Q Books

This book truly brings to us, the readers, the word of the
Q'ero. After a fair amount of personal preparation, including
previous trips to the sacred lands of the Andes, the author,
along with carefully chosen teachers, guides, and translators,
embarked upon another journey for the purpose of recording the
stories, accounts, and answers to many questions that the
Q'ero paqos (trained spiritual leaders) gathered to share .
It was clear that there was respect, love and friendship between

the visitors from the west and the Andean medicine men and women.
And I use the word "medicine" in the spirit of anything which
assists in giving wholeness, connection, insight and healing,
of body, mind, and spirit.
The book clearly explains various terms and methods within this
cultural system of spiritual connection, growth, and healing.
We are carefully guided into a vision of how another culture
feels, thinks, and acts. Let us not allow this knowledge to
disappear.
Reading this beautifully written book, interspersed with stories,
a bit of historical background, lovely photos, and , above all,
insightful dialogue, I felt that I , too was present and aware
during the heartwarming several days during which the "word of
the Q'ero " was gathered. It is clear that Joan Parisi Wilcox
is a gifted writer, and a person of great integrity, and she
shows us the gifts and integrity of her teachers, companions,
and the Q'ero people, as well. I feel there is great spiritual
energy present in this book. Several months later, I have been
drawn to read it a second time! And for me, it is all the more
insightful and inspiring. I am inspired to be grateful for the
world of spirit available within the world; within all of us!
I am also inspired to visit one day, not for anything lacking
within myself, but to experience and pay homage to this part of
the earth, and to perhaps gain insight and strength for my own
work within the world - for peace, understanding, and healing.
I would recommend this work to anyone curious about any of the
content described above- Peru, the Q'ero, spirituality, energy
medicine, shamanism; it is a meaningful adventure.

Have you ever changed your mind because intuition demanded that you do so? How about that dream that came true or a de'ja vu? What explains that odd feeling that someone is staring at you, or knowing the phone will ring and who will be calling? Why can you "hear" someone else's thoughts, though their words are unsaid? These are variations of ESP (extra sensory perception) or the sixth sense.

Scientists debate the probability of psychic skills; they want proof in the form of repeatable, controllable experiments. Most of the time the psi talent is quixotic and theories remain just that. However, anyone who has experienced the paranormal recognizes that something strange and unexplainable has happened.

Testing: There are over thirty games and experiments to measure and explore ESP. These are not complicated setups requiring labs and isolation, but can be done in front of the fireplace with a standard deck of cards or a pair of dice. More complicated tests are described as well. Telepathy is the psi of sending thoughts -- similar to saying the same thing at the same time as your companion, or completing a sentence for someone else. Over all these games can be fun. If the test is done with ten items, and if you or your friends happen to have scores of 0-2 or 8-10, remember that is outside the standard 50% chance. Too low or too high indicates psi.

Writers of any genre can benefit from this how-to book. Having the detailed descriptions of events that occur in a controlled environment can help writers create characters and stories that have veracity. Since these tests are easily conducted in the home or in public, the information gleaned can be the crux of rich characters and plots because the experiences are not imagined. Correct terminology and settings let the reader trust enough to suspend disbelief. The characters and scenes may well take over the story because they are the psychic aspects.

What neural transmitters remain dormant in the unused portion of the brain? Well, that's another story.

Five stars for usability, information, creativity, and ingenuity.

Victoria Tarrani

A wonderful tale of the life cycle of the koala and its habitat. The tale is told in such a way that you are left with a warm loving feeling. This is rare in a piece of non-fiction for children. As a teacher I have used this book to teach children how to write a good non-fiction story as well as to show them the difference between fiction and non-fiction picture books. I would compare "A Koala Grows Up" with "Koala Lu" by Mem Fox. I was very disappointed to find that this title was out of print. I hope the author will find a way to have this title printed again.

This book is very nice, and I especially like it because it has22 dinosaurs in it to draw.

The movie documentary "Stone Reader" is about great books that have been lost to public memory or somehow never gotten the attention they deserve. My nomination for a "great lost book" is Brock Brower's "The Late Great Creature", an amazing 1971 novel that needs to be resurrected for a certain-to-be large, appreciative audience. The title character is Simon Moro, the greatest horror movie star of the 1920's and '30's (he's like Lon Chaney Sr. to the nth degree.) We learn of his fall from fame, and his attempted comeback in the phantasmagorical year of 1968. In his prime he made "Ghoulgantua", the most terrifying film ever made (about a combination Frankenstein's monster/vampire.) He created the famous monster "Gila Man" (a sort of werewolf lizard) during the war. Later he was blacklisted for political reasons, went to Germany to make a legendary, unreleased horror movie about the Nazi concentration camps that was supressed by both West and East Germany, and gradually sank into obscurity. Then low-budget Hollywood came calling with an offer to make a cheap Roger Corman-style Edgar Allen Poe rip-off titled "Raven!"

The novel has an amazing storytelling virtuosity that suggests, as one critic put it, a younger Nabokov raised on creepy old horror movies. There are three narrators: Warner Williams, a terminally-slick magazine writer who provides the basic back story of Moro's amazing career. There's also Terry Cowan, the amoral, cynical director of "Raven!" And there's Moro himself, who drops some pretty big surprises in his narration that make you question all that has gone before. Like Bela Lugosi, Moro struggled with demons (including drugs and poverty) but Moro developed some real heroism and hard-won insight. As he says, "Where there is no spine, there is no tingle." He looks out at the corrupt America of the 1960's and decides to shock it back to its moral senses by scaring the country to death during the publicity tour for his new movie. He does this in grotesque, hilarious ways that you have to read for yourself.

The book is wonderfully satrical about celebrity culture and is also a loving tribute to the horror genre. It's stunningly verbally agile. There are lines that will stick in your head forever. It's also got a thrillingly intricate plot, that as you unravel it through the three narrators, will amaze and delight you. In a way it reminds me of Michael Chabon's "Wonder Boys" in its compassionate yet blisteringly funny and painstakingly accurate portrait of artistic losers run amok. I read this in high school and it remains one of my very favorite books. You should get hold of a copy immediately, any way you can.

This is by far the best textbook on the South African law of delict (tort). The author has passed away, and the book will become progressively dated. It remains, however, unsurpassed for masterful exposition of principle. The juxtaposition of terse, lucid text and detailed footnotes is perfect. The book is a casebook, with extracts as its main text. But it beats monographs for an overview.

In eleven chapters and eleven categories Bean answers a total of 157 questions he's received as a leather writer over several years. His writing is easy to read and from both his heart, his research, and his experiences. While sometimes very specific to the gay leatherworld, there are several questions and answers that should be helpful to anyone. A definite must have for newbie leathermen.

The best part of this book is that it's about ME!

Brownlie is an expert read his new book Life Insurance Boot Camp which follows the foot steps of The Life Insurance Buyer's Guide. In his new manual he provides basic financial information to combat the uncertainities of dying too soon, living too long, and becoming sick or injured.

The book is also titled "Giant of the Lord - Life of a Pioneer".
This is an interesting history of a man who was a member of the Mormon Battalion that took them to California. He was one of the men present when GOLD was discovered at Sutter's Mill and he and others present panned for the precious mettle before the word spread throughout the world.
I may be a little biased in my interest in the book, because I am related to James S. Brown. Our family has reprinted the book for our family members.