It always intrigues me when a book's author references who he blatantly ripped off.
Yeah, that's sort of the spoiler alert.
I won't get into the story or plotline beyond saying that if you enjoyed the Three Musketeers, you will likely enjoy elements of this book.
I was not really expecting an Old English flavor to the writing style - I'm sure I missed some jokes or wit early on, but after about 50 or 60 pages I adjusted and found many more things amusing. It was an easy enough read with the classic medivalish level of revenge, plot twists, and romance. A far cry from my usual fantasy reads, but not terrible.
The only real change I'd make is cutting about 100 pages out of the book. At times it felt verbose - and not just because of the English. A shorter book that left a bit more of a cliff hanger for the next in the series would have likely tipped this upwards from a modest score of 3 out of 5 stars.
I will caution you that if you are a fan of Alexandre Dumas' writing, set your expectations a bit lower and you can adjust from there.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Friday, February 22, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Review - The Templar Legacy (Steve Berry)
Ok I'm going to admit there is something about Templar lore and the Free Masons Guild and anything that plays on the two that intrigues me to no end (thank you, bad 1990s PC games, Gabriel Knight). I'm fascinated by the variation and interpretation surrounding essentially the same set of events, "facts", and yet wildly different conclusions.
Enter Cotton Malone, the chief protagonist in this story, The Templar Legacy. While I certainly would not call myself an expert on the Knights Templar, I can tell you I struggled with Berry's rendering and how the chief Templar beliefs were (or in some cases, were not) woven throughout this story. In fact, part way through I was expecting Tom Hanks to make a cameo - oh wait, that was Brown's Da Vinci Code....totally separate theme....
But not really.
Yeah, I know that's sort of a spoiler. It's an important one to level-set expectations. As a popcorn read, I will likely continue with the series when I just need something to fill in the time. It's Brown-esque in how the theme comes to light. The historical fiction and easy writing style made this a fun-enough read, but I can't say I was as motivated to read it as some other, denser books.
Overall just average. Friends who really enjoy Berry's writing (and apparently the entire Malone series) assure me that his books improve. Since I didn't completely hate it, I may come back to Mr. Malone for his female sidekick when i'm feeling bored and lonely at a different point in time.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Enter Cotton Malone, the chief protagonist in this story, The Templar Legacy. While I certainly would not call myself an expert on the Knights Templar, I can tell you I struggled with Berry's rendering and how the chief Templar beliefs were (or in some cases, were not) woven throughout this story. In fact, part way through I was expecting Tom Hanks to make a cameo - oh wait, that was Brown's Da Vinci Code....totally separate theme....
But not really.
Yeah, I know that's sort of a spoiler. It's an important one to level-set expectations. As a popcorn read, I will likely continue with the series when I just need something to fill in the time. It's Brown-esque in how the theme comes to light. The historical fiction and easy writing style made this a fun-enough read, but I can't say I was as motivated to read it as some other, denser books.
Overall just average. Friends who really enjoy Berry's writing (and apparently the entire Malone series) assure me that his books improve. Since I didn't completely hate it, I may come back to Mr. Malone for his female sidekick when i'm feeling bored and lonely at a different point in time.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Seventh Week of Reading - Reflections
As predicted, I took it easier this past week and only read two books. One was a heady book as I dove into a hybrid of a 101/201 neuroscience class for my read. Evolve Your Brain was definitely powerful. And one was a complete disappointment.
One of the things that I've observed through the variety of reading is how clearly my ideas formulate at work now. By truly giving myself this time and growing my conscious and sub-conscious awareness through immersing myself in these books, I'm seeing dividends in my professional and personal lives. At work I'm more engaging - my days are structured completely differently than they ever have been before, I approach people differently, and I work differently. This leads to a span of influence and potential outcomes far beyond what I imagined when I was trying to cram as much as possible into my work week and limit myself based on how my calendar was controlled by others.
Let me start with the horribly disappointing book - Empire. This is a great example of how something seems like a good idea that goes down hill sucks the life out of you by seeing it through to completion. I set a goal that I would finish at least the first book in a series before passing judgment on the author or series, but after reading Empire i'm not sure that is such a wise idea. It only took me 6hrs to read, and I should have stopped after one. That's five hours I wasted on something that I felt made me a little dumber than I was before I read it. (Then again, considering I read a neurology book that went into intricate detail about neuroplasticity right before.......)
Evolve Your Brain, however, was fantastic. I'm so glad I took my time with this book. It is definitely more about the science of the brain than Dispenza's other books, which I really appreciated. I now understand more about the chemical reactions that take place when we feel different emotions, how dendrils connect and synapses fire, and more importantly - what I can do about all of that if I don't like how my body is reacting to whatever is stimulating my emotions in that way. This is an incredibly powerful thing for me to understand as I continue focusing on taking my life back so that anxiety doesn't control me and so that I'm not dependent on medication to have healthy responses to life.
I've got a few moderately interesting books to get through in the coming weeks, as I want to be reading The Name of the Wind and Monstrous Gentlewoman before my birthday since a dear friend said she'd read them with me. Based on the hold dates from the library, that's very plausible.
Happy Reading folks!
--Jennifer
(PS - After the 8th week reflections, I'll post the remaining books from my list for the year to make it easier to keep tabs).
One of the things that I've observed through the variety of reading is how clearly my ideas formulate at work now. By truly giving myself this time and growing my conscious and sub-conscious awareness through immersing myself in these books, I'm seeing dividends in my professional and personal lives. At work I'm more engaging - my days are structured completely differently than they ever have been before, I approach people differently, and I work differently. This leads to a span of influence and potential outcomes far beyond what I imagined when I was trying to cram as much as possible into my work week and limit myself based on how my calendar was controlled by others.
Let me start with the horribly disappointing book - Empire. This is a great example of how something seems like a good idea that goes down hill sucks the life out of you by seeing it through to completion. I set a goal that I would finish at least the first book in a series before passing judgment on the author or series, but after reading Empire i'm not sure that is such a wise idea. It only took me 6hrs to read, and I should have stopped after one. That's five hours I wasted on something that I felt made me a little dumber than I was before I read it. (Then again, considering I read a neurology book that went into intricate detail about neuroplasticity right before.......)
Evolve Your Brain, however, was fantastic. I'm so glad I took my time with this book. It is definitely more about the science of the brain than Dispenza's other books, which I really appreciated. I now understand more about the chemical reactions that take place when we feel different emotions, how dendrils connect and synapses fire, and more importantly - what I can do about all of that if I don't like how my body is reacting to whatever is stimulating my emotions in that way. This is an incredibly powerful thing for me to understand as I continue focusing on taking my life back so that anxiety doesn't control me and so that I'm not dependent on medication to have healthy responses to life.
I've got a few moderately interesting books to get through in the coming weeks, as I want to be reading The Name of the Wind and Monstrous Gentlewoman before my birthday since a dear friend said she'd read them with me. Based on the hold dates from the library, that's very plausible.
Happy Reading folks!
--Jennifer
(PS - After the 8th week reflections, I'll post the remaining books from my list for the year to make it easier to keep tabs).
Monday, February 18, 2019
Review - Empire (Orson Scott Card)
I had such high hopes for this book, primarily because I love the Xbox 360 game Shadow Complex, and I know that the game is the prequel to the Empire series. However, I was very disappointed.
Empire is yet another book that hypothesizes on what an American civil war would like in the 21st century. Given the current political climate and cheeto in charge, I can't say that the book's fiction elements grabbed me like it should. (Perhaps I'm simply desensitized to the absurdity Chief Cheeto is turning this country into....)
I appreciated the opening about how Malich (who is sadly betrayed - spoiler alert) chose to engage with a Persian community despite the fear of retaliation from Al Qaeda. He grieved the civilian loss in a powerful way in order to ensure the trust that his special forces team had worked so hard to build was not lost. It was perhaps the most touching part of the book - in the first chapter.
It went downhill for me after that.
A revolutionary team taking over the American Government, and turning NYC into their personal war zone with high-tech mech? Not out of the realm of possibility, but at least set it at the Capitol if it's a coup that's happening.
Card did a nice job of setting up the plotline for sequels - and since it is the first in the trilogy i may consider reading them at some point. But overall, this was not my cup of tea (storyline or writing style).
As my first experience reading anything by Card, I'm a little disappointed. I have Ender's Game on my list this year, and I'm already adjusting my expectations for that book based on feedback from others and this experience with Empire.
2 stars, and I feel like I'm being generous.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Empire is yet another book that hypothesizes on what an American civil war would like in the 21st century. Given the current political climate and cheeto in charge, I can't say that the book's fiction elements grabbed me like it should. (Perhaps I'm simply desensitized to the absurdity Chief Cheeto is turning this country into....)
I appreciated the opening about how Malich (who is sadly betrayed - spoiler alert) chose to engage with a Persian community despite the fear of retaliation from Al Qaeda. He grieved the civilian loss in a powerful way in order to ensure the trust that his special forces team had worked so hard to build was not lost. It was perhaps the most touching part of the book - in the first chapter.
It went downhill for me after that.
A revolutionary team taking over the American Government, and turning NYC into their personal war zone with high-tech mech? Not out of the realm of possibility, but at least set it at the Capitol if it's a coup that's happening.
Card did a nice job of setting up the plotline for sequels - and since it is the first in the trilogy i may consider reading them at some point. But overall, this was not my cup of tea (storyline or writing style).
As my first experience reading anything by Card, I'm a little disappointed. I have Ender's Game on my list this year, and I'm already adjusting my expectations for that book based on feedback from others and this experience with Empire.
2 stars, and I feel like I'm being generous.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Review - Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind (Joe Dispenza)
There seem to be two camps of people when discussing books on brain chemistry and the hidden power of our minds. The first camp of people is on an extreme end - postulating things that seem unfathomable to comprehend. The other camp dismisses those mental extremists as whack-a-doodles, citing proven science.
Here's where I tell all of you I don't really care where you think I fall on the spectrum.
Evolve Your Brain is a very heady book, pun intended. Most of the pictures discuss how the neurons and synapses in the brain work, and the flow of chemicals that is released which reinforces the connections taking place in our conscious awareness. Dispenza doesn't propose something outlandish in terms of the science behind how the brain works - he is thorough in discussing the brain proteins and all of the connections - weak or strong - happening that create our external realities while chemical changes are creating our internal ones. He breaks down how memories work, how something that is a weak neural connection can be broken or strengthened depending on how we apply the laws of association. Ultimately he is trying to show readers - partially through his own experiences and partially through science - how our attitudes shape the beliefs we have, which in turn shape the things we experience, which further shapes us.
And, as is true of every book I've read in this general realm, this is where I'm about to get real and personal. So stop reading if you don't want that level of insight.
I mean it - stop reading if you don't want to dive deep into my mind.
…
…
I grew up in what would be an overstatement to say "lower middle class". Both of my parents were angry, but in different ways. I knew how to read people and anticipate my environment very early on, and I struggled with suicide and self worth. I eventually got to a place where mentally I decided I was going to prove every asshole in my life wrong. So I set out to do just that - but the 18yrs of experiences and hard-wired connections I was fighting were still there. The same things triggered my fight or flight feelings. The only difference is now I was living on my own and I had to figure shit out. I got really good at faking it - or at least convincing myself that I had changed and that I was finally over whatever baggage was weighing me down.
Then something would happen, I'd experience a "setback", let's say. And I'd go through the whole healing cycle all over again. I learned in my private life that my voice didn't matter, so I sought out relationships where the absence of my voice didn't detract from other things I found joy in. It was a coping mechanism.
Combine the silencing of my voice with the abuse triggers I experienced as a kid - and very rapidly I slipped down a dark, deep hole. A hole that was complex and deeper than I ever imagined. And I didn't realize just how deep the hole was until I hurt someone that I love very dearly. As I was climbing out, I never slowed down to really truly rewire my brain - those flight and fight responses were deeply embedded. And much like you probably feel if you skip your morning coffee and your body says "hey wait! Where in the hell is my caffeine?!" - my subconscious was tensing my body looking for the same chemical reactions that had persisted and flowed over the last 37 years of my life.
For a little while, the absence of those familiar negative feelings didn't impact me. I felt lighter. And then the withdrawals set in. I didn't understand what was happening - I felt afraid of things that weren't real, when all of the facts and data before me showed me it wasn't real, but yet I was still afraid. And it got worse, worse to the point that I flip-flopped myself all over as I kept trying to climb out of that hole, but was sinking deeper. Just like with caffeine headaches - where you need two or three times your normal coffee amount to get rid of the pain - that happens with negative emotions too.
Because of books like Evolve (and several books on anxiety that I've read in late 2018), I have come to terms with my anxiety. I've accepted help through my doctor and therapist and am wholly a better person since being on medication. And I know I have a looooooong way to go before I can say I'm truly rewired - but for the first time I am able to fight the internal wiring in order to evolve the connections my brain is making. I'm doing it without the same consequences as stumbling blindly through it. And I'm seeing the incremental improvements day by day.
Change your attitude and you change your life - no truer words exist regarding the intricate ways our brains control our world.
This is just the beginning of my journey - part of taking control is understanding the what and the why. Now that I understand my whats and my whys, I'm doing the hows to make me a truly whole, better person.
I hope if you read this that you'll understand yourself a bit better - if nothing else I hope it leads you to have compassion for those whom you do not understand.
Happy Reading.
--Jennifer
Here's where I tell all of you I don't really care where you think I fall on the spectrum.
Evolve Your Brain is a very heady book, pun intended. Most of the pictures discuss how the neurons and synapses in the brain work, and the flow of chemicals that is released which reinforces the connections taking place in our conscious awareness. Dispenza doesn't propose something outlandish in terms of the science behind how the brain works - he is thorough in discussing the brain proteins and all of the connections - weak or strong - happening that create our external realities while chemical changes are creating our internal ones. He breaks down how memories work, how something that is a weak neural connection can be broken or strengthened depending on how we apply the laws of association. Ultimately he is trying to show readers - partially through his own experiences and partially through science - how our attitudes shape the beliefs we have, which in turn shape the things we experience, which further shapes us.
And, as is true of every book I've read in this general realm, this is where I'm about to get real and personal. So stop reading if you don't want that level of insight.
I mean it - stop reading if you don't want to dive deep into my mind.
…
…
I grew up in what would be an overstatement to say "lower middle class". Both of my parents were angry, but in different ways. I knew how to read people and anticipate my environment very early on, and I struggled with suicide and self worth. I eventually got to a place where mentally I decided I was going to prove every asshole in my life wrong. So I set out to do just that - but the 18yrs of experiences and hard-wired connections I was fighting were still there. The same things triggered my fight or flight feelings. The only difference is now I was living on my own and I had to figure shit out. I got really good at faking it - or at least convincing myself that I had changed and that I was finally over whatever baggage was weighing me down.
Then something would happen, I'd experience a "setback", let's say. And I'd go through the whole healing cycle all over again. I learned in my private life that my voice didn't matter, so I sought out relationships where the absence of my voice didn't detract from other things I found joy in. It was a coping mechanism.
Combine the silencing of my voice with the abuse triggers I experienced as a kid - and very rapidly I slipped down a dark, deep hole. A hole that was complex and deeper than I ever imagined. And I didn't realize just how deep the hole was until I hurt someone that I love very dearly. As I was climbing out, I never slowed down to really truly rewire my brain - those flight and fight responses were deeply embedded. And much like you probably feel if you skip your morning coffee and your body says "hey wait! Where in the hell is my caffeine?!" - my subconscious was tensing my body looking for the same chemical reactions that had persisted and flowed over the last 37 years of my life.
For a little while, the absence of those familiar negative feelings didn't impact me. I felt lighter. And then the withdrawals set in. I didn't understand what was happening - I felt afraid of things that weren't real, when all of the facts and data before me showed me it wasn't real, but yet I was still afraid. And it got worse, worse to the point that I flip-flopped myself all over as I kept trying to climb out of that hole, but was sinking deeper. Just like with caffeine headaches - where you need two or three times your normal coffee amount to get rid of the pain - that happens with negative emotions too.
Because of books like Evolve (and several books on anxiety that I've read in late 2018), I have come to terms with my anxiety. I've accepted help through my doctor and therapist and am wholly a better person since being on medication. And I know I have a looooooong way to go before I can say I'm truly rewired - but for the first time I am able to fight the internal wiring in order to evolve the connections my brain is making. I'm doing it without the same consequences as stumbling blindly through it. And I'm seeing the incremental improvements day by day.
Change your attitude and you change your life - no truer words exist regarding the intricate ways our brains control our world.
This is just the beginning of my journey - part of taking control is understanding the what and the why. Now that I understand my whats and my whys, I'm doing the hows to make me a truly whole, better person.
I hope if you read this that you'll understand yourself a bit better - if nothing else I hope it leads you to have compassion for those whom you do not understand.
Happy Reading.
--Jennifer
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Sixth Week of Reading - Reflections
Snowpocalypse 2019 proved helpful for pounding out 5 books in one week. What a week for reading I had!
I think all the books I read this week were amazing. I finished Samadhi, which is a very dense book. I was having to read it just one section at a time so that I could appropriately meditate and take action. Combining the teachings and knowledge from Samadhi with others I've read is proving powerful indeed. And, i'm finding my authentic voice along the way.
Mark of the Assassin was an incredibly fun read. I can't wait to read more of Silva's work, and I love that I now have other easy reads to break up the denser stuff I find myself gravitating towards. I'm learning so much about myself through reading the variety of books I'm exposed to. It's pretty phenomenal.
I am unlikely to finish any books this week - I think I will be taking it easy and just reading lightly here or there. As a new guinea pig mom, I have a habitat to build to keep the critters happy and healthy. Plus there is the normal mom stuff of cleaning, keeping the kiddo fed and engaged, and then finding me time.
Two fiction books and the 2nd to last of my non-fiction for the year, Evolve Your Brain are sitting on my nightstand, so we'll see what I accomplish. I think Evolve is probably what I'll finish, but we'll see what I feel inspired to do this week.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
I think all the books I read this week were amazing. I finished Samadhi, which is a very dense book. I was having to read it just one section at a time so that I could appropriately meditate and take action. Combining the teachings and knowledge from Samadhi with others I've read is proving powerful indeed. And, i'm finding my authentic voice along the way.
Mark of the Assassin was an incredibly fun read. I can't wait to read more of Silva's work, and I love that I now have other easy reads to break up the denser stuff I find myself gravitating towards. I'm learning so much about myself through reading the variety of books I'm exposed to. It's pretty phenomenal.
I am unlikely to finish any books this week - I think I will be taking it easy and just reading lightly here or there. As a new guinea pig mom, I have a habitat to build to keep the critters happy and healthy. Plus there is the normal mom stuff of cleaning, keeping the kiddo fed and engaged, and then finding me time.
Two fiction books and the 2nd to last of my non-fiction for the year, Evolve Your Brain are sitting on my nightstand, so we'll see what I accomplish. I think Evolve is probably what I'll finish, but we'll see what I feel inspired to do this week.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Review - Magic Bites (Ilona Andrews)
It is no secret that I am not a fan of the Twlight series. Sure I read all of the books, and sure I binge-watched the movies with a friend who loves them (that's called good moral support). But I struggle with which is worse - the horrible tropes in Buffy and Angel or the let's make vampires sexy but mysterious vibe in Twlight.
Enter Ilona Andrews to the rescue.
I really enjoyed Magic Bites. There were many twists that I didn't expect, and it was nice to have it set as sort of a mystery book. Having come off of a murder mystery that was worlds (literally) different, Bites kept right on par with what I loved about the last book in a completely different way.
Kate is what Buffy's character could have been - and certainly far more talented than some of the characters from other spin-offs. I'd love to see Kate Daniels as a series of some sort even (yes, I enjoyed the story that much). It was a fun, quick read with enough depth to hold my interest (a challenge as this was the 5th book in 4 days).
I plan to tackle the rest of the Kate Daniels' books in Andrews' series once I'm done with this list. 39 more to go!
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Enter Ilona Andrews to the rescue.
I really enjoyed Magic Bites. There were many twists that I didn't expect, and it was nice to have it set as sort of a mystery book. Having come off of a murder mystery that was worlds (literally) different, Bites kept right on par with what I loved about the last book in a completely different way.
Kate is what Buffy's character could have been - and certainly far more talented than some of the characters from other spin-offs. I'd love to see Kate Daniels as a series of some sort even (yes, I enjoyed the story that much). It was a fun, quick read with enough depth to hold my interest (a challenge as this was the 5th book in 4 days).
I plan to tackle the rest of the Kate Daniels' books in Andrews' series once I'm done with this list. 39 more to go!
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Review - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)
This particular book was one I discovered while visiting a dear friend in Chicago. I started reading her copy and enjoyed the first few pages so much I opted to check it out from the library.
A murder mystery set post-WWII in England. And a young girl (the youngest of the three sisters) is not only a brilliant forensic chemist (before CSI was a thing of chemistry and science) but also wicked smart and funny.
I loved every bit of this book - it was dark with an almost jack-the-ripper quality about it, yet light and very English countryside. And, I kept turning the pages unable to figure out the real story until near the end.
We'll see if Bradley's other works hold my attention like this, but for now I'll give this one a solid 4 stars and keep British mid-20th century murder mysteries in my expanding repertoire of books to get lost in.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
A murder mystery set post-WWII in England. And a young girl (the youngest of the three sisters) is not only a brilliant forensic chemist (before CSI was a thing of chemistry and science) but also wicked smart and funny.
I loved every bit of this book - it was dark with an almost jack-the-ripper quality about it, yet light and very English countryside. And, I kept turning the pages unable to figure out the real story until near the end.
We'll see if Bradley's other works hold my attention like this, but for now I'll give this one a solid 4 stars and keep British mid-20th century murder mysteries in my expanding repertoire of books to get lost in.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Review - Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, & Sharpen Your Creative Mind (Jocelyn Glei)
The irony of blogging about a book that discourages technological extensions of ourselves is not lost on me. That said, this was a fantastic read. I have been struggling to be more creative, break some of my own tried and true habits that up until now have garnered me with reasonable success. However, I know that I can do more, that I'm capable of more, that I'm nowhere near my fullest potential.
So I bought this book.
It would be an understatement to say this book is not at all what I thought it was going to be.
Aristotle said, "We are repeatedly what we do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." And this book is all about habits - habits that retrain your brain to wander, focus on the creative process, letting go of perfectionism. That's right - habits.
At first blush, it seems as if this book is counter-intuitive to all of the other unity of consciousness and enlightenment I've been doing, focused on breaking habits and undoing the hard-wiring of the brain. What sets this apart regarding why habits are important is that these are habits of creating. Innovation is 1% ideas and 99% hard work - but we are conditioned to be so laser-focused on that 1% it consumes us, leading to feelings of failure and self-criticism that are unhealthy. And I found the exact opposite to be true as I read this book.
It was an incredibly fast read - there are dozens of contributors, all focused on the same principle: the act of creating, of unleashing the world of possibilities that lies within us. And I am very excited to unleash those possibilities within myself.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
So I bought this book.
It would be an understatement to say this book is not at all what I thought it was going to be.
Aristotle said, "We are repeatedly what we do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." And this book is all about habits - habits that retrain your brain to wander, focus on the creative process, letting go of perfectionism. That's right - habits.
At first blush, it seems as if this book is counter-intuitive to all of the other unity of consciousness and enlightenment I've been doing, focused on breaking habits and undoing the hard-wiring of the brain. What sets this apart regarding why habits are important is that these are habits of creating. Innovation is 1% ideas and 99% hard work - but we are conditioned to be so laser-focused on that 1% it consumes us, leading to feelings of failure and self-criticism that are unhealthy. And I found the exact opposite to be true as I read this book.
It was an incredibly fast read - there are dozens of contributors, all focused on the same principle: the act of creating, of unleashing the world of possibilities that lies within us. And I am very excited to unleash those possibilities within myself.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Review - Samadhi: Unity of Consciousness and Existence (Ivan Antic)
This will be a different review than I've given on other books. As this is less about my review/critique of Antic's writing, it will reflect more the spiritual and emotional growth I've been on in my journey.
Samadhi is a wonderful book for me to close on, or should I say pause with, on my journey of self discovery. Each section is brief - it hits on key elements that thread through Buddhism, quantum theory, and the very molecular structure of our physical and non-physical beings. It interweaves the various major religions and their teachings to highlight the oneness that really exists.
What really struck me was the sound ties back to science. In particular a quote from Nikolai Tesla hit quite a chord with me: "The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena (the deeds of the consciousness of the soul), it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence."
I believe this more than ever. As I have journeyed into the depths of my own conscious and unconscious mind through meditation and careful self-examination, it has been the focus on the energetic aspects of the world around me that has helped shift me in the greatest of ways. Understanding and applying quantum theory to the possibilities that life affords is merely recognizing that no one has a pre-determined path. Fate exists to the extent we pre-determine our path, through our various addictions.
I am not the same person I was just a few short months ago. My physical world is upside down in a manner of speaking, yet I have the most inner peace and happiness that I can recall. Habits that have engrained themselves in me over my lifetime are being replaced with new ones, and more positive vibrational realities are coming into sharper focus.
This sort of self work has enabled me to react with kindness and love in ways that I likely would not have previously. Situations that would normally be hurtful - losing loved ones, as an example - are no longer a cause for grief, but rather something to find peace and joy from. And that fundamental shift in perspective has brought such peace to me.
I can actually monitor these results with my fitbit - situational anxiety (albeit years of it building) was causing physical issues for my health and well-being. I chose to start medication. When I started - my baseline 8 weeks ago was blood pressure and resting heart rate averages that bordered on having a heart issue. I wasn't sleeping. My anxiety was quite literally off the charts. My doctor fully expected me to be on the max dosing of the medication, and we came up with a plan to taper gradually so I could avoid those side effects. I let him know I was working on meditation and aligning my chakras as well, and he was pleased to know my efforts through therapy and other non-traditional treatments were part of a holistic path to be healthier.
As he has indicated at each one of my med checks, I am on 1/4 of the dose most people with similar levels of pre-medication anxiety need. I believe this is because of the hard work I am doing on myself, the meditation, and truly seeking to change all of the habits and thoughts that have programmed me up until this point in my life. We have agreed that I will continue my journey into aligning my consciousness and my reality through meditation, yoga, and other means - and the goal is that I will be able to either remain on such a low dose or get off of medication completely by the end of 2019.
These are obviously deeply personal thoughts, and not related directly to Samadhi. However, Samadhi has been part of my journey to a better, healthier, holistic me. And simply discussing the teachings and sharing my critique would not impress upon you the reader the potential or significance that unity of consciousness with existence could have.
My journey does not end here, and I look forward to continuing my growth and enlightenment.
Happy Readings!
--Jennifer
Samadhi is a wonderful book for me to close on, or should I say pause with, on my journey of self discovery. Each section is brief - it hits on key elements that thread through Buddhism, quantum theory, and the very molecular structure of our physical and non-physical beings. It interweaves the various major religions and their teachings to highlight the oneness that really exists.
What really struck me was the sound ties back to science. In particular a quote from Nikolai Tesla hit quite a chord with me: "The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena (the deeds of the consciousness of the soul), it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence."
I believe this more than ever. As I have journeyed into the depths of my own conscious and unconscious mind through meditation and careful self-examination, it has been the focus on the energetic aspects of the world around me that has helped shift me in the greatest of ways. Understanding and applying quantum theory to the possibilities that life affords is merely recognizing that no one has a pre-determined path. Fate exists to the extent we pre-determine our path, through our various addictions.
I am not the same person I was just a few short months ago. My physical world is upside down in a manner of speaking, yet I have the most inner peace and happiness that I can recall. Habits that have engrained themselves in me over my lifetime are being replaced with new ones, and more positive vibrational realities are coming into sharper focus.
This sort of self work has enabled me to react with kindness and love in ways that I likely would not have previously. Situations that would normally be hurtful - losing loved ones, as an example - are no longer a cause for grief, but rather something to find peace and joy from. And that fundamental shift in perspective has brought such peace to me.
I can actually monitor these results with my fitbit - situational anxiety (albeit years of it building) was causing physical issues for my health and well-being. I chose to start medication. When I started - my baseline 8 weeks ago was blood pressure and resting heart rate averages that bordered on having a heart issue. I wasn't sleeping. My anxiety was quite literally off the charts. My doctor fully expected me to be on the max dosing of the medication, and we came up with a plan to taper gradually so I could avoid those side effects. I let him know I was working on meditation and aligning my chakras as well, and he was pleased to know my efforts through therapy and other non-traditional treatments were part of a holistic path to be healthier.
As he has indicated at each one of my med checks, I am on 1/4 of the dose most people with similar levels of pre-medication anxiety need. I believe this is because of the hard work I am doing on myself, the meditation, and truly seeking to change all of the habits and thoughts that have programmed me up until this point in my life. We have agreed that I will continue my journey into aligning my consciousness and my reality through meditation, yoga, and other means - and the goal is that I will be able to either remain on such a low dose or get off of medication completely by the end of 2019.
These are obviously deeply personal thoughts, and not related directly to Samadhi. However, Samadhi has been part of my journey to a better, healthier, holistic me. And simply discussing the teachings and sharing my critique would not impress upon you the reader the potential or significance that unity of consciousness with existence could have.
My journey does not end here, and I look forward to continuing my growth and enlightenment.
Happy Readings!
--Jennifer
Review - The Mark of the Assassin (Daniel Silva)
Espionage books fall into one of two categories: they are either entirely too predictable and cliché or they have a lot of plot twists. The Mark of the Assassin falls into the latter category.
While not my usual type of book (I get bored with the predictability of most Cold War or Espionage books), I couldn't put this one down. It is fantastically done and highly believable. Overlaying some of the story with things I remember my father sharing about missions he couldn't talk about or times he couldn't tell us where he was going made it all the more believable. (It was only after he passed away and I was reading his service files, commendations, and medals that I was able to piece together his career).
The primary story involves Michael Osbourne, a CIA intelligence analyst who was pulled from field duty when his lover decades earlier was shot before his very eyes in London. It includes his wife, connections to the President, a corporate scandal, and legitimate spikes in terrorism fears. All of this is, by my calculations, taking place in the mid-1990s - not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union, KGB, and Red Army.
It took me until about the 60% mark before I figured out the connections between Michael and some of the other characters, and then in the last 40 pages of the book there was yet another plot twist. I won't spoil any more details for you - just know that in a book based on espionage and heightened global tensions, everyone is more than you think.
I also enjoyed Silva's writing style. Brief yet highly detailed - which is another hallmark of books I tend to enjoy. I'm incredibly thankful for the recommendations of Silva as an author, and intend to read more of his works.
5 stars all the way.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
While not my usual type of book (I get bored with the predictability of most Cold War or Espionage books), I couldn't put this one down. It is fantastically done and highly believable. Overlaying some of the story with things I remember my father sharing about missions he couldn't talk about or times he couldn't tell us where he was going made it all the more believable. (It was only after he passed away and I was reading his service files, commendations, and medals that I was able to piece together his career).
The primary story involves Michael Osbourne, a CIA intelligence analyst who was pulled from field duty when his lover decades earlier was shot before his very eyes in London. It includes his wife, connections to the President, a corporate scandal, and legitimate spikes in terrorism fears. All of this is, by my calculations, taking place in the mid-1990s - not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union, KGB, and Red Army.
It took me until about the 60% mark before I figured out the connections between Michael and some of the other characters, and then in the last 40 pages of the book there was yet another plot twist. I won't spoil any more details for you - just know that in a book based on espionage and heightened global tensions, everyone is more than you think.
I also enjoyed Silva's writing style. Brief yet highly detailed - which is another hallmark of books I tend to enjoy. I'm incredibly thankful for the recommendations of Silva as an author, and intend to read more of his works.
5 stars all the way.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Fifth Week of Reading - Reflections
My fifth week of reading took me through two wonderful books:
I also discovered my first book that I'm struggling with - Outlanders. I know there are a lot of people who simply love the series (written and shows), but at 30pgs in I'm not sure how on earth to see my way through the remaining 820 pages. At the sage advice from my best friend, I'm setting this one aside for now and will try again in a couple months.
More reading to come - not sure what this week will hold for me!
Happy Reading.
--Jennifer
- Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
- Tell the Wolves I'm Home
I also discovered my first book that I'm struggling with - Outlanders. I know there are a lot of people who simply love the series (written and shows), but at 30pgs in I'm not sure how on earth to see my way through the remaining 820 pages. At the sage advice from my best friend, I'm setting this one aside for now and will try again in a couple months.
More reading to come - not sure what this week will hold for me!
Happy Reading.
--Jennifer
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Review - Tell The Wolves I'm Home (Carol Rifka Brunt)
At 30,000 feet in the air, when you read a book like Tell the Wolves I'm Home don't forget your box of tissues. This is a lesson I am sharing with you about being prepared, and I was so very unprepared.
This book was incredibly powerful and intense. I cried. A lot. And laughed. I felt the pain of my own estranged relationship with my brother, from growing up and losing our father too soon to adulthood where we haven't spoken in nearly six years. The haunting that comes with grief and loss, the anger, the shame, the fear - and uncovering so many secrets. I'm adding this book to my birthday list because I want to own it. It has left an imprint on me in ways I cannot yet describe (although the people on this flight are looking at me like I've lost my damn mind because I can't stop crying).
The complicated relationship with June and her uncle Finn, his sister Danielle (her mom), June's sister Greta, their father. And Finn's true love, his partner. Reading Toby's version of his love for Finn, of the torment that Finn suffered from Danielle's conditions and older-sisterly-ways (translation: the "I couldn't have everything I dreamed of, so you can't have it either" plotline). I just....my heart is heavy and full and grieving so many things. To have his family cast him out because they....they made him choose between Toby and his nieces, because why? Because misery loves company?
Well that's all bullshit - it's a powerful read, and please be prepared to want to scream "no!!!" and "it's not fair" and be wowed by the healing in the end.
And be prepared to confront your own secrets, your own grief, your own truths - I for one will not be keeping misery company. I will love my children more fiercely, love myself wholly, and celebrate each breath I take as a wonderful, abundant joy regardless of what anyone else thinks.
Don't wait until it's too late to say the things in your heart or repair damage that has been done. You never know when those moments will be taken from you, and regret is the heaviest burden to carry of them all.
Happy Reading - and don't forget the tissues.
--Jennifer
This book was incredibly powerful and intense. I cried. A lot. And laughed. I felt the pain of my own estranged relationship with my brother, from growing up and losing our father too soon to adulthood where we haven't spoken in nearly six years. The haunting that comes with grief and loss, the anger, the shame, the fear - and uncovering so many secrets. I'm adding this book to my birthday list because I want to own it. It has left an imprint on me in ways I cannot yet describe (although the people on this flight are looking at me like I've lost my damn mind because I can't stop crying).
The complicated relationship with June and her uncle Finn, his sister Danielle (her mom), June's sister Greta, their father. And Finn's true love, his partner. Reading Toby's version of his love for Finn, of the torment that Finn suffered from Danielle's conditions and older-sisterly-ways (translation: the "I couldn't have everything I dreamed of, so you can't have it either" plotline). I just....my heart is heavy and full and grieving so many things. To have his family cast him out because they....they made him choose between Toby and his nieces, because why? Because misery loves company?
Well that's all bullshit - it's a powerful read, and please be prepared to want to scream "no!!!" and "it's not fair" and be wowed by the healing in the end.
And be prepared to confront your own secrets, your own grief, your own truths - I for one will not be keeping misery company. I will love my children more fiercely, love myself wholly, and celebrate each breath I take as a wonderful, abundant joy regardless of what anyone else thinks.
Don't wait until it's too late to say the things in your heart or repair damage that has been done. You never know when those moments will be taken from you, and regret is the heaviest burden to carry of them all.
Happy Reading - and don't forget the tissues.
--Jennifer
Review - Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal (Christopher Moore)
If you believe every single word in the Bible is the truth and real - stop reading right now.
This is not the book for you.
I mean it - you will be horribly offended by this book, and likely call it a blasphemous, unholy thing that will doom us all.
Keep your dooms-daying to yourself.
************************************************************
(For everyone else, keep reading).
Kids will be kids and boys will be boys. We've all had that *one* friend that was our tried and true pal no matter what, but also caused us a lot of trouble and grief. You know - the one that taught you to lie, or what bad words meant, or teased you but you didn't quite understand it. A nice bully-without-really-being-a-bully-who-defended-you-even-when-you-were-an-asshat.
Enter Biff - I might have actually believed more of the religious system I was raised with had the Bible been written to really reflect humanity with all of our truths and torments and mistakes. In fact, I wonder if the psychological issues associated with perfectionism would even exist if everyone knew that Christ had imposter's syndrome too???
Everyone has a nickname - Biff is the nickname of Levi. Yep, that guy. And let's just say he is definitely a handful, but a dutiful friend as he teaches his buddy Joshua (Christ) about sin through harlots, trickery, and other eye-opening experiences for the Messiah.
Another hilarious book by Moore - and yet another one I couldn't put down. I definitely have a go-to author when I need something light and thought-provoking with just the right amount of crass and believability. It's a wonderful story (again - see my disclaimer at the start of this post.....) that has me thinking about how different I'd be if I had a friend like Biff - one who taught me about just living and enjoying life and worrying less about being perfect.
We all know about the infant born in a stable to a virgin in Bethlehem, the 3 wise men (two apparently are brothers) who came and found him. Love is not something you think about - it is a state in which we dwell. That gift is learned, and was turned into the modern day account of the New Testament (at least, according to Moore, and it sort of makes sense when you think about Christ's commandment to love. He learned it from the old man in the mountains, by the way....).
I love how Moore brilliantly fills in the 30 years between Christ's birth and the Gospels, and how it is very clear that the New Testament was not used as a basis for the story. I mean, for real - as Jewish boys they'd be very familiar with the Old Testament, so it makes complete sense to have their growing up experience written with such detail.
Oh - and Catch the Demon makes a repeat appearance. I squealed a bit with delight upon discovering this.
Another 5 star rating for Moore's books. I can't wait to read the rest of his works.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
This is not the book for you.
I mean it - you will be horribly offended by this book, and likely call it a blasphemous, unholy thing that will doom us all.
Keep your dooms-daying to yourself.
************************************************************
(For everyone else, keep reading).
Kids will be kids and boys will be boys. We've all had that *one* friend that was our tried and true pal no matter what, but also caused us a lot of trouble and grief. You know - the one that taught you to lie, or what bad words meant, or teased you but you didn't quite understand it. A nice bully-without-really-being-a-bully-who-defended-you-even-when-you-were-an-asshat.
Enter Biff - I might have actually believed more of the religious system I was raised with had the Bible been written to really reflect humanity with all of our truths and torments and mistakes. In fact, I wonder if the psychological issues associated with perfectionism would even exist if everyone knew that Christ had imposter's syndrome too???
Everyone has a nickname - Biff is the nickname of Levi. Yep, that guy. And let's just say he is definitely a handful, but a dutiful friend as he teaches his buddy Joshua (Christ) about sin through harlots, trickery, and other eye-opening experiences for the Messiah.
Another hilarious book by Moore - and yet another one I couldn't put down. I definitely have a go-to author when I need something light and thought-provoking with just the right amount of crass and believability. It's a wonderful story (again - see my disclaimer at the start of this post.....) that has me thinking about how different I'd be if I had a friend like Biff - one who taught me about just living and enjoying life and worrying less about being perfect.
We all know about the infant born in a stable to a virgin in Bethlehem, the 3 wise men (two apparently are brothers) who came and found him. Love is not something you think about - it is a state in which we dwell. That gift is learned, and was turned into the modern day account of the New Testament (at least, according to Moore, and it sort of makes sense when you think about Christ's commandment to love. He learned it from the old man in the mountains, by the way....).
I love how Moore brilliantly fills in the 30 years between Christ's birth and the Gospels, and how it is very clear that the New Testament was not used as a basis for the story. I mean, for real - as Jewish boys they'd be very familiar with the Old Testament, so it makes complete sense to have their growing up experience written with such detail.
Oh - and Catch the Demon makes a repeat appearance. I squealed a bit with delight upon discovering this.
Another 5 star rating for Moore's books. I can't wait to read the rest of his works.
Happy Reading!
--Jennifer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)