The Reincarnation of Coco
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We once had a proud blue whale in our house named Coco. She was beautiful, sturdy, and much loved by her best friend, The Girl. She swam happily in the ocean, enjoying her freedom to float, dive, and glide in the gentle waves of the Bubble Bath Ocean.

Then one day, one horrible day, Coco found herself beached underneath something big and heavy. It was dark, and she was afraid. She heard approaching footsteps: a savior? The last thought she had was a flash of hope, before the terrible beast known as Daddy's Big Butt came down where she was trapped. Perhaps she dimly heard a crunch before she passed into a blissful dream.

Coco awoke inside a soft but sturdy paper box. The movement of the box was soothing, and she daydreamed about the wonderful times she had, swimming in Bubble Bath Ocean, and playing with her friend, The Girl. When the box stopped moving, she opened her eyes and she saw light, and over the rim of the box, she saw The Girl. Life was wondrous and good again.


Notes: sturdy bath toy that doesn't take in water, floats nicely, and is cute. The body is made of a hard plastic that is strong, but not strong enough to withstand being crushed under a recliner by an average sized adult man. The fins are rubbery.

This was the first toy my toddler named on her own, so Coco holds a special place in our hearts (and tub).
2666276
La historia est centrada en la cultura post-colonial de las costas Colombianas. Un se acostumbra a la vida de concreto de Fermina o la volatilidad social de Florentino, como la ignorancia de Urbino Daza. Es larga, pero esto por partir de la raiz de una amor que est toda la vida en un ir y venir del carajos, recordadno que buscamos
1178813
What a joke.  I believe in reincarnation, an eternal soul, even the possibility of making a connection with souls who have passed on.  But the many pages of conversation with someone, like doing a 60 minutes interview is not believable.
953804
The belief in reincarnation has always fascinated me.  This book was an interesting spin on this belief.  I would have given it a five but found the chapters that were written in a different "tongue", were a little difficult to get through.  Overall, the journey of the "Soul" was very interesting.  Can't wait to see the movie!
9369
Forked centers around Coco Thomas, the business partner and BFF of Mia Devine (from Frenched). Coco is running the show at work for a few weeks while Mia is off getting ready for her  wedding in France. Coco has been saving her money like a squirrel trying to buy her dream house. She is so close, yet so far. She is ready to venture out on her own. She is tired of living with her parents and depending on them. She is an adult now and wants to be independent.

When a client walks into the office and offers Coco a huge amount of money to pull off an off the charts engagement party in less than a week, she jumps on it. She sees this as a way to make money and a name for herself. This could be either a blessing or a be the biggest mistake of her life. There are red flags everywhere, but Coco feel she can handle this. She is professional!

Right off the bat, Coco realizes this is going to be more than she can handle. The future bride demands chef Nick Lupo for her party. Coco knows Nick, but they don't have the best relationship. Nick just happens to be Coco's ex HUSBAND!! She has not seen or spoken to him in years. He hurt her badly and she does not want to go back to that place. Coco and Nick were madly in love. Then they ran off to Vegas and got married. Stupid, young and impulsive. When Coco woke up the day after their wedding, he was gone.

Now, Coco is groveling back to Nick to ask for help with the party. Just being back in the same room as Nick makes her heart thump and her other part loose control as well. Nick is hot and talented and seems to still carry a torch for Coco. Nick agrees to help Coco, but only if she will spend the weekend with him. Coco insists this will be strictly platonic, but who are they kidding?? Their chemistry sizzles and they fall back into the same patterns they did all those years ago.

It is apparent that neither has gotten over the other person. I enjoyed how a past love can rekindle and be your one and only, still after all this time.
Nick and Coco had me laughing and falling in love with them. I love how Melanie worked in their families, If you come from an Italian family, some of these things will make you chuckle cause they are so familiar. There is a line in this book about cookies. OMG I laughed for like 20 mins. On top of that I sent the highlight to every person I knew and they were laughing just as hard as I did.

If you loved Frenched, you will love Forked.  Meanie Harlow is brilliant when it comes to writing stories that combine romance and humor. I laughed more with this book than I have in a long time.
1581242
I just finished The Gilgul. It was AMAZING.  The author, S. M. Widelitz, discusses the ideas of reincarnation in a provocative, thought provoking manner. Once you start reading the book, it is hard to put it down. There is suspense, drama, passion, religion and even crime mixed together to bring the ideas behind reincarnation to life.  The entire time that I was reading the book, I could see the movie playing out in my head. When I finished reading it, I wanted more. I highly recommend this book.
2924826
Many people blame others for their maladies, mishaps, and miseries.  Sometimes they blame God.  But the students of reincarnation and karma come to realize that we, in our pre-birth soul condition, often plan our own misfortunes as a means of evolving spiritually from lifetime to lifetime in our march toward the Godhead.  "The soul is drawn intentionally to a family who can meet the necessary conditions for that soul to free itself from karmic bonds incurred in a past life," author Miriam Bostwick writes, adding that a person may choose to incarnate even as mentally challenged or physically deformed.

Bostwick, a trance medium, collected stories from some 90 spirit healers and teachers, most of them telling about how various afflictions, including a number of dreaded physical and mental disorders, during their most recent life times helped them work out their karma and progress in their spiritual journeys.  After dying, they did not find themselves in the humdrum heaven or horrific hell of orthodox religion, but rather they found themselves reviewing their earthly lives, continuing to learn on the Other Side, and sometimes preparing for a return trip. From their stories, we learn that the more spiritually-challenged often take their problems with them and must undergo a healing process (a change in attitude) in spirit before they can progress spiritually. Those who pursue a spiritual path in the material world can undergo the healing here, and not only be perfectly united with the etheric body upon transition, but will merit going to higher realms of light.  That's the crux of this intriguing book.

Besides reincarnation and karma, Bostwick discusses the etheric body, the chakras, the soul contract, transition, and attitudinal healing in the afterlife in Part One of the three-part book.  She points out that some people take the memory of their physical disabilities with them into the afterlife and are slow to awaken to the fact that the physical body has been shed and that they are now in a spiritual body which is perfect.

In Part Two, Bostwick discusses various diseases and afflictions of the physical body and how they may relate to the past lives.  For example, sometimes high blood pressure may result from having mistreated others in a past life, while a type of high blood cholesterol known as hypercholesterolemia can stem from a lack of being loving in a past life.  A Dr. Wren communicated that he came back as a dwarf in this life because of extreme vanity in several prior lifetimes. Much of the work of the angelic healers is in helping others to review their earthly lives and to gain an understanding and acceptance of the role karma played in bringing about the problems and disorders these individuals suffered while on earth. These healers lament the fact they were not aware, while on earth, that karma was the missing link to the effective treatment of a variety of problems.

Part Three deals with the karmic aspects of various mental disorders, such as Alzheimer's, autism, schizophrenia, and multiple personalities. One master teacher communicated that multiple personality disorder is often a result of the person trying to live in a fantasy world and thereby attracting spirits from the lower realms.  "The spirits do not get complete possession," he states.  "They are only in maybe for a few minutes, and others will stay for years."

Bostwick frequently calls upon Scripture to support the assertions regarding reincarnation, karma, and healing, pointing out that reincarnation  was accepted as dogma by early Christian leaders until Emperor Justinian banned the teaching in 553 A.D.

This book gives real meaning to life's many adversities and challenges.  It is interesting, informative, intriguing, and inspirational.
3537434
Im not into fashion, which might make you wonder why I chose to read a book about Coco Chanel, the most well-known and iconic figure in the fashion world. First is a fascination with historical figures and the ways in which we reimagine their lives through fiction. Second is author C.W. Gortner. Im a fan of his Tudor Spymaster series featuring Queen Elizabeth I, and I wanted to see what he would do with a figure like Chanel.

Coco, born Gabrielle Chanel, grows up in a very poor family, and when her mother dies at a young age, she and her siblings are split up. She is sent to a convent with her sisters, and her brothers are sent to work as farmhands. With a disinterested father and aunts who don't want anything to do with the raising of their sisters children, Coco grows bitter but determined never to be put in that situation again in her life. When a sister at the convent praises her needlework, she works toward the goal of becoming an apprentice to a seamstress. She also begins to see her way out of the convent and into a life with some manner of freedom.

Coco leaves the convent as a young woman and finds an apprentice position as a seamstress along with her young aunt, Adrienne, who she came to know at the convent. After toiling away with very little to show, Coco and Adrienne begin singing in the local nightclubs to earn extra money. Its in this club that Coco meets Balsan, who quickly becomes the first in a long line of men in her life. After Balsan takes her away from the clubs and gives her a home and access to anything she desires, she gives up on her dream momentarily. She enjoys the money and freedom but not being a kept woman. Its when she meets Boy, the proclaimed love of her life, that her dream of being a respected and renowned designer flourishes. Boy finances her first hat shop, which puts her on the path to fashion stardom.

Coco manages to survive both World Wars, but its during WWII that she decides to throw in the proverbial hat and retire, not wanting to deal with wartime issues or the Nazis. When her nephew is arrested and held in a Nazi camp, she does all she can --- using her contacts and money to help her nephew --- but others don't agree with her wartime actions. Her somewhat suspect dealings make many wonder, which tarnishes her reputation among the French. Ten years after the war, when Coco decides to reenter the fashion world, the French give her a lukewarm welcome, but its the Americans who allow her to continue her reign as a fashion icon.

Sometimes we have to trust an author we like to do justice to a new subject. This was the case for me with MADEMOISELLE CHANEL. Gortner is clearly a fan of not only the woman but also her work. About halfway through the novel, I found myself searching Coco Chanel, not only to see her fashion vision, but also to find out more about her. Chanel set standards for herself that no other female at the time even thought possible. She accomplished so much in her life, and not just in the fashion world, which is an amazing legacy. She also changed the way women lived and overturned social conventions.

Im glad I picked up MADEMOISELLE CHANEL. Its immensely entertaining --- complete with fashion, affairs and parties --- and a wonderful escape to enjoy this spring.

Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
3180411
I just saw this short video last night.  I have only been interested in reincarnation for a short time; but after watching this video, I am convinced.  Many famous and highly esteemed people in time have believed in reincarnation...Socrates, Pythagoreus, Benjamin Franklin. Buddhists believe; hindi believe; new spiritualists believe.  If you have ever used the word "karma" you probably believe to a point too.  If you can not find a copy of this video for sale, check out small mom&pop independent movie rental stores that carry lots of Sundance films, independent films, etc...while they are still in business.
2987122
A wonderful read! Warning! If you do not believe in reincarnation and are not open to having your belief challenged, do not go near this book.
3544209
I love the visuals of the entire movie. The music is beautiful. But I think my favorite part is watching the evolution of Coco and Igor's relationship. I love the intensity of their love, eventual hate dynamic. And the ending... is bittersweet. I think every type of person can connect with this movie on some level. Enjoy :)
2510290
If you ever wondered about reincarnation, this book may make a believer out of you.

This book explores Sylvia's experiences as a degreed hypnotherapist who has come across many supposedly "unsolvable" cases where past life regression revealed the link to some of the baffling ills suffered by clients in this lifetime.  There are many fascinating case studies, that have later been back researched and verified by historical census records and other historical public records.
2991256
I found this book to be very interesting & gave me quite a bit of information into the life of Coco Chanel. She certainly was a very determined, creative woman who was quite unusual & extremely independent for a woman of her day.  This book was also extremely well written.
2990610
Wow, this is quite interesting. I don't know much about reincarnation but I'm still reading to find out as much as I can.  If these stories about Jesus prior incarnations are true (I truly believe they are) then he has come here to earth many times. Not the one time as Jesus we have been lead to believe.
1842178
A century ago, we saw the climate change, fresh water supplies and other resources depleted. The good news: poverty is on the decline and life expectancies are up. Though these are gainsbetter health, longer life, and prosperity of our growing populationthey all could be gone very quickly, if we are not careful about how we treat the environment and use resources to sustain long, healthy life on the planet.

As frightening as life sometimes seems, ReInhabiting the Village offers hope. The driving idea behind the book is to show how we can heal the planet through working together in eco friendly villages. Hearing the word village may sound stone age-ish, and seem as though the authors are trying to take us back to a time that had its own host of problems for survivala time some people wish not to return.

On the contrary, Jamaica Stevens and the 62 contributing authors in this book demonstrate how we incorporate some of the old with the new to create a better future for all people. The book focuses on particular aspects such as, getting down in the dirt to grow your own food; reducing air pollution to improve diets; and encouraging sustainable practices, thus making communities good and safe for both the environment and human health.

ReInhabiting the Village is definitely a must read. I believe youll enjoy the book, and in the end, youll grasp the concept of organic living in all its forms and start to make it your way of life and contribution to saving the Earth.
1392940
Laura Esquirel presents a book of magic, love, and destiny from the land of Mexico in her acclaimed novel Como Agua para Chocolate, which is translated as Like Water for Chocolate. The novel is about the story of Tita who, as the youngest daughter of the tyrannical Mama Elena, is oppressed by a family tradition that forbids her to leave her mother as long as she lives. The man of Tita's dreams, Pedro, marries her sister Rosaura when the matriarchal Mama Elena refuses to give her blessing of matrimony between Tita and Pedro. Upon the marriage between Pedro and Rosaura begins a life-long feud filled with jealousy, deception, passion, and, ultimately, love. Like Water for Chocolate is narrated by Tita's grand-niece who interweaves the recipes of her great-aunt with her legendary story. This novel incorporated with humor, sorrow, magic, and true love, represents an originally eccentric fairytale story.

  The story of Tita has the basic fairytale style in which an obstacle prevents her from following her dream. Her evil and oppressive mother forbids her to marry her love while her sister "steals" that very love from her. Mama Elena is depicted as an spiteful and dictatorial mother who has no compassion for her daughter Tita. Mama Elena imposes on Tita the family tradition that she must serve her mother until her death. Restricted by this unfortunate fate, Tita is not able to fulfill her ambitions. Even though Rosaura is not a formidable sister, she is caught in her mother's scheme to marry Tita's love, Pedro. Hence, Mama Elena and Rosaura's character serve to represent the impediment in Tita's life.

 Each chapter of the novel begins with a recipe that relates or reflects the highlight of the particular chapter. Tita perceives her duty to cook for the family as a privilege she cherishes. Tita has no right in the household of Mama Elena; however, cooking serves as means of expressing her conflicting emotions. Tita's emotions, sorrow, anger or happiness, emerge out in her cooking. For instance, as Tita is preparing her sister and Pedro's wedding meal, she weeps absorbed by a heart ache and grief. When the guests start eating the meal she made, they all start to remember lamenting moments in their lives and begin to weep to ruin her sister's wedding.  Tita's cooking has magical effect on those that consume her meal by causing them to experience the emotions she is enduring. While the recipes in each chapter depict the rich culture of Mexico, they by enlarge, serve to metaphorically represent Tita's state of mind.

 Esquirel's use of magical realism in the novel contributes to the fairytale aspect of the story. The final scene of the novel represents the most eccentrically magical and romantic moment in the story. Tita and Pedro are finally together after her sister's death. As they are lying in bed in state of bliss, Pedro dies. Upon realization of his death, Tita she begins to eat a box of candles one by one. As she chews, she lies next to Pedro's dead body and thinks of all the fondest and brightest memories she had with him, which causes their bodies to set in flames. As their bodies burn in the flames, Tita and Pedro's soul join and lives on forever. This uniquely romantic ending interweaved with magical realism finalizes Esquirel fairytale.
1407209
A fascinating philosophical journey into the world of the Amazon rainforest and human kind. In a span of forty years two European explorers come to see a local shaman who presumably knows the cure from all deceases. By the time the second explorer arrives the shaman grew into an elder man who began loosing a grasp on his purpose in life. Both explorers seem to have a noble reason in mind but would they be able to see and embrace the world that existed prior to the human civilization?