The Mexican Saga: a poetic journey through the 20-count by Elaine Stirling

Greetings to you all,

I am completely new to reviewing books so I thought I would bounce my first review off anyone who is willing to spare few moments reading it ;) so please feel free to give me some pointers or just shred it to pieces (if it is that bad). At the end of the day, Rome wasn't built in a day and there is always a hope that i will raise from the ashes like a phoenix :)

Thanks Renny

The Mexican Saga: a poetic journey through the 20-count by Elaine Stirling

I must admit, that when I received this ebook, I didn’t know what to expect. But I was very intrigued by the topic and that it is written in verse. Naturally, I assumed, that the verses will rhyme and that there will be certain rhythmic pattern to follow. With these assumptions I virtually opened the ebook and was in for a big surprise. Firstly, the book is written in lose verse so there are no obvious rhymes and the book more or less flows through the rhythmic patterns rather than being constraint by them. All in all, few pages in and my set of mind was fighting with the concept of the book and I felt like I was missing something. I read the words but it was as if part of it was lost in translation somewhere on the highway between my eyes and my brain. I pushed through non the less! Half way through the book I felt getting used to the concept and I started to appreciate the author’s thoughts and my mind began to transform the words into beautiful pictures. And then it was over! Just like that! I wanted more! So pretty much straight away I returned to page one and started again. This time with completely open mind and used to the flow of the book and what a difference that made! I chuckled few times, I actually paused few times to think about certain parts of the book, I was just on an incredible journey leading deep into the centre of an ancient culture and it’s philosophical concept.

My favourite passages:
1)
You own only two things in life:
Your death, he held up one finger,
And perception, held up another.

Both must be intended, all else dropped.

2)
Because anti-aging is neither whole nor true.

You are not a slave to age or time or
Dwindling youth. These are perceptions
Held in assemblage that, like convicts
In a cell too small, plot constantly to kill you.

I would highly recommend to read this book even if the topic isn’t really close to you. The book isn’t big but if you approach it with an open mind I can guarantee you, that it will broaden your horizons and you will be coming back for more.

Nitpickery: "ancient culture and it’s philosophical concept. "

I like your warning that the style needs getting used to and that maybe a second reading is in order.

thanks Jim for taking your time, I appreciate it and the grammar is amended now ;)

Well, I don't want to start a grammar war, but surely Renny was right the first time with its which is the possessive form of "it"

"It's" is the contraction of "it is".

One more nitpick: I believe it should be loose verse.

As far as the content of your review is concerned, I like it. It will be useful and informative to any potential reader. I appreciated that you were frank about starting again at the beginning.

Edited to add: I just gave your review a thumb :)

#4, VivienneR: Well, I don't want to start a grammar war, but surely Renny was right the first time with its which is the possessive form of 'it'"

VivienneR, I am totally ashamed, you are of course right. "its" was correct. "loose is correct too.

Well, as founder of this group, the principle is that we are all fallible and need each other's help, not that you are all fallible and need my help:)

No worries. The smartest people make this mistake. Hmmm, does that put me in the other group?

Thanks VivienneR for looking at my review. I am glad that I ended up producing a decent first review.

Never forget that when you write a review, you're passing judgement (at least in part) on the grammar and spelling and syntax and logic and imagination of other scholars and writers whose skills in certain matters may (or may not) be superior to your own. THEREFORE, to the degree that your own skill with the language is lacking, then just to that degree you are qualified (or disqualified) to pass judgement on the works of others.

Another way to say it: Everybody is entitled to say what he or she thinks about any particular subject. Anybody can walk into a room full of particle physicists and start talking about the behavior of subatomic particles, but not everybody who does so will be allowed to stay in the room. Some will be THROWN out of the room; some will be LAUGHED out of the room; only those who know what they're talking about will be permitted to stay.

If you walk into the room and show your butt to the crowd, don't cry when someone steps up behind you and kicks your butt REALLY hard.