Citizen Vince: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Keep writing Jess Walter!

intriguingly balanced between humor and gritty realism

Recommendable reading

Wittier than Elmore Leonard

A cut above

Citizen Vince: A Novel
Jess Walter
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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The Zero: A Novel (P.S.)

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The Little Friend

ASIN: 0060989297
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Book Description

Darkly hilarious and unexpectedly profound, Citizen Vince is an irresistible tale about the price of freedom and the mystery of salvation, by an emerging writer of boundless talent.

Eight days before the 1980 presidential election, Vince Camden wakes up at 1:59 A.M. in a quiet house in Spokane, Washington. Pocketing his stash of stolen credit cards, he drops by an all-night poker game before heading to his witness-protection job dusting crullers at Donut Make You Hungry. This is the sum of Vince's new life: donuts and forged credit cards—not to mention a neurotic hooker girlfriend.

But when a familiar face shows up in town, Vince realizes that his sordid past is still close behind him. During the next unforgettable week, on the run from Spokane to New York, Vince Camden will negotiate a maze of obsessive cops, eager politicians, and assorted mobsters, only to find that redemption might just exist—of all places—in the voting booth. Sharp and refreshing, Citizen Vince is the story of a charming crook chasing the biggest score of his life: a second chance.

Customer Reviews:

Keep writing Jess Walter!.......2007-09-10

One of the best novelists, and one of the best novels, I've read in months. The book could be carried by the well rendered characters alone. Yet, the story itself is infectious from the first page until its conclusion. The self deprecating Vince is flawed and marvelous. It has some a the driest, funniest dialogue you'll ever read. There are so many works of fiction which are marred by one or even two seperate plotlines which drag the story down. In this case, there are none. Every shift, narration, place, time, etc.. is a joy. There is no lull. I'm looking forward to reading The Zero.

intriguingly balanced between humor and gritty realism.......2007-08-07

In 1980, Vince is a former con-man now in the Witness Protection Program in Spokane WA, and he fears his past may be catching up to him. Absorbing and often hilarious. Longer review available at my website the Impatient Reader. See My Amazon profile for URL.

Recommendable reading.......2007-06-13

Enjoyable reading, not much of a crime/mystery novel in a pure sense of the meaning, there are other issues mixed into the plot (e.g. redemption, politics). Nevertheless it is pretty good book to read, even though one might not exactly agree with the author's line of thinking (as expressed in the novel).

Wittier than Elmore Leonard.......2007-01-04

So often what is missing from this genre is characterization. That and nuance in storytelling separates the average from the above average. There's enough plot in Citizen Vince to pull in the genre readers. What you get, though, are interesting characters. Witty dialog...You learn something about people and places and about the 1980 election. Everybody turns out to be funny and everybody turns out to be a little sad.

This is the only Jess Walter I've read but I plan to order The Zero.

A cut above.......2006-12-27

More than you expect. And that's a good thing. The author creates characters that ring true and drag you along.

Customer Reviews:

Back to School A Lucy Stone Mystery.......2007-06-27

I enjoy reading this author Leslie Meier and her books are a favorite of mine.
Thank you
Kim Sessions
Mesa, Arizona

Entertaining, Very Well-Written Mystery by a Talented Author.......2007-02-12

Lucy Stone is working at the local newspaper office. She hears about a bomb threat at the Elementary School on the first day of school. She is frightened; her daughter Sara is a student at that school. Lucy rushes over to the school. All the students and faculty are safely outside, except one child. The assistant principle Carol Crane is a heroine and saves that one child by getting him out of the building right before the bomb goes off.

Lucy is determined to find out who planted the bomb, and why they planted it. She has a busy life, working at the newspaper office, taking care of 4 kids and a demanding husband, and taking a night class in Victorian Literature. And trying to solve the bomb mystery, and the murder mystery, on top of all that. I will not tell you who ended up getting murdered; that might slightly ruin the book.

One interesting character is the "strange, mysterious" kid from California.

All the clues are clever and fit neatly together. This book is very well-written and very entertaining.

I love this book!!.......2007-01-15

I read it a while back and lost the book. I searched high and low and finally found it on Amazon. It's one of my favorites, as it's lighthearted and what they consider a cozy mystery. I like the characters and the setting.

An Enjoyable Cozy Mystery.......2006-10-27

"The door swung open, and Carol Crane staggered out, followed by the two bomb squad members. She was clutching little Tommy tightly to her chest. The students began cheering as Carol ran down the steps, supported by the two helmeted men. A sudden, thunderous boom silenced them, and everyone watched as the first-floor windows ballooned out and shattered." -- From the book

At a recent visit to a local bookstore, I asked the sales clerk if he could direct me to some of his favorite mysteries. I was in the mood for some good mystery fiction, especially "cozy" mysteries.

One of the books he directed me to was Leslie Meier's Back to School Murder. I thought I'd give it a try and just finished reading it.

I wasn't immediately drawn in by the characters, but then I end up enjoying a comfortable rhythm--reading a few chapters here and there. It's a breezy book. The characters, including the main sleuth/housewife Lucy Stone, are quite believable. I'm the type of person that figures out 'whodunnit' early in the game with both books and movies, but I honestly didn't know who actually planted the bomb--or murdered Carol-- until the end.

My only criticism of this book was that the author introduced too many minor characters into the mix, including their first and last names. After awhile, I wasn't sure who I should remember and who was just a "passing through" character--so that was a bit irritating. (Note to the author: a general decription of "passing through" characters would have been sufficient without mentioning their full name and, sometimes, a short bio!)

I didn't have the benefit of reading earlier Lucy Stone books, but the relationship with her husband and kids seems pretty darn realistic to me.

All in all, Back to School Murder was an enjoyable cozy mystery; I plan on sampling more books from this author in the future.

Starting School with a Bang!.......2006-05-03

The 4th book in the Lucy Stone mystery series starts with a bang. Lucy has started a temporary job at The Pennysaver, the Tinker's Cove weekly newspaper and is enjoying a bit of freedom from home life. As she settles into the daily grind of a full time job and the kids going back to school after a long summer break, she is shocked to hear that the school is being evacuated. Racing over to the school, she quickly learns that a bomb has been found inside the school. Watching as the children are safely removed from the building, it quickly becomes apparent that something is wrong. A disabled student is missing, and assistant principal Carol Crane races in to find him. Sprinting out as the bomb explodes, Carol is able to save herself and the boy...becoming an instant hero. But when her body is found murdered a few days later, suspicions are raised about Carol's life. Was the school bombing and Carol's murder related? And why is a favorite teacher accused of her murder?

I am really fond of the Lucy Stone series. I look forward to reading each of the books in the series as I feel that many of the things that Lucy deals with in her life are applicable to many moms. She juggles the demands of motherhood with her own desires to be self-fulfilled. She works to help pay the bills, and struggles to keep her house clean and hot meals on the table. As her children age, she deals with teenage issues, while still changing the diapers of baby Zoe. And in the midst of all this, she still finds time to nose her way into any mystery that finds its way to Tinker's Cove.

If you enjoy the Jane Jeffry Series by Jill Churchill, give this series a try.

The first book in the series is called "Mistletoe Murder". Enjoy!

Leslie Meier: 7 Lucy Stone Mysteries (Back To School Murder, Birthday Party Murder, Trick or Treat Murder, Turkey Day Murder, Mistletoe Murder, Valentine Murder and Wedding Day Murder)

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Leslie Meier: 7 Lucy Stone Mysteries (Back To School Murder, Birthday Party Murder, Trick or Treat Murder, Turkey Day Murder, Mistletoe Murder, Valentine Murder and Wedding Day Murder)
Leslie Meier
Manufacturer: Kensington Mystery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VWHL9U

Product Description

Wonderful Mysteries

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Tales of the Witch World 1 (Tales of the Witch World)

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1 genuine Norton, 16 imitators
long-awaited answers for the Were Riders and for Ulm
Tales from Andre Norton's Witch World

Tales of the Witch World 1 (Tales of the Witch World)
Andre Norton
Manufacturer: Tor Science Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0812547578

Customer Reviews:

1 genuine Norton, 16 imitators.......2006-01-10

A genuine Andre Norton story leads off "Tales of the Witch World" (1987). "Of the Shaping of Ulm's Heir" concerns the conception and birth of Kerovan, hero of the "The Crystal Gryphon" (1972), "Gryphon in Glory" (1981), and "Gryphon's Eyrie" (1984).

As 'Gryphon' fans might know, there was a tussle over the conception of Kerovan. His mother called upon a Dark Power to father him, but through the intervention of some timely white magic, one of the Great Ones of the Light beats the bad guy to the bed chamber. Kerovan's mother refuses to have anything to do with the baby once he is born, which is just as well, considering her original plans for him.

The remainder of the seventeen stories in "Tales of the Witch World" are by authors who claimed to have spent a good part of their youth in Norton's imaginary land, where magic hung in "trembling balance between the forces of Light and those of the Dark." Some fantasy writers like Robert Bloch, Charles de Lint, and Elizabeth Scarborough you will surely recognize. Others you might not.

Alas, none of their stories quite meet the standards set by Norton, although Robert Bloch, who rewrites "Of the Shaping of Ulm's Heir" from the Dark viewpoint, comes closest. I kept getting caught up in minor discrepancies in characters (Norton's characters NEVER fall in bed with each other after a couple of nights on the trail) or background (the Grey Ones inhabit Escore, not the Waste Lands outside of High Hallack). Just a minor false note in an otherwise good story was enough to spoil it for me.

A better set of single-location short stories are the four 'Magic in Ithkar' volumes, edited by Norton and Adams. Ithkar Fair is a place where any author might ply his or her magic without messing up the intricate background that Norton has already created for Witch World.

long-awaited answers for the Were Riders and for Ulm.......2002-03-20

The short stories herein are set in many different locales in the Witch World, on both sides of the ocean, and in many different times (before, during, and after the Kolder War). I'd suggest reading the first few novels before reading them, to get the background. If you're already familiar with the Witch World, enjoy; some long-unanswered questions and unexplored bits of history are addressed here.

My comments are organized alphabetically by author, rather than order of appearance in the book.

Belden, Wilanne Schneider: "Fenneca" - Set during the worst devastation of the Invader's War. The title character is a fey child - not entirely a mortal human - whose destiny is bound up with the rebuilding of the Dales.

Bloch, Robert: "Heir Apparent" - The narrator - Lady Tephana's chief servant, her former nursemaid - tells her side of "Of the Shaping of Ulm's Heir" (see below). If you like, you could read both stories before tackling _The Crystal Gryphon_.

Crispin, A.C.: "Bloodspell" - This tale of Herrel and the Were-Riders is set during Herrel's youth in Arvon, and answers a question left unanswered in _Year of the Unicorn_.

de Lint, Charles: "The White Road" - Set in the time between the end of the Invader's War and "Changeling", by which time Nordendale had a new lord. Saren, the innkeeper's daughter, is hitting the road in man's guise to seek her fortune.

Dunn, Marylois: "Cat and the Other" - Cat, the toughest of the toms in the castle, is annoyed at the Other's presence in his mind; the castle's Witch, attempting to cast the suitor of her protege out of his body and into a pigeon, missed her aim. Cat, fearless and acquainted with the Witch's familiar, takes charge of getting the Other back where he belongs. (More of Cat's adventures can be found in other volumes of the series).

Griffin, Pauline: "Oath-Bound" - A Sulcar captain, who broke his leg saving the life of Tronel, a Falconer serving on his ship, asks a favor in return: to escort the Lady Qu'el back to her native gate, now that her term of service to the Sulcar is done. Tronel is honor-bound - despite his people's double distrust of women bearing magic.

Heidbrink, James R. "Of Ancient Swords and Evil Mist" - Jobec, captain of the Sulcar warship _Red Dawn_, is the sole survivor of a shipwreck after a great storm, following a raid on Alizon. A bad place to be, even if he hadn't stumbled across mysterious ruins...

Inks, Caralyn: "Nine Words in Winter" - Many characters in the Witch World swear by the Nine Words of Min; here we learn more about them.

Lackey, Mercedes: "Were-Hunter" - A young woman from our universe discovers, upon stumbling through a Gate into the Dales, that she has Were abilities - but she doesn't know how to control them.

Mayhar, Ardath: "Neither Rest Nor Refuge" - The narrator, a boy of the Old Race, is speaking as a fugitive just after the three-times-horning (see _Witch World_ for the decree that put his people to the sword).

Miller, Sasha: "To Rebuild the Eyrie" - Set some years after the Turning, in which the Falconer's Eyrie was destroyed. Eirrian, a tavernkeeper's niece, has been kidnapped - and the kidnapper is a romantic young idiot of a Falconer who wants to reestablish the Eyrie, complete with the separate women's village.

Norton, Andre: "The Shaping of Ulm's Heir" - As recounted at the beginning of _The Crystal Gryphon_, the house of Ulm was cursed after its lord violated a treasure-house of the Old Ones - that lord died, leaving his son Ulric to inherit, and the other members of the expedition also died swiftly. More: Ulric could get no living children, so that he set his second wife, Elva, aside for barrenness, despite his love for her, and wed Lady Tephana instead (a widow with a living son as proof of fertility). This tale is told by Ylas - daughter of the Marshal on that ill-fated expedition, cursed with a harelip, and personal servant of Elva - the tale of how Lady Tephana came to call on evil magic to bear an heir to Ulm, and what came of it.
Scarborough, Elizabeth: "Milk from a Maiden's Breast" - Freyti, a Mosswife, comes to the rescue of Tregemma, a famed warrior of Escore caught in an ambush.

Schaub, Mary H. "Night Hound's Moon" - Kennard, an asthmatic boy left alone after the wise woman who raised him died, had only one companion - the mysterious hound he freed from a trap (its elaborate collar was entangled with some brush). Now humanity has found him again - in the form of bandits who have sold him to a mysterious crew of evil magicians. A well-told story, but I was distracted for quite some time by asking, "Who ARE these guys??"

Severance, Carol: "Isle of Illusion" - Metae of Komlin Keep is fast approaching her coming-of-age, when she will take the rulership from her uncle, who has acted as regent since the death of her father (who defeated him in a quarrel over the lordship after the disappearance of their elder sister). Now she's about to find out what happened to her aunt. You may never look the same way at seashells again after reading this; it's cool.

Stuart, Kiel: "Green in High Hallack" - Tymmons' people are facing famine - but he can't help having mercy on the Ranthan whose life he saved, and he won't see it sacrificed.

Vardeman, Robert E. "The Road of Dreams and Death" - Luanna, daughter of the lord of Rozdale, has fallen in love with a farmer she first met at the market in Quayth; but after having one daughter wed to a mere merchant, he's not about to concede *this* match.

Tales from Andre Norton's Witch World.......2000-06-28

I read this book when it first came out. If you like Ms. Norton's Witch World, read these short stories. From these stories from other writers some of her later collaborative efforts were developed, including the Falconer who takes a wife. Many aspects of her world are explored from minor characters to expansion of history and legend.

Ghosts and Tales of Witchcraft and the Other World (Icelandic Folktales, 1)

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Ghosts and Tales of Witchcraft and the Other World (Icelandic Folktales, 1)

Manufacturer: Iceland Review
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Product Description

Icelandic Folktalkes: These samples from the rich folklore of Iceland are selected and translated by Professor Alan Boucher, former Chairman of the Department of English at the Univeristy of Iceland. Professor Boucher is an Englishman, but has lived in Iceland for many years, and has been very active in translating Icelanding literature into English. In introducing this selection he expresses the hope that it will offer English speaking readers a fair sample of some of the best Icelandic folktales, adding: "For those who wish to know and understand the Icelandic people of today, there could be no better introduction. The age of technology may have altered the outward character of life in Iceland beyond recognition, but the roots are still there."

Amazon.com

Throughout their history, the American Indians have healed with rituals using herbs, fungi, and other natural materials. They have valued as sacred the spiritual side of life and their connection to the earth. Their medicine has always been holistic, treating the body and spirit as one and illness as a sign of imbalance. Now we can benefit from American Indian wisdom with American Indian Healing Arts: Herbs, Rituals, and Remedies for Every Season of Life. This book is organized by the stages of life, presenting different tribal perspectives on the significance of each, with ceremonies and healing rituals (songs, prayers, botanicals). The book includes more than 60 recipes for treating health problems and other needs, from "cramp bark tea" to "marigold-calendula deodorant cream." There are also directions for making tonics, ointments, tooth powders, and digestive remedies, and illustrations consisting of leaf-rubbings of 80 plants. Besides learning to use American Indian remedies, you learn fascinating facts about their ceremonies. The Navajo celebrate not only birth, but the infant's first smile and first laugh, for example. An Apache girl celebrates first menstruation by running and dancing for four days (guided and massaged by an elder woman). If you're interested in alternative healing, or intrigued by American Indian culture, this book will add to your knowledge. --Joan Price

Book Description

American Indian Healing Arts is a magical blend of plant lore, history, and living tradition that draws on a lifetime of study with native healers by herbalist and ethnobotanist E. Barrie Kavasch.

Here are the time-honored tribal rituals performed to promote good health, heal illness, and bring mind and spirit into harmony with nature. Here also are dozens of safe, effective earth remedies--many of which are now being confirmed by modern research.

Each chapter introduces a new stage in the life cycle, from the delightful Navajo First Smile Ceremony (welcoming a new baby) to the Apache Sunrise Ceremony (celebrating puberty) to the Seminole Old People's Dance.

At the heart of the book are more than sixty easy-to-use herbal remedies--including soothing rubs for baby, a yucca face mask for troubled skin, relaxing teas, massage oils, natural insect repellents, and fragrant smudge sticks. There are also guidelines for assembling a basic American Indian medicine chest.

Customer Reviews:

TOO VAGUE.......2005-08-19

I found this book to lack depth and explanation. It vaguely lists certain herbs and plants that are of a healing nature, but the true content I was looking for was not here. I wanted more in-depth remedies for particular ailments, where this book applies certain remedies to a very hazy and small range of problems. I was also looking for a guide to ritualistic traditions rather than unmeasurable herbal concoctions.

Review fraud.......2004-12-14

The Institute for American Indian Studies did not review this book. The attributed review originated with the author.

A Gift.......2001-11-25

I've always had the fantasy of becoming an apprentice to a gifted Native American medicine woman--that is until reading "American Indian Healing Arts" by E. Barrie Kavasch and Karen Baar, when my fantasy became a reality. This book is rich with history, accurate herbal information, great medicinal recipes presented in an easy to follow format. "American Indian Healing Arts" is wonderfully reflective of Native American spiritual practices especially in its attention to rites of passage and stages of life. The tender manner with which the information is presented is welcoming, encouraging, inclusive and heartwarming--bound to lead many an apprentice down the path of pursuing greater understanding of Native American medicine.

A Guide to Exploring our Native Cultures.......2001-08-12

I found this book exciting to read. It is filled with traditions of Native Americans and gives us recipes for herbs and rituals to try. If you are looking to expand your knowledge of American Indial Healing Arts, this is the book to help you on your way.

A great read, although not very practical.......2000-08-24

This book has beautiful artwork both inside and out. What I liked the most were the different prayers and rituals that are described in rich detail. I found that if you do not have direct knowledge of herbs and how to identify and obtain them, that this book will not be of much use to you.

American Indian Healing Arts: Herbs, Rituals, and Remedies for Every Season of Life

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American Indian Healing Arts: Herbs, Rituals, and Remedies for Every Season of Life
E. Barrie and Karen Baar Kavasch
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBIYLO

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