From Strardust to Babylon by Amanda Bucan | A Book Review

I also got this book from LibraryThing. This has been on my TBR and it was only about a month ago that I was able to read this. I didn't read the blurb before I started this book so it was a bit of a surprise to find what this book was about. It's a mix of a lot of genres. It started out as a young adult romance and then it turned into a ghost story and then to a new age, religion-christianity and historical biblical story towards the end. I am not sure what to feel about this book. So, allow me to explain it.

I think I picked this book because the title caught my attention. I mean, come on? Isn't it curious to you? From Stardust to Babylon. Babylon alone got me already. It got me curious. I know I read the blurb before but I can't remember what it was when I really started on this book. This is actually a true story. It is up to you if you believe it or not. I haven't exactly decided if I do but there are some parts of the story that could possibly be true and some which I really want to be true because I want that to happen to me or to apply to my life also. 

As I have mentioned earlier, this started out with two teenagers who fell in love with each other deeply. The confusing part is that they are really into each but the relationship was never meant to last. Yes, it is sad. So, they got separated for about nineteen years and then by some telepathic message, Amanda felt that Simon has died. And from there, she started having dreams and experienced paranormal activities that she associated with Simon. With this onslaught of paranormal sightings and all, Amanda tried to understand as much as she can. She meet people who are into new age stuff and about past lives. She tried to gain as much knowledge from this people as she can. She got into a lot of things just so she would be able to unravel the mystery of the messages that Simon is showing her. And it turned out, Amanda and Simon are soulmates and they have reincarnated several times and have always found each other in each life but then, they never really lasted together forever or for long. There were always death, betrayal and all that. The most shocking of all is the connection of Amanda and Simon to the Egyptians Moses and other things in the Bible.

As I have also said, I am not sure if I believed everything in this book. I sort of relegated this to fiction. I believe in the first part of the story where they both fell deeply in love at such a young age but didn't end up with each other due to circumstances which I think would be Simon's fault. I think Amanda, in all fairness, tried to stay in the relationship and keep Simon but Simon continued to not believe in that the two of them should be together. It was a heart-breaking story and I do get why Simon would feel that he has let a great thing slip away. It was hard watching these two not together. And Amanda, realizing that she too felt that she married the wrong guy but she can't seem to do anything about it. 

The part about the paranormal occurrences and sightings attributed to Simon haunting Amanda and her mother is in a way believable, but I guess the part that I found that bothers me a bit was how Amanda was making a lot effort to find meaning and reason for all the haunting which all lead to some discovery about their past lives. I love learning about past lives. I, for one would really want to believe that it's true because I wanted to know about what I was in my past life or lives too. But I guess her obsessive quest for finding the meaning and answers to what purportedly Simon is trying to communicate to her is what really I can't get my head on it. I understand she went through a very profound loss and depression and I understand it may be just be her own way of trying to get to terms and the handle of things. 

Then, she was able to trace back her past lives and connection to Moses and all that. It's fascinating and if I were in her place, I too would be so astounded of this great discovery that somehow she is connected to some great person in the past and is tasked to fulfill a mission. That's a very good way to find meaning and purpose in this life. I would actually want to have something like that. And I salute her for finishing this book and sharing this to the whole world. It is admirable. And in that sense, she has fulfilled her part of her mission and purpose and now it's up to the readers to take that as it is or chuck it to fiction. As of the writing of this review, I still can't decide if I wanted to believe everything or not. Maybe there are just some things that I did not get or understand or maybe some of these things are just too good to be true. But I am not judging, it will just probably take time to process all this. Or maybe, I need not have to decide if I believe it or not, it's just there.

All in all, I give this book a 3/5 Towers of Babylon. This is an incredible story but it also left me thinking and wondering about a lot of things. One of which is if I was convinced to believe it. This story also solicited a lot of emotions. I can't help but feel the devastating break-up between Amanda and Simon. And the sense of loss and regret she and Simon felt when they both are no longer in same plane of existence. The emotions in the story are very real and I could definitely feel them. I guess, the part about the paranormal transitioning into a story that rooted or can be traced back to the times of the Egyptians and Babylonians was what really I could not fully grasped. I believe it's incredible and absolutely amazing to be able to claim that you actually lived in the past as somebody important and had a hand in shaping world history. It's totally wonderful and that part of the story is what I really wanted to be absolutely true and I would like that to apply to me too. I want to actually know what I were my past lives so I could make sense of this current life, just like what the author actually accomplished in this life time.

Absolutely, this was not a light read and this tends to make you question a lot of things and your convictions. That has happened to me and this book, in a way, probably is telling me that there maybe a life after this one. And I hope that it would be much much better than this. 

And lastly, I truly agree and believe in what the author said below. It is definitely the truth. People are just jealous that some are just comfortable with themselves and that somehow bothers them so in turn they wanted to make those people uncomfortable too. To feel the same way that they do, as miserable as themselves.

The irony is that many who are targeted are made to feel weak, yet it's often your very strength of character and individuality that incites the act of bullying as others envy your resistance to conformity.

- Amanda Bucan, From Stardust to Babylon - 

Thank you, LibraryThing, PublishNation UK, and Amanda Bucan for the copy.

Forever Eve by JB Lexington | A Book Review

I got this book from Instafreebie a while back but had not gotten to read it right away. I know I have said a few posts back that I am slowly and painstakingly catching up on my TBR. And is still the case. This is one of those books that I have lined up to read but had not been able to get to it. Thankfully, I can check this off the list.

This story is about past lives. The main character here Izabel was forced to undergo a regression session scheduled by her best friend. Her best friend bailed so she was left with no choice but to do it alone. To her surprise, she found very interesting information about her past life as Eve.

I found the subject of past lives and regression very interesting. I am not yet sure if I believe in it but the thought that it could be true is a very amazing possibility for me. It somehow touches more controversial subjects such as reincarnation and soul mates which are still a source of debate. But the idea of having a soul mate is very romantic and magical. Who wouldn't want one, right? Who wouldn't want one person to love  and love you back through eternity and surpassing a number of lifetimes. It's the epic, eternal love, if there is such a thing as forever.

I think Izabel's life would have just been OK if not for her meddling artist best friend. But because of her, Izabel's life suddenly became too alive and promises possibilities she never thought would happen to her. Stumbling on information about her supposedly past life had made Izabel curious and she realized she has quite lived her life very conventionally. Now, she wants to take risks and maybe live her life out of the box just like what her best friend kept telling her. And to her amazement, it's very liberating.

This is a well-written story which will make you believe in the possibilities and promises of a supposed past life/lives. It makes you think if somehow what you have done in the past has a lasting effect in your current lifetime. Would there be a chance to right wrongs? It somehow also points to the reality of karma. I know, in some way, there is a thing called karma but we don't honestly really believe in it, right? Because if we do, then why are some people never afraid of hurting other people tremendously? I personally believe that what you put out into the world will eventually get back to you. So, whether it's kindness or otherwise, it has a way of finding it's way back to where it came from.

I give the book 4/5 paintings. I am very curious in the subject of past lives. I want to find what I was in my past life, if that ever is true. I want to know how it's now affecting my current life. Maybe it will somehow explain why some of my undertakings or efforts have not paid off. Maybe it will shed some light as to how I should deal with life. And maybe, there is a soul mate hidden in there somewhere. 

You know, for someone who claims to love me so much, you spend an awful lot of time hurting me. And making me cry.

- JB Lexington, Forever Eve -  

Thank you JB Lexington for the copy.

Death Unmasked by Rick Sulik | A Book Review

The author of this book sent me a message last December 2016 through this blog asking if I wanted to review this book. I read the blurb and agreed. I love reading detective stories, crime and mysteries so this book is right up my alley.

I have not heard of Rick Sulik before he messaged me. This story is a mix of crime with verses of poetry thrown in the right places and of superstition. This story talked about reincarnation, past lives, and retribution for the wrongs done in the previous lives. It touched on karma. The sins of past ultimately have a way of catching up to make amends. 

At first, the style of writing threw me a bit but eventually, I got used to it. The mix of reincarnation in the plot was a really good surprise. It gave the story a different and distinct flavor. I love happy endings and righting wrongs so I was really rooting for Sean Jamison to find the killer and make him pay for all the crimes he has committed. And to finally be reunited with his long-lost beloved Laura. I liked how the story ended. 

My only concern was the story started a bit slow and I think it took a bit for the past and the present to converge. But the author made up for it when everything was thoroughly explained near the end. 

I give the book 3.5/5 red coats. The reincarnation bit was really fascinating. I wish in real life we could remember a few things in our past lives to at least understand a part of ourselves. I would love to remember who I was and what happened to me in my former lives if reincarnation were true. And if there is that one person for me like Laura and Sean, I too would want to find that same person in this life.

...why would a perfectly healthy individual commit suicide while a terminal cancer patient fights to survive every day?

- Rick Sulik, Death Unmasked -