WORMWOOD - A DRAMA OF PARIS

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WORMWOOD - A DRAMA OF PARIS

Manufacturer: A. L. BURT CO.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HP2RQI

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An excellent edition of an overlooked pulp classic!

Fin-de-Siecle' meets "Reefer Madness"!!

Wormwood: A Drama of Paris (Broadview Editions)
Marie Corelli
Manufacturer: Broadview Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1551114194

Book Description

Though disparaged by literary critics of her day, Marie Corelli was one of the most popular novelists of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Wormwood (1890) is a lurid tale of unrequited love, betrayal, vengeance, murder, suicide, and addiction. The novel recounts the degeneration of Gaston Beauvais, a promising young Parisian man who, betrayed by his fiancée and his best friend, falls prey to the seductive powers of absinthe. The impact of Gaston's debauchery and addiction on himself, his family, and his friends is graphically recounted in this important contribution to the literature of fin de siècle decadence.

This Broadview edition includes a critical introduction and a generous selection of contextualizing documents, including excerpts from Corelli's writings on art and literature, nineteenth-century degeneration theories, and clinical and artistic views on absinthe.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent edition of an overlooked pulp classic!.......2007-07-31

Corelli is a wonderful writer and it is about time her books receive the academic notice they deserve. There is an unfortunate academic snobbery that smells of if-it-isn't-Joyce-it's-not-literature in many circles. Get Over Yourselves! This book, and the Victorian Sensation Fiction movement that produced it, is wonderful! Take off the seat-belt and return to reading for the pure joy of it. Wormwood is a blast to read- hyperbolic, overblown, yes! The monkey-boy is worth the price of the book alone, but then add on the creepy trips to the Paris mortuary, the weird violinist, and crazed, absinthe induced tripping, and the book is a total delight! (seriously, it should come with a sound track as you read- You can almost hear the BUM-BUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM of an orchestra at key points, Oh Pauline!!!! Don't JUMP!) The intro is well written and informative- It's great to see Corelli get noticed again. She was a incredibly strong woman with a powerful imagination. Bring it on! (Grad students... are you listening? There is a TON of unchartered territory in Corelli- Great thesis topics abound in her books!) this edition rocks!

Fin-de-Siecle' meets "Reefer Madness"!! .......2006-09-14

There should really be two reviews here; one for Corelli's work and another for the work of Kristen Macleod, the editor and academic who wrote the introductory material. Since KMC's material comes first in the text, I will deal with it in that order.

The introductory essay is an obvious attempt to glorify Corelli's work and place the pulp novelist in the upper reaches of the cannon along with writers like Oscar Wilde, who is attacked directly in the text (which is pretty funny, really -- if there was any writer who was marginalized for the issues writers like Macleod supports, it was Wilde. Her attack misses the mark by miles) and whose importance the writer attempts to minimize. Sigh. This is literary criticism of what Harold Bloom so rightly labelled the "School of Resentment". Corelli was a fine writer, entertaining and enjoyable, but to place her histrionic, paranoid pulp on the same level with Joyce and Faulkner is just plain goofy. Give it up.

The novel itself a BLAST. Corelli's over-the-top prose style introduces a young French banker and wannabe literati named Gaston (what else would he be named?) who is gradually seduced away from respectability and into the louched life by painter Andre Gessonex. Gaston soon finds himself a murderous addict in thrall to the wiles of the irresistable Green Fairy and is unable to save himself or the women he loves. He stalks the streets of Belle Epoque Paris like a stoned Jack the Ripper, ready for death and dissolution.

The translation is great: it includes Corelli's footnotes (did you know that the French call waiters "Garcon"? Apparently Corelli felt it important enough to note, along with a host of other dubious entries.) and keeps the amazingly brisk, derisive and hysterical tone high throughout.

I recommend this novel highly for absinthe lovers, just skip the introduction if you don't have a strong stomach for foolishness.

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Wormwood: A Drama of Paris
Marie Corelli
Manufacturer: The F. M. Lupton Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000U2F1L6

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Wormwood: A Drama of Paris
Marie Corelli
Manufacturer: Methuen & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L25KT8

Amazon.com

"I was dead, and right content," the narrator says in the penultimate chapter of Phantastes. C.S. Lewis said that upon reading this astonishing 19th-century fairy tale he "had crossed a great frontier," and numerous others both before and since have felt similarly. In MacDonald's fairy tales, both those for children and (like this one) those for adults, the "fairy land" clearly represents the spiritual world, or our own world revealed in all of its depth and meaning. At times almost forthrightly allegorical, at other times richly dreamlike (and indeed having a close connection to the symbolic world of dreams), this story of a young man who finds himself on a long journey through a land of fantasy is more truly the story of the spiritual quest that is at the core of his life's work, a quest that must end with the ultimate surrender of the self. The glory of MacDonald's work is that this surrender is both hard won (or lost!) and yet rippling with joy when at last experienced. As the narrator says of a heavenly woman in this tale, "She knew something too good to be told." One senses the same of the author himself. --Doug Thorpe

Download Description

One of nineteenth-century novelist George MacDonald's most important works, Phantastes tells the story of its narrator's dreamlike adventures in fairyland, masterfully recounted to convey a sense of profound sadness and a poignant longing for death.

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Father of modern fantasy- or father of depth psychology? .......2007-10-06

I was not sure what to expect from this novel. I had from reading C.S. Lewis known that he considered MacDonald to be his "master." I also knew that he was highly regarded by both J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. Then there was the fact that so many called him the father of modern fantasy. In light of this I expected to find an early adventure tale set in faeryland with a few elves and dragons thrown in- and interlaced with Christian platitudes. I could not have been more wrong...

What I found beneath the dense Victorian and Scottish veneer of his writing style was pure depth psychology- written in 1858!

It is all here: anima, animus, shadow, Self, the higher spiritual world as the source of patterns (archetypes), the subconscious reached through dreams- and through the plane of the mirror or of the surface of the waters, the necessity that the ego or small self must die that the Self find its place. Then there are hints and suggestions of the earth, or even faery, as a place of struggle for the purpose of growth and transcendence. Chapter 24 gives hints of the immortal part of the soul separating from the body for spiritual life- or rebirth ("take to itself another form.")

In short, there is no "fantasy" here, for George MacDonald instead broke through into the Higher Reality. His Faeryland is the higher spiritual world that interfaces with our own like veins of silver through granite. No, I would not call McDonald the father of fantasy, but I would call him the father of depth psychology, for he had obviously anticipated Jung's life work- and even gone directly to his hard-won spiritual conclusions. Both men crossed the plane of the subconscious to bring back Truth, for as C.S. Lewis told us in THE GREAT DIVORCE, MacDonald would never lie to us.

A Mystery Indeed.......2007-08-14

Why am I writing a review on this? I'm not entirely sure. This book is probably the most confusing I have ever read. I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't understand it at all. That is not to say that I never will - I very much hope to someday. I was for some reason deeply moved by many passages from this book, although as I say I had no clear notion of the point.
I hesitantly recommend this book - but not as a first MacDonald. The Curdie books are excellent for adults as well as children, and as far adult fare, 'Lilith' I think is more approachable.

Additional Product Details.......2007-08-06

The following review is given specifically for the Johannesen edition (George MacDonald Original Works) of Phantastes.

First of all, the book has a slick, dark green cover that is waterproof. The front cover and spine are engraved with gold leafing, which gives the book a beautiful antique appearance. Furthermore, the spine is well-rounded and appears to be enforced for a lifetime of handling (this is obviously important for a serious book collector!). Also, the sewn pages within are acid-free and are of a light cream color which makes it easy on the eyes while reading.

Secondly, Johannesen has included all thirty-three illustrations by Arthur Hughes. No other modern printing of this text includes these illustrations. Although it may sound silly to wish for these illustrations, it really adds a touch of delightful nostaglia to Phantastes

Thirdly, the Johannesen editions are considered authoritative editions, which hold significant weight for the literary student or MacDonald scholar.

Although the price may seem a bit steep, the product is well worth it. This is an attractive edition which may be passed down through your family for generations to come. I hope that this brief review has been helpful - happy shopping!

Good read with many memorable lines.......2007-04-13

I came to this story, having read some of MacDonald's writings years ago, and now being drawn to him through a brief biography I had read of him. I also had read (again) Lewis' The "Great Divorce," where MacDonald shows up in heaven as a guide. All of this drew me to "Phantastes."

I found myself struggling at first, not being a regular reader of the fantasy genre. As I read this story, I, like so many have alluded to above, found the story to be a bit uneven, or disjointed. Still, the symbolism of some episoides intrigued me, and kept me going. The more I read, the more enjoyable and delightful it became. Over all the book is very entertaining, and even edifying. I rarely say this about a read, but I was encouraged after reading this book.

There are parts of this book, lines, paragraphs, and even one chapter, where the authors words approach the masterpiece level. His word-craft is superb at moments and should not be missed.

An Absolutely Gorgeous Book.......2007-01-04

George MacDonald, perhaps even more than the authors he inspired, should be cheifly admired for his imaginitive power. Phantastes is episodic, somewhat disordered, and even prone to rambling at times, but each episode is saturated with that unnameable quality that Lewis claims "baptized his imagination." Other reviewers have compared MacDonald unfavorably to Lewis Carroll, and while MacDonald has none of the sly wit that infuses Carroll's works, he has penetrative insight that Carroll could never match. MacDonald sees through the surface of the world to the supernal beauty beneath, then draws it forth and through his imaginatitive power places it back upon the surface for the rest of us to enjoy.

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It's All About Sex

Phantastes
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Schocken Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

It's All About Sex.......2002-04-03

While I'm not inclined to Freudian analysis, either McDonald intended this as a moral allegory to illustrate "appropriate" sexual behavior, or he thought his readers too naive to perceive some very suggestive symbolism. The book begins as the narrator, Anodos, is officially celebrating his entry into manhood on his 21st birthday. A beautiful woman magically appears and offers him a visit to Fairy Land, which he accepts. Anodos then wanders through a magical forest experiencing encounters of two kinds. The first kind are with women old enough to be his mother or grandmother. These women not only feed and lodge him, but (though perfect strangers) listen to him, dry his tears, stroke him, and generally cosset him; which he thoroughly enjoys.

The mother-figures also warn Anodos against some encounters of the second kind, which is with women more or less his own age. One is a magical tree woman who rescues him from danger, holds him in her arms all night, and says she loves him. When he leaves her sorrowing in the morning he reasons that "she has all the pleasures she ever had" and "her life will perhaps be richer" for his memory, even though he did not stay. He brings a stone woman to life with poetry (the weakest aspect of this book is the abundance of second-rate poetry), but he is not supposed to touch her, and she flees from him. He encounters a second tree woman who takes him into her cave-bower. She tells him her life story, in which she continually refers to her own beauty, and "what followed I cannot clearly remember"-but when the story resumes, it's the next morning. He encounters a "little maiden . . . almost a woman" who carries a fragile globe. He keeps trying to touch it, and breaks it when he does so by force. She weeps, crying repeatedly that he has "broken her globe."

Anodos does start to feel guilty about his behavior, the guilt represented by a black shadow that follows him everywhere regardless of the sun. However, he finds a fairy palace, which is probably a Christian allegory, where he meditates, reads, and contemplates. Healed from the wrong he has done others, he generously forgives himself and returns home (alleviating the anxiety his two little sisters have felt over his disappearance for three mortal weeks). The moral conclusion is, "what we call evil is the only and best shape, which, for the person and his condition at the time, could be assumed by the best good."

Of course, there is the problem of what happened to all the women Anodos wronged . . .His only punishment is that the stone woman marries someone else--a knight he greatly admires, and he soon decides they are fully worthy of each other.

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Phantastes (Large Print Edition): a Faerie Romance for Men and Women
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: BiblioBazaar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Macdonald, George | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1426471661
Release Date: 2007-03-08

Book Description

For offering this new edition of my father’s Phantastes my reasons are three.

The George McDonald Treasury: Princess and the Goblin, Princess and Curdie, Light Princess, Phantastes, Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, Golden Key, and Lilith

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Great stories, but...

The George McDonald Treasury: Princess and the Goblin, Princess and Curdie, Light Princess, Phantastes, Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, Golden Key, and Lilith
George, McDonald
Manufacturer: Kahley House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0978891430

Book Description

This enchanted collection brings together eight of George McDonald's most well known fantasies into one delightful volume. The George McDonald Treasury includes The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, The Light Princess, Phantastes, The Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, The Golden Key, and Lilith. MacDonald's classic works have inspired deep admiration in such notables as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Elizabeth Yates, and Lewis Carroll. C. S. Lewis wrote, "I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him." One day while in a train station, he picked up a copy of Phantastes and began to read. "A few hours later," said Lewis, "I knew I had crossed a great frontier." G. K. Chesterton cited The Princess and the Goblin as a book that had "made a difference to my whole existence." Madeleine L'Engle wrote, "Surely George MacDonald is the grandfather of us all-all of us who struggle to come to terms with truth through imagination." If you loved J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, you will love the works of his hero and model - George McDonald.

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Great stories, but..........2007-05-09

...the Phantastes story does not have the original quotes that preceded each chapter's events. I found the quotes and passages added to the understanding of the events, but they are omitted here.

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Phantastic!

Phantastes: A Faerie Romance
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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ASIN: 0486445674

Book Description

An enchanting early masterpiece of fantasy fiction, Phantastes tells the story of a young man's journey to, and adventures in, a fairy tale netherworld. Outstanding for its imaginative characters, vivid action, and subtle yet powerful moral messages, this is the book that earned MacDonald recognition as "The Grandfather of Modern Fantasy."

Customer Reviews:

Phantastic!.......2007-05-16

I came to Phantastes through Tokien and Lewis. After reading in "Surprised by Joy" the profound impact this book had on C.S. Lewis, I had to read it for myself. I was not disappointed. The book has its finger in something that modern fantasy books are mostly missing. Where modern writers tend to infuse their stories with modern men and women with swords and an older manner of speech, the very essence of Phantastes is something truly "old." There is a strong moral root to it, that is profoundly Christian, a sense of good things lost but better things gained through humility. The moral foundation of it has the weight of reality behind, and has a bitter-sweet quality to it.

The line from a song sung in the book has stayed in my mind ever since I first read it (and I do not have a great head for memorizing lines)

"Alas, how easily things go wrong!
A sigh too much, or a kiss too long,
And there follows a mist and a weeping rain,
And life is never the same again."

I think this line captures that "Paradise Lost" feeling present in the book quite profoundly, and yet there is much more to it than that.

I could go on at length about this book, but shall leave it at this: This is a fairy tale, and a true romance, with a profound moral center. It has its roots in the old ways of thinking and the old ways of feeling. It is a bridge to the "old," the heart and soul that makes knights and maidens and chivalry and honor a fascination to this very day. It is easy to see why this book inspired the great fantasy writers of the twentieth century.

I would conclude with a comment on the illustrations. I highly recommend this version as the illustrations are incredible. Arthur Hughes captures the essence of the things I spoke about above in his art. I am very glad to see this printing include the artwork that MacDonald preferred for his book, and can honestly say that it greatly increased my enjoyment of the already wonderful book.

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Phantastes
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Waking Lion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

Book Description

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Phantastes

Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HYMV74

Product Description

Adult science fiction

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Phantastes
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Eerdmans
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Phantastes
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

Book Description

Its height I could not distinctly see. As soon as I entered, I had the feeling so common to me in the woods, that there were others there besides myself, though I could see no one, and heard no sound to indicate a presence. Since my visit to the Church of Darkness, my power of seeing the fairies of the higher orders had gradually diminished, until it had almost ceased. But I could frequently believe in their presence while unable to see them. Still, although I had company, and doubtless of a safe kind, it seemed rather dreary to spend the night in an empty marble hall, however beautiful, especially as the moon was near the going down, and it would soon be dark. So I began at the place where I entered, and walked round the hall, looking for some door or passage that might lead me to a more hospitable chamber.

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Incredible SCI-FI!

Essential Murray Leinster--Essential Reading for Sci-Fi Fans

A golden-age master of Science Fiction returns

First Contacts: The Essential Murray Leinster
Murray Leinster
Manufacturer: New England Science Fiction Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0915368676

Book Description

A collection of the trend-setting stories of "the Dean of Science Fiction" which opened and explored such topics as first contact with aliens, the Internet, transfers among parallel universes, and many more. This collection contains two stories not previously published, and it contains an introduction by Hal Clement, with cover art by Hannibal King.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible SCI-FI!.......2002-10-08

These are some of the best sci-fi short stories I have read. Yes, the stories are dated, but the imagination, mystery and wonder are awesome. The Castaway is one of the finest. I recommend Forgotten Planet by Murray Leinster as well, if you can find it. Happy reading!!!

Essential Murray Leinster--Essential Reading for Sci-Fi Fans.......1999-11-22

I read this in less than a week. My 'First Contact' with Murray Leinster floored me. The style of Leinster's writing is provacative; his diction, use of tone tone and image, are as advanced as any literary writer in any field. There isn't one weak story in this book! The stories, though dating as far back as the thirties, hold up as well as any modern work I can think of. Especially interesting is 'Plague on Kryder II,' which describes a disease that affects one's immune system and causes one to get disease after disease. It was almost as if he had heard about AIDS in 1964. I'm so impressed that I went right out and bought every book I could find by Leinster and am in the process of reading them right now. You wont't be disappointed.

A golden-age master of Science Fiction returns.......1999-02-10

Murray Leinster was very hot in the world of science fiction -- several decades ago. As the years wore on, he was largely forgotten, except for one story of his, "First Contact." "First Contact" has appeared in numerous "Best of" collections and won a "Retro-Hugo" (a Hugo handed out for work in a year when there were no Hugos, 1946). Now you can have "First Contact" (I'm not the only one who thinks it's the best first contact story ever.) along with 23 other great (some are classic) tales from S.F.'s golden age. You'll be suprised at how well these hold up. Plus this book is a real treat. It's on acid-free paper, and it's a well-bound, solid hardcover.

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great help as a nurse

An excellent vision of life's final transition

Perhaps the most genuinely helpful book around...

Superb book!

A Guidebook to the Process of Dying

Facing Death and Finding Hope: A Guide To The Emotional and Spiritual Care Of The Dying
Christine Longaker
Manufacturer: Main Street Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller; Revised and Updated Edition

Death Death

The Mind of the Cells

The Needs of the Dying: A Guide for Bringing Hope, Comfort, and Love to Life's Final Chapter

Dying Well

ASIN: 0385483325
Release Date: 1998-05-18

Book Description

Christine Longaker's experience with death and care of the dying began in 1976 when her husband was diagnosed with acute leukemia at the age of twenty-four. Since his death, she has devoted her life to ease the suffering of those facing death. In Facing Death and Finding Hope, she clearly and compassionately identifies the typical fears and struggles experienced by the dying and their families. The core of this book is presented in "Four Tasks of Living and Dying," using the Tibetan Buddhist perspective on death to provide a new framework of meaning. A book of great depth and grace, it is destined to become a classic in the literature on death and dying.

Customer Reviews:

great help as a nurse.......2006-04-19

Christine Longackers book was the first bbok on deatha nd dying I read when I was looking for help to better care for my patients. It was clear, that she spoke from personal experience and the way she offered her means comes from compassion and love for those who dealt with death on both sides of the bed.
I am deeply thankful to her

An excellent vision of life's final transition.......2004-11-04

This book both inspired me and annoyed me. Some of its contents brought tears to my eyes, partly due to realising that my input into a dear friend's final year was more valuable than I had believed at the time.

The best thing about this book is Christine Longaker's ability to tell her own and others' stories about the highs and lows of the journey toward death. It is very honest about the pitfalls of having unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others when faced with mortality. The book is a useful guide for people of any cultural or religious background, despite the author's Buddhist beliefs.

The aspect of the book that frustrated me was the too-frequent repetition of some of the concepts set out in the book. This may be a reflection of the author's Buddhist background, as repetition is often used in Buddhist teachings to reinforce important points. This is only a minor gripe, as I too have Buddhist beliefs and have bought the book anyway, after having read a library copy.

Overall this is a compassionate and realistic overview of a spiritual approach to death and dying that is well worth the outlay. May we all have the determination to live well so that we can create the conditions to die well, which is so important both for us and for those who love us!

Perhaps the most genuinely helpful book around..........2000-09-08

Who are the people suffering the most? The dying. And you and I will die. Our loved ones will die. And as Christine so brillantly points out, we still have a connection after our loved one's death. My cousin Pat is a virtual saint. She works with people who are dying. She is both a research scientist and a nurse. She has learned to put up with what we pour out when we are dying. Remember a time when you lost something that you very much wanted? The anger? Well, imagine the atomic bomb of rage that goes off when someone is apparently losing everything? I know! The body just drops off and the soul lives on. But the delusion of dying IS the same as death. Do you see what I mean? Unless we obtain a very advanced degree of spiritual understanding, you and I will feel that we are dying. We could also define death as the dropping off of the body. But since we so incredibly identify with our bodies, to us, when the body is dying - we are dying.

So let's take an agnostic's viewpoint on death. I think that is fair. As an agnostic, we can ask, "Is there life after death?" And the answer for an agnostic must be "I don't know". If you have read or studied "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoch (Longaker's teacher) you will have covered your bases, so to speak. And that and this book will help you with the dying, the dead, and the people who have died a long time ago. So it's a very pragmatic thing to do. Study what we know about death before it springs on us. Let us cover the book briefly.

PART 1: THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING AND DYING

This is a basic run-down about death. Don't worry. It's easy reading and gives us our first glmpse of what is essential. First, a good life (that leaves out me!) Secondly, that the thought at death is very important.

PART 2: THE FOUR TASKS OF LIVING AND DYING This is the main part of the book. This is the deep existentential part of the book. As ET said, "Be Good." But it's better for ET to have said, "Be good, especially when you are dying." Longaker gives you a tour through the process (see "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" which goes through this more extensively).

PART 3: Advice for Caregivers, Parents, and Survivors

This part is especially good for the person who has just had a loved one pass away.

EPILOGUE

Just that.

Now someone may have a loved one who just died or who is dying. The question may arise, "What can I do?" Order this book and the one I referred to just recently. But I'll give you something now until your books arrive. Be natural. Be you. Don't playact. You might even tell the person (calmly) that you're pissed off because they are dying! Isn't that what you would want me to do? Just don't start yelling. Okay? After the person has left their body, pray for them. For most of us, the Bible is the best. Longaker might disagree with me. Whatever they were brought up with. Torah, Koran, whatever. If they are a firm athiest, read them Bertrand Russel. No. Still do the Bible because they will see some action soon. THE HEARING GOES THE LAST. So don't be an idiot and start blabbing how gooey they look. I do know that the most important thing is for them to pray after they get out of the body. Be a chum. But not because the are DYING. But imagine your friend going down a deep dark tunnel alone? Read the books. Or at least this one. It's not really not my cup of tea. BUY THE BOOK. I like whiskey and women. Good Luck.

Superb book!.......1999-06-27

A book on how one can deal with death, for all kinds of people

A Guidebook to the Process of Dying.......1998-10-27

My sister just died of cancer and spent her last 2 months in hospice care. This book served as my guidebook through the process, taught me how to let my sister go with peace and love and left me in a better state of mind afterwards. It seemed that each time I picked it up, I was at the exact chapter I needed at the time. The chapter where she writes from the viewpoint of the dying person is worth the cost of the book alone! It gave me so much insight into what my sister must be going through and helped to frame all of the rest of my time with her. Longaker's Tibetan Buddhist writing can be heavy going, but she makes her concepts applicable to many different faiths and uses many examples from these faiths throughout the book. The chapter on bereavement is also excellent, offering practical suggestsions based on her own experience (interesting that she uses that term, based on its genesis from the word "bereft," instead of "mourning"). For anyone who has to deal with someone who has faced a long-term disease which erodes the body, her touching poem "You Can Grow Less Beautiful" is so meaningful. In addition to helping readers to deal with the practical aspects of dealing with a loved one's death, she also focuses on how each of us can prepare every day for our own deaths (through meditation and letting go); it will probably take another reading for me to be able to focus on this area, but I look forward to doing so.

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