A Wonderful Journey, Beautiful and Unforgettable
352172
What a wonderful journey this book is! I was so moved, so taken by the story and the inner beauty of Jenifer Estess, that I find myself still thinking about her days after reading it. I feel compelled to write a review.

Jenifer's strength and dignity and integrity is so admirable, you can't help but fall in love with her. Her personality and wit is such a delight. And the love story of the three sisters is nothing short of amazing. How incredibly tragic that this lovely young woman was taken away from those who love her, and that she had to endure such a terrible disease.

So many reviewers have raved about this book and there's no need to reiterate all the great aspects. But let me identify what I believe are the book's few weaknesss. First and foremost, she speaks at length how her family and her work are what enabled her to endure this terrible illness, this most horrific diagnosis. But what about those of us who find ourselves with neither? Not all of us have wonderful, loving siblings by our sides every day. Not all of us have the wherewithal or vision to establish a business through which we can find joy and purpose in this world. What about all those ill individuals who find themselves alone in bed, with nothing but their pain and fears? What are they to do? Is there any solace or compassion for those people? And how can they ever relate to Jenifer's situation, surrounded by loved ones and family and kids and incredibly rewarding work and private plane trips?

Second, how odd that she barely talks about her mother later in the story. Is the mother even around during the illness, or is she deceased? You never hear once about the mother visiting. Did their relationship fall off the map?

Finally, all the "childhood games in the yard with the sisters" stories in Rock Island and Harrison grew tiresome to me. I appreciate the reminiscing of her past but it bordered on too much. I would have rather heard more about college, career or adulthood in New York, which was barely touched on in comparison to all the silly childhood memories.

Valerie, I love that you, the writer who never really got started writing, were here to write this book. It's poignant, incredibly moving and unforgettable. And beautifully written. Wonderful job! A lovely read.
787308
This personal journey in three parts is the work of a thoughtful, adventurous soul. We know the author as an actress who is able to expose the deep interior life of her characters (from Eleanor Roosevelt to Calamity Jane and others) through her professional work. In this book, we discover more of the interior life of Jane Alexander, the woman, the individual, captivated by the natural world, in love with birds, supportive of people who share her passion for the Earth and all its life-forms. We also learn that she is a world traveler, an adventurer, a friend of field scientists, and an environmentalist.

She begins with a thoughtful Author's Note that immediately tells the reader that this is a confident writer and advocate for animals who intends unapologetically to adopt the unusual practice of capitalizing the names of all animal species throughout the book. It is an important and telling choice. In the Prologue, she foreshadows Part I when she writes of meeting then-thirty-year-old Alan Rabinowitz, who was working on Jaguar preservation in Belize. She continues her portrait of Rabinowitz and his grueling endeavors in Part I as she travels through Mexico, Belize, Thailand, Idaho, Nepal, Myanmar, India, and Brazil. Each chapter provides a portrait of the area and an account of the challenges of preserving endangered wildlife therein. She reveals in Part 2 more of her own childhood and life, with chapters on Birds, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Galapagos, Newfoundland, Amazonia, East Africa, and Madagascar. In Part 3, she organizes her observations around a smattering of other subjects: Desert, Killers, Bhutan, Bahamas, Ecuador, and Ocean.

Although few have both the adventurous spirit and the resources to travel and learn first-hand in the way that Alexander has, there is no overlay of privilege about the author or the book. The writing is refreshing and accessible. The adventures are remote and intriguing. But, despite the authors admonition that you cannot be a conservationist and a pessimist. It is an oxymoron. The endeavor of conserving anything is one of optimism and hope, there is a strong thread of sadness that runs through the volume. Indeed, how could there not be given the tremendous devastation humans wreak upon our planet and its creatures? The stories told contain many extinctions and habitat losses and too few successes. The book is eye-opening in its revelations of destruction in almost any direction you turn. Nevertheless, it is good to learn that Alexander holds on to her optimism. An Appendix of organizations involved with the protection and conservation of wild things and wild places follows the main text. I will send checks to a few of them and work on my own optimism. I do recommend the book.
2481241
I was swept away to a land of mystery, excitement, and intrigue with the backdrop of a unique culture, rituals, and rules that may seem so foreign to us but have become a daily routine for people who live in Iran.  I felt I was right there, where action was happening, and could feel, smell and touch  my surroundings. This is truly a mesmerizing book that you will not be able to put down.  Characters,  locations, and their experiences will stay with you for a long time to come.  I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone who wants to discover a truly talented author and an unforgettable story of love and perseverance.
1864284
Abyssinian Nomad was a lovely adventure and journey into Maskarm's soul. The descriptions were vivid and reminding me that we are all on our individual journeys within ourselves. I couldn't put the book down and seen lots of my journey within hers. The characters she met along the way are also a reflection of how friendly and kind she is herself. I think Each country is so distinctly different and her navigating each with grace and flexibility. I will re-read the book again in the future.
1125216
I am staying at the moment in a small Spanish vinca in the
countryside of Ibiza.
The days are cool and the evenings are cold. We sit by the fire and
read and it is here that I have traveled the journey of Lena and
Robert, Issac and Evan.

My own life journey has had its dark sections of road and I know that my actions have caused some pain along the way. But aged wisdom hasalso brought understanding and to answer Robert's question, yes, theinterminable journey of longing, which leads to forgiveness, can continue on to discovery. Your charactersare on the path beside so many of us, swallowing the bitter pills ofawareness and self knowledge that must be taken first to prepare theway for acceptance.

Thank you Mary, your writing has once again transported me into a
thought full world from which I emerge "confused" but curiously
jumpled, fast becoming one of my favorite states.
What gift you and your words are to all.
4256995
This is the book to read if you've ever dealt with the nagging questions of "What am I doing?"; "What brings me joy?"
When Kim and Brian set off on their world journey with no particular agenda, only a sense of purpose to be open to new experiences, the reader tags along.  Both the challenges and rewards of enthusiastically embracing adventure and the unknown made my heart sing.  Along the way, Kim skillfully describes not only colorful and unusual destinations, but the locals she and Brian encounter.  The journey was a celebration of all that is noble about the human spirit, the amazing ways humans are connected, despite the diversity and cultural differences.
The yellow envelope, a gift with its stash of monies to be distributed, is the ribbon threading through each new destination.  It is a reminder that spontaneous and heart-felt giving is, as is often the case, a gift TO the giver.
4949349
When I picked up world traveler and pilgrim Brandon Wilson's latest book "Along the Templar Trail - Seven Million Steps for Peace", I expected adventure and a journey into the unknown. After all, seven million steps is no small feat! There was certainly plenty of adventure, but what I also got was a glimpse into the physical and emotional toll that such an undertaking exacts; from severe blistering and sunburn caused by sometimes walking up to 50 kilometers a day in torrential rains and debilitating heat; to the tension and frustration that arises when two walking companions share the same road but not always the same path; to the loneliness of walking alone.

We are treated to many cultural and gastronomic delights along the way, but what especially touched me were the human connections that they made, the many acts of kindness and compassion from complete strangers, the many "angels" who appeared just as they needed them. I experienced the sense of wonder and magic that comes along when one opens his heart to the world, and watches it respond in kind. Brandon did so, and the rewards go beyond the mere pages of a book. They touch the timeless within us all, and offer us the vision of a world in which borders and boundaries of all kinds no longer exist, and what unites us is greater than what separates us. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey and book, and know that you will too. I highly recommend it.
1572079
To say I loved this book is an understatement. The one word I would use to describe this book is beautiful. The writing is beautiful. I often had to pause and re-read lines of such crafsmanship and insight. And then there are the characters - some that I will never forget - who are just beautiful, espcially the love they have for each other. For me, Ghosh is the most beautiful of all. But it was how this "family" worked as a unit that was truly beautiful. This was a book that I could not put down, and when it ended, I wished it could continue. This is a rare story that not just entered my heart, it entered my soul. Cutting for Stone is truly extraordinary and unique.
1000127
What an amazing journey. If, like me, you sit around in your humdrum suburban living room, wondering about what it would be like to just walk down the road and keep walking across America, or hitch a ride on the next freight train that passes through town, or live off the parched land in the southwestern deserts, Richard Grant is the man for you. Even better, at least from my own perspective that is sadly ungrounded in American history, are his loving and intricate narratives of conquistadors and Indians, tying today's wanderers into an American journey that began long before European arrival.

Not many travel books manage to be both emotionally and intellectually compelling, or to portray the author's journeys as effectively as those of others. The only other that comes to mind is William Dalrymple's From the Holy Mountain. This book succeeds on all counts.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/From-the-Holy-Mountain-A-Journey-among-the-Christians-of-the-Middle-East/dp/0805061770/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East</a>
3634638
This is an evocative and moving book about love, courage, loss, longing and the power of continued connection between mother and son. With a whole new realm of connection possibilities to consider, it beckons the mind and heart to stretch wide open.  Its an emotional, often mysterious, heart crushing AND heart lifting account of a young life extraordinarily well-lived and the loving and energetic bond that continues still between Melody and Dev.  This story is an intimate and emotional journey that invites the reader to sit still and contemplate whats possible. Bring a box of tissue and also prepare to smile through your tears as the power of love does its magic.
2016048
I've just finished reading DeAnn Louise Daigle's heart-warming poetry/memoir, "Come So Far."  It was so beautiful an experience, I could barely put the book down, and I know I will read it again and again for both inspiration and pleasure.  Each poem is a meditation on life, on its personal yet universal journey, on memory's depth and persistence.  It's a story in poetic form of paradise lost, then found again in a different guise -- first through the love of place (Soldiers Pond in Northern Maine, later in New York City,) then of one's closest kin (parents through the lens of childhood, later through finding love with her husband Jim in her adult years.)
1126312
Myself and my partner, Kerry, visited Oxford to soak up the surroundings and to research our production of the play, "Shadowlands" by William Nicholson, based on the story of CS Lewis and Joy Davidman.  On arriving, we did not know where to start until we found a copy of Ronald K Brind's wonderful book.  It really was like finding treasure as it is totally unlike any other book written about Lewis, of which we have read many.  All of them are fascinating, but this one is truly personal.  Mr Brind manages to convey a true sense of what the lives of these extraordinary people were truly like drawing on his first hand experience and providing us with such unique nuggets of information that can only be communicated by someone who was actually there.

In addition to this, Mr Brind's passion for ensuring that Lewis' legacy is more evident in his home city, nationally and internationally shines through every word.

The tour itself is quite indescribably inspiring and moving.  We self navigated the route over the course of a couple of days and cannot really put into words what an amazing experience it was.  The words and photographs provided are extremely clear and made the tour easy to follow, including so many places of interest that, by the time we had finished, we felt that we had really got to know "Jack" and Joy.  Although it is difficult to pin-point just a few highlights as it is all so amazing, by visiting the hotel where it is very possible that the two initially met, Lewis' house, Joy's house, the crematorium at which is displayed Joy's epitaph and the gravestone for Lewis and his brother "Warnie" were particularly awe inspiring moments in a tour which we will never forget, and will take every opportunity to tell other people about, not to mention visiting again ourselves.

We also had the privilege of speaking to Mr Brind himself who was charming, kind, as passionate about his subject as his book had led us to believe, knowledgeable, and as grateful to us for expressing our delight in what he had written as we were to him for providing us this key into the lives of these very special people.  This was very humbling, as we believe that what Mr Brind is doing for the memory of Lewis and those around him is truly remarkable.  Although our production has now come to an end after a successful week of performances, our passion and interest in C S Lewis will remain undimmed, in large part due to Mr Ronald K Brind.  We thoroughly recommend the book and the tour to all people of all ages.  Even if you have not felt an interest in C S Lewis's life before this, you are sure to feel differently having read the book and been on the tour, which could well open up a lifetime interest.  Thank You Ronald - Thank You x
4852870
Of the countless books I have read from Amazon, I have never been compelled to write a review until now.  Reading The Rose of Paracelsus was a journey of written depths I have rarely, if ever, experienced.  Pickard's prose is not for the faint of heart.  The reader must prepare themselves to be immersed in the emotions of humanity at its worst, as well as the heart-warming sensation of an individual bearing their soul in a most intimate display of compassion.  What makes The Rose all the more haunting is contemplating how much of the intense journey blurs the line between fiction and reality.  This is a mental voyage in and of itself -- one that is well worth the introspection.

I have never cried while reading a book, but I can recall several instances while reading The Rose in which my eyes could not help but weep.  These were not always tears of sadness, but also the tears when one finds themself having to put the book down and pause to admire the beauty of what was read.

This is a book that can be read frequently over a lifetime.  The central themes of love, compassion, and the way they permeate the reader's soul are certainly useful in our world today.  As one reviewer pointed out, keep in mind the context under which this book was written.  Imagine sitting in a cage, day after day, year after year, formulating The Rose, and despite all the darkness around you, still managing to produce a masterpiece that shines the eternal light from the author unto the reader.  For that Mr. Pickard, we are forever grateful.
3285389
impossible to put down, highly entertaining journey across generations, with unexpected turns leaving you on the edge of your seat all along
4832720
Song of the Mountains is a work that comes from the heart. The authors connection to her dearly departed is keenly felt on nearly every page  not only her loss, but also her love and her cherished memories. Each scene is rendered in beautiful detail, transporting the reader to the mountains to witness their serenity firsthand.

Song of the Mountains is a tale of loss, but it is also a tale of perseverance and rebirth. Even though the author is over 70 years old, her strength is evident from the start: both the outer strength to complete this grueling pilgrimage through the Himalayas, and the inner strength to seal this chapter of her life, bid farewell to her beloved, and begin anew.

This is where the story becomes more than just one womans journey; it becomes an incredible source of inspiration. For if the author can overcome the obstacles that she has, and find the will to put one foot in front of the other with a smile on her face, what excuse can the rest of us possibly have?
4713078
What a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt journey this story has taken me on. It is my first read by these authors, and it was simply wonderful. The main characters pain was palpable and real; their struggles were gut wrenching, yet the strength of character shown by both Guy and Jules was so courageous and breathtaking. Though some heavy topics were called into play, the story had a lightness, and so much hope, that I had a peace about me that these characters that I so loved, were going to be okay. I am now looking forward to experiencing more from these authors.
2121156
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a really GREAT story that takes you along for a truly wonderful journey that you don't want to end!