RebeccasReads

The Imprint Journey: A Path of Lasting Transformation Into Your Authentic Self

“Our subconscious imprints are the deep-seated beliefs and messages we have received and internalized.  Once an imprint is internalized, it becomes a subconscious governing force in our lives. Our imprints form our emotional map, determining our ability to relate to self and to others. Imprints form our perceptions, values, and belief systems. Imprints determine the quality of our relationships with life, God, self, and others. Our values govern our choices as well as our behaviors. They determine whether we are reactive or pro-active. “   (p. 11)

In “The Imprint Journey:  A Path of Lasting Transformation Into Your Authentic Self,” Desjardins shares with us her own imprints, stories of others’ imprints, and provides the reader the tools and information needed to successfully overcome any unwanted imprints that may exist in order to help the reader realize his/her “Authentic Self.”

The first part of the book focuses on Liliane Desjardins' life.  Reading Desjardins' personal story was deeply interesting to me.  She definitely has led an eventful life thus far and reading of all of the imprints picked up along the way was quite fascinating.  I found the sharing of her life history to be one of the most appealing parts of the book.  The inclusion of personal stories and backgrounds in “self-help” type books really add to the book for me.

The second part of Desjardins' work centers on providing the reader with the tools to recognize and assess imprints and the steps to take to transformation.  This information is presented in a manner that a layperson is able to enjoy and understand, and therefore, easily able to learn from. 

I think that Desjardins' work has merit and everything that she says makes complete sense.  “The Imprint Journey: A Path of Lasting Transformation Into Your Authentic Self” would be beneficial to anyone looking to transform their lives.  We all have imprints of some kind so I can’t think of anyone that the information in this book would not be applicable to.  

The Imprint Journey: A Path of Lasting Transformation Into Your Authentic Self
Liliane Desjardins
Loving Healing Press (2011)
ISBN 9781615990870
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebecca’s Reads (03/11)

Born with a Rusty Spoon

“Born with a Rusty Spoon” is the memoir of Bertie Stroup Marah, who according to the “About the Author” section at the end of the book “has become a nationally recognized artist with her work twice featured in the American artist’s magazine Watercolor.  Her art is featured throughout the book and I thought that the inclusion of it greatly enhanced her story.

I enjoyed reading her collection of memories from her childhood years.  Right from Chapter One which begins when Marah was three-years-old I was hooked.  The first memory shared is about how Marah used to urinate in her pants in order to gain her mother’s attention.  This act caused her mother to have to turn her attention from whatever task she was doing in order to tend to Marah’s soiled pants.

From here the author chronicles many more of her life experiences such as their lack of indoor plumbing and electricity, living in a variety of different places, her parents’ drinking and the effects it had on her family, as well as many other situations and instances that influenced her while growing up.   All of these stories compiled together make for an interesting read with a very nostalgic feel.

If you enjoy reading memoirs I would recommend “Born with a Rusty Spoon.”  Marah has some unique stories to tell and together they make a wonderful memoir.  To be honest, I had never heard of Marah’s work before reading this memoir, but I really enjoyed the illustrations in the book and have since sought out to view more of her work online.  She is a talented artist and author.

Born with a Rusty Spoon
Bertie Stroup Marah
Plain View Press (2010)
ISBN 9781935514664
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/10)

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher’s Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures 1929-1931

“Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher’s Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures 1929-1931” is part of “The Historic Footage Project Series written by Phillip W. Stewart.  It is the fourth book following “Battlefilm,” “War Wings,” and “America’s Film Vault.”

“The main goal of Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel is to provide you with a useful and practical resource guide to the aviation aircraft, people, and events from July 1929, through December 1931, as seen through the camera lens of the Universal Newspaper Newsreel, as this newsreel was known back then.”  (p.xi)  Phillip Stewart’s other goals in writing the book were to bring to light this outstanding film resource, increase the usage of this aviation history resource, catalog the stories, describe each existing story, and tell us which stories have survived and are in the National Archives and tell us which did not make it.

The book is very well organized.  Each year 1929-1931 has a chapter devoted to it.  Following the 219 stories, there is a chapter consisting of the photography of the era.  Each photograph references a particular number story in the book.  Following the photography is a listing of “Aviation Stories That Didn’t Survive” and then a ‘Title Index” and a “Subject Index.”

“Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher’s Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures 1929-1931” is a book that I picture displayed on a coffee table and not hidden away in a bookshelf.  The stories were interesting to read and the photography was neat to look at.  This collection would make an excellent gift for any aviation buff. 

Aerial Aces of the Universal Newsreel: A Researcher’s Guide to the Aviation Related Stories Released Nationally by Universal Pictures 1929-1931
Phillip W. Stewart
pms press (2010)
ISBN 9780979324376
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/10)

Priestess Awakening

“Priestess Awakening” is Volume Four of the Myrridian Cycle, following the prior three books, “An Unlikely Dude,” “A Prince in Need,” and “Legacy of the Archbishop.”  I have not read the first two books in the series yet, but I had the pleasure of reading “Legacy of the Archbishop” last year and really enjoyed it.  Before reading this fourth installment in the series I gave myself a quick refresher course on the prior book since it had been a year ago that I had read the last one.  Once I was up to speed again I jumped right in to this newest work and found it to be just as enjoyable as the last.

As the young King of Myrridia is getting wed, a slain magical practitioner’s spirit is being resurrected in Wyckendom.  Edward Fitzroy, Myrridia’s archbishop, does not have any magical powers anymore so Princess Allison Claybourne, Robert’s niece, is needed to battle the enemy.  However, her magical path is not in line with the beliefs of Myrridia’s Church.

I really enjoyed the continuing story and becoming reacquainted with the characters that I met a year ago.  There are many characters in the novel and if you have difficulty keeping them straight there is a handy chart in the beginning of the book listing their names and a brief notation of who they are.  The plot was just as intriguing as the last installment and the author’s creativity continues to shine through.  The Myrridian Cycle is scheduled to be a five volume series and I am looking forward to reading the 5th volume in the series.

Priestess Awakening
Debra Killeen
Helm Publishing (2010)
ISBN 9780984139729
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/10)

The Normal Side of Insanity

“In the midst of mothers and daughters, there are only survivors, survivors with or without success. Can one ever understand why the pain and torture, why the battle lines, when neither asked to be born but both asked to survive? Some survive by denial while others survive by reality. Either way, the price for survival is high, sometimes too high. I paid a high price for survival. Feel blessed if none of this makes sense to you for then you can feel that what you had or have as a mother or daughter must be better than what you will read.” (Preface) In the author's own words, I felt “blessed” that the opening passage did not resonate with me. I also felt a sense of sadness for what I knew I was about to read. “The Normal Side of Insanity” is one of the most devastating and heartbreaking stories that I have read in awhile. Marynell suffered so many forms and instances of abuse while growing up. Her description of the sexual and physical abuse inflicted upon her was even painful to read, much less imagining someone actually going through those horrible experiences. Although “The Normal Side of Insanity” could have greatly benefited from further editing, I commend Marynell Lund for coming forth and sharing the pain and anguish of her past with us. Hopefully by Marynell sharing her story she will inspire others to seek help and to put their pasts behind them. I was happy to read on the back cover that Marynell has turned her life around and is reaching out to help others through speaking engagements.

The Normal Side of Insanity
Marynell Lund
Infinity Publishing (2010)
ISBN 9780741458964
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebecca’s Reads (11/10)

Haunted Echoes

“A cold chill ran up and down Sarah’s spine, as it felt as if someone had just entered the room.  Expecting to see this someone was certainly not on Sarah’s mind, as she had this incredible place all to herself.  Her body turned away from the ominous sky in one fell swoop as she took a rather quick inventory of the space behind her.  This eighteenth-century two-story inn had many rooms within its walls, from master chambers to servants’ quarters complete with a wraparound porch and a row of rustic rocking chairs.” (p.6)  The main character Sarah has come to the Victorian Inn in Maine, far away from Chicago to try to focus on writing her novel.  Although she is the only guest at the inn, she finds other interruptions in the eerie events taking place around her.  

As you can see from the above excerpt, Julie Ann Howell’s book has quite the old-time feel to it.  She describes the settings and the events taking place in a way that the reader can vividly picture them in his/her mind.  The story flows at a nice pace and her writing held my attention from start to finish.  I love a good old-fashioned ghost story and “Haunted Echoes” definitely delivered.  You don’t see a lot of this type of writing anymore and I found as I was reading this book that I really missed it.  I look forward to reading more from Howell in the future and I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good ghost story.   

Haunted Echoes
Julie Ann Howell
Peppertree Press LLC (2010)
ISBN 9781936051694
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/10)

A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel

While “A Corpse at St Andrew’s Chapel” was a really great read it definitely was not what I was expecting. I first came across this title when I was perusing the most recent listing of books needing to be reviewed. The title sounded intriguing; it sounded medieval and having a corpse found outside a place of worship made me wonder if there would be an unnatural element like a werewolf or vampire included in the tale. I performed my customary Amazon research and the plot description seemed to validate my initial feelings.

It’s spring. The year is 1365 and Alan the beadle, or manor officer, left at dusk one evening to ensure no residents were lingering outside after curfew. He never returned home. The next morning Alan’s wife, Matilda, sought assistance from Master Hugh de Singleton the surgeon and manor’s bailiff. Two days later Alan’s body is discovered in the hedge on the way to St Andrew’s Chapel. His throat has been ripped open, his head is barely attached to his body and his face, hands and forearms are covered with deep lacerations. The coroner surmises that a wolf has inflicted all of this damage yet Master Hugh is not convinced. Alan suffered mortal wounds to the throat and the head yet neither the coroner nor the investigators can find more than a drop or two of blood where his body was discovered.

So, I requested “A Corpse at St Andrew’s Chapel” to be sent to me. It arrived and I sat down with it a few days later. Wow, what a great book! Mel Starr, the author, has a really great writing style and I enjoyed the book immensely. I liked that the book was written in the first person and I also liked that it’s medieval history. Starr did a phenomenal job with the time period, the language, the religious aspects and the characters while winding multiple mysteries throughout the tale.

In closing I give “A Corpse at St Andrew’s Chapel” a five-star rating. A fantastic read for young adults and older and I look forward to reading more by Mel Starr in future.

A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
Mel Starr
Monarch Books (2009)
ISBN 9781854249548
Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (11/10)

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