Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander


Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander III M.D.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 2012)
208 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $17.95)
Book Rating: 5 Stars

More of a recount of an experience then a scientific analysis, Proof of Heaven is an engaging read that gave me a greater understanding of our existence.  

The book is an account of Dr. Eben Alexander’s near death experience.  He contracts a severe form of E. Coli meningitis and quickly falls into a coma.  During the coma he experiences a journey to a place of peace. It starts as cloudy place, which he calls the worm’s eye view.  He then journeys to a sunny pasture land where he meets a lovely women who becomes his guide.  Finally he finds himself in a place that he describes as being in the middle of God himself.  After seven days in coma, Dr. Eben miraculously wakes up from his coma and fully recovers.

Even though this book is not empirical scientific proof of the existence of heaven, his neurological explanations of the impossibility of his experience gives me hope that there really is more to this existence that our short time here on earth.  I would recommend this to anybody with an openness to the possibility of an existence of life after death.  If you completely don’t believe in an afterlife, this book will most likely not help.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Hunger Trace by Edward Hogan


The Hunger Trace by Edward Hogan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (March 2011)
368 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.99)
Book Rating: 5 Stars
Content Note: Includes Sexual Situations and Swearing

In the wake of David Bryant's untimely death, Maggie (David's widow), Christopher (David's son from a previous marriage), Louisa (David's former park falconer turned neighbor) and Adam (male prostitute) are all thrown together forming a complicated web of relationships, as the two women and Christopher deal with David's passing and struggle to get on with life.  All of the characters in this story are complex and fascinating, in their own deranged way. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, showing that each character has their own set of issues, while trying to deal with those of the other characters. I was absolutely riveted right to the end and only wish the ending hadn't been quite so open ended. I'll just infer that everyone involved received their happy ending, especially Adam. Excellent Read!