this page is dedicated to some of the books i've read and
my reviews of them, all of my books were either found secondhand or gifted to me.
A Mother's Reckoning - Sue Klebold ★★★★★note:
beautifully written, i love how raw sue is in this through her grief and journey as a mother, it's very admirable. learning about dylan and his life before the shooting as well as everything that proceeded it gives a full scale view of who dylan really was outside of the act he committed, and how easily he concealed his true feelings and plans to end his life. i'm so glad she was able to gather the strength to write this. she is a beautifully empathetic and caring soul.
The Secret Language of Eating Disorders - Peggy Claude-Pierre ★★★★★note:
peggy's story is heartbreaking and inspiring simultaneously. she details how she worked tirelessly to save both of her daughters from the grasp of certain death, which lead to the development of the Montreux Clinic (which no longer exists as far as i can tell). she lays out the stereotypes that are thrown around about eating disorders and challenges them, which felt so liberating to read. along with the drawings and letters written by patients, i was crying by the end of it. one of my favorite books in my possession. the empathy and compassion in her writing for sufferers of this disease is authentic in the truest sense.
.jpg)
Go Ask Alice - Anonymous ★★★note:
interesting read, i liked the diary format. i'm pretty sure this book was used as a scare tactic so kids don't become tempted to experiment with drugs (my dad was assigned it in school back in the 80s) but, the descriptions can be quite vivid and it does sound like it was written by a teenager (although i don't believe it actually was).
Many Lives, Many Masters - Brian L. Weiss M.D. ★★★★note:
intriguing, definitely helped the jumpstart into my research on reincarnation. catherine's descriptions of her visions are extremely diverse and impressive, along with the alignments that begin to appear in weiss's life. the healing that takes place in both of their lives leads me to think even if it is slightly absurd or exaggerated to some, the experience overall seems to have been a very beneficial soul advancement for the two of them. it's well written and lead me to persuing my own past life regressions.
Vali Myers: A Memoir - Gianni Menichetti ★★★★★note:
she's absolutely insane in the best way and i love her. my favorite wild woman. this book perfectly encapsulates vali and answered all my questions about her elusive life, after i had watched her documentary. vali was a wild child and a true bohemian muse all the way up until her death. her fight to save her home and land her animals lived on from loggers is very moving and inspiriting. her passionate love for animals, life, nature and all forms of creative expression is beyond inspiring. i flip through this book every now and again just to see her artwork and pictures. she was such a shooting star, rare and beautiful. may she rest in peace.
.jpg)
Playgrounds: A Portrait of Rave Culture - Tom Griffin ★★★★note:
a good read, makes me wish i was born in time to experience raves in the 90's/early 00's. decently written with a quality plot, and the australian dialect made me giggle a bit. (it was cool to discover my thrifted copy was signed by tom griffin too!)
Rachel's Tears - Darrell Scott, Beth Nimmo, Steve Rabey ★★★note:
rachel was an extremely beautiful and caring soul, i find alot of similarities between her spiritual journey and my own. the synchronicities leading up to her death are insane! i hope if there is a heaven, rachel's up there, and god is taking good care of her. this book is a pretty heartfelt read but it does get a little bible thumpy. implementing the bible in schools will not resolve schoolyard violence in america, but i understand where her parents are coming from.
Going Postal: Rage, Murder and Rebellion From Reagan's Workplaces to Clinton's Columbine and Beyond - Mark Ames ★★★★★note:
if there is any book that i would call underrated, it would be Going Postal. it perfectly explains, contextualizes and rationalizes why shootings take place in both schools and workplaces. i really highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't understand why these events take place or to anyone to finds themselves sympathizing and are unsure why they do. this book gave me the context i needed to fully explain my personal thoughts and feelings, and greatly enhanced my passion for true crime and helping others.
Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming - Stephen LaBerge, Ph. D & Howard Rheingold ★★★★★note:
a really detailed guide on how to lucid dream with really effective exercises that anyone can do, as soon as i started reading i was able to lucid dream fairly easily. it explains how to prepare to lucid dream, how to 'wake up' in the dreamworld, how to fall asleep consciously, how dreams are made and how to script them. it also shows how to use them to your advantage, with creative problem solving, overcoming fears and for healing. 100% recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to unlock this latent power within themselves.
What We May Be: The Vision and Techniques of Psychosynthesis - Piero Ferrucci ★★★★note:
a well-written guide on self-realization in terms of spiritual and psychological growth, with powerful exercises targeting many areas of the mind. i've had trouble with synthesizing my racing mind before and many of these exercises work for me, especially in achieving intensely enlightening experiences and synthesising the lessons i learn from them into my life and everyday thought processes. i aim keep this book on hand at all times.
How To Be Free - Tom Hodgkinson ★★★★note:
i only disagree with one or two points tom makes in this (i.e; just ignore your debt? maybe aim not to get into debt lol) but he gives some very good advice and tips on how to live the freest life possible and take back some control in today's capitalistic and individualistic society.
