California Sculptor

A Heroine's Journey

Revisado: 03-18-20

I began listening to this book because I heard Amanda as a guest on a podcast. It was my first time learning about her and I was immediately taken. I ordered the book immediately. I could not stop listening. I am really glad that I decided to listen to Amanda read her book rather than read a physical book. Hearing her own voice added a depth that I am not sure I would have felt otherwise. I read the comments on her voice and "theatrics". Well folks, to each their own. The way I see it, it's her truth and vulnerability that resonates deep. Those who find it off perhaps were hoping for a professor to narrate. And some said she was enchanted with herself. Ummm....You are listening to a memoir. It's her life. She is not enchanted with herself. She is enriched and learning through herself. This, I find....well....enchanting! She is a stage performer (I find it funny that people have commented on her "theatrics" when in the book, she talks about how she had been a stage performer). So, it's very natural for her to weave depth and...ok, "theatrics" into her presentation of the book. We all can't be drones of communication. I LOVE her presentation.
I grew up searching for my spiritual truth in this world. I was given the opportunity by very open-minded parents to find my own way in spirituality and religion. I chose to dive into paganism as my path when I was very young. It was so natural. Somewhere along the way, it faded slightly into the background of my life and I did no more ritual, no more deep work. I was scared to come out of the broom closet. I was scared to let people know what I really think along these lines. Somewhere very deep inside I was afraid of being killed for my convictions.
But then, something sparked back into my life and I wanted to go back to my "roots" of paganism. I think it was apropo that I had discovered this book at this time. I found it incredible and so beautiful that Amanda was so brave in writing this memoir. In my heart, I believe a lot of people are simply looking for alternative ways to worship the divine. They just haven't been given the opportunity. If they were to see through the eyes of others who believe something with love, a butterfly effect will happen. Amanda Yates Garcia has started the beat of the butterfly wings and I cannot wait to see what develops from her act of courage, vulnerability and honesty. Shedding light and love on thousands of years of repression.
At first, I wanted to read it because I felt it might help me to dive back into paganism. But after the first few paragraphs, I knew that this book was so much, MUCH more. It's a timeless story that so many people (women especially) can identify with across time, space, beliefs and culture.
It's legit to say, this is not a proselytizing book. Amanda is simply speaking her truth. And I think that this book will become a CLASSIC memoir AND will help open people's minds and hearts. This is one woman's personal story. A woman who happens to be a witch.
I started to recommend this book when I was 2/3 through it. First to my pagan-leaning friends. Then....to everyone. I became braver in just the act of doing so. (The majority of pagans feel continuously prosecuted and many still fear for their lives).
"Initiated" is written with the heart of a poet, the mind of a scholar (she has a degree in writing I heard from the podcast) and the soul of a lover of love in all of its manifestations.
This is, hands DOWN, the best memoir I have ever read. (And I read about five memoir's a year!!)

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Surprising Good

Revisado: 09-27-17

This novel, which started like an episode of Desperate Housewives, soon became deeply engrossing. I could not stop listening. All the characters were so well fleshed-out and I felt as though I could really see them.

My only criticism was on the narrator. It wasn't that she didn't do a good job, but she read so slowly at times that towards the end, I had to put the narration speed at 1.25.

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Disappointing

Revisado: 05-09-17

I was really optimistic about this book. I wanted it to be helpful in some manner towards awaking humanity. But what I heard was pretty much only the authors many selfish whims. It was an interesting story though, and the author was honest and real. But not something I'd suggest to give any kind of clarity on Ayahuasca. It doesn't give any sort of help for those who are seeking on a spiritual path. That being said, it may appeal to those who need something more along this line of where the author is coming from.
The reader was not excellent. The editing was not done well (if at all) and you could hear a lot of stuff at times going on in the background. He repeated himself several times. He really should have researched how to pronounce the Spanish words. Every time he said "Iquitos" like "Equi-toes", I wanted to cringe. It was things like this that really took me out of the story.

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Best Memoir I've Ever Read

Revisado: 03-02-17

...And I've read a lot of memoir. Never have I read a memoir with this much honesty. This much pain and laughter all at once. Trevor writes about the pains he's been through as if he's holding on to a golden thread from that lifetime. I loved every minute.

Listening to Born A Crime was a treat- listening to the author read his own words made it much more impactful. I have recommended this book to everyone I know!

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Should Be Required Reading In School

Revisado: 12-21-16

I fell in love with this book within the first few minutes of the audio. The rich detail Cather brings is from a time when these memories are still fresh yet passed within the pages of turn-of-the-century industry. I'll never forget such details as the tub behind the stove or the snake killed in the dog town.

This book is also a reminder that although the immigration period and prairie were tough, there was a certain fulfillment of entertainment. Also, it is a reminder that the women of the day were not as passive and downtrodden as thought back upon. Within these pages, which are laid out like precious memories of the author, we encounter business women, strong daughters who become mothers and granddaughters and even female prospectors.

If I had children, I'd encourage them to read this. It is not my own immigrant story, as my English and Scottish ancestors came and stayed mostly on the east coast. But it is the story of my husband's ancestors. For this, I have gained so much more appreciation for the family I've newly acquired and come to appreciate even more now that I've read this story.

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The Next Brave New World

Revisado: 09-03-16

I kept getting this book recommendation in my feed. Finally, after a few years, I decided to the it a try. What resulted was not being able to wait to know what happens next.

Caveat: I am a child of the 80's, a total geek and I love World of Warcraft. So I was bound to already love this book just on the premise alone....yet, I am also a very critical reader. If something does not capture my attention from the first few pages, I just know I'm not going to like it- Will Wheaton narrating non-withstanding.

This is a clever book. And if you like video games and 70's and 80's pop-culture (bonus points if you like Monty Python's Holy Grail movie), then you will want to give it more stars than allowable.

I have a feeling that this book will be what 'Brave New World' was for its time: a poignant view of a bleak future, glossed over by characters who'd just rather revert to an alternate realty.

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Couldn't Wait For It To Be Finished

Revisado: 07-30-15

This book was right on the edge for me between turning it off after the first book or just slog through it. I decided to slog through it.

The story line is very imaginative and cute. The writing though...ehhh... It would have been ten times better if it were better written.

The performance was lacking as well. I once had the audio on while cooking and my husband walked in and asked, "is that a robot voice or a real person?" He was serious.

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Straight Forward & Down-To-Earth

Revisado: 01-07-15

I love genre fiction and this book showcases some of the life, learnings, and anecdotes of one of genre fiction's best selling authors. I would recommend this to "serious" literary writers and readers, but it really is geared towards those who enjoy reading and writing genre fiction.

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What is all the fuss about?

Revisado: 08-23-13

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Change? Well, it really has become an entity of itself and who am I to destroy this living, breathing freak of nature? Even I can't do that. But, change it I would, if it were as a manuscript in my hot little hands before being published....oh-so-many-things...

I believe humanity has lost their sensibilities about what is deemed "good literature". And this particular attempt at story-telling by E.L. James is the poster child for such taste. The absolutely most distasteful thing about this novel is how it reads like a teenage novel but then has the erotic *pow* that shows up unpredictably then predictably over and over thereafter. Not something I'd want my children to read....because if they see how many "adults" are reading it, they'd want to see what all the fuss about and start reading it....then find how easy it is to read and discover the sex before they have even discovered first base in their own lives. That was truly disturbing. It should be at least more of an "adult" reading level. But I digress.

I decided to google this book and author to find out the history of it. Once I did discover it's beginnings, it all made sense as to why it was so amateurishly produced. Turns out that E.L. James started this story as fan fiction on the Twilight fan fiction site. This totally explains it in my mind. I am able to piece together an idea of how the story came about:

E.L James started this as a simple little story starring none other than Bella and Edward. This completely explains Ana's courageous yet self deprecating character and Christian's off-putting, secretive and protective behavior in the book. But then, as we all know, it diverged and went in a whole other direction. This is why James pulled the fiction from the fan site and thus....we now have "50 Shades" glorified in every way. Including a "50 Shades" movie coming out next summer (2014) who is rumored to be starring the oh-so-sweet Alexis Bledel which will ruin my Gilmore Girls reruns forever... if rumor be true.

On an upside, the narrator, Becca Battoe is most excellent. She really knows how to put herself in the story while making it a totally entertaining experience to hear her affect the character.

Has Fifty Shades of Grey turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. I have read plenty of good erotica. And this is definitely not one of them. But it will not deter me from reading other erotica novels. In fact, this is not an erotica novel. It is teenage fiction with erotica sections placed irreverently throughout.

What about Becca Battoe’s performance did you like?

She is really able to capture Ana's "voice". Needs a little help on men's voices. Not the tone, but with the feeling.

Was Fifty Shades of Grey worth the listening time?

I seriously considered stopping this read after the first 5 chapters.

Any additional comments?

While I feel this work is amateur at best, I have to give it to James to have done such an effectual job at becoming successful. But if this means success, then what are the true literally genius works of our day rated?

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