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- Seeing Red with KoKo & Yum Yum
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The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (Cat Who...)
Lilian Jackson Braun
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ASIN: 0515107867 |
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"All the world's a stage--and now Jim Qwilleran's apple orchard hsa become the stage--for a real-life murder scene. The much-disliked director of the Pickax Theatre Club's Shakespeare production, Hilary van Brook, is found dead after the closing-night cast party...and with the help of his super-smart siamese, Qwill must cast a suspicious eye on all the players--especially the ones pussyfooting around behind the scenes... "
Customer Reviews:
Seeing Red with KoKo & Yum Yum.......2006-06-23
In the 12th book in The Cat Who...mystery series with KoKo and Yum Yum, James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats move into their newly converted apple barn, and are celebrating the successful first run production by the Pickax Theatre Club. When the entire cast (except for one) shows up at Qwilleran's new home for a wrap-party and informal housewarming, he is happy to entertain many of his close friends. The party lasts well into the early morning hours, and when the last guest drives away, KoKo starts his impressive "death howl". Walking outdoors, Qwilleran learns there has been a shooting on his property, and the controversial high school principle has been murdered. Qwilleran and his amazing cats begin to investigate, and quickly dig into some truths buried in the nearby town of Lockmaster. And when Polly returns a day late from a wedding she attended in the town, Qwilleran starts to get suspicious about what is happening in Lockmaster. In between bird watching with KoKo, a cat pageant to find a look-alike for Tippy's beloved mascot, and a steeplechase, Qwilleran puts the pieces together on another murder in sleepy Moose County.
This is my favorite cozy mystery series! I had read all of the books in the past, and wanted to read them again for a second time. This time around, I have chosen to listen to them on CD, as I love the voice of George Guidall. The stories are charming, and I have fallen in love with Moose County and all of its residents. The mysteries themselves are not always very difficult to figure out...but that is not the allure of the series for many. The characters are endearing, and as you read the books in the series, you will feel like you know each one. The books are also a great read for pre-teens or those that have read and enjoyed the Nancy Drew series. I feel this series is the benchmark for many cozy mysteries today, and hope to enjoy this series for years to come. I highly recommend any (and all) of the books in this series.
The 1st book in the series is called "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards". Enjoy!
The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal.......2006-06-22
Another enjoyable quick reading mystery story by Lilian Jackson Braun featuring Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum. In this episode, Hilary VanBrook, the disliked Principle of PickAx is found murdered in Qwilleran's orchard the morning after a cast party is thrown. Koko was the one to find the body and Qwilleran begins to piece together the clues. A cardinal singing outside the window holds the key to the suspect.
Henry VIII does Moose County.......2005-06-18
The 12th book of this series starts with Qwilleran settled into his new home, an old apple barn that has been restored and turned into living quarters. The upper beams are about forty feet above the ground and the cats are in seventh heaven. Qwilleran's other project, building a community theater, has also been completed and a successful run of "Henry VIII" has just finished. When the director, school principal Hilary VanBrook had proposed this play nobody thought it would fly, but the unpopular director had pulled it off in high fashion.
Following the final performance the cast and crew descended on Qwilleran's barn for the cast party. As was normal, the much-maligned VanBrook kept pretty much to himself but for some reason Koko found him very interesting. Once the party guests had all departed, Koko called Qwilleran's attention to a single car that was still outside. Going out to investigate, Qwilleran found a body with a very fresh gunshot wound inside the abandoned car. Determined to mind his own business this time the former reporter called the police and tried to stay out of the investigation. Koko however would have none of that and started leaving clues.
Despite Koko's clues however, Qwilleran continued his hands off approach except for sniffing around the victim's house looking for an old book. Finally though, Qwilleran gave in and started to sniff around because a friend of his was being falsely accused of the crime. This time our amateur sleuth solves the mystery on his own, not picking up on Koko's clues until it was all over. Yum Yum actually provides the most important clue, although completely by accident and once again the cats rush in to save the day when Qwilleran gets into deep trouble.
Along the road to solving this murder Qwilleran runs into several sub-plots that add a great deal to the story. There is a suicide that may or may not be connected to the murder, a cat beauty pageant that turns into a riot and a horse race down in Lockmaster. On top of everything else, Qwilleran and Polly seem to be on the outs and Qwilleran is sure that the librarian has a new love interest.
Like the previous books in this series, this book is filled with quirky and fun characters and features the wonderful backdrop of Moose County. The interaction between the characters is cleaver and imaginative and the cats are superbly portrayed. I am also happy to report that the mystery, while not always the center of the plot, is interesting and it is solvable. The clues are all there and if the reader pays close attention he/she can solve the mystery before Qwilleran.
On the negative side, there are some questions involving the victim that are never answered. Maybe however, these questions will be answered in a future book because Qwilleran is thinking about doing a biography of the deceased. Given what he has already found out he just might have a best seller on his hands.
bird and cleric watching with Qwill and the kitties.......2004-01-15
Jim Qwilleran, the star of this series, is the heir to the vast Klingenschoen fortune. He lives with his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum in Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere.
The action opens with the Qwill and the cats settling in to their latest residence, the newly remodeled apple barn. The peace is shattered as the Theater Club drops by for a house (barn) warming party. When the last of the party goers leave Qwill discovers that one is unable to go on his own power, he has been murdered just outside Qwill's door! The story then focuses on the deceased, Hilary VanBrook, principal of Pickax High School and director of the latest Theater Club production. When a fellow actor disappears he becomes the chief suspect. Qwill, of course, believes that the answer lies elsewhere and, aided by the cats, begins to investigate.
His attention is divided however, his latest lady friend, Polly Duncan, is acting strangely - perhaps he has a rival for her affections. Koko and Yum Yum are similiarly distracted by a new activity - bird watching, especially cardinals. The trio presses on, even traveling out of Moose County looking for answers. In the end the mysteries are solved and life in Moose County continues.
I found this one of the less satisfying books in the series. The action begins nearly a year after the end of the previous book. The character of the second victim, Dennis Hough, who was Iris Cobb's son - introduced in The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts - has changed character slightly, and earned Qwill's trust and respect since we first met him. The motive for his death is weak and there is no real explanation given for the breakup of his family.
Qwill's relationship with Polly is one of the themes of this story and though it is given quite a bit of attention I felt that it was more of a tease. Also, as with the previous novel, I felt that the ending had been rushed with some of the threads left a bit loose.
If you are a devotee of the series you will want to read this one, especially for the Polly and Qwill story. If you are new to series perhaps starting elsewhere would be better, but if you a just looking for a good mystery this may not be your best choice.
One of the lesser books in the series........2003-08-26
In a series that for many years was one of my very favorites this is one title I never cared for. The reason is simple, Quill comes off as such a total jerk. If the main character comes off as unlikeable it's hard to much care about what happens. I will give one example of what I am talking about. In this book there is a sucicide. This man just walks out on his wife and child to live in Pickaxe for no reason what so ever. { All this is set up in The Cat Who.. Talked to Ghosts} When his wife lets him know she will not take him back he kills himself and Quill makes the wife into a heel as if this mans own actions had nothing to do with the situation. It was at that point I stopped reading. For some I am sure this would be perfectly fine but it stuck in my craw. But of the first 14 books in the series this is the only one I would not recomend.
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6 delightful books for one low shipping charge! All previously read, but still in great condition, some cover wear
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By Lillian Jackson Braun. 6 abridged cassettes.
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Award-winning author Cherry Adair broke thrilling new ground with On Thin Ice–her stunning romantic suspense hardcover debut. Now Cherry’s turning up the temperature, amping up the action, and raising the degree of danger and desire to irresistibly hot new heights.
Diamonds–jewels of every kind, in fact–are Taylor Kincaid’s best friends. The only thing she enjoys more is the challenge of stealing them, at which she excels like few others in the world. And specializing in plundering precious stones from wealthy international criminals just makes it all the more satisfying . . . and dangerously exciting. So for Taylor, there’s no resisting the double allure of snatching the elusive Blue Star diamonds–a prize she has pursued across three continents–from the South American stronghold of the murderous Morales terrorist organization.
The heist goes down without a hitch. Until Taylor discovers she has made off with more than she bargained for, namely the secret security-system codes that provide access to a South African diamond mine–packed with enough gems to sink a battleship. Suddenly, Taylor’s no longer just an ultrachic freelance jewel thief, but a reluctant player in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game against elite global trouble-shooters and bloodthirsty terrorists.
There’s nothing reluctant, however, about Huntington St. John, the top T-FLAC operative who’s hot on Taylor’s trail. And in Taylor’s opinion, just plain hot. The feeling, emotional and otherwise, is very mutual. Though they’re on opposite sides of the law, Hunt and Taylor swiftly come to appreciate each other’s well-honed skills. But since ecstasy is fleeting, and diamonds are forever, Taylor soon slips from the sheets and hits the streets . . . to reclaim the jewels she stashed overseas. And true to his name, Hunt is close behind–but this time, he’s after more than the codes. With the clock ticking, and two groups of terrorists closing fast, they’ll have to mix pleasure with some very risky business. If they can survive danger at every turn, outwit the ultimate high-tech security system, and somehow conquer each other . . . they just might get everything they desire.
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PRAISE FOR CHERRY ADAIR
“A breathtaking ride . . . I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! No one does hot romance, ice-cold villains and nonstop adventure better.”
–Mariah Stewart, author of Dead Even, on On Thin Ice
“Sexy, funny, and wild! Hang on and enjoy the ride!”
–Andrea Kane, author of Scent of Danger, on In Too Deep
“A thrilling, mysterious, sexy read.”
–Stella Cameron, author of Kiss Them Goodbye, on Hide and Seek
“A sexy, snappy roller-coaster ride!”
–Susan Andersen, author of Shadow Dance, on Kiss and Tell
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing.......2007-07-16
Am I the only one who has read this book and didn't have questions about the ending? Our heroine Taylor is attacked by a Black Rose terrorist, with Savage, a female T-FLAC operative, appearing to be part of the attack. Later, in what appears to be her deathbed, Taylor tries to mumble Savage's name, but is too weak. Taylor, of course rallies and wins the day, but Savage's role is not brought up again. I felt sure the author was going to write in Savage as the head of the Black Rose group in the end, which seemed to be where the story was headed. Instead, Taylor conveniently forgot to mention it again once the hero came into the hospital room and proposed. Unless Ms. Adair plans to continue the story in a future T-FLAC story, I thought the end to be disappointing without that final resolution.
Originally Posted on Romance Junkies in 2005.......2007-05-14
Cherry Adair has made a name for herself with the exciting series of T-FLAC books. Each story, featuring a hot, sexy operative of this privately funded, top-secret, anti-terrorist group has the twists and turns of an action-adventure novel and the steam of a high-powered Jacuzzi. HOT ICE is no different, with Huntington "Hunt" St. John taking center stage, attempting to gain intel on a terrorist madman named Jose Morales.
Morales, a man who believes that anyone who disagrees with his beliefs deserves to die, has been amassing jewels, art, and weapons in an underground mine for years. Hunt, assigned to find out when Morales attends to strike the world's population, needs to open the top-of-the-line safe in his domain to gather the computer disks that are there-he's sure that those disks hold all of the information he needs to deter Morales and his mission. The problem is that he needs someone who can open the supposedly uncrackable safe, and there's only one person who can do that-Taylor Kincaid, a jewel thief and safe cracker who is thought to be the best in the world.
Unfortunately, before Hunt can reach Taylor and plead for her assistance, Taylor is arrested in San Cristobel for breaking into the home of-you guessed it-Jose Morales. Now Hunt believes he has the ultimate power chip to get Taylor to help him-he'll bail her out of jail if she gives him the computer disks that she stole. Taylor , of course, plays dumb, assuring Hunt that she has no idea what he's talking about. But when Morales's henchmen come to pay her a visit, Taylor has second thoughts on holding out on Hunt. After all, the man with the power and resources of T-FLAC behind him might be the only person who can keep her alive long enough to bring down the terrorist.
Ms. Adair has penned another sexually charged winner. The action-adventure part of the story is top-notch, with believable characters and situations that will have you rooting for the good guys and crying for the downfall of Morales and his men. The sexual chemistry between Hunt and Taylor isn't necessarily instantaneous, but it's an integral part of the story. Neither one of them is sure that they can truly trust the other, and the situations they find themselves in only add to the age-old idiom of whether they really love each other or are just responding to the danger around them.
I did miss seeing the Wright brothers in HOT ICE, the operatives from the previous T-FLAC stories, but Hunter St. John is an intriguing and sexy new hero, and his alternate aloofness and genuine caring made for an intriguing story. Taylor is a woman that reminds you of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider or a non-vampire-fighting Buffy, and her slow nature of trusting added depth and emotion to the storyline. All in all, HOT ICE is definitely a book to pick up-you won't be disappointed!
Hot Ice.......2007-02-23
Taylor Kincaid is a woman with a job that requires many faces. Breaking into and stealing from a supposedly fool proof safe, leads to her arrest in a foreign country. Rescue comes in the form of a striking, hardened man with a decidedly delicious British accent. While Taylor is attracted to this man, Huntington St. John, she can't afford to let him get to her enough to break down her defenses and give him the answers he is seeking. Finally out-waiting him, Taylor handcuffs him to the bed, knocks him across the temple with a lamp and escapes into the night.
Huntington St. John is on a mission for T-FLAC, his covert employer. Having followed and hunted Taylor Kincaid and her other 15 aliases for months, he is close to grabbing her. Watching the jail where she has been ensconced on theft charges, he waits until her guards return her to her cell before he tears a hole in the wall and carries her away to safety. Once they are at the safe house, Taylor tries to throw Hunt off her scent but to know avail. However, when he lets his guard down enough to doze off, Taylor sets herself free and promptly disappears once more.
More is afoot than either Taylor or Hunt realize. A secret society wants what Taylor has and will stop nothing short of death in order to achieve their mission. Because of this, Hunt and Taylor must watch every move they make because it just might be their last if the bad guys have anything to say about it. One thing they don't count on? Their mutual attraction to each other.
Hot Ice was truly an action packed romantic suspense novel. I found the story line very intriguing and enjoyed every word that I read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't read it fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Cherry Adair's depiction of Huntington St. John was so realistic I can hear his sexy voice in my head. I found Taylor resilient and an extremely fun female lead.
While I don't normally read romantic suspense novels, I am officially hooked on this storyline and plan to go back and read the other novels in this series that feature the completely irresistible operatives of T-FLAC. Hot Ice is definitely worthy of being read over and over and then once more for good measure.
Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
and a half stars!! Romance, suspense and a little kookiness!.......2006-11-12
This is the first Cherry Adair book I have read. A friend recommended her books. I liked very much the men of T-FLAC and enjoyed Taylor Kincaid and learning of her "softer" side.
The story begins with Huntington St. John aka "Hunt" in an alley outside a jail cell as he hears the jailers returning and tossing their chain and padlocked encased prisoner to the floor of the cell. It is a renowned and extremely elusive jewel thief that Hunt is after as he needs her help and he also believe she either inadvertently or purposely stole something that was not jewels.
When Hunt breaks Taylor loose, they both discover that she is temporarily blind from the blow to the head. He takes her to a safe house and they both feel some physical attraction. However, Taylor escapes and so Hunt is on the "hunt" again!!
Unbeknownst to Taylor, Hunt is pushed in his moves to find her by a deadline that is fast approaching. How Hunt catches up to and tries to hang on to Taylor was a very exciting and adventurous read!! Also the developing romance, I felt, was well done and not overdone.
I look forward to finding and reading more of Ms. Adair's novels!
Is THIS Chick Lit?.......2006-04-24
This is the most idiotic book I've ever read, and THIS is what women want? Dismay. Dismay.
Ms. Adair seems to have a nipple fixation. Each of the stock sex scenes mentions "nipple" several times.
Average customer rating:
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Hot Ice: A Novel
Cherry Adair
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVIFO8 |
Average customer rating:
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Magic in Ithkar 4
Manufacturer: Tor Books
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Gardner, Craig Shaw
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Green, Sharon
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Norton, Andre
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Magic in Ithkar 1
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Magic in Ithkar
ASIN: 0812547195 |
Customer Reviews:
"Come buy, come buy.".......2003-11-08
I believe there were only four 'Magic in Ithkar' volumes, which is a shame because Norton and Adams did a great job of soliciting (and editing?) these commonly-themed fantasy shorts.
Each of the four collections has the same prologue by Robert Adams, which explains how the fair originated in Ithkar (a religious anniversary turned pilgrimage), the set-up (temple, campgrounds for the merchants, docks and canals for the riparian traffic, etc.), and the difficulties encountered on a pilgrimage or trading voyage to Ithkar (Death Swamp, dragons, outlaw wizards). All weapons must be surrendered before entering the fair and wizards are discouraged from glamorizing shoddy goods with their spells. Of course, as at any large festival, the fair at Ithkar has its share of rogues, piratical merchants, bravos, potion-makers and witches, troupes of entertainers (not a few of them turning tricks), and gullible pilgrims.
A sampling of the fourteen stories in this volume:
"The Clockwork Woman" - Ann R. Brown
A mechanical doll is so deceptively life-like that when she is exhibited at the fair, a wealthy man in the audience tries to buy her. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) for him, there's a real woman concealed within the doll. She is a dwarf and has fallen in love with her tall, beautiful mechanical persona. When she persuades her friend and fellow dwarf to take his place within a newly constructed mechanical man, she learns an important lesson in love.
"First Do No Harm" - Mildred Downey Broxon
Young Lithras is a character who could have been lifted from one of Norton's own fantasies--a young, untrained witch who is enslaved, then kills her master and escapes to the fair in Ithkar. She competes for a job as a body healer to a wealthy nobleman, and confesses to one of the other competitors: "I am no anointed healer, but a maimed thing, unfinished."--Doesn't that sound like a character from the pen of the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy herself? This story also has one of Norton's ambiguously romantic endings.
"Honeycomb" - Esther M. Friesner
Author Esther Friesner has also written and published many fantasy series, including the Twelve Kingdoms ("Mustapha and his Wise Dog"), New York ("New York by Knight"), and Tim Desmond ("Gnome Man's Land") novels. "Honeycomb" is one of the most magical stories to come out of Ithkar, and involves a mysterious candlemaker and her effect on a young woodcarver. A truly sweet, funny story in which an unfaithful lover is changed into a bear and a young not-so-maidenly maiden is forced by an enchanted candle to confess her urgent need for a husband.
If you are searching for good sword & sorcery short stories, you might find exactly what you crave at Ithkar's magical fair.
Amazon.com
As a Carmelite monk, the 16th-century Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross was well trained in the systematic theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. In Dark Night of the Soul, St. John's sharply organized mind gives clean shape to his mystical belief in a loving Being somewhere outside the realm of feeling, thought, or imagination, who can only be known through love. Dark Night of the Soul describes the process of purgation, first of senses, and then of spirit, that precedes the soul's loving Union with God. To quote from this book would detract from the coiled power of its tightly focused picture of the soul's progress; suffice it to say that there has never been a better book for discouraged Christians. When you cannot understand what or why you believe, but you find yourself unable to abandon faith, look to St. John for help. --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
St. John of the Cross has been called "the most sublime of all Spanish mystics," and his spiritual masterwork, Dark Night of the Soul, stands as one of the greatest contributions to the literature of mysticism.
Customer Reviews:
Deep study for self-examination and meditation.......2007-06-08
Do not let the size of this little classic make you think it will be a quick read and easy study. It is difficult reading with regard to the somewhat archaic language but more so for the probing nature the author demonstrates in self-examination. It is not a quick study but one that helps you work out your salvation with fear and trembling. The wounds it can inflict may be painful but necessary for true healing of the human heart. Read and meditate on the words a little at a time - the sections are short enough to facilitate that approach. This is no self-help chicken soup for the dark night, it is major surgery for the wounded and sin-stained heart under intense self-examination.
Good for those serious about their faith........2007-01-09
This is a wonderful book for those who have been adult Catholics for some time, but wonder about the direction of their relationship with God. If you are a young or new Catholic, read The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis instead because you probably won't get much out of this one.
A warning also to "Cafeteria Catholics" who don't take their faith seriously: don't waste your money. This is not the watered down, mindless drivel so popular among those who want theologians to tell them what they want to hear. This is for serious catholics who want an honest and deep relationship with God. If you fall into that category, then you will find this a very rewarding read, and will be amazed with the insight he shows into the christian journey.
A Classic but Difficult for the Lay Reader! Great for Scholars and Academics Though!.......2006-06-25
There is no doubting the credentials of the author of this work; a bona fide mystical saint but the way this book is written in a very difficult to understand translation into English (on purpose!)suggests to me that this is more for the scholar or academician than for the lay believer.
There are footnotes that are longer than the main texts on many pages! This makes for difficult reading and in sticking religiously (sorry)to authenticity, reading for the average Joe is excruciatingly painful. Perhaps this is part of the purgation one has to tolerate to achieve purity or at least gives us some idea of how difficult it is to be so pure.
Thank goodness for Jesus who shows now why He had to come and save us and to bring us to the Father because the average Joe who I'm sure God wants saved as well would struggle to understand the text as written here. Don't despair, maybe someone like a Scott Hahn with his brilliant gift of simplifying the vastly difficult scholarly texts will one day try his hand at interpreting this for us.
Reading through this, one can't help but feel brow beaten by someone eager to show how much more scholarly he is to us. I'm sure that was not St. John's intention so let's hope his message is eventually simplified for mass digestion instead of the indigestion this version promotes.
The "classic" of understanding spiritual union........2006-03-11
St. John of the Cross wrote the Dark Night of the Soul in the mid-sixteenth century. It has as much validity as a sort of "road map" to entering the spiritual union now, as it did then. His approach is a testimony to the timeless journey of one's soul to it's Creator, God. Fr. Thomas Green, S.J., uses it as a basis for his Spiritual direction and his books on the subject.
Cultivating Our Appetite for God.......2005-09-15
"The Dark Night of the Soul" continues St. John's "Ascent of Mount Carmel" in which he speaks of various nights:
1. The First Night: Purgation of the sensual part of the soul,
2. The Second Night: Purgation of the spiritual part of the soul,
3. The Third Night: Purgation of the activity of the soul, and
4. The Fourth Night: Purgation of the soul with respect to passivity.
The first three nights teach Christians how to deny and purify themrselves with the ordinary helps of grace, in order to prepare their senses and faculties for union with God through love.
The first three nights can, to some extent, be done in our human activity. However, on our own, we cannot prepare ourselves for Divine union in the perfection of love apart from the purging of the dark night of fire. The dark night is a passive night in which God accomplishes the purgation based upon our human incapacity.
Building upon this foundation, St. John states his plan: "An exposition of the stanzas describing the method followed by the soul in its journey upon the spiritual road to the attainment of the perfect union of love with God, to the extent that is possible in this life."
Thus his purpose is to describe the stages that God moves us through, and we move through, as we encounter increasing depths of intimacy with Him.
For St. John, sanctification requires the death of self-sufficiency. "In order that the interior motions and actions of the soul may come to be moved by God divinely, they must first be darkened and put to sleep and hushed to rest naturally as touching all their capacity and operation, until they have no more strength."
He is teaching that the dark night is the process by which God destroys the fleshly capacities so that these habituated vestiges of the old person are uprooted. Then the light of Divine love enlivens the new capacities. In fact, in places he implies that our human capacities are replaced with Divine infused capacities, not just renewed human ones.
What is healing and health for Saint John? "For the soul is now, as it were, undergoing a cure, in order that it may regain its health--its health being God Himself." God brings health by killing the appetite for delectable but non-nutritious things and creating an appetite for Himself.
The goal of the dark night is total assimilation in the Divine Essence, to be absorbed in the center of the flame of God's love.
Modern readers expecting an easy-to-digest recipe for intimacy with God will likely starve or be turned off by the richness of the food and the depth of the imagery. Though a classic, "The Dark Night of the Soul" will not be the best choice, and certainly not the first choice, for most people in the beginning stages of their spiritual journey.
Readers should also be aware that the way the term is often used today is not exactly what St. John had in mind. Writer's today tend to mean "spiritual depression" when they talk about "the dark night of the soul." By "spiritual depression" and by "the dark night of the soul," modern writers are talking about the emotional experience of the absence of the felt presence of God. St. John meant this, but much more. For him, the dark night was about absolute despair leading to absolute dependency. The emotional, mood component was secondary in St. John's thinking. The spiritual, relational component was primary.
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends."
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