The Shape Shifter (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Tony Hillerman, whom the New York Times Book Review calls "a wonderful storyteller" is back with another blockbuster novel featuring the legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn.

Since his retirement from the Navajo Tribal Police, Joe Leaphorn has been called on occasionally by his former colleagues to help them solve a puzzling crime. And Leaphorn, aided by Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, always delivers.

But this time, the problem is with an old case of Joe's –– his "last case," unsolved and haunting him. And with Chee and Bernie on their honeymoon, Leaphorn is on his own. The case involved a priceless Navajo rug gone missing. Now, years later, Leaphorn is picking up the threads of a crime he'd thought impossible to solve. Hillerman is at the top of his form in this atmospheric and stunning novel.

Customer Reviews:

Hillerman is the best.......2007-09-03
Didn't think it possible for Hillerman to get any better but he just did, what a fantastic book, wonderful read.
Shape Shifter is a Mess.......2007-07-30
I've been a big fan of Hillerman for about 20 years and have read and enjoyed all of his Chee/Leaphorn novels, but this is a disaster. It's not that Leaphorn isn't true to character, or even that the plot or overall writing is bad, but continuity and chronology keep shifting shape in this book. There's one long scene featuring Leaphorn and Tommy Vang in a pick-up. I say "a pick-up" because whose pick-up it is changes from page to page. It starts out they're in Leaphorn's, then without changing vehicles we find they're in Vang's, then as they're driving down the road, Leaphorn's cell phone rings in the glove compartment? Of Vang's pick-up truck? Whatever.

The chronology is worse. There are two crimes, committed in 1961 and 1965, referred to throughout the book. The man who committed these crimes had returned from Vietnam by the time he commmitted them and lived in San Francisco for some years. He had also taken part in the Assassination of Ngo Din Diem (which happened in 1963)and been involved in the recruitment of the Hmong tribesmen of Laos, which also happened in the 1960s. So the things he'd supposedly done in Southeast Asia happened after he'd returned to the states. These things keep popping up and breaking into your appreciation of the story. What I wonder is, how do mistakes like this ever make it past an editor?
Good Read!.......2007-07-12
I thought the book was good. There were some dicy parts related to things Leaphorn did I thought were out of character...but I am so delighted when a Hillerman comes out, it is just hard to resist. His insight into Native-American culture and portryal of setting are so wonderful.
Another interesting book form Hillerman.......2007-06-20
My husband and I were introduced to Tony Hillerman's books a number of years ago by his now deceased administrative assistant and we are always looking for new ones. What I like about them is reading about some aspects of Indian life both in the present and some of the historical material that pops up in the books.
We got this book to give to my husband's boss as she and her family are on a train trip from western Pennsylvania to and from the Flagstaff, Arizona area.
Even the Great Ones Sometimes Falter.......2007-06-02

Hillerman--as usual--had a good premise. But, he dropped the ball this time.

Maybe Tony is tired. If that's the case, take a rest. Loyal fans will understand and there's a superb repertoire of previous books for new readers to choose from or admirers to read again.

Leaphorn's relationship with Louisa hasn't progressed beyond sharing a house. Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito are married now, a situation fans have long anticipated and approve. Unfortunately, they have little to do in this book but serve as a sounding board for Leaphorn. Retirement, a condition he hasn't adjusted to, doesn't keep Leaphorn from jumping into a cold case from the past.

The case itself is unbelievable and the denouement just isn't up to the old Hillerman.

Because I love the Leaphorn/Chee series I couldn't not finish the book, though it was a struggle at times. What made it worse was the evident lack of editing by the publisher.

People are critical of certain "printers" that pass themselves off as publishers. In defense, I would note they stress their books are NOT edited. It seems HarperCollins and many of the other big name publishers are fast becoming "printers" as well, as can be seen in the number of spelling, grammar and other errors to be found in this book. I must say this is not the worst example I've seen out of New York. Authors, don't you complain? Don't let your publishers tell you spell check is a substitute for a hands-on editor.

Meanwhile, I'm going back and re-read one of the vintage Hillerman's.

Average customer rating:

One of the most helpful books I have ever read

Great book for understand your empathy

Hogwash

Wonderfully helpful!

Excellent, Most Helpful Book I've Read!

Empowered by Empathy : 25 Ways to Fly in Spirit
Rose Rosetree
Manufacturer: Women's Intuition Worldwide.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0965114589

Book Description
An estimated one in 20 Americans has a natural talent for perceptiveness. Could you be one of them? Usually they are unskilled empaths, which means they suffer from such problems as emotional instability, apparent co-dependence, low self-esteem, or hypochondria. Rose Rosetree's seventh book, Empowered by Empathy, explains how to improve the quality of life by turning off unwanted empathy.
Her how-to techniques also demonstrate how to turn empathy on. At will. Bigger than ever before. Interspersed with her teaching, Rosetree describes elusive spiritual travels that are sometimes humorous, sometimes moving, and consistently mind-boggling. The cover, for instance, demonstrates “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” an outrageously simple method to move an empath's conscious awareness into the physical body of a consenting partner. An example of one of Rosetree's wild but true anecdotes? Read how she inadvertently outed a spy--see page 134. Yes, you can learn to experience vividly, from the inside, what it is like to be another person. The author, a teacher of personal development since 1971, has tested these techniques. Use them and they will alter your reality (for the better).
Rosetree's pioneering discoveries will also revolutionize how you understand empathy. You'll learn why it happens and how it goes far beyond “Emotional Intelligence” or “sympathy.” True empathy, you'll discover, comes in many varieties, including physical, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional gifts. Although an increasing number of authors today discuss empathy, Rosetree is the one who will satisfy you if you're really an empath. The depth and scope of her work will bring you relief. Yes, relief is not too strong a word for the rare chance to meet a skilled empath who understands your gifts and can teach you how to make them work for you.
Could you be an empath? Three tests near the start of the book will help you find out. Then you'll learn Rosetree's 25 ways to Fly in Spirit. Plus a great deal more. Pay special attention to the chapter on “Grounding,” with its insights into smoking, weight-loss, and more—counter-culture but absolutely on target.
And, as always with any book by Rosetree, you're in for a treat just because the writing is so good. Between the covers of Empowered by Empathy you'll find powerful words, directed with caring intent, and sparkling with Rosetree's honesty, insight, surprises, and irrepressible humor. America's first book ever for empaths can empower you to be of greater service to others. With less suffering and more skill. Consider yourself invited.
Customer Reviews:

One of the most helpful books I have ever read.......2007-07-20
There are few books out there that both inspire and inform at the same time. With each sentence, I kept nodding my head in approval because it all applied to me. As I read the part on emotional onneness and emotional intuition, I could not help getting teary eyed because for the first time I had an explanation for what I had. I was not abnormal, or an emotional wreck. I had a gift all along and I did not even know it. Also the fact that it is written by one who has actually been there is a a sigh of relief because you are not alone. I recommend this book to anyone who believes that empathy might be a part of their every day life, and I hope it is as much a blessing to you as it was to me.
Great book for understand your empathy.......2007-05-26
Some of things are long winded and not all that well explained, such as some of the exercises. I got the impression that you sort of had to understand things a bit more to really get use out of some of the exercises. Unfortunately, shutting it off and turning it back on isn't quite as simple as she'd have you believe. My empathy is very ingrained in me and I still have trouble doing it without the aid of my guides, and I'm far more advanced now. BUT... it is a wonderful book for beginning to understand more about a latent gift I didn't realize I had.
Hogwash.......2007-04-10
I was so disappointed with this book. I expected something more concrete, complex and helpful. The author used to read faces at parties as a paid party entertainer, for godssake. I read it and tried all of the exercises, and to get anything out of it you have to be one of those New-Age-suspension-of-reason types. It is simplistic and unhelpful. Someone with a more serious background in psychology is better equipped to truly help people who have a problem with feeling too much empathy.
Wonderfully helpful!.......2007-01-05
After being clued into the fact that I was an empath by my minister, I checked around for books to help me. This one by Rosetree was really helpful. I particularly liked the sections that helped me to 'shield' myself from other people's vibes. I recommend this book!!
Excellent, Most Helpful Book I've Read!.......2005-12-23
If you have lived your life thinking you are a mess, a basket case, then you owe it to yourself to READ THIS BOOK! I am very grateful to Rose for her GENUINE caring nature and her crystal clear intentions. Rose has been there and done that and is here to assist the rest of us!
Thank you Rose!

Average customer rating:

A swiss Cheese plot but A great listen just the same.

You Won't Believe What Joe Does

Classic Hillerman

Joe Leaphorn - Still the Best

Not the Best Hillerman But Guidall Superb

Shape Shifter, The CD (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)
Tony Hillerman
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Hillerman, Tony | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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General | Literature & Fiction | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Mystery & Thrillers | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 0060578998
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Book Description

Since his retirement from the Navajo Tribal Police, Joe Leaphorn has been called on occasionally by his former colleagues to help them solve a puzzling crime. And Leaphorn, aided by Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, always delivers.

But this time, the problem is with an old case of Joe's ––his "last case", unsolved and haunting him. And with Chee and Bernie on their honeymoon, Leaphorn is on his own. The case involved a priceless Navajo rug gone missing. Now, years later, Leaphorn is picking up the threads of a crime he'd thought impossible to solve. Hillerman is at the top of his form in this atmospheric and stunning novel.

Customer Reviews:

A swiss Cheese plot but A great listen just the same........2007-04-06
George Guidall is such a wonderful reader that many a book that was less than well plotted has been a joy to hear and this is no exception. The holes in the plot do not really spoil the story but it is not one of Tony Hillermans best. Several times Joe refers to being "newly retired" and "in my first Month of retirement" He has been retired in the last 4 books at least so this was a little annoying. Also that Joe would cover up even a justified killing and as sloppliy as it is done that he would get away with it are a little much. But Joe is aways a treat and between him and George Guidall this was a good listen.
You Won't Believe What Joe Does.......2007-03-09
I enjoyed listening to this while driving. The reader is skilled at creating voices for each character.

Hillerman keeps Joe Leaphorn busy in retirement. As expected, Navajo history is imparted as part of the story line. Hillerman throws in a twist that made me back up and listen again to make sure I'd heard it correctly. Sat outside work for a few extra minutes waiting for a good stopping place.
I'll listen to this one several times before I pass it on.

Classic Hillerman.......2007-02-20
Reading Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman is like visiting old friends that you've missed for far too long. You're back in the Four Corners region with all his famous characters there to greet you. Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is back out of retirement to work on another case, or rather to solve an old unsolved one from his early days on the force. You are there to hear him tell the tale to Jim and Bernie Chee who have just returned from their honeymoon.

Hillerman is one of those authors you can count on to deliver a great story, great characters, and a great sense of place. He never lets you down. But even though I have read all of the Leaphorn series, this one has an ending where the Legendary Lieutenant even surprised me. Be prepared for an ending with a twist...and a great read!
Joe Leaphorn - Still the Best.......2007-02-07
A very fine entry in the Leaphorn series. where the pieces of the puzzle are like the vignettes depicted on a stroy teller's rug, which happens to be the centerpiece of the mystery. Elements of the plot weave back and forth in time. As awlawys, the characters we meet along the way are people we would like to sit and have a cup of coffee with, as Leaphorn does. I listened to this on CD and loved it all. The narrator has a laconic way with the dialogue that brings Leaphorn to life. If you haven't listened to a Tony Hillerman book on CD you should give it a try. Ypu'll soon hear the fire crackling and the coffee cups clinking in the background.
Not the Best Hillerman But Guidall Superb.......2007-01-10
My husband and I could hardly wait to listen the latest Tony Hillerman Joe Leaphorn episode. As always, George Guidall's oral interpretation was superb. He sounds exactly like the lengendary lieutenant and does all the narration and other voices just as perfectly. Unfortunately, the story was not up to the best of the Hillerman's work. The plot was especially creaky, too much time spent telling what happened in the past. Plus there were too many improbable plot points. Would Joe really go off with the suspected killer and not tell any other law enforcement buddies or cover-up a death no matter how justified? Colorful locals and Navaho traditions abounded along with some of our favorite characters so the book was still a great way to spend time with some special friends. Long-live Tony Hillerman, Joe Leaphorn and George Guidall!

Average customer rating:

Tropical waltz

No Werewolves

Shape Shifter
Pauline Melville
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0679404384
Release Date: 1991-08-27

Customer Reviews:

Tropical waltz.......2006-04-29
Brightly colored cartoons dropped from the skies,
with rude boys and girls dancing their daily daze.
No Werewolves.......2000-11-14
Nope, it's not a book on lycanthropes if you're grazing for the more straight forward mystical transformations. But if you glance at the cover, a montage of carribean blue and sun-baked sand in a fun-funky font, you know that. It is indeed a book of transformations. In pieces. A whole novel following any of the sometimes troubled, always hard luck characters would be too heavy. I'd pass over it. Yet these are digestable slices of life, catching different characters in a moment of realization, transition, change, even before they process it, is precious; see "the Quarrelsome Man". Don't let the cool cover fool you; some of it's quite oppressive; it's not a vacation novel as the cover might hint. It's about living in the slums outside disneyland. Heavily endowed with an awareness of everyday racism and poverty, the book still comes out feeling like a warm sunset. This book does not criticize; it describes and accepts. It's exciting to have this prospective on controversial subject matter without hand-wringing. It makes it more real to the reader because you're not in the shoes of some outraged observer keyed up and trying to tune in to the human condition from leather shoes and air-conditioning. You're in the midst of the day-to-day, where there is nothing to contrast; "The Conversion of Millicent Vernon." There is even a little suspense/horror (more frightening upon rereading) - "You Left the Door Open." And quite poetically, a little bit of science fiction in "The Girl with the Celestial Limb." This collection transmits the reader from the everyday up into the unreal. It's accomplished with such meta ease, that the reader doesn't feel the floor drop out from under.

Average customer rating:

Awsome book

Excellent

ok for short stories

And happily everafter....

DATES FROM HELL

Dates from Hell

Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739467182

Product Description
four new sizzling paranormal stories from popular author's!undead in the garden of good and evil by kim harrison,the claire switch project by lynsay sands,chaotic by kelley armstrong&dead man dating by lori handeland!
Customer Reviews:

Awsome book.......2007-09-21
This book is great! Its basicly 4 differnt mini books in one but each of them keep you on the edge of your seat! I recomend it to everyone!
Excellent.......2007-09-03
I loved this compulation. I am a big Kim Harrison fan but this introduced me to several other authors who I enjoyed as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
ok for short stories.......2007-08-08
I personally only really liked one of these short stories. The others were ok but only one stood out. It is a good way to see how different writters catch your attention though.
And happily everafter...........2007-05-14
I really like the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison, so I was surprised that the first story was my least favorite. I enjoyed the humor and adventure in the other stories, Kelly Armstrong's 'Chaotic' being my favorite. I will be looking up more titles by these authors in the days to come.
DATES FROM HELL.......2007-05-12
I fell in love with Kelley Armstrong after BITTEN, she hasn't missed a beat since. Can't get enough!

Average customer rating:

This one's going to be a movie...

This one's going to be a movie...

Shapeshifter: A New Twist

Cool book!

Shape Shifter Mind Warp 5
Chris Archer
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0671014862

Book Description

My name is Todd Aldridge. At least, I think it is....
Where did I go?
I don't remember much about the night I disappeared. One minute I saw the strange light in the sky. The next minute I saw a strange light in the sky. The next minute I woke up in the hospital. The thing is, it wasn't the next minute. It was nine months later....
What happened to me?
Some people think I was kidnapped. Others say I was abducted by aliens. I don't know what to believe. But I know this: I'm not the same as before. I've changed. And I keep changing. Suddenly I make myself look like different people. Anyone I want. The only problem is, I'm forgetting who I really am.
Who am I?
Customer Reviews:

This one's going to be a movie..........1999-08-14
The first book I've read of the Mindwarp series and I'm hooked - couldn't put it down! Although it's told over only 3 days (1 birthday/abduction, 2 waking up in hospital/going home, 3 rendezvous with mothership) it has all the makings of a major thriller movie!! So I thought why not put all the books in the series, write a script merging them all together and shoot a FILM?? Hell why not create a WEBSITE at the same time? I'm open for suggestions and interest, so drop me a line on my email address above!
This one's going to be a movie..........1999-08-14
The first Mindwarp book I have read and I'm hooked - couldn't put it down. Even though it is told over only THREE DAYS (1 birthday/abduction, 1 waking up in hospital/going home, 3 rendezvous with mothership) it has all the suspense of a major thriller movie.
Shapeshifter: A New Twist.......1998-07-26
I have to give Chris Archer credit here, he really knows how to throw a curve ball in this game. I totally wasn't expecting to be reading a book with an alien assasin as the narrator. But it was great, although I haven't figured out what the cover picture relates to. Deryk, if you're reading this, you were wrong about Flash Forward being about a boy. Your reasoning was logical, but the way most sci-fi/fantasy authors think isn't. Also, you really shouldn't ruin the book for everyone like that. Takes the fun out of things, you know?
Cool book!.......1998-04-17
This book was so cool. The main character was... Todd Aldridge! I was so surprised. I just noticed a pattern for the... alien kids. Ethan, Ashley, Jack, Elana, Todd, and Toni. See the pattern? It's boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, and girl. So #7, "Flash Forward" will be a boy alien. But back to this one. Todd was at the reservoir when he disappeared. He saw a bright flash of light and fainted, sort of. He woke up in the "next minute" at a hospital. But it was 9 months later, not the next day. Is Todd's birthday in July? Cause 9 months from April is July, right? I realy wish there was a web site for the series! Will there ever be one? Anyway, Todd goes back to school. Everything's different. He has a family; his parents care about and for him; his friend; Bentley grew 10 inches; Jack was serious; Ethan didn't look like someone you should mess with; and Jack and Ethan hung out with "Splashley Rose." Todd found out he has silver blood. He goes to a hypnotist. He finds himself at the mall in a closet. At home, he finds that he stole the videotape. He watches it and realizes he's the alien assassin and now he has to save his friends by making them not go to the reservoir at midnight. That's the part I'm confused about. Was there ever a real Todd? How'd he become an assassin? Did they take his brains out and drain it into Cynor?(the alien assassin's name) Well, I don't want to spoil the story for you, so it's better to read the book... I can't wait for "Aftershock" though. That's about Toni Douglas. She was mentioned in "Second Sight." I am also waiting for "Flash Forward." It sounds so cool! I wonder who it will be about...

Average customer rating:

The Stretch for the Shaman

BOOK REVIEW: QUEST FOR THE SHAMAN

. . . or maybe not

The Quest for the Shaman: Shape-Shifters, Sorcerers and Spirit Healers in Ancient Europe
Miranda Aldhouse-Green , and Stephen Aldhouse-Green
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0500051348

Book Description
An informative and entertaining exploration of shamanism and ritual behavior in ancient Europe.
As this book so ably demonstrates, archaeological remains—from cave paintings to bog bodies to Bronze-Age vessels—show that shamanism was endemic among ancient European peoples from the Stone Age to the early post-Roman era. Most shamans occupied a marginal, dual position in their communities and functioned as liaisons with the spirit world through the medium of trance.
The authors draw on the most recent archaeological research and support their conclusions with rich evidence, including the 30,000-year-old lion-human ivory figurines found in southwestern Germany that may represent monsters seen by shamans in altered states of consciousness; the spectacular Nebra sky-disc, also from Germany, which depicts the sun, moon, and the Pleiades, indicating that Bronze Age shamans were using highly sophisticated objects to explore the heavens; and the "Doctor's Grave" from southeast England, which suggests that a Late Iron Age chieftain was sent to the Otherworld equipped with hallucinogenic drugs, medical kit, and divining tools. 140 illustrations, 25 in color.
Customer Reviews:

The Stretch for the Shaman.......2006-07-06
This book is somewhat useful if you're interested in the archeology and anthropology of Bronze Age and pre-Christian Europe. Artwork, artifacts, and remains from the peoples of that period are often lavishly illustrated. Unfortunately, the authors take an unsuccessful postmodern slant on the research, and try to apply all findings to a concept of Shamanism, which can be a real stretch and just doesn't come together. The first problem is the professorial writing, which drains most of the interest out of potentially fascinating material. This includes the wooden prose, excessive introductions and summaries, shameless name-dropping, obscure literary references, and under-explanation of scientific concepts from the field, all of which are meant for other professors rather than the interested layperson. Meanwhile, the concept of Shamanism is used to explain so many different artifacts and events, in so many geographic areas and time periods, that this theoretical construct collapses under its own weight while also failing to integrate with the interminable pile of small pieces of evidence.

This problem can be seen in many of the captions for the illustrations, almost all of which contain the words "may" or "perhaps" when trying to explain how the pictured artifact supposedly offers proof of Shamanism. The general text also abounds with cases of the authors trying to tie everything ever found from the period with ancient Shamanism. In just two examples, a cave painting of both someone's bare foot and a shod foot supposedly offers proof of a Shaman "walking between worlds and disappearing into the rock;" while a shiny piece of ancient jewelry is imbued with mystical powers "as if a sun's ray had been solidified in gold." And in the end, a generally interesting parade of Bronze Age remains and artifacts, along with some pretty good explanations (usually from previous experts) for what they were, peters out into speculation on how everybody who was ever buried in ancient Europe may have been a Shaman, and every object they ever handled had breathtaking religious significance. But the very same underlying concept of the Shaman is so vaguely explained and diffusely over-applied that it becomes useless, making this book unsuccessful as a theoretical exercise. [~doomsdayer520~]
BOOK REVIEW: QUEST FOR THE SHAMAN.......2006-01-29
Quest For The Shaman
Miranda and Stephen Aldhouse-Green
New York, Thames and Hudson, 2005

In 1861, archaeologists in what is now known as the Czech Republic uncovered a burial site known as Brno 2. Among the artifacts associated with the isolated remains were a reindeer antler with a polished end and a hematite necklace. Contemporary anthropologists claim that these items were routinely worn or used by ancient shamans. The grave is 24,000 years old; and, that's just one of the many facts that you'll discover when you read Miranda and Stephen Aldhouse-Green's Quest For The Shaman, a new publication from earlier this year.

According to this esteemed pair of anthropology professors from the University of Wales in Newport, the word "shaman" is an old word itself, originating some 20,000 years ago with the Siberian Tongus peoples who eventually migrated to both Americas beginning about 9000 BC and culminating their colonizations in Iceland, having travelled across the rim of the Arctic Circle and steppe-tundra regions around 2000 years ago. Immediately, two questions arose in this reviewer's mind. We know, for example, that the Vikings took Celtic wives when they colonized Iceland, which began in earnest around 870 AD. Did they adopt shamanistic ideologies from the Aleuts who apparently evolved from the ancient Dorset people or did the Celts already possess shamanistic narratives? If so, how did they get them? The first written encounter between Aleuts and Vikings ended in eight out of the nine former Inuit dead because the colonists wanted to see if the indigenous population were indeed human and bled like "normal people;" so, the chances of an ideal cultural exchange occurring between these two societies was undoubtedly rare. Most Celtic myths, unfortunately, are translations of medieval copies, which we know are contaminated with other religious philosophies.

The second question revolves around cosmetic issues. First, we also know that shamanism was only one of several religions conducted by the Siberian Tongus and the ritualism centered around the life cycle of reindeer. How did this particular religious philosophy eventually dominate many ancient cultures (or did it in fact actually dominate that much?); and what happened to all the reindeer imagery after being established in the New World following the extinction of most of the large land mammals? Well, for one thing, giant elk are known as red deer in some parts, particulaly in the British Isles, so these beasts undoubtedly replaced the original denizens. Around the Arctic Circle, without four-legged furries, they apparently replaced the whole deer theme and sang the world's first version of "I Am the Walrus."

If you can wrap your brain around the migration inconsistencies, Quest For The Shaman makes much more sense. But, be warned. If phrases like "it may be possible to suggest" irritate you to no end, then you might not like this book as much. There's also some confusion in terms associated with some of the artifactual evidence cited by this anthroplogical pair. For example, "cauldron" is used to describe anything from a vat to a large bowl to even a bucket, and the professions associated with these particular items were distinct and specific.

And, there are some facts that the reader must accept about these ancient peoples that might be discomforting. Historical and archaeological evidence reveals that ancient shamanistic participants routinely practiced cannibalism and bestiality, and they were probably hallucinating on particular plants when they did it. Some of the artifactual and forensic evidence furthermore evoked the distinct possibility that some people didn't like that at all. Many burials show signs that someone tortured, murdered, and specifically isolated the bodies of people now considered shamans; so hang up any mystical or fluffly notions of romantic wizards and popular soothsayers. Apparently, most societies feared and hated shamans, yet respected them as the seemingly powerful people that they were. In some parts of Scandanavia, particularly in the bogs of Denmark, the victims didn't even get that respect. Nevertheless, the reader will learn a great deal and the following little tidbits are what I especially enjoyed discovering.

From what anthropololists have gathered, shamanism is the oldest profession (and you thought that you knew the answer to that one), apparently beginning with the hunter-healer living within a semi-nomadic society. This person, most likely a male originally (and that is certainly subject to academic debate at the moment), ventured in search of medicinal plants and "probably" found the good stuff and tripped the light fantastic. Currently, the big debate is whether this guy started drawing funny shapes, known as entopic phosphenes, which "evolved" into spirals and more complex geometric rendentions and eventually took on shape-shifting qualities where the great hunter is depicted becoming the prey himself, a definitive liminal world and distinct attribute of shamans, according to our authors. But most burial sites suggest with the abundance of rare goods that these people were members of a chosen elite (or ostracized sect) which can only occur in stratified societies (chiefdoms, kingdoms, states, and finally, empires). In addition to all that, this really popular guy named David-Lewis says that since Neanderthals had less-evolved brains they couldn't possibly have had either art or religion, but merely copied shapes and buried their dead away from where they camped. There is a big brouhaha about this as well, and our scholarly pair respond effectively.

Red ocher, often thought to depict human blood artistically and symbolically (and possibly magically?), is now known, thanks to these two, to hide the scent of decaying flesh from carnivores, so it's use is undoubtedly quite ancient, perhaps as old as those so-called "primitive" Neanderthal dudes. But, sometimes graves depict the use of red ocher on specific body parts, suggesting a segregation of some kind. The Aldhouse-Greens also inform us that cemeteries were boundary markers which used the dualistic notion of legitimacy with extended family usage and the fear of the dead to scare away possible encroachment within the tribe. In other words, you memorialize your ancestors who used the land that you now use to stake your claim in the world, and if you don't like it, they might come back and torment you. The interesting fact is that what our authors consider shamanistic burials suggest that these spiritual and magical practitioners were segregated even further within cemeteries, sometimes having their bodies facing in an opposing direction from the rest of the occupants, towards the west, the land of the setting sun, the underworld, and the land of the dead, as opposed to facing the east, the land of your ancestors. At other sites, so-called shaman graves were full of interesting items. Forensically, the Aldhouse-Greens also surmised that many shamans suffered from devastating physical ailments and/or birth defects which might ... uhm ... suggest a liminality with the spiritual world, or at least possibly a sympathetic one ... perhaps (see what I mean?).

The authors all-too-briefly mention the myth of the "cosmic tree," the tree, post, column, ladder, or cross that connected the three worlds of existence; but their greatest strength lay in their discussions of the use of cauldrons. These rather ancient artifacts involved the use of fire, water, and air, elements typically associated with change or conversion such as the transformation of raw food material into edible sustenance, mixing plants and chemicals to produce a new medicinal substance, the conversion of plant material into alcohol (it's most popular use, apparently), the blending of particularly alluring metals, and some rather interesting concoctions that sometimes included the use of humans as one of the ingredients. The utility of cauldrons, according to Miranda and Stephen, was notoriously associated with its "significant role in the ritual death, dismemberment, and reconstitution of the shaman." So, was drug and alcohol use ... and cooking humans.

Ancient Irish myths recount how warrior-leaders used the cauldron like a shaman to produce a concoction that either brought wisdom, specifically when the practitioner used pork meat, and to embue immortality to his fellow soldiers. If the army were still alive, they achieved eternal life in battle; if they were already dead, they became an ingredient in the mystical stew and resulted in the production of warrior zombies for the Irish lord. Undoubtedly, notions concerning cannibalism played a key role in these latter mythical interpretations. One of the oldest and more interesting uses of cauldrons was in brewing, alcohol distillation. Several persons, attributed to be ancient shamans possessed several brewing vats and cauldrons within their tombs. Another mystical profession, that of blacksmithing, also made use of cauldrons for the seemingly alchemical production of brass and bronze (probably initially thought to be gold ... hey, it could happen).

Overall, I liked this work; and I think that you will too. And although I found myself disagreeing with some of their conclusions, having reasoned three or more alternative scenarios, I learned a great deal. Enjoyable and instructive ... good combination.
. . . or maybe not.......2005-08-16
Let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, since there will be some negative comments below. The Aldhouse-Green's guide us through a panoramic tour of human history from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. They take us to caves, rock faces, and grave sites where there is material culture to be viewed. They present many interesting theories about how various artifacts can be explained by references to shamanism. Unfortunately, the theories are primarily speculation that could easily be explained in alternate ways.

As an example, they make a credible case for the religious significance of liminal (i.e. edgy---like rock faces, caves, shorelines, etc.) locations. They examine a particular case of handprints on a cave wall and "wonder . . . whether the hands depicted were reaching out to or from the world of spirits." This is interesting speculation, as long as we don't apply similar analysis to finger painting sessions in kindergarten. There is simply no way to know. And so it is with virtually all of the explanations in this otherwise interesting book. If you are looking for hard answers, look elsewhere.

One niggling point is the production of the book. The paper is extremely heavy, thick, and shiny. Its shine produces reflections that sometimes make it hard to read when the light is directly behind you. That said, this book is very interesting, the speculations are clearly labeled as such, and I learned a great deal from reading it.

Average customer rating:

Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter

Mayra Calvani -- Curled Up With A Good Book

Suspenseful

Mists of Avalon in Massachusetts

Draws the reader into its webs of conflicting motives and does not let go until the final page

Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter
Thomas Kaplan-maxfield
Manufacturer: Kepler Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Metaphysical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Visionary Fiction | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0971377030
Release Date: 2005-10-01

Product Description
A work of fiction with Gothic undertones shifting between present-day and colonial New England, "Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter" contains within the third-person narrative of Nikki Helmik the found journal of her ancestor, Anne Cleves, written strikingly in first-person. A dramatic story of love, loss, and Druid magic, Anne's journal strangely echoes Nikki's own struggle to resolve the crises in her life. Haunted and inspired by her ancestor, Nikki becomes a Druid magician, resolving for herself the deadly attraction between power and love. This psychological exploration of a woman's all-too-contemporary personal upheaval oscillates between realism and romance, contemplative drama and adventure story, replete with Druid magicians, centuries-old curses, wolves, ravens, and the mystery of a broken brooch. Down Gloucester's narrow streets, deep into Dogtown woods, teetering on granite cliffs and plunged into stormy North Atlantic seas, the reader is drawn into a labyrinth in which the age-old war of the sexes is given a new twist.
Customer Reviews:

Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter.......2007-07-14
Nikki Helmik is a woman who is used to getting whatever she wants from men. At a very young age, Nikki experienced abuse at the hands of her father and watched her mother turn from a vibrant woman into her father's slave. From then on, she vowed never to allow a man into her heart. So with the help of her mentor Rose, Nikki learned how to use men for her personal satisfaction and to increase her social standing. A series of strange events, however, would change the way Nikki viewed her mother as well as her own love and power issues.

Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter is actually three stories in one, each with a correspondingly different feel and attitude. The first story is about Nikki and takes place in the present day. This story has a slow unhurried almost Victorian feel with the every present attitude that men are just sources of wealth and status. The second story is about Nikki's mother. This account is more energetic but containing the energy of frustration, sacrifice, and trying to do the right thing despite the personal costs. The third story is about Anne Cleves, a powerful druidic ancestor of Nikki and her mother. This story is wild, dramatic, and full of action. As each story progresses, the main character of Nikki evolves and changes from a user to a woman willing to embrace her powerful legacy.
Mayra Calvani -- Curled Up With A Good Book.......2006-12-03
Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter is a modern gothic novel that goes beyond the more common, commercial form of the genre. Along with magic, ravens, wolves, and a mysterious emerald brooch, the author also explores the female psychology, men and women relationships, and feminist issues.

Forty-year-old lawyer Nikki Helmik leaves her job in Boston to come back to her childhood town of Gloucester, MA. Soon she falls in love with Philip, the son of her cruel and beautiful childhood mentor Rose Eveless, a woman obsessed with physical beauty and eternal youth. Rose is outraged by Nikki and Philip's relationship, not only because Philip is already married, but also because Rose believes Nikki had an affair with her husband, who is now dead. Torn between conflicting loyalties and ideals, Nikki isn't sure what to do. Then Rose makes her a strange offer; she may have Philip, but on one condition: she must find the long lost journal of an ancient Druid magician, a shape-shifter named Anne Cleves, who happens to be none other than Nikki's ancestor. Rose believes the journal might hold the key to eternal youth she so desperately desires. Thus begins Nikki's search for the journal as well as for her own identity. Will finding the journal resolve her psychological conflict and accept the man she loves?

At times, especially in the beginning, the novel moves quite slowly, with pages and pages of what seems like pointless dialogue. This is accentuated by the tiny print used in the book. The author spends too much time dwelling on the character of Rose, who later disappears for most of the story and doesn't show up until the end. It is not until the reader is able to read the mysterious "lost" journal that the story begins to gain momentum. Though Nikki comes through as a real entity, Rose, on the other hand, is a bit stereotypical of the "beautiful and cruel" antagonist and even appears comical at times. The dialogue, however, flows naturally and sparkles with genuineness, and the author does an excellent job in putting himself in the mind of the female protagonist. Through the journal, the reader is transported into another time and place, with all the sights and sounds of those dark times. In fact, reading this ancient Druid's first-person account is the most fascinating aspect of the book.

This novel would be of special interest to those readers interested in Druid magic--its history, particulars and gore. Indeed, the author offers some fascinating details about this subject.

Suspenseful.......2006-03-24
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/06)

I thoroughly enjoyed "Memoirs of a Shape-shifter." Most gothic type stories tend to be to short for me, just as I am getting into the story, it is over. Not so with "Memoirs." The story takes you from modern times, through early America, then back into ancient Ireland. The journey follows a modern woman, Nikki, on her journey of self-discovery as a woman and as a Druidic priestess, down the path of her ancestor Anne Cleves.

At 40 years of age, Nikki starts exploring her past and how experiences in her childhood, especially with her abusive father have affected her emotionally. These experiences have especially affected her ability to love. As Nikki explores her past she learns about the women in her family's involvement with witchcraft and druidism. She begins to follow this path and is able to heal herself.

This story is very suspenseful and the characters are well developed. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy suspenseful novels that have a touch of magic in them. The way that the author is able to intertwine the past with the present really allows for some rich reading. His descriptive text makes the reader feel more like they are enjoying a movie instead of reading printed material.

Mists of Avalon in Massachusetts.......2006-02-06
Memoirs of a Shapeshifter brought me back to a book I lived with for a long time, The Mists of Avalaon. Not since 1987 have I been transported so fully into another world. Kaplan-Maxfield's story within a story follows the contemporary woman, Nikki, back into her childhood, up to the present and then into her heritage as a Priestesse/witch through her ancestor Anne Cleves. Anne's story returns us to early America and The northern shores of Massachusetts, the forests, the indians and back to ancient Irelanc. Nikki, who has had a long rocky road in her relationships with men, learns from her ancestor, how to open herself to love. It's a gripping, action-packed, heart-breaking and soul-making tale which I would love to see on the silver screen someday. Kaplan-Maxxfied's descriptions are exquisitely vivid. A big book with a big message, ancient wisdom for contemporary times
Draws the reader into its webs of conflicting motives and does not let go until the final page.......2005-11-03
Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter is a fantastic novel with Gothic qualities. Transitioning between the present day story of a young woman and the discovered journal of her ancestor, penned in colonial-era New England, Memoirs of a Shape Shifter follows both the modern woman's struggles with the crises in her life, and her ancestor's struggles. The descendant becomes a Druid magician just like her ancestor, responsible for the knife-edge balance between power and love. Entangled and complex, Memoirs of a Shape-Shifter draws the reader into its webs of conflicting motives and does not let go until the final page.

Average customer rating:
Shape Shifter
Geoff Thompson
Manufacturer: Summersdale Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Elephant and the Twig (Summersdale Self Help S.)

ASIN: 1840244445

Average customer rating:

Wonderful adjunct to the written word

Narration by the author packs an extra punch

Very strongly recommended

Empowered by Empathy (The Audiobook)
Rose Rosetree
Manufacturer: Women's Intuition Worldwide, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

Empowered by Empathy : 25 Ways to Fly in Spirit

Becoming an Empath

Aura Reading Through ALL Your Senses: Celestial Perception Made Practical, Second Edition

ASIN: 0975253816

Product Description
Americas first book for empaths has been selling briskly since first published in 2001. Heres the new audiobook edition, for empaths, read by empaths. Although an estimated 1 in 20 Americans was born an empath, few know it. They are unskilled empaths, which means they suffer from such problems as emotional instability, (apparent) co-dependence, low self-esteem, and hypochondria. Rose Rosetree's pioneering book can change that. She explains how listeners can improve the quality of life by turning off unwanted empathy. Her self-help method also includes techniques to turn empathy on. At will. For direct experience of what it is like to be a completely different person. Science fiction? Not really. Rosetree regularly receives thank you letters that say, How come nobody told me this before? and, sometimes, You have saved my life. Rosetree teaches her techniques on three continents, from Japans premier seminar institute to public schools in the Bible Belt (with professional credit for therapists and doctors). What makes her techniques so distinctive? They involve new ways to move consciousness--not hackneyed ideas like Avoid toxic people and Put up walls. Empaths need something more, something different. Now anyone can learn in the comfort of home how to become a skilled empath, just by listening to this amazing book.
Customer Reviews:

Wonderful adjunct to the written word.......2007-08-30

"Jen's upset about something." my co-worker said about our receptionist. I looked up from my paperwork and replied "How can you tell that just by how she walks down the hallway? " "I don't know. I just can. Can't everyone?

Actually, no. Only one in twenty of us are empaths - those of us who "identify with and understand another's situation, feelings, and motives" (American Heritage dictionary). If you are someone with those gifts, this audiobook is well worth the time invested in listening to it.

Rose Rosetree, teacher, author and yes, empath has written and recorded a very unique guide for those of us with these wonderful skills in "Empowered by Empathy". Not only does she explain the various forms of empathic knowing (emotional oneness, intellectual shapeshifting, etc.) but she goes on to offer a variety of techniques specifically designed to assist in working with these gifts rather than being hindered by them.

My co-worker, mentioned above, is exquisitely attuned to what others are feeling. Yet, she's had to all but turn that ability off in order to stay afloat emotionally. Because of her centered and calm demeanor, others are drawn to her and she often finds herself drowning in their "stuff". If you've been there, as I have, you know it's not a fun place to be. Rose teaches skills that will show you how to turn down the empathy dial so you can still be present for others but take care of yourself at the same time. She also gives you real life examples to clarify her points and shares her answers to questions the reader might have (based on her years of working with empaths).

The six cd set runs a bit over seven hours and is great to listen to in the car. Rosetree's voice carries her clear and positive intent as a teacher of this wonderful work. I listened on my way to work and felt uplifted by the twinkly energy in her voice. I read the book a couple years ago but listening to it allowed me to catch things I missed by reading and also jogged my mind about techniques that were relevant to my own inner work. One of the things I like most about all of Rose's books is her ability to speak to different levels of the audience without losing anyone by being too technical nor boring anyone by being too basic.

A wonderful adjunct to the printed book, "Empowered by Empathy" audiobook is a good way to learn how to fine tune your empathic skills and have a little fun with it.
Narration by the author packs an extra punch.......2007-08-22
The content is so innovative and helpful, and I loved the voices. Rosetree's especially packed a punch for me. To have such a powerful empath read these words made them penetrate deeply into my consciousness. If you are an empath and you love audiobooks, this book will make a deep and healing impression on you, as well.Let Today Be A Holiday 365 Ways to Co-Create with GodAura Reading Through ALL Your Senses: Celestial Perception Made Practical, Second Edition
Very strongly recommended.......2006-12-10
Rose Rosetree draws upon her many years of experience and expertise with empath empowerment in Empowered by Empathy: Twenty-Five Ways To Fly In Spirit an informative introduction to awakening personal empathy through the application of Rosetree's expert techniques and intuitive spiritual development. This six-disc CD audiobook edition of Empowered by Empathy has a total running time of 7 hours, 13 minutes and deftly carries the listener through easy, step-by-step techniques to taking hold of and control life; turning on the gifts for recognition of the true experience of "otherness"; turning off the gifts to block picking up the pains of others; and obtaining a practical understanding of empathy as a true and enduring blessing, regardless of how much suffering has resulted in having lived as an untrained, uncontrolled empath in the past. Empowered by Empathy is very strongly recommended, especially for those who were born with physical, intellectual, spiritual, emotional, or metaphysical empathy.
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