For quite a while I have been studying Dr. David Hawkins, books including POWER VS FORCE. We have heard about Henry Stapps book Mindful Universe which will be next. Im quite interested in the nature of consciousness and Dr. Hawkins seems to have some excellent insights on that. For fun I read Jane Austen..all in one great big fat book with little tiny print. GT

‘Almost French’ by Sarah Turnbull just finished, ‘This is not the life I ordered!’ by stephens, speier, Risley, Yanchiro. So good and one of those, “man, I needed that!” books. One book that I finished earlier this year, was “the price of privilege” by Madeline Levine. As a woman living in Marin county, CA it was a eye opener to what awaits me as my child enters high school and how not to make those mistakes with my child. My recent, gosh, do I admit this! ‘The manual’ by Steve Santagati. I am determined not to marry another verbal abuser, putdowner, controlling man. One was enough…..

I’m re-reading Alice Walker’s Now Is The Time To Open Your Heart — Love that book. Also, Sue Monk Kidd’s Dance of the Dissidant Daughter

So many good books. If you would like to know more about Tibet and China I highly recommend all of the novels by Eliot Pattison. Start at the beginning with The Skull Mantra to follow the adventures of the main character. When I am finished with Pattison’s books I am always sad to be leaving his world—feel the same about Lisa See’s last 2 books Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony in love. I also enjoyed her earlier mysteries set in modern day China. Since I am going to Spain in a few weeks I have been reading some to build the anticipation and have discovered a great new-to-me mystery writer: Robert Wilson. The Blind Man of Seville was a great read—very complicated plot and I was delighted to discover 2 more books with the same detective. Used to love Elizabeth George until she gratuitously killed off one of the main characters.

Maureen and lean—cool? whoa! thank you. ;-) That reading list is a lifetime’s compilation of the ones that mean so much to me. And I left our dozens and dozens more.

I also forgot, Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, Mrs Dalloway and A Room of One’s Own. my bad.

Ken Follett’s historical fiction: “World Without End”. 20 years ago, he gave us “Pillars of the Earth” and this is the long, long awaited sequel. Book lovers share reviews and discussions on www.shelfari.com

So many of you sound like soul mates of mine, I want to recommend some little books that are like reading poetry, but are not; that are like non-fiction, but are fiction; that are like travel/history books, but are not; that are like landscape paintings, but are not. All by Lillian Beckwith, and good luck if you can find any. Start with “The Sea For Breakfast,” and you will search for the others; I just know you will!

Or maybe you should start with “The Hills Is Lonely.” Yes, I rather think that one was the first. I own those Ken Follett books, gifts from a granddaughter who loves them. Have not gotten to them yet, and, sob!, there are stacks waiting before I do get to them!

I just finished “Tweak” by Nic Sheff and subsequently “Beautiful Boy” by his father David, and I was so moved by them I actually went onto amazon.com and wrote a customer review. I don’t usually do that; as a writer, I find it hard to critique other authors’ works because I know that sometimes I just don’t “get” a particular style, and I don’t want to unfairly chastise them for using it. These two stories, though, had me on such a rollercoaster while reading them, and I literally could not put them down. I read “Tweak” in one sitting and then immediately ran home to grab David’s version of the story and read that in one sitting, as well.

Hi Everyone, Hey, Santefefran, I noticed your posts concerning interest in China and Tibet and Robert Wilson. I thought I would suggest “Into Tibet” by Thomas Laird. It is the most incredible story I have read in ages. Complete historical non-fiction that reads like the best mystery/adventure/travel fiction. It tells the story of the first American, pre-CIA, nuclear spy to travel to Tibet, pre-communist takeover. The man, Douglas Maciernan, was the first CIA agent killed in the line of duty (and is the 1st star on the wall at CIA headquarters in Langley). The book offers a fascinating look at the cultures of the Tibetan Plateau, America’s not always altruistic aims in the region, and the Tibetan (and other regional) peoples reaction to the Chinese takeover. I am not by any means a supporter of the CIA’s missions over the years (especially the recent ones, Iraq, torture, etc.), but this book was very balanced and eye-opening. Google it to read more. You also might want to check out “The Snow Leopard” by Peter Matthiessen, a classic about the wildlife and culture of the Himalayas, following the exploits of one of the greatest living wildlife field biologists (Dr. George Schaller, one of my personal heroes) as he tracks snow leopards. Cheers