Here Kitty Kitty: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Hipster romanticizing poverty, depression, and laziness -- albeit well done

Extremely intense and poetically written.

Drug induced ramblings

One of the best books I've ever read

The best writing I've read this year...

Here Kitty Kitty: A Novel
Jardine Libaire
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0316010758

Book Description

'There are no easy epiphanies in this dark, tender book......Libaire offers glittering descriptions of New York life, both its obstacles and its promise.' -New York Times Book Review New York at night is an urban playground where glamour and danger are just flip sides of the same thrilling coin. The tough, beautiful player at the heart of Jardine Libaire's acclaimed first novel is Lee, the consummate party girl, whose life of nonstop exhilaration appears consequence-free. Lee has the right designer clothes, the right job managing a stylish restaurant, and the right lover, who finances all her bad habits. As the lights go down at closing time, the energy of the city begins to pulse. It is a call Lee cannot resist, even when her Cinderella-like existence begins to unfurl.

Customer Reviews:

Hipster romanticizing poverty, depression, and laziness -- albeit well done.......2007-08-06

This book is essentially the metaphorical musings of a jaded, self-destructive, failed-artist, sensitive grrrrl with Bettie Page bangs and a closetful of vintage dresses who hangs out with her fellow cool kids in the hipster haunt of Williamsburg while whining about her loser job, messed-up relationships, childhood "issues", and lost dreams, while spiralling down into the coke-and-mirrors decadence of last night's party.

Like the typical oft-mocked hipster, Lee is highly narcissistic and fueled with addictive behaviors. She represents the struggling artists, designers, writers and musicians with pennies to their name (because of society and The Man), but rich in street cred and hip factor; thus deeming themselves the most culturally and intellectually superior.

Inso, Lee is not someone I could feel sympathy for nor identify with. For example: Amongst her daily self-centeredness and woe-is-me histrionics, Lee is penniless and about to get kicked out of her apartment; she obtains a large amount of money--and chooses to lavishly spend it on a limousine ride and expensive shoes (to quell her pain, can't you see her worse-than-Morrissey misery?) for a temporary high. This disgruntled, ungrateful, and indulgent attitude does not lend itself to liking the main character; in fact, I can't stand people like this.

So then, why did I keep reading? Libaire's style of writing is simply exquisite. Poetic, emotive, brilliantly metaphorical, and flush with prose; words and sentences so delicately composed they could qualify as a painting. They say a picture is worth a thousand words; somehow, the opposite of this adage is more befitting.

The ending of this book doesn't really result in major revelations or plot twist. It starts with dispair and ends with dispair. Some of you may wonder, If Lee's life is so f'ed up, why doesn't she pull herself up by the bootstraps and make her life better? That's NOT the point, people. Here, suffering is an art form in itself, and Lee is doing a fabulous job at it. Romanticizing poverty, depression, and laziness is part of the game here; and whoever does it best wins.

Extremely intense and poetically written........2006-08-23

Lee is on the verge of a breakdown when we begin her story. She gets high every day, snorts cocaine at work every 20 minutes, takes ecstasy and sleeps with older men who, as appearances would have it, take care of her and buy her expensive gifts, trendy clothes, furs and shoes.
Her story discloses by her accounts of a lifetime of excess, heavy partying, sex, alcohol, and loneliness that lead her to her downfall - the beginning of the end.
Jardine Libair's debut has a poetic narrative with a unique rhythm that artistically paints with words, the landscapes of the character's mind.
I loved the tone of her story telling; it's raw, intense, and powerful, it renders you silent and still to process the details surrounded by solitude and loss.
A wonderful read, almost like a film which portrays profound depths and labyrinths of the mind of this young woman who never gets to grow up properly and is totally adrift with drugs, no friends who really care, and no money of her own that counts for much.
A riveting story of self destruction and redemption.

Drug induced ramblings.......2006-08-01

This book was a waste of my time. The main charachter, Lee, was so strung out on drugs and/or her own manic depressive behavior that its very difficult to find sympathy to her struggles. She spends every cent she earns or is gifted on drugs or stupidity. Her life (which never seemed very 'glamerous' to me, but then again, I've never been a druggie so perhaps I can't relate) is a disaster from the get go and has no redeeming values. The plot of this book is slow to non-exsistant and the incoherentness of the main charachter makes whatever plot there is nearly impossible to follow let alone get into.

One of the best books I've ever read.......2006-07-11

I'm probably not going to say anything that'll want to get you to read it, but this is just my opinion: There are a handful of books that I just LOVE and this is definately one of them. The protagonist had elements of myself and friends I knew, I loved her, I hated her, I sympathized with her, I thought she was crazy -- the author writes beautifully, has some profound but not pretentious things to say. It's funny, it's dramatic, it's poetic...It's not long so if you didn't like it, it's not as if you felt like you wasted your time.

The best writing I've read this year..........2006-05-28

Lee is an edgy artistic Cinderella presented in a series of images portraying various facets of her sensory existence. Like a visually satisfying movie, her life plays out in contrasts with pure moonlit swims in seas of memory. By page one I had laughed and cried. By page seven I loved Lee in all her vulnerability, so innocent at heart, yet so famililar with the urban life.

Jardine Libaire's descriptive writing shows striking powers of observation beyond the normal recognition of life's complexity. Vertical pieces of thought paint in slivers as the story evolves like a montage of memories. The vibrancy of the portrait forming is cast in shades of lighting only an artist's sensibility could master.

"Then he'd gotten the makings of Mexican hot chocolate at a deli. He managed to use three pots, a couple knives, and a few spoons. Left chocolate shavings on the counter, cinnamon and burned milk on the stove. The sun had vanished, and he cooked in the dark. The only light was the violet blossom of gas flame." ~pg. 167

Stream-of-consciousness writing unravels Lee in her beauty and rite of passage through emotional complexity. She is loveable and running from herself into pleasures. Lost in sensuality and moments, she evolves and awakens, captured in silky prose. Memories of Lee's mother are nostalgic in beauty and contrast with the life Lee throws herself into with abandon.

Jardine Libaire's seductive writing style slips you into a calm solitude where splashes of images layer the story's canvas.

~The Rebecca Review

Here Comes Spider-Man (Spider-Man - 10 Titles)

Average customer rating:

Here Comes Spider-Man (Spider-Man - 10 Titles)
Kitty Fross
Manufacturer: Spotlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Spider-Man | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1599612100

Average customer rating:

Here Kitty Kitty: A Novel
Libaire Jardine
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OGKVFY

Average customer rating:

Here Kitty Kitty: A Novel
Jardine Libaire
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTQ4SO

Book Description

Now in paperback-the sixth and final volume in Jennifer Roberson's acclaimed Sword saga, featuring the macho Tiger and the beautiful but dangerous Del...

Customer Reviews:

A moderately entertaining read.......2004-03-18

Not much actually happens in this book. The questions about Tiger's past are answered only ambiguously, there is very little of our beloved Southron vs. Northern tension, and nothing is truly resolved.

Seeing as this is ostensibly the last of the Tiger and Del novels, one would expect a certain level of resolution. However, at the end of this somewhat less than fulfilling novel, the reader is left without any resolution at all.

Overall, while the promise of having the questions of Tiger's past pulls the reader through most of the book, there isn't much there to make the effort worthwhile. The book just lacks the spirit of the previous volumes.

Nice to visit with Del & Tiger again but slow & predictable.......2003-12-05

If you've been following Del & Tiger's story all of this years, then of course you're going to read this one too, but if are new to this series, go start at the beginning, because this one will be meaningless to you. The story itself moves in fits and starts, with a few really amazing sequences strung out between plodding expostition on the details of Del and Tigers day to day life. Pages were actually spent detailing how Tiger cared for his horse. This series sure has come a long way from its roots of fastpaced action packed every chapter ending on a cliffhanger roots. These book was nearly double in size of the early ones and it was clear that Roberson was struggling to fill it. This story concerns Tiger making peace, strongling with his feeling of rejection from the mother he never knew who he was told had abandoned him to a life of slavery and with accepting the magical powers he discovered in the last book. Along the way he has a few dramatic swordfights, visits some old friends, and exchanges banter with Del. A young man half his age who wants to be taught to be a swordfighter by him, follows him and he is convinced that this young man and Del are falling in love for much of the book. Due to numeroue hints, and the cover helpfulling telling you that that there are "warm, personal revelations" it is immidiately obvious to the reader who the young man is. Likewise, Tiger is plagued by dreams from the first chapter of the book regarding a dead women who tells him to find her bones, and the big mystery of the book is who this women is - like we didn't see that one coming either. The ending expects us to be surprised by these revelations, ends on a sickingly sweet, all too convient set of events, which is out of character for this series and feels all wrong and ultimately doesn't satisfy. A really sad ending to a great series, especially considering how amazing and bold the last book was.

Great ending to a great series :).......2003-10-10

The last of Tiger's history is filled out in this book. Surprises come during the last few chapters.

Not as exploratory in the magic, but the story gets going quickly. Probably not as fun if you haven't read the first 5 (sword-dancer, sword-singer, sword-maker, sword-breaker, sword-born), but a fitting ending if you have.

Strong nostalgic value.......2003-06-01

Like many other fans, I was drawn to Sword-Sworn because of Tiger and Del. In past books, they and their relationship has always been a fascinating one: a male chauvinist meets girl power and because he falls in love with her, has to learn to deal with it. Certainly, over the span of the series, Tiger's attitude changes and his character becomes more likeable (to women at least).

What does not change (much) is Tiger's thinking, his internal comments and arguments are along the same lines as in early books, but the reader,as well as Tiger himself, recognises that he becomes more hypocritical as result. His chauvinistic tendencies no longer fit. Del has changed him; and he has changed himself. Tiger has become an unlikely hero, messiah and mage. But deep down, Tiger is just Tiger: the best Sword-dancer in the Southern lands.

And in this final epic episode, Tiger proves that he is just that. Despite ordeals Tiger has had to survive and resultant loss of fingers, Tiger can still dance.

I felt that this book started slow. Perhaps this was done with reason - Tiger himself does not really know where he is going (or where he needs to go) until well past half way in. But I felt a bit of strain and struggle by the author here. We dilly-dally and some of the plot development seems stretched. We expect a set-back or two, of course since a hero never reaches his goal without them, but I'm unsure that Del's fate with the sandtiger constitutes a serious obstacle in terms of Tiger's path of growth and discovery. Nor am I entirely convinced that Tiger's exploration of magical abilities is entirely meaningful.

I also felt that, sadly, Del's role in this book was almost redundant. She has become a mere hanger-on, a character with no goals, no purpose, whereas in earlier books, Tiger was Tiger because of Del. Del helped Tiger on his path, helped shape him, made him who he is. We almost forget that in this book, because this story is about Tiger. I found it lacking, since so much of the strength of earlier books was due to the role Del plays in Tiger's life. Here she plays no role, other than to settle Tiger down (and in an almost disappointing way, taking away any kind of adventure to their future lives).

Further, some important developments, such as Tiger's son and daughter, Abbu and the building of a new teaching facility, could have been developed more deeply instead of skimming over them at the end of the book. This might possibly be because of the first person POV, which has its limitations. I can't help but think it could have been handled more meaningfully since although this ties up some loose ends neatly for the author, we know that (psychologically and internally) life does not tend to be as neat.

As an avid fan of the series, I enjoyed this book and am glad that it was written. Personally, I believe the series might have ended 2 books earlier, and let the remaining stories of Tiger and Del live in the readers' imaginations.

Strong ending to a brilliant series.......2003-05-16

So, the saga of Tiger and Del comes to a close, and this nicely wraps up what has been one of the most enjoyable series I have ever read.

Are there some unexpected turns of events? Yes.

I found that this novel, while wrapping things up nicely, DID finish rather abruptly. I felt that, after all the time in between this novel and the previous, while warranted considering what Ms. Roberson was going through, should have allowed a bit of time to make things more tightly wrapped at the end.

Even still, it gets 5 stars from me.

Average customer rating:
Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword Premiere HC (Hedge Knight II)
George R. R. Martin , Ben Avery , and Mike S. Miller
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0785126503

Book Description

Follow the stunning sequel to George R. R. Martin's The Hedge Knight as Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg make their way into the countryside and find themselves in the midst of a new adventure... Dunk has always dreamed of being a knight, but his experiences at the Ashford tourney taught him that he had much to learn about the politics of nobility. Now he finds himself in the service of an aged knight whose stubborn actions have enraged a local Lady, and Dunk finds himself once again trapped between his duty to what he feels is right and his duty to his station. Will Dunk find a way to prove himself a hero, or will he be pulled into a battle he has no way to win? Collects Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword #1-6.

Legends II, New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy: Volume 1 (Unabridged Selections)

Average customer rating:

Legends II, New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy: Volume 1 (Unabridged Selections)
McCaffrey, George, Anne R. R. Martin
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B0001A0WTI

6 Book Set Fantasy "The Sword Dancer Saga"; Sword Dancer, Sword Born, Sword Breaker, Sword Maker, Sword Singer, Sword Sworn (Tiger and Del, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6)

Average customer rating:

6 Book Set Fantasy "The Sword Dancer Saga"; Sword Dancer, Sword Born, Sword Breaker, Sword Maker, Sword Singer, Sword Sworn (Tiger and Del, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6)
Jennifer Roberson
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

6 book set of Sword Dancer in paperback

Average customer rating:

Sword-Sworn A Novel of Tiger and Del
Jennifer Roberson
Manufacturer: Daw Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QT2ZF8

Average customer rating:

Actually, four and a half stars

Unexpected names, unexpected plots

Butterfly and Hellflower
Eluki Bes Shahar
Manufacturer: Guild America Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1568650485

Customer Reviews:

Actually, four and a half stars.......2003-07-04

"Butterfly and Hellflower" is a very unusual series; it contains three books by eluki bes shahar (aka Rosemary Edghill), starting with "Hellflower," continuing with "Darktraders," and finishing with "Archangel Blues."

I've read through about the first half of it, and it's excellent. Lots of interesting things, most not seen in other s/f much if at all, including a plot where knowledge not only can corrupt but _has_ corrupted before, so people are still mostly dead set against it (which is why the sentient Libraries were outlawed in the first place); interdicted barbarian worlds where slavery is not only tolerated, it's legislated; mercenaries who have a greater sense of honor and moral courage than most ruling elites, and are dedicated to keeping the sentient Libraries _out_ of power; and much more.

Butterfly is a tough, proud ship Captain, someone who's clawed her way out of obscurity and has taken the only way open to her. She's learned as she's gone, and forged a partnership with one of the interdicted Libraries -- which has also grown, changed and become more "human" because of her influence.

The main Hellflower in question is Valijon Starbringer; he's young, impetuous, and very honor-bound. And he doesn't know what to make of Butterfly.

They go through a series of adventures (as I said, there've been quite a number already, a book and a half in), and Butterfly has to examine many of her most precious principles in the process, including her (formerly well suppressed) maternal instinct.

Although it's a relatively minor quibble, I don't think this book has quite the weight of Ms. Edghill's later-released work. Yet I've read other books by other writers such as William Gibson and Bruce Sterling that did this premise (or a similar one, without the libraries) post-cyberpunk, and they were praised much more than Ms. Edghill, and had greater sales.

Go figure.

At any rate, I enjoyed this book far more than I enjoyed "Neuromancer" or "The Difference Engine" or any of Gibson or Sterling's work. I also enjoyed this more than most of the military science fiction I've read that depended on technology, meaning I enjoyed this more than S.N. Lewitt, S.L. Viehl, the later Anne McCaffrey books about the Brain Ships, etc.

So, while this book will probably not stand as a classic in the genre, it definitely stands as a book that's as well worth reading as the day it came out, nearly twelve years ago. Highly recommended for anyone above age fourteen or so (as anyone younger probably won't understand much of the convoluted plot).

Unexpected names, unexpected plots.......2002-08-21

Follow a hard-as-nails, foul mouthed space captain with the unlikely name of Butterfly - actually "Butterflies are Free", as she attempts to survive an unexpected and horrible mix of a teenaged Hellflower (a warrior race dedicated to the irradication of sentient machines), who is full of adolescent angst, and seems to have a lot of people out to kill him, and a ship's computer that is actually - unbeknownst to anyone but Butterfly - sentient. By the end of this set of three novels in one, Butterfly has found out a lot more about herself, the Hellflowers in general, her Hellflower in particular, and the history of the sentient machines than any sane person would want to know. Not an endless classic, but a good and engaging read.

Average customer rating:

Unbelieveable

Archangel Blues (Hellflower)
Eluki Bes Shahar
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Darktraders (Hellflower)

ASIN: 0886775434

Customer Reviews:

Unbelieveable.......2000-06-19

This is the third and final installment to the Hellflower storyline. The story line is unbelievable and so full of details that you have to reread the book so many times. I love the little blurbs that happen before each chapter that discuss human evolution from the machines' standpoint and why we are destined to fail.

Average customer rating:

Dark Traders (Hellflower #2)

Manufacturer: DAW / Penquin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000I4T9VY

Average customer rating:

Excellent, original fantasy

Darktraders (Hellflower)
Eluki Bes Shahar
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0886775078

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, original fantasy.......2003-07-31

"Darktraders," the second book of the Hellflower trilogy by eluki bes shahar, is one of the best books I've ever read.

I've already reviewed the first book through a review I did for the omnibus "Butterfly and Hellflower." And at that point, I'd given the trilogy 4 and a half stars.

However, I realized a few days ago that this story has not only stayed with me (which is the hallmark of a great story), but that the ideas are original, compelling, and believable.

Therefore, five star story.

Butterfly, the ship captain heroine, and Valijon Starbringer, the Hellflower mercenary hero, have an interesting sort of chemistry. Because Butterfly is in love with her former ship's computer, an Artificial Intelligence (actually a very old, very proscribed Library), Paladin, she has no interest in Valijon. (And Valijon is too young for Butterfly anyway; he's only barely past puberty, whereas she's in her 30s.)

Taking the love interest out makes the rest of the story stronger, oddly enough, and it becomes a story about the following things:

What is the truth?

Can we believe our leaders?

Will absolute power always corrupt?

Can people change?

It's not every story that can do this. And when a story can, especially over 12 years after it was originally released (at least, the first story, "Hellflower," was released in 1991, I think), maybe it isn't too much to call this a classic series.

I definitely believe that the Hellflower trilogy should be recommended reading for people new to s/f -- because it shows the potential of the genre to explore new ideas, and old ideas in a new setting, in an unusual and provocative way.

Five stars. Highly recommended.

And let's hope some publisher with some sense out there will ask Ms. shahar to reprint these books. Please!

Average customer rating:
Hell Flower (Hellflower) (Pyramid SF, 567)

Manufacturer: Pyramid Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0515005673

Product Description

Charles Farradyne crashed his spaceship into a bog on Venus. 32 passengers died; he, the pilot, lived. It was unforgivable, so the powers-that-be broke him, blackballed him, sent him off to the fungus fields to live as best he could. When a stranger offered him a way to return to space, Farradyne knew there had to be a catch. The catch was, he had to become a peddler of the new drug infesting the human race, a drug which destroyed the human spirit instead of, as in drugs of old, the human body. The HELLFLOWER! It looked like a gardenia, but a whiff of its perfume would turn any normal decent woman into an lust-ridden slave, and leave her a burnt-out husk. No human female could resist the flower; so, when Farradyne met a woman unmoved by its perfume, he knew she had to be something other than human!

Average customer rating:

HELLFLOWER
George O. Smith
Manufacturer: Bodley Head, England
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SQGCC6

Product Description

FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE LATE FLETCHER PRATT, WE OFFER A SGND AND PERSONALLY INSC COPY OF "HELLFLOWER" PUB BY BODLEY HEAR, LONDON IN 1955. COND IS TEXT INTACT AND CLEAN, A FEW COVER SPOTS AND D/J PRESENT BUT D/J SUSTAINED LARGE TEAR.

Average customer rating:

A lot of fun in a new universe
Author has more great books!
Only book I've ever read more than twice
Great thoughtful Science Fiction
smashing-good fun

Hellflower
Eluki Bes Shahar
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Darktraders (Hellflower)

ASIN: 0886774756

Customer Reviews:

A lot of fun in a new universe.......2004-12-10

Very different. Trying to follow the slang is great fun; it always seems as though you almost know the language. Plenty of action; colorful characters; non-stop.

Author has more great books!.......2002-02-09

Eluki bes Shahar has also written many great fantasy, mystery and romance (yes, romance too) novels under the name Rosemary Edghill. Check them out, you won't be sorry.

Only book I've ever read more than twice.......1999-10-14

So you're looking for a good book to read? THIS IS IT! I could not put this book down the first time I read it. The story has technology, action, adventure, love, hate, war, friendship, and even a little philosophy (?!) mixed in. It's a real treat to read.

Great thoughtful Science Fiction.......1999-01-07

Don't be put off by the slightly lame and generic-sounding synopsis presented for these books. The Hellflower trilogy is well worth reading. What starts off in "Hellflower" as a fairly formulaic 'fiercely independent space smuggler stumbles into dangerous political conspiracy' matures in the next two books into a very thoughtful and empathetic story about human beings, their relationships, and human loyalty. Some of the slightly cheesy devices that Shahar uses in "Hellflower" to create the ambiance are dropped as the series progresses, and the story ends up being bloody great sci-fi. If you can find all three books, read them and treasure them.

smashing-good fun.......1997-01-05

The story is full of action. It also has suspense, intrigue, a main character you can empathize with, and an interesting plot. It is one of the finer SciFi stories I have read this year.

Average customer rating:

Hellflower
George O Smith
Manufacturer: Mayflower
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UJIQUM

Average customer rating:

Hellflower
George O. Smith
Manufacturer: Pyramid Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007HBJYM

Average customer rating:

Hellflower
George O. Smith
Manufacturer: Pyramid Science Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000RS50KA

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2006-06-25

I really liked this book. It gives an excellent overview of different taoist breathing techniques and specifically potential health issues and symptoms that occur if you're doing the work wrong. I've experienced a few of these symptoms in the past so I was really pleased to find out about these symptoms.

I also like this book because it presents a fairly comprehensive amount of info about Taoism in general and some of the different arguments and debates that occur in Taoism. It's a fairly good read.

One problem I did have is that because this book was translated into English there is a fair amount of ambiguity and lack of definition of terms. The author assumes you know what those words mean and usually this would be the case, if in fact you were from his native region. It doesn't the overall reading of the book too much, but it's something to bear in mind.

Grounded view of Heaven.......2002-07-16

Master Huai-Chin Nan states, with clarity, what meditation is, and how it affects us. He makes the case for the mind-body connection most clearly, and explains how enlightenment is attained by those who can persist in their efforts. There is no new age talk here, only facts as seen from the perspective of a spiritual discipline with threads running back to human origins of spiritual yearning. After having studied martial arts and chi-gung for decades, and read hundreds of books on spirituality, this one elucidates questions I always wanted answered. A truly great book written by a man I wish I could meet.

Real meditation experiences through development stages.......2001-06-27

I have practiced meditation for more than 10 years and during that time period, I have read more than 60 books on meditation from different traditions: Yoga, Indian Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Taoism. This book is the only book that not only teaches you how to meditate but also tells you every physical and mental reaction in your body as it is transformed through meditation precisely. The author is a real master who had been there and done that.

Beginners in meditation often surprised when they experience something phenomenon inside their body, or the see some light...and thought that they have made some accomplishment and thought that they have attained "Tao" or the Truth and unknowingly stop themselves on their spiritual path. Without proper guidance, one could be scared and falsely believe in their own illusions.

This book will help you go all the way to Enlighment.

Review of Tao and Longevity.......2000-03-08

Many people who are seeking information about Chinese spiritual practices and meditation in general, find it easy to go astray. Tao and longevity is a definitive reference for anyone interested in acquiring the basic theory behind meditation practice.

The book discusses the motives for meditation as well as the physiological and psychological effects on the body. Theoretical principles of jing,chi and shen are also discussed.

For a serious beginner I cannot recommend this book enough. In conjunction with this book you will also want to check out Nan's other books (some of the material is quite challenging), author Charles Luk (Lu'kuan Yu?) and Bill Bodri and Lee Shu Mei who wrote 25 doors to meditation.

I hope this is helpful.

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