The Power and the Pain
937092
This book is a godsend for those of us who think pain and suffering on the path are the result of "doing it wrong." The author shows us that pain on the spiritual path is necessary, and perhaps good news.  In fact, working with pain is the path.  He writes, "..what is not overtly taught, and what confuses may followers, is that the path leading to the cessation of suffering necessarily includes suffering."

This is an easy to read guide that lightens the burden for those of us trying to wake up. It also has the first comprehensible explanation of the 5 skandhas that I've come across.  The writing is clear, intelligent, well researched, and yet at the same time, the tone is warm and earnest.  It's like having a kind teacher hold your hand through the difficulties of the journey.

While this book treats the truth of suffering, it also addresses how this truth can be applied practically to the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering. "The path is about learning how to accept and work with darkness and the inevitable hardships of life just as much as it is about learning how to work with joy." We must go through pain to reach the goal, and not around it as we are habitually inclined. In short, it teaches us how to relate to pain in order to discover joy, and this is the path itself.  Highly recommended.
2017895
We are each a storehouse of the accumulative pain that we have experienced, handed down to us by our parents and other significants -- how we recognize, view and process that pain draws the boundaries of the way in which we live our lives.  Some people have a tougher time dealing with their past than others -- and when, as in the case of Nick Blud, the narrator of Askold Melnyczuk's dark, rich and extremely moving novel, that pain is multiplied by the suffering endured by his parents and grandparents, it's an almost insurmountable task.  To make matters even more difficult for him, his parents -- Ukranian immigrants who have made a new life in America -- are reluctant to give many details about what they experienced in WWII in their homeland.  This novel chronicles Nick's journey inward and backward to fill in the gaps in his family's past and come to terms with them.  There are several characters in the novel who are making this journey -- and, indeed, aren't we all, to varying degrees?  Each of them has their own discoveries to make, their own ghosts to exorcize, their own truths to define.  Some of them are up to the challenge -- and some of them fail in devastating ways.
The mood of Melnyczuk's novel is dark -- but the writing is very rich, expressing the desperation and hope, the pain and joy, the terror and exultation in which  his characters are awash.  The emotions here run strong and deep, and they are honestly -- at times brutally so -- portrayed.  A premise is expressed toward the end of the novel -- and this isn't a spoiling revelation, don't worry -- about the nature of darkness and light in our lives:  'Death, a writer once observed, is the dark backing a mirror needs if we are to see anything'.  We need one in order to know and appreciate the other.
I found the novel to be modrately compelling for the first 100 pages -- then it picked up steam and held me unrelentingly in its grip for the duration of the story.  The characterizations are full, developed vivdly, and memorable.  This is one of the more unusual tales I've come across in the last year or so -- very entertaining on one level, and very instructive on another.  I'll have to check out the author's earlier novel, WHAT IS TOLD -- I'm extremely impressed with the skills and style he has shown in this book.
4460022
Ermalou Roller's book is a powerful witness to the way in which one person's pain can be used for good.  Through her honest telling of her own story, she invites us inside, to see the painful collateral damage that many families are experiencing.  She does a beautiful job of weaving together the story of the church trial with her own rich story.  This book is a must read for anyone interested in one of the prominent issues in today's world.
4891133
This is a powerful and a painful snapshot of a part of Korea's history from the years of the Japanese occupation from 1943 - 1945 covering decades as it moves over time to the Korean War in the 1950's and to a more recent time in the 1980's following characters to America. It is told through two stories, one of a young boy and the other of a young girl. Their stories alternate as the reader waits and wonders how and when will they connect.

This is so very difficult to read , so very brutal especially in the first half of the book. The author pulls no punches here and the punch goes right to the gut. The starvation of families, the rape of young girls, horrific war scenes, death  were just sometimes so gruesome I had to stop reading for a while . I felt as if there was no breathing room ,  no place to take a breath . It took me a while because it is so heavy with the hardships of war and the horrors of occupation, I had to take breaks in between and read something else . Yes, it was hard to breathe but yet I was drawn to Kim Young Nam and his loyalty to his family and his love for his younger brother and was compelled to continue reading in spite of the difficulty. I was drawn to the twelve year old Lee Hana as I followed her through the years hoping that she could somehow survive. I was compelled to know how their paths would cross and I was not disappointed in how they impacted each other's lives .

Once again in reading a work of historical fiction, even though a fairly recent history, I found it to be a profound learning experience not just of life changing events but of how in spite of such awful things endured there was something left in these characters to move forward. In spite of the everything that made me take reading breaks, I'm glad I read this.

I received an ARC of this from Independent Book Publishers Association through NetGalley
1850113
Wonderfully written not only from a mother's day-to-day experiences, but also from Jeff's input as he lived his addiction.  One attempts to understand both sides of this story. I highly recommend reading this book multiple times to comprehend the impact and consequences of this illness which consumes family and friends. This story was extremely painful and difficult to live, and it seems equally painful and difficult to put into words so others may learn.  Much praise for this heart-wrenching story!!
3200335
Brave Account of behind the American power scene.
3180956
The Wounds of the Father is a powerful true story.  As I read this book I immediately felt a kinship with this girl Elizabeth.  I immediately felt that familiar feeling you get when you have been through something and thought you were the only one, or that no one believes you, the anger, the wanting to die, the trust issues, was I reading my family story?  As an adult recovering  from a childhood of extreme trauma, alcohol abuse, cutting and making poor choices you never really feel as though you are fully recovered, and maybe we are not, but this book helped me feel like I was not alone, I was not crazy when I was young, and that I am not crazy or alone now.  When I was young and dealing with my abuse my biggest problem was that no one believed me, and I felt like I must be crazy and so when you find someone else who has had similar experiences, you feel like YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  The reason I share this is because if this book made me feel this way, it will make someone else feel this way and that could save a life.  I admire Elizabeth for writing her story, I have tried to write my story and am unable to bear the pain of the memories and deal with the people who hurt me that are still alive.  I am so proud she was able to get her story out in this book because it helps people and can change a life.

Elizabeth talks about her feelings and drug use with honesty.  She shares every relapse, every feeling, and as difficult as that may be for her to do, it is also difficult to read.  I noticed another reviewer wrote about the book being a bit boring with all the stories of the relapses.  This is necessary to get the point across, and is a part of this story.  I admire Elizabeth for what she has overcome, what she has become and look forward to hearing what she does next.  I cannot give this book enough praise and will recommend it to family and friends that I know can benefit from reading a true story like this.
2705101
Power and control are the present day weapons of choice for most.  Choosing to lay them down and embrace weakness would be unthinkable and ridiculous.  But our strength is found there as we follow the way of the Lamb.
2441628
I read this book about a year ago.  Its power is undeniable.  It vividly shares the thoughts, feelings and observations of people around the world as this tragedy unfolds.  For the most part, the individual selections are short -- copies of e-mails, short descriptions written by survivors in and near the WTC and those in Manhattan that day and during the days following.  In this way, it also makes it a difficult book to engage with for those of us old enough to remember where we were and how we felt as one of the glories of Western Civilization -- both the buildings and the concept of world trade -- came crashing down due to backwards religious beliefs. I found myself gripped in the sadness, anger and fear I felt -- even living in Chicago -- that day and had to put the book aside several times.  It does, however, point out many ways that human beings show their truest and best natures in the face of tragedy and I believe this book will be of even more valuable to those who were too young to remember 9/11/01 or who wore born afterwards.  It puts a human face on "ground zero" that cannot help make all but the most hard hearted empathize and sympathize with those most directly harmed by this terrible act of hatred.
219901
Very powerful and emotional read particularly the parts on love and loss. As someone who has also lost a child, I found the main character's pain to be very realistic and his journey both physical and spiritual to be equally real. Sometimes trees whisper words of healing, other times they do nothing but remind us of the past and the terrible burden we all must carry.
626995
While Katrina provides the emotional impetus of this incredible book, the story is about the corrupt power of our elected officials, the inflammatory and exploitive power of the media and the need to blame someone when things go terribly wrong.  It is equally about a lawyer's commitment to his clients and sacrifices made.  But in the end, it is a story about following your dreams and discovering more about yourself in the process then you ever could imagine.  It is the personal stories within the story that I found so gripping and inspirational.  A must read.
2770497
Deeply vulnerable . Written wothease, tears,
And much soul-searching. M. Coleman's book shines . I could not put it down, and read the whole thing in one day. Thank you, Monica, for brining out what has been hidden and stigmatized for so long . It ultimately is an affirmation of perseverance, and the power that is built within us, even through life's most horrific experiences like rape.
2558038
This is a great example of absolute power corrupting absolutely. I recommend this as a study in human nature. Few people can handle power and this book demonstrates how quickly it destroys. It is a well crafted story and very imaginative. I highly recommend it.
1450161
This book is powerful, moving, upsetting, and hopeful. It is a tough read, yet, we see that that young boy survived. How does it all turn out? Please keep writing Phil. We want to know the story of how you integrated those wounds and won through to being the powerful life coach and author you are today!
bravo, on completing the first instalment of your memoir.
2510360
My husband and I shared our home with his Mom for o error twenty years.  She had dementia caused by mini strokes. Or, at least that was the best guess the doctors could come up with.  The book describes the family and how their interpersonal relationships were affected by theirs Mom's slow slide into nothingness, but really could not convey the horror, the pain and the guilt of how Alzheimer's and dementia affects families. Even knowing the patient is not able to control themselves, it still becomes increasingly hard to deAl with the patient.  It is also pure murder on relationships.  In the book the problems helped the family find each other and learn to accept each other.  In life, more often than not, it simply tears families apart. The helplessness, knowing there is nothing to stop the loss of self for the patient, leaves the family in a state oh hurt,  and far too many regrets.  The book is really good, I only wish our years of dealing with dementia could have turned out as well. While the doctors  seem helpless to help the patient, there needs to be more focus on helping the families survive and recover from the destruction the disease leave in their aftermath.
2318749
This is a hard look at the weakness in people that leads to addiction,  It culminates In a whirlwind of pain. Not for the squeamish.
1236452
This book offers insight into the pain,suffering,mental turmoil of dealing with a spouse's illness and eventual death. As the writer experiences the stages of grief, he elightens us on the emotional rollercoaster he must ride everyday. He is alive. He is in pain. He needs to love and be loved.  As he encounters people, he finds ways to express himself through touch, laughter, anger, and dreams. Other people may not understand his actions,  but each action is a part of his healing. Eventhough he longs for his wife to be healed, he knows it will not happen.  He must survive on his own.