Carlos Castaneda

Advantages: Mythology and Mysticism, Storyline and Exophoric Cultural Reference
Disadvantages: Confusing and Incoherent, Dull and Dubious, Culture Shock, Focuses on the Trivial

...less confusing and irritating book. So just to bring us all up to speed then, The Eagle's Gift is the sixth book of a series of nine by the Anthropologist Castaneda" describing his life's work; learning the way of the warrior. Castaneda began his work as an anthropologist studying the Native American tribes. His field of speciality was the Tolteca tribe who inhabited Mexico from the 10th to the 12th Centuries (just before the Aztecs.) It was perhaps while he was a student that he found a teacher "Don Juan" who had apparently learned all about The art of Sorcery, from an oral account passed on through the generations since the fall of Tolteca. Don Juan initiated him into Toltec lore and this is what is told in this series of books. Castaneda is often criticised for the nature of his studies which are considered by some too subjective... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Means well
Disadvantages: but to no avail

...on recommendation of the tourist board) for promoting the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. All in all a much respected and decorated author and philosopher whose books have been translated into 25 languages and sell like hot buns. My verdict: Ok, he does mean well, Mr. Coelho does, and if I’d come across ‘The Alchemist’ when I was about 15 (which I couldn’t because it wasn’t written, then) I would probably have loved it. Mysticism and secret knowledge was high on my agenda then. As it was, I read Carlos Castaneda, whom I find pretty dull too, these days. But so it goes. As such, the advice to try and find your own way and not be discouraged by minor set-backs or detours is not bad at all. But it could be said in one sentence or a really good story. Actually, a lot of people have already done that. Unfortunately, ‘The Alchemist’ is quite... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: gripping, thrilling read.
Disadvantages: does sometimes stray slightly from the plot

...In my eyes, Carlos Zafon is one of the most exciting novelists of the last few years. This novel has everythin that i believe good novel should have. Packed full of suspense, romance and also briiliantly intertwined with the history of the spanish civil war and the way in which it affected thousands of families. The book begins with a young boy living in barcelona being taken to the library of forgotten boks with his father to choose a book. He chooses ' the shadow of the wind' by Julian carax. However, this one moment in time changes his life forever when it is discovered that he is not the only one who wants the book. I fully reccomend this book to anyone who is interested by spanish history or anyone who is just looking for a fabulously gripping read. You will not be able to put it down.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful