Book Review

This is the second in a series of nine books called the Ringing Cedars of Russia.  I read the first book and am half way through the second.  This is a series of books by Vladimer Megre about his encounter with a woman he met in the Tiaga Forest, a remote area of Siberia.  Through the course of several brief stays he had two children with her and she in return, "revealed her philosophy on Man's relationship to Nature, the Universe and God, as well as lifestyle, education, nutrition, spirituality, love, family, sexual relations and other plants." 

This series of books have had a stunning effect, selling millions and widely popular in Russia and gaining popularity in the rest of the world.  There are currently over 200 natural settlements - a back to the land movement of simple living - in Russia, as well as others communities that have sprouted up worldwide.  These settlements use her advise on how humans relate to the living world and how we should live and conduct ourselves.  A huge gardening advocate, she has very definite views on how one should plant a garden for maximum health benefits.  She calls the modern world a technocratic system, and found it highly destructive and counterproductive to a healthy lifestyle.  

I have absolutely no idea if these books are fact or fiction, or a combination.  I have no idea if this woman (Anastasia) is a projective fantasy, an actual person, or inspired from a combination of fact and rich imagination.  Sound advise for natural living is intermingled with the preposterous.  Sharing her living quarters ( a cave) with a bear, while spending most of her time with few if any clothes in the Siberian Forest doesn't seem altogether realistic or plausible.  From what I can gather no one has ever met Anastassia and she herself stated in the first book, " I exist for those who believe me."

The books were written in the 90's and whether fact or fiction, the advice she gives on living a healthy lifestyle harmoniously in the natural world is a timeless important message which we can all gain something from.  

If you've read any of the books or the series I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Zippy the Great.

Summer is a great season to enjoy all manner of reading material. Life beckons to be enjoyed in the sunshine, with a comfortable chair and a big floppy hat. Pursuing the library stacks one day I ventured to find a funny little book called, A Girl Named Zippy, Growing Up Small in Moorland, Indiana, by Haven Kimmel This woman is a brilliant writer and this is an amazing read . Zippy is a memoir about growing up in the Midwest in the 60's and 70's. This women has a voice so vivid and rich that it steps right off the page and the character stays with you long after you've put the book down. I devoured this book and hungrily searched for more. Luckily I didn't have to look far as I found she wrote a sequel, She Got off the Couch and Other Heroic Acts from Moorland, Indiana. Incredibly, this book was even more enjoyable. In her continuation memoir, her mother goes back to college, earns a degree and begins a career. It's a book as much about feminism in the 1970's and a generation of woman coming into their own, as it is a recollection of memories from childhood. Completely satisfying yet left me longing to read more this woman has wrote. Luckily she's written several novels. I see a Haven Kimmel reading festival in my future.

Wow, good stuff, Go Zip!

Book Review

I read My Life in 23 Yoga Poses by Claire Dederer this past spring. It seemed the book de jour for the yoga community and although interested I was also a bit hesitant, I just couldn't quite place why. Dederer explores her passions; yoga, marriage and motherhood. She captures a feeling state that is personal, generational and universal. I understand why so many felt a connection with the subject matter, but yet something was missing for me. It was the joy of yoga, the release, restoration and expression of life force. I felt a small wave of unresolved depression running through the story and I found it unsettling and from a psychoanalytic point of view a bit unnerving. Throughout the book I felt she was trying to let go but couldn't. This seemed a defense mechanism she inherited from her parents who had left each other years ago but never divorced. By the end of the book Dederer had found some resolution from her childhood and peace in her present roles as mother, wife with a professional career. I'm glad she got on the mat but I think it may be time to climb on the couch as well. Well written but strangely unfulfilling.

Yiddish Yoga

Yiddish Yoga by Lisa Grunberger was completely fantastic! Seventy year old Ruthie finds herself a new widow, heartbroken, trying to handle her loss and continue without her husband Harry by her side. Her granddaughter gives her a nice little mitvah, of a years worth of yoga classes. ("I think it will help you grieve, bubby") This is the last thing on the planet Ruthie wants, needs or ever thought of doing. Somewhat guilted into going and not wanting to offend her granddaughter, she dons an old blue and white Addidas velour sweatsuit her husband always thought was a sexy little number and heads out. She lands in Sammy's gentle yoga class and slowly she confronts her grief, comes into the present, out of the past and in between discovers her toes, her abilities and lotus position. A small read it can be finished in one sitting, but you'll want to come back to it again and again. Perfect, just perfect!

Stretch

Stretch by Neal Pollack was an enjoyable read. Pollack stumbles off the couch and into a yoga class at his local gym. Shortly thereafter he and his family relocate from Austin,Texas to L.A. The yoga scene in glitter town is dense with hipsters, the beautiful and the latest fad. He eventually finds the right place to settle in and begins to deepen his explorations, evolving and changing along the way. As a writer he covers yoga journal conferences, yoga festivals and discovers the enlightened and bizarre. Pollack storms out of a jivumukti class in New York, participates in a 24 hour yoga- a -thon and finds himself on retreat in Asia, all while looking for his, "best self". Pollacks "best" made an appearance in his late teens and he would like to reestablish the essence of that person with the adult he has become. The incredibly satisfying experiences the reader is given is the opportunity to view Pollack evolving into someone less cynical and a bit softer. My gut tells me he is probably a genuinely nice guy, but here we understand his longtime public image of a snarky, ironic, jaded representative of his generation has become self toxic. There's somebody else there internally, and he's looking to reconnect with his long lost "best." The reader is given the opportunity to view; slowly, continually and realistically his evolution through his yoga practice, and in the process we see him come to a place more habitable within his own psyche. Stretch is a funny, enjoyable read and we all have a bit of Neal Pollack in all of us, so it's easy to root him on.

The Art of Racing in The Rain

To my beloved Cisco and all canines I have known who have brought such bliss and meaning to my life.

The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Seth chronicles one family's story as told through the eyes of their dog, Enzo. We are first introduced when his owner Denny Swift returns from work to find Enzo lying on a kitchen floor in a pool of urine, trying with increased panic to stand, mortified and determined to retain dignity. Enzo nearing the end begins his story, reflecting the personal meaning of this lifetime. He started as a young pup living with Denny in Seattle Washington. Denny has a vision of succeeding in the world of race car driving. They daydream of moving to a location closer to the action, perhaps even Europe. He and Enzo are well suited for each other and spend many happy hours watching races on TV, running in the park and letting the world unfold in all it's many splendid ways. Soon Eve enters, and their lives shift and expand to three, then four, with a little girl named Zoe. Dreams are replaced by a sweet reality, followed by ups, downs, tears, laughter, inconceivable events and heart wrenching outcomes. The Art of Racing in the Rain is one family members perspective while trying to come to terms with dramatic personal changes, family dynamics and the reality of adult life. For anyone who has ever loved a dog this is an exceptionally moving read.

Book Review

The Yoga Teacher by Alexander Gray is a novel about mid life change, coping with loss and coming to terms with the reality of life. We are introduced to Grace, a successful professional in the pharmaceutical industry. Although her external life is stable, her internal life is filled with grief and mourning. A widow, she has little in the way of human companionship. Her life is empty and the few people who occupy her time are empty as well. The only place she feels filled and comfort is the inside of a yoga studio. Through self reflection and honest appraisal she makes a dramatic decision to quit her job, obtain a teacher training certificate and become a yoga teacher. Through her journey we see Grace begin to fill internally. The shift is subtle, and the writer manages to convey this which is clever genius. The yoga teacher has a somber tone, which can be an accurate reflection for many who take on a new life. Although I enjoyed this read I was conflicted. Her emotional journey was realistic enough, but the flawless transition to financially independent yoga teacher was wholly unbelievable and disappointing. In all fairness the author was a yoga teacher herself and did have some rather high end clients. I suppose she tapped into her personal experience but its really not the norm for most of us. Placing that aspect of the story aside it was a good read especially on a rainy Spring day.

Book Review

Enlightenment for Idiots by Ann Cushman was a fun read. Cushman has created a wonderfully human character in Amanda, a young woman looking for her place in the world. Living in San Francisco, she works as a free lance writer while finishing her yoga teacher training. She's a bit down and out with a dead end job, an equally dead relationship and working only as a sub for other yoga teachers. Life is really not moving anywhere when she's given an assignment to journey off to India and write a how to book for westerners on yoga, ashrams and groovy guru's. I don't know Cushman's background but I would venture to say she's been to India. Her assessment was realistic and very funny at the same time. I found myself giggling a lot as I wandered through India with Amanada and Devi Das, her new found friend and eccentric travel partner. This is a fun read with heartwarming characters easy to like. A perfect book for the Summer, great for the beach.

Book Review

Tales of a female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman are the incredible true journey's of one woman's life. Gelman divorced in her forties and decided to take a trip to Mexico and study an indigenous village. She found true delight and enjoyment in the experience and decided to just keep going. To date Gelman who must be in her late sixties is still traveling. From Mexico, to Bali, New Zealand, Israel, India, Canada and every continent, country and Island that takes her fancy. On her website she states, "I am a modern-day nomad. I have no permanent address, no possessions except the ones I carry, and I rarely know where I’ll be six months from now. I move through the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities." I read this book during my travels throughout the Summer. I found it both inspirational and exhausting. During my travels in India I had the great fortune of meeting quite a few female nomads who had been on the road for years with few thoughts of really settling anywhere. I found their experiences rich beyond words and their attitudes toward life fascinating. I also discovered this is not a lifestyle I would choose to live. Although my love of travel will never diminish I find I'm firmly grounded to family, home and profession and it suits me well, with no complaints.

Many blessings and safe travels to all the ladies who travel this big blue marble. You shine bright and give us all inspiration and make the world a more humane place.

Peace and Love to you all,

Miss. S

Book Review

Always on the lookout for books to inspire young readers I stumbled upon A View from Saturday By E.L. Konigsburg. This is a great read for anyone, but particularly a middle school or young high school reader. A view from Saturday explores issues such as living in a single parent household, wildlife conservation, acceptance and understanding of people with physical disabilities and celebration of intellect. The story revolves around four characters, middle school age, living in a small town in upstate New York. The brilliance of Konigsburg writing is that she created characters with the exception of one, that are typical everyday students. From a viewpoint of soical status they are not on the outside trying to fit in, or in the inner circle looking out, but somewhere in the middle, trying to find solid ground. This is a good read!

Book Review

Aaaahhh yes! Sweet sweet Summertime with a beach blanket and a good book.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is one of those books with a big buzz that everyone talks about. In her early thirties Elizabeth Gilbert got a divorce and went in search of herself. She found herself in Italy, India and Bali. Each destination unpeeled a layer of the onion and allowed her to heal and become whole again. Although somewhat contrived as she was paid to do this rather than a spontaneous journey, there was a clear and important message. Happiness is possible for everyone. good thought, good message, inspirational read.

That's How the Light Gets In by Susan Rako Dr. Rako wrote a memoir of her years of practice as a psychotherapist. She's still practicing - I hope for many years to come- so I was a little confused why she would write a memoir, but no matter it was an excellent read. I was inspired by her holistic approach to therapy and her willingness to take from areas traditional and non traditional. As I work through my doctorate this book is a tap on the shoulder telling me I am not bound to only one area of thought, one box, one approach. Thank you Dr. Rako.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult As I waited to board my plane a family with three teenage daughters were scrambling about repacking their packs and demonstrating that wonderful excitement we can have right before a journey. One of the daughters turned to her sister and said, " What am I going to do with this big book? Do you want it?" She didn't and I ended up with it. So began my Middle Eastern journey while reading a book loosely based on Dante's circle's of hell. This is a book about relationships with our children, rape, loosing a child, the black Psyche of misery in our own childhood and other really fun stuff like that. Why this book, in this place I have no idea but well worth the read.

Book Review

The “Sorting Hat” of Harry Potter fame appeared on campus today. When worn, the hat proclaims in which dormitories the wearer should live. The hat was accompanied by directions for use and a message from “Professor Dumbledore” hailing the administration’s new assignment method. Credit: NATHAN COLLINS -- THE TECH

Well I've done it, I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowlings. I'm going to miss all these crazy kids from Hogwarts and their trials and tribulations. It was a good read and I found myself like many before, quite sad at times as it all seemed to be coming to an end too quickly. Over the years I've become fond of my Fall read into the world of Hogwarts. I seem to read the new Rowlings book in the change of seasons as the weather grows colder. Many a blistery Autumn night over the years I've snuggled deep in a new adventure with Harry and friends. The Deathly Hallows although immensely enjoyable was filled with endless battle scenes and many beloved characters dying with each new chapter. This was not a children's book unless you could categorize it under horror. The ending left the reader in no doubt that this was the last book Rowlings would ever write about Harry Potter.

This series is part of a generation, a classic for years to come. In a world filled with techno everything where few young students take an interest in anything they can't turn on first, these books stirred something infusing a new generation with a love of reading.

Thank you J.K. Rowlings, God Bless and Good Night.......

Book Review

I recently finished an incredible story I can highly recommend to everyone. The life of Pi by Yann Martel. Pi Patel is a sixteen year old boy living a perfectly lovely life in India with his mother, father and brother. His father is the director of a Zoo and Pi spends his childhood peacefully cohabiting with a wide and varied group from the animal kingdom. When his father decides to sell the zoo and move to Canada the family is uprooted unto an old cargo ship with many of the animals who are being sold to Zoo's in America. Halfway between Canada and India the ship sinks leaving Pi an orphan on a life raft with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra and a Bengal tiger. Pi must survive the elements and create resources from nothing while attempting not to be eaten. The young boy goes into his own heart of darkness relying on his spirituality, ingenuity and any information about animal behavior he has stored in his brain from his time growing up in a zoo. The story is long, savage, and difficult to get through at times. When we finally come to the end the curtain is lifted. The reader is left to question everything that has transpired. I was left breathless and wide eyed.

With the gates open and all systems go I've been holding on tight and trying to figure out how to make all the pieces of my life fit together. The Namaste Experience is now in its third week with a lot of ups and downs. I have managed to cook one meal a week from Cooking The Whole Foods Way with last weeks meal Japanese noodle soup with tofu quite enjoyable. This week I will be making Italian minestrone soup. I've been careful to pick accessible recipes as life needs to be as simple as possible these days. I am still doing my yoga DVD review but finding it difficult to take on more than one a week. Tonight I'll try kundalini yoga with Gurmukh. I'll report back later on this. What I've found the most difficult is the one day juice fast. I have not been able to successfully make it one full day. Each time a pick a day, I wake up that morning ravished with hunger ready to eat a three course breakfast. I have to pick the right day, psych myself into it and stick to it! I am going to try again tomorrow, wish me luck! So far all I can say about my little experience is that I'm bewildered about how to smoothly fit it into my life. Its hard to find time to begin, do and finish everything these days. I have managed to finish a couple of books. I highly recommend Buddha by Karen Armstrong although a warning here, although its small, its compact and a little mind boggling because she gives so much information its hard to take it all in. I think this book deserves more than one read. I also read the last in the trilogy by Sinead Morearty, From Here to Maternity. Emma and James are a couple with fertility issues, using all their options to create a family. I loved all three books and this writer always has me laughing out loud. She's light and leaves the reader feeling life is really OK no matter what happens.

Well its off for a little Kundalini, hopes things are moving nicely for everyone!

Inspiration!

I have put my genius into my life,

whereas all I have

put into my work

is my talent.
unknown

Julie and Julia, my year of cooking dangerously by Julie Powell is an inspiration to anyone who ever had hopes of wish fulfillment, inexplicable happiness or just doing something that brings ongoing satisfaction. Today my teacher said, "spending time with your children, gardening, doing yoga, it doesn't matter... doing something that fills you fills others, so you should do it often." Julia Powell decided to rise to the challenge and every day for one year she cooked solely from Mastering the Fine Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. She wrote about glorious victories and agonizing defeats, first in a blog then a book. Somewhere in the middle of her dull low pay job, crappy loft in a nowhere residential New York City borough, dial up Internet and entirely too much smoking, drinking and butter she inspired me (and I suspect a legion of others) to go out there and grab all the joy possible. Julie Powell opened up her heart chalkra and enveloped life. Life threw her a couple of sucker punches but all in all Julie came out on top; happier, satisfied, with a more enriched life at day 365. She didn't have any expectations, just looking to find something wonderful to embrace. It worked, it was a great idea. She succeeded fabulously

I'm inspired to do the same. My life is a little busier than Julie's was, but all the same, I have some ideas. I'm not ready to share yet but soon perhaps.

Happy Hunting!