Book Review - A Soul's Calling

Today, I am doing a book review of  ‘A Soul’s Calling’ it’s a part travelogue, part hiking adventure about a man who listened to his heart instead of listening to reason. Scott Bishop is a forty something attorney in America, average in every way, except in one way, he can communicate with Spirits.

In one of his communications with the spirits, Scott learns that his soul has been spiritually compromised. To win his soul back he has to undertake a journey to the ancient kingdom of Nepal, to the Mount Everest Base Camp. Armed with an assortment of objects to offer to the sacred mountains, and prayers from the Luminous Beings, he travels to Nepal.

As the journey unfolds, readers are transported to the hilly terrain of the Khumbu Valley, where the mountains come to life, where nature holds all kinds of secrets in its womb. On one hand we see the mountains as physical objects that Scott has to overcome, on the other hand these mountains are also symbolic of the many non-physical obstacles and battles he has fight against.

With a guide and a porter, Scott treks to the base camp to offer his prayers. He travels from one mountain to another, halts at several mountain lodges,  overcomes his fear of heights, gets his body acclimatized to breathing at higher altitudes and climbs endless stairs, before he sees the majestic Mount Everest.

For most of us who can only dream of travelling to the Everest base camp, the book works in many ways. It prepares us as well as gives us the glimpse of what obstacles we will face when we leave the cosy comforts of our houses to brave the thin mountain air, the spartan food and life in guest houses.  

I am not sure whether I would like to call this book one man’s pilgrimage or a sacred journey. It’s both. When I picked up the book, the thought running inside my mind was that this would be a spiritual book. It’s much more than that. The book not just makes us ask ourselves several questions, it also makes us search for the answers within our own hearts. And when the answers are revealed to us, they can take our breath away.

Scott’s Website

A Soul’s Calling is available on Amazon

What attracts you in a book?

When we pick up a book in a bookshop or a library, what attracts us in a book? Is it the gorgeous cover (I am floored by the covers of many Young Adult books.)  Whenever I visit a library or a bookstore, I am attracted by books with beautiful covers, but I definitely don’t buy a book based on the cover. I pick up the book, turn it over and read the blurb and then make my decision.

Are we hooked by the titles (few titles like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Under the Never Sky, Hunger Games, Divergent) definitely intrigue the readers.  Again, it’s the blurb that is the deciding factor for me.

Do the blurbs nudge you in the direction of the book? I can say with conviction that the blurbs help me decide whether the book is up my alley or not. If the blurb does not interest me, than I never take the book home.

Is our book reading or book buying decision based on reviews?  I feel that most of us pick up books based on the reviews it has garnered. Bad reviews definitely have me shying away from books.

I have also picked up several books solely by word of mouth; writer friends recommend a book, they praise the story and writing, it makes me eager to read the book.

Here I must make a confession; once upon a time I was biased towards the publishing houses that published books. For me the big six publishers was equal to great books. Not anymore. I have read some wonderful books by smaller and relatively new publishers.

What is your book buying or book reading decision based on: cover images, titles, blurbs, reviews, friends’ suggestions, publishing house that brings out the book. How do you make your decision whether a book should be bought from the bookshop or borrowed from the library? Please share with us about what attracts you in a book?

How to Handle Book Reviews?

As a child the first lesson my parents taught me was “ always say nice things about people.” I still remember asking mom with all childish  innocence “if there is nothing nice to say about someone, then what do I do?” “Then don’t say anything at all,” she warned.

I adopted this philosophy for life. Though in the company of very close friends I do away with it, as I am guaranteed their silence by their proximity to me.

When I started doing book reviews I tweaked mom’s teaching. I thought it would be cheating my readers if I highlighted only the good points in a book. I had a responsibility to my readers. Based on my review they  would decide either to read a book or not. Some reviewers derive a sadistic pleasure in trashing books, others praise it so much that one wonders about the authenticity of their viewpoint. Seldom does a book get similar  reviews from  many reviewers.

Several months back, I was shocked to read a  reputed blogger trashing a book by a young writer, saying she was glad  he was not planning to write any more books. Another person  who had me gasping with shock was a reviewer who wrote for an English daily “This is a book written by a moron with a plot that is by and large missing. Was the  editor of India’s leading publishing house sleeping  when this book was commissioned?”

Another critic refused to review a book   with the excuse that he didn’t consider it worthy of his time and effort. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We all are guided by our tastes, and it’s not necessary that everyone will like each and every book that hits the stands.  

It was then that I  decided to adopt the middle path when I do book  reviews. I talk about both the good and the bad points of a story (not that I am an expert). But I restrict my comments to the book and the story, never venturing into author/writer territory.  I had reviewed a book ( for the newspaper I write for ) that frankly speaking I had not liked much. For starters, the author’s lack of interest  showed. The ending was  too abrupt, the character was a cardboard cut out. The scenes did not flow into each other. The plot had not been developed fully. The periphery characters just hovered on the fringes. What the book  badly needed was several rewrites ( I later came to know that the book was self- published, hence the lack of editorial feedback, which  is extremely crucial, was missing.) 

But rather than trashing the book I  highlighted its good points. If we look deep there is always something nice about everything. When I reviewed the book I stressed  on the things I had liked about the book: its theme, the way complicated topics were explained to a kid in a simple and effective way and  the crisp language, I winded  up the review  with  what I found missing. As I  had started the review highlighting the good points, the shortcomings did not sting the  writer. She appreciated  my review and thanked me.

What would you have done in my place? Would you have trashed the book? Would you have harped about its shortcomings  or trekked the middle path?  Did I do the right thing? What should I have done? Please help me out.

Meet Spunky Princess Clown ( Book Review )

From childhood  I have been obsessed with Princesses.  I am absolutely certain that I was a Princess in another lifetime.  Who lived in  a far away land, chatting with my handmaidens,  near a lake filled with swans,  while waiting for my Prince  to take me away on his white steed.

Reading about Princes and Princesses has always fascinated me. When I encountered Princess Clown, a chapter book  for  7-8 year olds by Australian Author Sheryl Gwyther, I was not disappointed.  I found the title unusual and fascinating. The story prompt was triggered  by  a Double Trouble Game : taking two unrelated nouns  and developing a character and story to go with it: like Princess and Clown, Frog and Guitar, Cindrella and Chips.

Princess Belle is a spunky, spirited and energetic  Princess who wears a circlet over a frizzy, orange wig, a clown’s nose on her face, yellow and red shoes with fake flowers and wants to make people laugh.  Young children will connect with this adorable princess who is determined to follow her dream of  becoming a clown and wears a clown trick ring.

This absolutely lovable Princess practices juggling peaches in the Royal Kitchen. Needless to say, disaster follows. The fun begins when the King and Queen of Danzania  arrive with their son. I won’t reveal more, you will have to read  the book for yourself. 

Though simple the story is  fast paced and extremely enjoyable. The illustrations by Sian Naylor are  wonderful and do complete justice to the story. The book is published by Blake Education as a part of its Gigglers  Series.  I just wish there will be more Princess Clown books, because once you make an acquaintance with this Princess, you wouldn’t want to leave her. Sheryl Gwyther is an author of several short stories, a novel for 10-13 year olds titled Secrets of Eromanga,  and another chapter book, Charlie & the Red Hot Chilli Pepper.

Sheryl was awarded a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Residential Fellowship, as well as an Arts Queensland Individual Professional Development Grant. She is also a recipient of two Australian Society of Authors Mentorships.

Princess Clown is also available online or from educational retail outlets. http://www.blake.com.au/Gigglers-Blue-2-Princess-Clown-p/9781741646481.htm    

                               

Hop over to Sheryl's webpage and blog, and believe me you will not be disappointed.

Sheryl’s  webpage:       www.sherylgwyther.net

Sheryl’s  blogs:             http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com

                                   

Do any of you think you were a Prince or a Princess in another lifetime? Do share your Princely dreams with us.

' The Fourth Wish ' by Elizabeth Varadan

The other day I came across a lovely book, The Fourth Wish, a juvenile fantasy novel by Elizabeth Varadan. The four children in the book Melanie and her two siblings: Erin and Cory and their friend and neighbour Arthur are dealing with the usual and normal childhood problems that exist  everywhere; first crushes, sibling rivalry, life with a single parent, and a long Christmas holiday that stretches before them.

The three siblings grapple with the recent divorce of their parents and their father’s remarriage and consequent exit from their lives. Arthur’s secret longing for a mother (his own mother is dead) is heart wrenching. The characters in the book and the setting of the story have been kept  as  simple and ordinary as possible. The twin elements of simplicity and ordinariness make the book absolutely realistic and believable. A child can instantly connect with any, actually all the four characters. The 203 pages long book will definitely keep a teen, and even a pre- teen engrossed and interested for few hours.

The book starts with the four children going on a magic show. On the way they help a mysterious old lady Mrs Seraphina, the grateful old lady grants them four wishes. Each magic wish is kept inside a pretty box. The events that unfold take them a magical journey unimagined by any of them. The four kids frequently bump into the wish granter Mrs Seraphina; she delights in teasing them, and Mondo the Magician who is the recipient of their first wish. One after the other each child is granted a wish. Erin makes a spontaneous wish, while Arthur mulls long and hard over his wish. The result of Erin’s wish is the most hilarious.

Elizabeth Varadan is a former teacher living in Sacramento, California. Her other interests include painting, gardening and cooking. And, she is also keen blogger.

She can be contacted at  http://elizabethvaradansfourthwish.blogspot.com

Purchase information for the book www.createspace.com/3353849  or ,

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440413061/43r+cm_pdp_rev_itm_img 1

On a lighter note, if you were granted four wishes, what would you wish for?