The Tree People

Rating:
Summary: DONT PASS UP THIS BOOK
Review: A most captivating story, majestic tale and mesmorizing journey! I was thoroughly entertained and fascinated by this book. An easy read, containing the elements that all profoundly impacting books possess, including but not limited to intricate details of human emotion and unblinking edge of your seat suspense. A fast moving book, hardly boring, with an elaborate plot and character development, part of the backbone of this book in my opinion, along with the cultural significances and mysticies of course. It was a LITERAL breath of fresh air to read this inspiring book of intrigue and insight, but not in the typical self help book type of way, obviously this is a fictitious novel intertwined with historical truths and internal contemplations and mentalities. One of the central themes behind the book is nature, its magnificence and our essential, not only need and desire, but oneness with it. I have an even greater new found appreciation for this most unique and spiritual planet, attributed solely to this book. I couldnt put the book down. I read in 5 days but could have read easily in 2-3 days. Its about 520 pages in length. I eagerly anticipate reading her follow up, "The Listening Ones". Cant go wrong with $such a cheap price. Bottom line: if you have an internal yearning for the spiritual, for the unknown, possess an open mind, love a great cultural story with incredible twists and turns and dont mind finding yourself living right alongside the characters, all the while letting your emotions take you for a ride, than this might be a terrific and worthwhile read for you. Not intended for kids due to some explicit content.

Rating:
Summary: DONT PASS UP THIS BOOK
Review: A most captivating story, majestic tale and mesmorizing journey! I was thoroughly entertained and fascinated by this book. An easy read, containing the elements that all profoundly impacting books possess, including but not limited to intricate details of human emotion and unblinking edge of your seat suspense. A fast moving book, hardly boring, with an elaborate plot and character development, part of the backbone of this book in my opinion, along with the cultural significances and mysticies of course. It was a LITERAL breath of fresh air to read this inspiring book of intrigue and insight, but not in the typical self help book type of way, obviously this is a fictitious novel intertwined with historical truths and internal contemplations and mentalities. One of the central themes behind the book is nature, its magnificence and our essential, not only need and desire, but oneness with it. I have an even greater new found appreciation for this most unique and spiritual planet, attributed solely to this book. I couldnt put the book down. I read in 5 days but could have read easily in 2-3 days. Its about 520 pages in length. I eagerly anticipate reading her follow up, "The Listening Ones". Cant go wrong with $such a cheap price. Bottom line: if you have an internal yearning for the spiritual, for the unknown, possess an open mind, love a great cultural story with incredible twists and turns and dont mind finding yourself living right alongside the characters, all the while letting your emotions take you for a ride, than this might be a terrific and worthwhile read for you. Not intended for kids due to some explicit content.

Rating:
Summary: An unprofessional oversite in an otherwise great book
Review: First, I really enjoyed this story, it was unique, detailed, and complex, a one of a kind book to read in a few sittings. It had an important message and avoided black and white thinking.
Part of the way through the book, a problem presented itself. I am a pro writer and editor, and very concerned about copyright. I have had battled with those who have illegally published my poems and songs and caused me all kinds of problems. My enjoyment of the book was seriously impaired when I saw, on page 47 , one of Shekinah Mountainwater's songs ( "We are the flow, we are the ebb....') being sung by the "evil witch" character. The song is not traditional, not in the public domain, and is not attributed. With all the research the author did, she should have given Ms. Mountainwater credit for her song. Years ago I did copyright research for a book that later became "Songs For Earthlings" and we did not publish a single song or chant whole or in part without express permission of the author and went through a huge amounts of effort to obtain that permission.
This kind of thing really bugs me. It is unprofessional. To have it sung by an evil character, when Ms. Mountainwater follows a positive path, is doubly irritating. Naomi Stokes is an intelligent writer who did tons of research, 30 seconds on a search engine would have turned up the author of this song, a little more research would have outlined up the life path and intent of the song's author. To not credit it and have it used by a negative character in a negative way is a slap in the face to the creator of this lovely chant. If you don't believe me, check out this website http://www.skilledwright.com/ChantsRitualMusic.htm and I believe Ms. Mountainwater has her own website.
And yes, this kind of thing is a "big deal" to a writer who deserves not to have her song's intent misrepresented, and at least to be properly recognized as the author of the work. I'm afraid that I just did not enjoy an otherwise excellent story after seeing what was basically a rip-off, and it made me wonder if other things I was reading had been properly researched and attributed.

Rating:
Summary: The setting of the story in Lake Quinault was great
Review: I was totally intrigued by this book and couldn't wait to find her others. The story carries you through the cultures and traditions of the people of the Olympic Peninsula and teaches a reverence for our natural rescources. I loved the relationships within the family. I would love to have a reader's guide for discussion with my book club.

Rating:
Summary: The setting of the story in Lake Quinault was great
Review: The story made me realize that Lake Quinault and the rain forest are beautiful place the spend time. The Indian culuture is also interesting. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: The Tree People are fascinating
Review: When brutal murders plague the placid Olympic Peninsula rainforest after a sacred cedar is cut down, Tribal Sheriff Tidewater must pit her own shamanic training against a mysterious killer. At about the time Columbus' ships were being built in the Old World, along the Pacific coast, lived an already ancient society, with perceptions, emotions & rituals so complex European languages could only hint. In this society, however, the same struggles between evil & good, shadow & light, revenge & courage raged on with the added dimensions of shape-shifting & time walking. An impressive first novel, fascinating, scary & delightful. A must read! Living by a rainforest I thoroughly enjoyed this author's skill at describing the land & the energy here.

Rating:
Summary: The Tree People are fascinating
Review: When brutal murders plague the placid Olympic Peninsula rainforest after a sacred cedar is cut down, Tribal Sheriff Tidewater must pit her own shamanic training against a mysterious killer. At about the time Columbus' ships were being built in the Old World, along the Pacific coast, lived an already ancient society, with perceptions, emotions & rituals so complex European languages could only hint. In this society, however, the same struggles between evil & good, shadow & light, revenge & courage raged on with the added dimensions of shape-shifting & time walking. An impressive first novel, fascinating, scary & delightful. A must read! Living by a rainforest I thoroughly enjoyed this author's skill at describing the land & the energy here.