shamanic teachings continue
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In the Midrashic tradition - a good enough style to write the bible in - Goodman has projected the animalistic shamanic teachings of Yaqui Indian Don Juan, as the Carlos Castenados exegisis has it, onto a possibly-new participant in the Pyranees. Does he really exists? Who cares! The book seemed to me an elegant way of both maintaining the philosophy and allowing it to develop into contemporary european needs. It is also a gripping page-turner, funny and provocative. I'm buying it for my friends.
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from the outset i will say that so far i have not read any of castaneda's works and perhaps my view of this book will change when i do. however i found this book rewarding because i found the authors honesty compelling especially when dealing with subjects such as submitting to teachings wholeheartedly, and deciding that one has attained knowledge before being tested. i have problems dealing with this and often speak of my beliefs of mysticism then fail to uphold them in practice. after reading mr Goodman's novel i have found more stimulation to maintain awareness and i derive more from my communications with other beings because this book taught me harshly about valuing words over direct experience. i found the reading both painful and joyous and many subtler states too, therefore i believe it is worthwhile to read this title
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I don't think that was Carlos Castaneda
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I bought this on the recommendation of someone at the London Tensegrity practice group (Carlos Castaneda's Magical Passes) and straight away I was disappointed.
The dialogue attributed to Castaneda is not like him. Those of you who have read and re-read him know that he would not have talked like that.
The descriptions don't sound right either. Castaneda had no foreign accent when he spoke American English and did not look like the man described by Goodman. There are plenty of descriptions of him by people who knew him like Taisha Abelar and Florinda Donner-Grau for instance.
Castaneda was very vivid and precise when he wrote. This hallucination's words are very vague and I think a piece of literary imagination.
The author must have known that a title that included Carlos Castaneda's name would sell very well indeed.
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Great reading adventure!
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I suppose it's fair to compare this to Carlos Castaneda's own books. The writer Francis Huxley does that in his blurb in the book, saying the old (OK back from the dead) guy is in better form than ever.
I found this a thrilling read. It's masterful the way so much is managed so simply. I loved the journey into the Amazon and really woke to the writer's take on shamanism. I can see how some people might be against this book, especially as the writer nearly died in the middle of a shamanic war. People will do anything to defend their own patch.
If you like other spiritual adventure books (I'd compare this one to Paul Coelho's books for example, though I have enjoyed Castaneda's too) I'd say give this one a good try. It's changed my take on life and death a bit, made me feel a bit braver. Not bad in these troubled times.
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Not to be bought by any one interested in the real Castaneda
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In reading any book I apply three tests - is it well written, is it authoritive, and is it honest. I regret having to say that this book fails all three tests. In style and structure the book wanders - while it is readable it does not say anything in a coherent fashion. The thoughts and actions of the author intrude at all points so that the voice of Castaneda is reduced to a minor role. The author states that he read one book written by Castaneda before the alleged encounter with Carlos Castaneda. I have read some eight of the Castaneda titles. Obviously I am interested in the subject. The Castaneda here portrayed is a mockery of the person I have come to know in my reading...
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