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Summary: Instant dose of inspiration
Review: This book gives the reader an instant dose of inspiration. It is so filled with joy, hope and the power of perseverance, that it is easier to read than to describe. Purchased my first copy several years ago, when I found it on the shelf of a local book store. Have bought many, many copies since then, as gifts for family and friends. Very unique and spellbinding. Arlene Millman, author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY (The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier).
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Summary: Hope ... the answer is not in this book
Review: I found this book in the Christian section at a local bookstore and after skimming most of it I bought it because I thought it beautifully illustrated the hope we have of becoming butterflies by trusting in Jesus. I brought it home, re-read it, and looked up the offical "hope for the flowers" website. I discovered that Trina promotes the environment, feminism, and new age religions. Although protecting the environment is a good thing, true hope for humanity will never come from the environment. If you are truly seeking answers and want out of the "caterpiller piller", I pray that you will pick up a copy of the Bible and trust in Jesus. You will find the hope and peace that I have found.Update 01/24/2004
Here is some information to defend my claims that Trina supports New Age ideology.
The official website is http://www.hopefortheflowers.com/.
From the main page of the official Hope for the Flowers website, you can get to the Grailville store and purchase sculptures by Trina. (http://www.grailville.org/search_catalog.php?type=sculptures%20by%20Trina%20Paulus)
From there you can take a link to a letter written by Trina. (http://www.grailville.org/home.php?ID=57) In this letter she states:
"I present the reissue of my sculptures in this spirit. There are many ways to God - God is too big for a single box. I believe that if anyone goes deeply enough into their own faith tradition, they can encounter at the heart of it all - love, service, and joy. Let us not miss the inclusiveness that I believe Jesus and the other great spiritual teachers were trying to bring through different books and different languages. In our time we are also beginning to understand the language of the "primary scriptures," the writings of God directly into creation, which preceded and gave a language to the other great books." ~Trina Paulus, August 2002 The idea that "there are many ways to God" is the error at the heart of the New Age movement. Trina is correct when she states that Jesus was very "inclusive" in his ministy ... He came to save ALL people (John 3:16,17). But Jesus was very "exclusive" in his message of how people are saved ... "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). In other words, there are NOT many ways to God, there is only one way ... Jesus. Further evidence for Trina's support of New Age religions is found on the Calendar page of the Hope for the Flowers website. It contains information about the Grailville Meditation Retreat:
BeginsDecember 27 - This year's New Year Retreat will be conducted in the Vipassana tradition by Ann Douglas. She is a psychologist and an artist whose meditation background includes Zen, Advaita and Dzogchen tradition. In addition, there is a great deal of information on the website about the environment. It is obvious that Trina cares a great deal about the environment. I think this is why she titled the book "Hope for the FLOWERS". Jesus came to bring "Hope for the CATERPILLERS".
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is a book of such hope and love and comfort. I just finished reading it for perhaps the tenth time and am now jotting down the names of people to whom I want to give it as a Christmas gift. I have given away so many copies already. This lovely and insightful story is one that readers can turn to in times of confusion, sorrow, or fear....any time that they need comfort, courage, and inspiration or when one is searching for answers in life's turmoil. It is about what can happen if we just persevere and be the best that we can possibly be; about balance in our lives; about what is important and what is not. This is a book for all ages because the messages in it can be interpreted at all levels of understanding. I am not usually one who is fond of a lot of symbolism in books, but in this one, the symbolism worked for me.
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Summary: an accurate description and criticism of Capitalism
Review: like most of the reviews, the book is heartwarming and inspiring that personally makes me look at my life and how i am living it. however, another level of reading would reveal a very subtle yet accurate description of a capitalist society. how it forces us to be ruthlessly competitive, forcing us be jaded, apathetic and uncaring towards each other. read it, appreciate and then analyze.
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Summary: Read it for Hope
Review: A friend told me about this book. I read it through twice in one evening, once to myself and once aloud.
This is truly inspirational in so many ways that get down to the core of life.
This is short story that no one should miss. Especially those out there... wandering.
Rating:
Summary: Very Inspirational
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It tackles, challenge, trust, confidence, forgiveness, and love. It makes you really think about the great things in life.
Rating: 
Summary: the book was ok
Review: it wasn't all that. it wasn't the little prince but... it was good, nonetheless. i know that it contains lessons and the lessons i learned were good. i just didn't think that the book was THAT great. but it somehow did prove itself by the way it was written. it was fun reading it because of the curiosity of yellow and stripe.
i still appreciate it for showing me new insights.
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Summary: As true for caterpillars as it is for us
Review: I love the challenge of reading it thinking that it's about caterpillars. And flowers. Because it is. And we trample both underfoot everyday.
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Summary: A book from the seventies with timeless appeal!
Review: I first read a copy of this when I was a child, waiting to go see the doctor! I remember how quickly the time flew by, and how happy I felt. I still feel warm inside whenever I read this book.... The illustrations are so cute and heartwarming. This is the story of "Stripe" A caterpillar, and his friendship and love for another caterpillar "Yellow." It's about perseverance, change and ultimately triumph. The simplicity of the illustrations, and the underlying message are positive and timeless. Treat yourself to a copy of this book. You won't be disappointed. =-)
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Summary: why not?
Review: First I want to state that this book, Hope for the Flowers, is nothing short of poignant. In spite of the simplicity of the entire story and its characters, I was able to discern profound truisms and draw the ultimate conclusion that there is so much more to life than the pursuit of glory and fame. The book reminded me of one of life¡¦s most important lessons: If we don¡¦t know what we¡¦re striving for, what we do in pursuit of that goal will ultimately amount to nothing. I felt like the book¡¦s author had to be a Christian because the main theme of the book is for people to stay close to and not move away from God, ever. We should look up to Yellow, the caterpillar who knew that everything that should happen (in Yellow¡¦s case, to become a butterfly), does, and who also knew that it is utterly inane to search for a greater status when you are already capable of being happy and content with what you got. In spite of how I loved the story and the ending of the story (which serves as, if anything, a reason for optimism), I couldn¡¦t suppress the melancholy sentiment that began to creep up in me. I did not know the reason for the emergence of this feeling then, but now I can clearly say that it is because I realized that the majority of people on this earth are, ruthlessly climbing up that ¡§caterpillar pillar,¡¨ in search of something that is absolutely short of happiness and cannot bring satisfaction (at least not on the spiritual level). This book also saddened me because in the real world, there are many people who, like Stripe, are more than capable of breaking the heart of a loved one for no particular reason. To these people the reason is always a nebulous one, clouded with doubt and uncertainty. I believe that this book is invaluable to our generation and the generations to come alike primarily because people nowadays judge people on the basis of worldly goods and we often tend to look down upon and neglect our inner feelings. In a world that¡¦s becoming increasingly cold, the merit of this book should warm the hearts of its readers, and, with hope, illustrate the fact that we can only become better by being who we really are.
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