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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
This book was really interesting and thought provoking, but at the same time not necessarily something that I loved. I do think it was a strongly written book that had some important thought points, but a lot of the time I found myself a little bit confused.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
I wasn't really sure how I felt about this read until I had finished. It is a pretty intriguing series of ideology and a strange amount of action that I wouldn't have expected. And that was a good thing to add because I'm not sure I would've enjoyed it as much without the tension of what might happen next. I like some of the ideas discussed but some seem waay out there and definitely more fantasy than anything. There were some ideas that I found concerning and would've thought the narrator would've said something but he didn't. Kind of a weird read but still enjoyable and I may just read the rest of the series in the future.
I got as far as the second to last chapter when I got the ick majorly and had to stop. A little girl was introduced in the story and that's when the author decided to fly his creep flag.
There is a strange passage where a side character starts to describe in detail about how female children want to sexually possess their fathers and it was bizarre and weird. Written as undisputed fact too. Gross. Why use such an example to illustrate another unrelated point being made? I am terrified that this author is considered a new age religious thinker of any influence.
Even if that hadn't put me off, the writing was not for me. Its very much character goes from place to place, talks to a few people, some random action happens. Rinse repeat. My god it was so boring and poorly written. I want to burn this book, I hated it so much.
There is a strange passage where a side character starts to describe in detail about how female children want to sexually possess their fathers and it was bizarre and weird. Written as undisputed fact too. Gross. Why use such an example to illustrate another unrelated point being made? I am terrified that this author is considered a new age religious thinker of any influence.
Even if that hadn't put me off, the writing was not for me. Its very much character goes from place to place, talks to a few people, some random action happens. Rinse repeat. My god it was so boring and poorly written. I want to burn this book, I hated it so much.
I found this book when I was 14, and got really excited about it. Finally, a book which looked like it could bring me a challenging, new worldview and a greater understanding of the universe.
I was young, and naive.
As I read, I began to notice gaps in the logic of the "key insights to life itself". Each one seemed OK at first, but it soon became clear that they were almost completely random subjective interpretations. The only reason they seemed to hold any form of persuasive power is that they correlated with the events in the novel. "See! That girl just got angry for no reason! That validates the insight about people randomly getting angry all the time. You notice this too, right? Huh? It happens, doesn't it? I bet it's happened to you too."
Yes, it has. It's called LIFE plus COMPLEX HUMAN EMOTIONS.
People can believe what they want about spiritual energy and cosmic harmony, but I wish they'd do it less ostentaciously. I'm not so much worried about James Redfield than the people who read this and accept it unquestioningly. Newsflash: You can have beliefs and still retain a sense of rationality. Question your beliefs, for the sake of your integrity and your love for them.
I don't mean to be too harsh on this book. Not everyone who reads and likes it is a simpleton, which works in thier favour. If they can read this, and learn some life lessons from it, without trying to indoctrinate people(The back of the book urges you to pass it on to as many people as you can, and looking at the Celestine Prophecy forums, this is exactly what they do a hunderedfold), then they are doing better than most. The insights themselves arn't potentially harmful.
At the end of the day, it's just a novel. All authors bring thier beliefs with them to the desk. None have done it quite so blatantly as Jame Redfield, but at least here there's no hidden catch. I gave it two stars, one for the people it has helped, and one for Redfield's capitalist breakthrough. Face it, this book is a bestseller: He must have done something right.
I was young, and naive.
As I read, I began to notice gaps in the logic of the "key insights to life itself". Each one seemed OK at first, but it soon became clear that they were almost completely random subjective interpretations. The only reason they seemed to hold any form of persuasive power is that they correlated with the events in the novel. "See! That girl just got angry for no reason! That validates the insight about people randomly getting angry all the time. You notice this too, right? Huh? It happens, doesn't it? I bet it's happened to you too."
Yes, it has. It's called LIFE plus COMPLEX HUMAN EMOTIONS.
People can believe what they want about spiritual energy and cosmic harmony, but I wish they'd do it less ostentaciously. I'm not so much worried about James Redfield than the people who read this and accept it unquestioningly. Newsflash: You can have beliefs and still retain a sense of rationality. Question your beliefs, for the sake of your integrity and your love for them.
I don't mean to be too harsh on this book. Not everyone who reads and likes it is a simpleton, which works in thier favour. If they can read this, and learn some life lessons from it, without trying to indoctrinate people(The back of the book urges you to pass it on to as many people as you can, and looking at the Celestine Prophecy forums, this is exactly what they do a hunderedfold), then they are doing better than most. The insights themselves arn't potentially harmful.
At the end of the day, it's just a novel. All authors bring thier beliefs with them to the desk. None have done it quite so blatantly as Jame Redfield, but at least here there's no hidden catch. I gave it two stars, one for the people it has helped, and one for Redfield's capitalist breakthrough. Face it, this book is a bestseller: He must have done something right.
It's really interesting to see how we can connect everything in our lives. This book close to literally blew my mind. I can't wait to read the other books by James Redfield.
love this book sm, I remember reading it many, many years ago and the feeling stuck with me! a very good and wise read