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Jan 05, 2008

Venessa rated it:

"Oh, she said, what I've discovered is that with lovers as with everything, there are cycles, seasons. If you live your life in such a way as to become free rather than to become not free, she continued, you will find Life presents you with regular summers and winters and autumns and springs. There will be times when the masculine will demand your interest and attention, she said. Times when the feminine will rise and exact her due."

"When you are caught up in the wo More...

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Jan 09, 2008

Stormkpr rated it:

This novel tells the tale of a woman who is experiencing a midlife crisis of sorts and goes on a quest (including meditation retreats and trips to Latin America) to try to find herself. Her partner Yolo also experiences his own journey. Like some of Walker's novels, it features characters floating in and out, telling their own stories within stories. I really felt this book lacked direction and needed more focus. Perhaps the novel's structure was meant to mirror the protagonist's own searching a More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Aug 25, 2008

Jennifer rated it:

I couldn't finish this book. I had trouble following the chronology -- I got halfway through the book and still couldn't tell if the action was taking place before or after the first chapter. The characters' values and thought processes were so foreign to me that I had trouble following the action and dialog. That's an unusual experience for me, since I cut my teeth on speculative fiction. I usually like Alice Walker, which is why I picked this book up, but this one was just a little weird for m More...

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Apr 05, 2011

Toni rated it:

This reads more like a character study of Kate than as a novel. What saved it from being a one is that it does make you feel and think in spots and in those spots ,there are some wonderful thoughts or quotes that I could extract.however, the book meanders quite a bit. For those not familiar with the book ,it is about Kate and her love (r) Yolo who reach an autumn of their relationship and each go on a quest/retreat/vacation to find themselves.What transpires on those trips is quite fantastical More...

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Jul 02, 2009

Jenny rated it:

I just love the vibe I get from Alice Walker's books, so much about self-care and empowerment, totally in a California style. That being the case, this book's certainly not for everyone. Here's some of my fave quotes:

--"He did not use these things anymore, and yet, the thought of letting them go made him sad. He felt they represented times in his life he could not recall without their presence. They represented stories." (p 25)

--"She had an instinctive unde More...

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Apr 02, 2010

Cheryl rated it:

As I read this book, I kept thinking, "Wait, Alice Walker is one of our great American writers, right? What am I missing?" To the extent that there's a plot, it's about a couple who take separate vacations: she to an Amazonian meditation retreat where everyone takes some kind of hallucinogen they call "Grandmother"; he to Hawaii, where he lands in a consciousness-raising circle that raises his consciousness about everything from processed food to the history of transgender sh More...

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Jul 29, 2011

Stephanie rated it:

This book had such great timing, like I couldn't believe. I picked it up at a used bookstore a few months ago, thinking, "Alice Walker is a good author, I bet I'd like this..." and nothing more. When I picked it up to begin reading I couldn't believe the timing. It was about exactly the kind of things I'm interested in at the moment: how to serve the planet and the great spirit all around us, but from a fictional viewpoint.

This book is hardly the book for everyone. It jumps b More...

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Sep 21, 2010

John rated it:

Reading this book was, well, an interesting experience. The author's world view is very different from my own, so I would be inclined to interpret things quite differently from the way she interprets them.

For example, here's an excerpt taken from pages 67-68:

"And, said Kate [the main character] into Anunu's [a shaman Kate was opening up to] silence, there is the question of sex. One's sexuality.

"Ah, said Anunu.

"I don't seem to find m More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Alison rated it:

Alice Walker is a sage. She is pain, love, beauty and soul. If I could have one wish it would be just to have a conversation with her over tea. She makes me see myself all old and tattered one minute and all new and shiny the next, and I love her and myself all the more for it.

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Feb 02, 2010

Karson rated it:

Written by The Color Purple lady! It's a spiritual journey that an older woman takes. It was really pleasurable. I have a qoute from this book on my wall "opening beyond where i am afraid to go will be the medicine for my cure."

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Feb 03, 2009

Heidi rated it:

Just finished this last night. I started reading this book because I was in a bad space. It helped pull me out of that; which is exactly why I decided to read it. I didn't realize it was going to be very much about Iawasca, a hallucinagenic mixture of a root and vine from south america, which i have been wanting to experience for a long time. It's a very spiritual plant and I have not yet had that opening come into my life. I know it will and it's certianly not something i'd ever want to rush. I More...

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Mar 07, 2010

Susan rated it:

I picked this book up from the stacks at the library when my other requested books were not becoming available on the proper schedule and then had to put it down about halfway through the book when, as always, two of the books I had requested that everyone else in Seattle is also requesting, became available at the same time. I was a bit reluctant to put the book down because it seemed to be saying something to me that I really wanted to hear, but I find it hard to hold on to books that I know More...

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Jan 30, 2011

Dominic rated it:

Reading the works of Alice Walker is nothing short of transformative. When I first began to read her books, I was an awkward and shy 18 year-old; her generous vision of the world and of humanity changed me forever. It really doesn't matter which of her books I pick up to read and reread; the fictional space I enter is vast, hopeful, uplifting, progressive, and nonjudgmental. There is welcoming room for women and men of all sizes, and for all races. Everyone can rewrite their story, revise th More...

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Apr 08, 2010

Kirin rated it:

I think this is a book that is meant to be "felt" not read, not experienced, not enjoyed, but felt. And because at some point i put the book down, read three or four books, then picked it back up and completed it, i didn't feel the book, either that or the writing didn't move me....i don't know. but the parts i did feel were fairly good, and i think when i'm older it would be wise of me to reread the book.

on a side note i read the color purple in 9th grade i believe and i More...

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Apr 29, 2008

Holli rated it:

This was a good book, but not great.. I appreciated the journeys that Kate took and her desire to reconnect with spirit.. I sort of got the impression that this story may be somewhat autobiographical. When I pictured Kate in my mind, I saw Alice. Most of us can’t take a trip down the Colorado River or a trip into the rainforest of the Amazon, so it’s nice to go along with Alice as she makes her journey. The novel is indeed dream-like and is almost a parable instead of a novel. Her writi More...

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Jan 05, 2011

Natalie rated it:

This is another of the top 30 books that changed my life. The story of a souls unfolding in a most unconventional way. Alice Walker is always a little ahead of her time. This book, with it's honest portrayal of the questions and pains that arise in shared spiritual journeys was a refreshing change from the "feel good" delusions of much of contemporary Western portrayals of spiritual practices. Like "The Temple of My Familiar" I expect to read this one over and over again.

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Oct 19, 2011

Eileen rated it:

Two persons of color take a trip: one to Hawaii where he meets and interacts with native people and learns about their culture, the other to South America to meet with a Shaman, ingest poisonous plants for their hallucinogenic effects and see what “the Grandmother” (who is the plant) can teach them. Transformations abound as they return home, share their experiences, and begin to live what they've learned.

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Sep 05, 2011

Ronald rated it:

A novel of which I learned through a conversation with Walker (23 April 2004) on KUOW's Weekday. This was a visit into two people's lives that provided timely insight and inspiration for me. One of those books which remind you of the human condition in which all those around us are living. I've added all Walker's other books to my reading list

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Feb 10, 2010

Eba rated it:

I really needed this book. I read it at just the right time of my life. Parts of it are really out there, and the ending was disappointing, but the quest for spiritual (re)awakening that happens in this book almost moved me to tears.

This book was very well-written, and though I wanted to read it all in one sitting, I found it is much better to read it in bits and to slowly digest it. Amazing.

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Sep 27, 2011

Labmom rated it:

If this book were not written by Alice Walker, who is a fantastic storyteller ususally, I would have stopped after the description of the main character's altar (Jesus next to Che). Apparently she writes menopausal, new age, soul-searching tripe now. Next time I want to read Walker, I'll go back to "The Color Purple" or "The Temple of my Familiar."

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Apr 03, 2011

Carmen rated it:

I tend to be good at picking up books that pertain to my life experience and desires of the moment. My absolute favorite book of Alice Walker is Temple of my familiar because the stories are elaborate and almost mythical. This novel is pretty straight forward its about a woman around her 50s who has reached a stagnant point her life and seeks inspiration, self and love for life through travel. From as far as I've read she's braved the Colorado river and is now in a jungle somewhere in South A More...

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Aug 10, 2009

Kate rated it:

I love this book!
It made me look at the world with new eyes. I had been feeling very weary, and this book gave me a freshie.
It brought magic into my life.
I learned that it's still ok to be weird. that there are alternate views besides the corporate box I live in most days. I knew this but needed the reminder.

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Sep 30, 2007

auie rated it:

i can't decide if the title pertains to opening our hearts to the sufferings of the world, or of healing the world or if rather to Kate's (main character)renewed faith in love. in the novel-she's been in and out of several relationships and marriages that she came to think of marriage as bondage.
one thing - i liked Yolo's (Kate's partner) character and story more. his road to self-discovery and awakening to being-ness and one-ness with the world, the environment etc...an awakening that wa More...

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Jul 14, 2009

Jessie rated it:

I have already read a good chunk of Walker's novels and short stories and the title of this book always appealed to me. Love the Womanistic theme and general holistic approach to life Walker takes, and this book is no exception. The 911 motif at the end is kind of odd, though.

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Jan 20, 2009

Jon rated it:

Alice Walker does philosophy. I did the audio-book so not sure if it affected my experience, i really loved the narration, style and pace. A few chapters in I would have given it 5 stars for sure, unfortunately I found it really dragged, it just wasnt really going anywhere although there were some nice stories within the story. All in all i was glad to finish with it despite the beauty of the storytelling.

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Sep 02, 2010

Stacey rated it:

I listened to this as an audiobook, and the beautiful prose made this a very fun way to read this book. But, I may need to get a hard copy now as the book is full of poignant quotes that I want to remember. I really enjoyed this book!!

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Mar 20, 2010

Cheryl rated it:

while i will never go to south america and study with a shaman while ingesting some hallucinogenic drug, nor want to, i am glad alice walker writes about it. the book has some great imagery and insight and i really appreciated the different way of looking at life, aging, relationships, religion. the books i have been reading have been so boring and lifeless, this book had some exuberant life to it as do most of her books.

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Dec 30, 2008

Meagan rated it:

This book was fantastic. So well-written. A story of a woman in her 50s or so following the calls of her spiritual path, from a river in CO to shamans in the Amazon. A beautiful story of love and how it changes.

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Jun 14, 2009

Danny rated it:

Amazingly written, walker weaves philosophy, an intriguing story, and wisdom to into the work. It seemed like it was written for hollywood, the way it ended and detracted from the net experience. It is a must-read.

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Jul 06, 2009

Dan rated it:

So disappointing. Almost a one-star. Menopausal, coming of old-age, mystical, crystal worshiping, timothy leary crap. Some mildly redeeming material in the middle. First 100 page were abominable.

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