A View From a Height by J.E. Murphy

A View From a Height by J.E. Murphy is a fantasy novel—the autobiography of Dawn Bang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant to Hawaii. She has left a manuscript behind that is discovered by a man named Tomas. He translates this manuscript into English and is startled and changed by what he reads. In this manuscript, Bang tells the tale of her death and her awakening, and of a love that is selfless, pure, and with the power to redeem and to change history.

Many years after a car accident nearly takes her life—an experience which helps transform her reckless, self-destructive lifestyle to one of selflessness—she begins to have dreams in which she helps the dead cross over. She is one of those called the Dakini, spirits who go to the dead and the dying and assist them in their transition. These efforts help thousands of spirits assimilate to their new existence; however, in one instance, her role is reversed. She helps a dying man live, and so begins the awakening of a bodhisattva, David Chang, and later, the awakening of Captain Thomas John Boorman.

In this book, there is much exposition and discussion of Buddhist truths: the subject of reincarnation and the remembering of past lives, purpose, and knowing one’s true nature and the true nature of the world. The story is primarily a metaphysical one; any action in the story, while an outward appearance of the spiritual, takes a backseat to this. The book entertains while also teaching the open-minded reader; it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, especially for one on their own spiritual journey. Because the novel takes place largely in China and Tibet, there is also much commentary of the political state of these two countries.

This book is for anyone interested in Buddhism or the metaphysical, or simply wants to read a fascinating story. It is a longer book, tipping the scales at over five and fifty hundred pages, but it is worth getting through.

A View From a Height is available from Smashwords.com and Barnes and Noble, and from Amazon in Kindle or print editions.

Review by Diana Reed

Grieving a Soulmate: The Love Story Behind "Till Death Do Us Part" by Robert Orfali

Robert Orfali tells a heartbreaking story in his book Grieving a Soulmate: The Love Story Behind "Till Death Do Us Part." In this part survival guide/part memoir, Orfali begins by describing when his wife, Jeri, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999, which marked a turn in their journey, that their time together was coming to an end. He briefly discusses the details of their battle with Jeri's cancer and highlights her strength, courage and her ability to overcome her circumstances, after which he then describes in detail his own battle with the grief he was left when his wife passed.

At one point, Orfali mentions that he wishes he could have read this same book before his wife passed, and so in order to help others, he writes about his experience with grieving the death of his soulmate, Jeri. He writes about how he dealt with his own grief and gives an analytical but heartfelt approach to sorting through the mess death leaves behind—both the emotional aspects and the practical. Through sharing his wife's passing and the grieving that followed, Orfali seeks to provide the reader with the preparation, support, and understanding needed to grieve their lover when death comes. He discusses how to reconstruct one's life, find new meaning as a survivor, and that it is possible to learn to live again and once again be whole.

Orfali's writing style is gentle, but firm, handling the reader with care while guiding them through a difficult topic. There is a section in the book in which he attempts to give a thorough overview of the available "grief theory—" the theories published by psychologists ranging from Sigmund Freud to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and how this research impacted his grieving process, and also acknowledges the various self-help books available and what they did for him.

Because death is inevitable and is always waiting on the doorstep, this book is for lovers of all ages.

Grieving a Soulmate: The Love Story Behind "Till Death Do Us Part" is available from Amazon.com in both print and Kindle editions, and also from Barnes and Noble, Apple, Books a Million, and other vendors.

Review by Diana Reed

Review of Recessions End by Michael Everett

Recessions End: Stimulus for the Rest of Us. ISBN 9781453750919 At first I didn’t really want to read a book about the recession and how it has supposedly ended, but gradually as I read Michael Everett’s new book I realized that it was much more than a book about the economics of the recession. It’s really a book about hope and positive thinking and taking action. Everett points out that there has been a recession predictably every 12 years and every time we act like it’s the first time. I thought about it an realized he’s right. This isn’t the first time the economy has crashed. He points out that it’s really a cycle and as soon as you realize that you can begin planning on how to bounce back faster and how to avoid crashing with it next time. The cycle is caused, according to Everett, when the economy heats up above what can be sustained, then the market has to correct. The bubble has to burst. The economy crashes for awhile then it starts back up. The people who are expecting it can avoid going down with it and can ride the wave back up as it goes up.

Everett outlines some of the most positive ways you can take care of yourself to avoid depression and maintain a positive and healthy outlook on life. His suggestions are very practical and down to earth. Stuff like breath, drink water, exercise, protect your mind from negativity and keep on the sunny side of life. Stuff we all know, but we have to hear in a little different way from time to time. For anyone who is depressed at the state of the economy, I think this book is just the subscription you need to pick you up and set your feet back on the road to health and prosperity.

Review by Julia Widdop