emblazoning their one true god on their only appropriate place of worship--dollar bills.

a century later and still going strong.......2005-10-27

This book is veritable attic full of folklore and ritual. But, like an attic, it is sometimes dusty and overstuffed. First published in 1922 and hardly out of print since, the author states it began as a study of a curious practice in a grove near Nemi, Italy in classical times of the killing of a local divine wood king/priest by his successor. His studies lead him to research one thing after another, which eventually became a multi-volume treatise on many of the ritual and folk practices of the world, especially in regards to gods of trees, vegetation and grain, and other resurrection myths.

At times it is a difficult read as the author does not have the current sense of treating other cultures as different, rather than "lesser", than ours, but despite repeated references to "savages" he presents practices and customs rather fairly and non-judgementally. It's only fault lies in it's length, perhaps, though this may be attributed to modern short attention spans, though it does seem to provide so many examples of a practice that I often thought five examples would have sufficed where he used twenty or more.

A curious thing, when I read this any shred of belief I might have had left in the Christ mythos was shattered with the detailed descriptions of other gods of resurrection. Undoubtedly without meaning to, Frazer presents such a clear picture of the rites and myths concerning Adonis, Attis, Osiris, among others, that you realize how little of the Christ myth (if anything) is original. This, of course, is not to disparage Christian believers, as my gods come as much out of myth as theirs, and so it is just as valid, but even when one has been a pagan as long as I have, there still remains some shred, I think, of a person that wonders if the original religion of our childhood might not be valid.

In any case, this is a long and interesting read. I originally picked it up after encountering numerous references in other pagan texts over the years to "Frazer's theory of the Divine King", etc., and finally wanted to read the work for myself. I don't regret it, and I don't think you will either, if you approach this book with patience when you have some time to devote to it.

A Good One to Start With.......2005-01-18

I got this book a long time ago when I was heavily into HP Lovecraft. Something about HPL's writing strikes a chord - even though it's cheesy, something about it feels TRUE, and that's scary ... so I started chasing down his sources, to read what he had read, in order to make sense of the feelings his writing evokes. The Golden Bough was the first one I found, probably because it is still widely available and can be found in most bookstores. HPL always put it on his doomed occultist characters' bookshelves alongside the Necronomicon, "The Witch Cult in Western Europe" (which does exist and can be bought here at Amazon!), and the "Unausprechlichen Kulten" of Von Juntz.
In the "Golden Bough" Sir Frazer takes the basic premise of explaining the strange rite of succession of the priest at Nemi, and uses it as a launch-pad to go into a long, drawn-out discussion of the roots of magic and superstition, and how so-called "primitive" beliefs have been common to all cultures in a certain stage of their development, all over the world.
The subject matter is fascinating, but Frazer's writing style is very dry, very British, very turn-of-the-(20th)century academic ... and he rambles. Some chapters he seems to be lost on a sidetrack, distracted by the unending cascade of interesting facts and anecdotes, but ultimately he returns to the main idea just when you thought he had lost it forever. The contrast between the "holy crap" amazement of what he's telling you and the soothing, hypnotic monotone of his written voice actually gives me a strangely pleasant tingling sensation along my spine after about 15 minutes of reading.
Of course I don't expect everyone (or anyone at all, for that matter) to have such a visceral reaction, but most readers with any interest in the shadowy depths of human thought and spirituality will enjoy this book immensely.

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Truly inspired
CP Estes: Women Who Run With Wolves
Women Who Run With The Wolves
A book that should resurface again and again as great feminist lit
My favorite book - my favorite author.

Women Who Run with the Wolves
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345409876
Release Date: 1996-11-27

Book Description

UPDATED, WITH NEW MATERIAL BY THE AUTHOR"WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES isn't just another book. It is a gift of profound insight, wisdom, and love. An oracle from one who knows."--Alice WalkerWithin every woman there lives a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. She is the Wild Woman, who represents the instinctual nature of women. But she is an endangered species. In WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES, Dr. Estés unfolds rich intercultural myths, fairy tales, and stories, many from her own family, in order to help women reconnect with the fierce, healthy, visionary attributes of this instinctual nature. Through the stories and commentaries in this remarkable book, we retrieve, examine, love, and understand the Wild Woman and hold her against our deep psyches as one who is both magic and medicine. Dr. Estés has created a new lexicon for describing the female psyche. Fertile and life-giving, it is a psychology of women in the truest sense, a knowing of the soul."This volume reminds us that we are nature for all our sophistication, that we are still wild, and the recovery of that vitality will itself set us right in the world."--Thomas Moore Author of Care of the Soul"I am grateful to WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES and to Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. The work shows the reader how glorious it is to be daring, to be caring, and to be women. Everyone who can read should read this book."--Maya Angelou"An inspiring book, the 'vitamins for the soul' [for] women who are cut off from their intuitive nature."--San Francisco Chronicle"Stands out from the pack . . . A joy and sparkle in [the] prose . . . This book will become a bible for women interested in doing deep work. . . . It is a road map of all the pitfalls, those familiar and those horrifically unexpected, that a woman encounters on the way back to her instinctual self. Wolves . . . is a gift."--Los Angeles Times"A mesmerizing voice . . . Dramatic storytelling she learned at the knees of her [immigrant] aunts."--Newsweek

Customer Reviews:

Truly inspired.......2007-10-10

This amazing book speaks to the soul. It is a valuable tool for any woman who has a hint that something is missing or that she is not whole. A keeper to be read many times over. I found this book to be very healing and therapeutic.

CP Estes: Women Who Run With Wolves.......2007-05-20

This is prolly the best book I have ever read. Brings me to tears, has me laughing, and everything in between. VERY good for women and men, as what she touches on relates to both sexes, although she focuses on women. Excellent book.

Women Who Run With The Wolves.......2007-05-14

I love this book. Great for any woman struggling to know and feel comfortable with the real self living in her skin. Great to know you're OK!

A book that should resurface again and again as great feminist lit.......2007-05-11

Each time I move and pare down my bookshelves, I immediately set aside as untouchable those books without which my personal library would be less rich. "Women Who Run with the Wolves" is one such book. I pick it up in good times and bad ones, and I'm always grateful for the experience.

My favorite book - my favorite author. .......2007-04-16

I first read this book 10 years ago with a group of women who met weekly, and I continue to refer to it often as a reminder of the insights that are recounted so well through the amazing storytelling talents of Clarissa Pinkola Estes. She has a way of speaking directly to my soul through her words and thoughtful analysis. A beautiful, life changing book!

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