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Rating: 
Summary: A valuable reference book
Review: Like many first-of-a-kind books, this one has some of the roughness of newly-plowed ground. The author, Dr. Lynn Kear, Ph.D., has done a monumental job of collecting together literally hundreds of footnoted references to reincarnation and homosexuality -- a worthy task which, as far as I know, has never been done before. This alone makes the book worth buying, as a valuable reference for anyone in the reincarnation field. However, don't expect this section of the book to be an inspiring bedtime read. The style is more like a thesis, with copious footnotes and language leaning heavily toward academe. The author's two previous works were annotated bibliographies, and her skill in that area is evident here, too. Those who prefer more human interest may want to read the second half of the book first. In the second half, there are 11 interviews with lesbians and gay males who believe in reincarnation, and who express a wide range of beliefs about how that is connected to their sexuality and their lives in general. Not surprizingly, the gay perspectives on reincarnation are just as varied as those in the non-gay world. In the conclusion, the author, herself a lesbian, explores what this study meant to her own spiritual search. Although she is not totally convinced of the reality of reincarnation, she finds it a fascinating topic as one of the many ways that spirituality expresses itself. My main complaint about the book is that the typsetting layout in the first half leaves much to be desired. It follows the indentation format of an academic thesis, which works on a typewritten page, but is difficult to read in the smaller font of a printed book. Inserting a space above and below the quoted-indent paragraphs would have made it much easier on the eyes. Still, this is a relatively minor point compared to the value of the information this book contains. I highly recommend it for both gay and reincarnation studies.
Rating:
Summary: A valuable reference book
Review: Like many first-of-a-kind books, this one has some of the roughness of newly-plowed ground. The author, Dr. Lynn Kear, Ph.D., has done a monumental job of collecting together literally hundreds of footnoted references to reincarnation and homosexuality -- a worthy task which, as far as I know, has never been done before. This alone makes the book worth buying, as a valuable reference for anyone in the reincarnation field. However, don't expect this section of the book to be an inspiring bedtime read. The style is more like a thesis, with copious footnotes and language leaning heavily toward academe. The author's two previous works were annotated bibliographies, and her skill in that area is evident here, too. Those who prefer more human interest may want to read the second half of the book first. In the second half, there are 11 interviews with lesbians and gay males who believe in reincarnation, and who express a wide range of beliefs about how that is connected to their sexuality and their lives in general. Not surprizingly, the gay perspectives on reincarnation are just as varied as those in the non-gay world. In the conclusion, the author, herself a lesbian, explores what this study meant to her own spiritual search. Although she is not totally convinced of the reality of reincarnation, she finds it a fascinating topic as one of the many ways that spirituality expresses itself. My main complaint about the book is that the typsetting layout in the first half leaves much to be desired. It follows the indentation format of an academic thesis, which works on a typewritten page, but is difficult to read in the smaller font of a printed book. Inserting a space above and below the quoted-indent paragraphs would have made it much easier on the eyes. Still, this is a relatively minor point compared to the value of the information this book contains. I highly recommend it for both gay and reincarnation studies.
Rating: 
Summary: A unique look into sexual orientation and reincarnation
Review: This book is a very interesting blend of research and anecdotal references. The author includes field case studies about reincarnation and combines it with her own informal research. I especially enjoyed the interview section of the book, which included past life stories told by a number of gays and lesbians. The stories were poignant and intimate. I felt as if I was sitting in the room with the author and the interviewees, almost like a voyeur. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting a unique look into the connections between sexual orientation and past life experiences.
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