Neale Donald Walsch: Beyond Religion
He is the American author of the …with God series. The Conversations With God series include the following books: Conversations With God (Books 1-3), Friendship with God, Communion with God, The New Revelations, Tomorrow’s God, What God Wants, Home with God: In a Life That Never Ends, and his latest book, Happier than God. There is also a published Conversations With God for Teens.
Walsch did not use the preaching method in narrating what he wanted to let the readers know. The books serves as a guide to the readers in assessing their beliefs and truths they hold in their lives. It is a very wonderful read; a book that touches the mind, the heart, and the soul.
The author is very clear about his point- the book doesn’t want to give the impression that what you believe is wrong, and what the author believes is right. His books are clear in conveying that faith is personal. And the books are willing to guide the readers into finding the truths in their hearts.
Beyond religion, Neale Donald Walsch works are guidebooks in developing a deeper sense of belongingness- a connection to the World, a recognition of the Self, and a partnership with the Highest Being.
Vampire Chronicles
The movie adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire made me very much eager to read the book. Lestat’s character is truly very mysterious though a bit scary and arrogant while Louis played something akin to a woman’s role in Lestat’s life. Very gayish as most vampire movies I’ve read take on more of sensual romance rather than sexual. My interest in vampire novels and stories has more than perked up when I read Anne Rice books.
In the Interview with the Vampire, Lestat’s character was more of an antagonist, playing a ruthless vampire master who created his mate in Louis. Louis got tired of Lestat’s abusiveness and manipulations and chose a much nicer vampire master, and betrayed Lestat along the way. The book was very eerie and disturbing, giving us a glimpse of the life of night creatures.
In the book Lestat however, Anne Rice gave readers a better understanding of Lestat’s character. His lifemates, adventures and misadventures. In here, he is no longer the ruthless, manipulative and abusive vampire master. He rather became a figure for hero worship.
Time Traveler’s Wife
A favorite book by Audrey Niffenegger.
This is not your typical love story.The book talks about how one’s love can really stand the ultimate test of time. Claire Abshire found her soul mate in Henry DeTamble - a man he knew when she was still a child. She is an ordinary girl, and he is not; but attraction and destiny conspired to make their love story come true. Henry, the man Claire admired when she was still 6 year old and loved even more throughout her fading life, time travels. Claire fell deeply in love and managed to live with a husband who seldom lives in the now and occasionally goes back to the past and travels to the future. They shared a great love that allowed them to overcome every distress, nightmare, and sorrow in every single test of time.
Although the book generally gives the reader a heart-rending end, the excitement of love and the joy of loving are always present in almost every page. Definitely this is a book a true lover should read; and this is a story for every one who has loved, been loved, wanted to love and still loving.
This favorite love story will be on film this year according to the Internet Movie Database and will star Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana as Claire and Henry. Grab you copy of Time Traveler’s Wife and let yourself enjoy the thrill and happiness love brings.
Tuesdays with Morrie
Tuesdays with Morrie is a book written by Mitch Albom, the same author for “5 People You Meet in Heaven.”
I believe this has long been released but it was only a year ago when I got the chance to read it. I have heard about it from friends who just love the book and I thought maybe it is really worth reading because of the feedback.
The story is about the author who was already successful and yet he is feeling empty. He was watching the news one night and there he learned that his former professor, Morrie, was suffering from a serious illness. He then decided to pay him a visit and that day changed his life.
Mitch regularly visited Morrie and once again, he was a student who had a lot to learn about life in general. This story really touched my heart and I came to realize a lot of important things. It just means that no matter how successful one can get, if there are still questions unanswered, if one forgets to see beyond all the material things, success and fortune are useless. This book is a must-read and it will make us look at life at a different perspective.
Harry Potter Fanatic
I so love Harry Potter. Although I was like a late bloomer because I only got to read the first book back in 2002. I have heard about it before and the controversy that surrounded it when religious groups have protested saying that it’s a book about witchcraft but I got to read it when I was out on a team building activity.
The first book got me hooked and the week after that, I bought the paperback set of books 1 to 4. Since then, I got hooked and have read the books a hundred times that I have memorized it all by heart.
I was one of the millions of people around the world who waited excitedly for the release of book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I have visited fan sites dedicated to Harry Potter to update myself on the goings on about the book. Before its release, I even got hold of book pretending to be the real one only to find out that it was just fan fiction. Anyway, it was a good read too and for a while I got preoccupied reading it.
By the time Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was out, I was so happy because major things unfolded and even a very tragic death that up to now, when I think of it, I still get sad.
Finally, the time came for the release of the 7th and last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was bittersweet for me. It was hard to accept that there are no more books to look forward to in the future. The journey of the Harry, Ron and Hermione have come to an end; it was time to say gooodbye to the characters I have grown to love through all of these years.
I heard J.K. Rowling has plans of releasing another book related to the series. That’s good news for me but I wish that she won’t stop sharing Harry’s stories. Well, I know it’s not going to happen but definitely the legacy of the book will forever be remembered and I will continue to read the trio’s adventures in the many years to come.
The Alexandria Link
This book by Steve Berry is about the legendary Alexandria Library,a library that is shrouded with mystery since it disappeared fifteen hundred years ago. In this story the hero Cotton Malone’s teenage son was kidnapped and those behind the abduction will stop at nothing to get the information they need to find the lost library. Malone is forced to follow lead after lead while being pursued by powerful people from Europe and even powerful players in American government. The great library holds a wealth of knowledge, knowledge that can further their ambition to rule the world.
It’s fascinating to think that there are secrets about the past still waiting to be discovered. But should we pursue this knowledge or are the secrets from the past better left buried? How much information does these powerful countries hold when it comes to world treasures that are supposedly lost forever? Does the Alexandria Library still exist somewhere in the world? Whether this is true or not,stories like these will continue to enthrall us because we always love a good mystery.
Cell
I think this is Stephen King’s best novel ever. Cell starts out on an ordinary day. All sorts of people are talking away on their cell phones when all of a sudden, people start going berzerk. Their brains are somehow wiped and only the basest of human instincts are left, anger. Groups of people who have not been affected by the cell phones start traveling, trying to find safe places.
The ones who have been affected work together and herd the others to stations that are being set up across the country. Their plan is to make everyone else listen to a message on cell phones, a message that will wipe their brains and reprogram it. A small group of survivors find a way to stop them but not with out repercussions. This novel is sometimes classified as a zombie book, I guess because they seem to have no will of their own and only base instincts.
Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein
Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein is a book that is touted as a complete guide to poker. In reality it is really part autobiography, part documentary on the world of professional poker. He starts out giving a lot of background on his life and his beginnings in professional poker. Some of you may think that this will wind up being snooze material, but he actually gives a lot of insightful stories about starting out in poker and some sound advice for those getting started in today’s game.
As the book progresses, the book becomes more of a guide about how to conduct oneself while playing poker and a guide on living the poker lifestyle. He gives a lot of lessons that are not only applicable to poker, but to everyday life as well. He covers everything from building a bankroll to sex. Yes, Barry gives advice on sex.
The last part of the book is purely strategy as it relates to NL Holdem. He gives examples of various tournament scenarios he was in and the reasons he played the way he did. This section alone could make a nice strategy booklet and I think complements the rest of the book.
This book is also available in audio format, narrated by Barry. Barry does come off as very monotone when he is narrating the book but in some ways, he is able to bring home some points in a way that maybe a reader misses by just reading the book. I personally own both the book and the audio book and enjoyed both. If you get a chance, pick up a copy online or in your favorite bookstore.
“The Awakening Heart” (Betty J. Eadie)
“The Awakening Heart” follows Betty J. Eadie’s book, “Embraced by the Light”. She encountered a near-death experience and it changed her life forever. In turn, millions of readers worldwide have been influenced and inspired.
This book is a journey of the lessons Betty learned from her experience and a profound spiritual awakening. She believes death is not to be feared and love is what unites everyone together and is the light of God within.
Her book reveals her encounters with the spiritual realm and visions. Her experiences are compelling and engaging and the book held my attention. Betty was filled with a spiritual force, yet this isolated her from those who would not understand or who did not share her views. This spiritual force caused all of her senses to be more keen and she knew what was going to happen before it happened. This caused her to be generally more intense, as there wasn’t any conscious effort on her part to be so filled with this unique force. She felt so moved by this force, she “needed” to share it with the world.
In order for “The Awakening Heart” to be exposed to the world, Betty turned to God for guidance. She says that God showed her how her book would be exposed around the world in waves, having a rippling effect of the good deeds she had seen in the spiritual world. Her book did indeed, find its way into millions of homes and hearts.
While this book was compelling, intriguing and a great read, a few of her beliefs aren’t in alignment with my own Christian beliefs. Still, the general message of love, the ultimate belief in God and the healing power of sacred energy and how each affects every part of our daily life, is inspiring.
“Bridges of Madison County”
The Bridges of Madison County is a novel and best-seller by author Robert James Waller. I saw Bridges of Madison County on DVD, but the book left even more of an impact. It’s written in a poetic and captivating way.
Clint Eastwood not only starred with Meryl Streep, but also produced and directed the movie. Both of their characters were brought to life vividly in the book. Waller did an amazing job with his writing and his words created vivid imagery as well as emotional depth.
Francesca is of Italian descent and wife of a farmer. Her life is simple and generally happy, but in ways, she longs for more. Robert Kincaid is a photographer and has been sent to Madison County, Iowa to do a photo shoot of covered bridges for National Geographic magazine.
Robert stops at Francesca’s home to ask for directions to Roseman Bridge. Her husband and children are away at the state fair. She decides to go with Robert to show him where the bridge is and later offers an invitation to join her for dinner. As they get to know each other, something awakens within both of them. In just a few days, they find a profound love many never experience in a lifetime.
Francesca and Robert could easily be seen as opposites…she, a simple housewife and mother and he, the more adventurous and free-spirited type. Yet, there’s a common bond that consumes them both.
Francesca is aware her feelings for Robert go against her values, yet with him, she becomes complete and is allowed to let her true self out. Her heart is painfully torn between what she wants and what she knows she cannot have. Can she leave her husband and children and forget the man who has captured every fiber of her being?
Francesca’s family didn’t know about the affair until after her death. Her grown children discovered journals, which held her secrets and are stunned and angry at first, yet left deeply moved. In the end, something stirs inside of both and leads them to make changes in their own lives.
Robert once told Francesca, “This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime”. The certainty of their love transcended even their deaths. Some will see this book only as an illicit affair and some will dig deeper. I give a 5 out of 5 star rating.