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There are currently 20 member reviews
for The Spirit Keeper
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Ilyse B. (Howell, NJ)
A Great Read
I absolutely loved this book. It was many things - a love story, an adventure story, and a tale of overcoming obstacles. It was also the best sort of historical fiction-a book that makes you feel as though you are in a different time and place. The author seems to have a real love for nature - the descriptions of the places the main characters travel on their journey are really beautiful. In addition, the language is very accessible - I was pulled right into the story and finished it in 2 days. The characters were very well drawn and interesting. My only complaint is that the story ended abruptly - I wasn't ready for it to end! I really hope the author is working on a sequel. I highly recommend this book.
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Jorie (Florida)
A Ruminative Tome of Introspective Freedom
The inertia of reality that besots you as soon as you enter into the world of The Spirit Keeper, is quite a hard bullet to bite, because before you can wrap your eyes and heart around what your visually aware of, you are inched into the story! I credit this to the author, as Laugheed endeavors you to jump straight out of your comfort zone, wholly free-falling into a brutal, raw, and untamed section of the American Frontier in the mid-1700s and take a quest towards unraveling the complexities of building a new life in a foreign land. The thematic that are entrenched in the story parlay an exposition on language, translation, and sense of being. She readily elevates our awareness that our words can draw an impact that is not always aware to us, but like the life paths we are walking, we are not always in charge of their meaning or purpose of use.
The beauty of the outside world envelopes you from the jump start, as the open wilderness is the footing for setting this story outside the reach of our known world. Even for those of us who are akin to the natural environment and the inhabitants therein, there is still so much of that world that is readily just outside our scope, outside our understanding. The Native Americans who are on the forefront of the story, evoke a cultural education into accepting stark differences of living, as much as embracing traditions that hold merit (such as the menstrual huts for women).
The art of story-telling plays a center part of The Spirit Keeper's heart, but it's the transformative power of understanding the words that are imparted throughout the story, that turn everything into a new light once the conclusion arrives. What the reader first mistook as a course of events, was truly a resounding precognitive journey that guided two characters forward into a future they would not have been strong enough to embrace otherwise. It's the redemptive nature of grasping a hold of the essence of those who pass forward and away from our living world that is truly the most remarkable arc of the story! For we all have the ability to be a keeper of a spirit whose touched us deeply and left us remorseful for their presence! We only need the strength to transcend our perception and view our experiences from a different angle to see how the threads stitch together the pattern of our living tapestry!
My own discerning discomfort was having this novel end on a cliffhanger, which nearly wrecked my enjoyment of the reading! I felt short-changed and disappointed, as I had embarked on this journey with the wholeness of my heart and as fearful as I was with the brutality of certain imagery, I was holding onto the Hope of what was yet to come and what I hoped would be! Prior to turning in my review, I wanted to visit the author's website to see if I could unearth a bit more of the story; whereupon I was given the Hope I sought, and my spirit smiled, knowing all was for naught!
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Lisa B. (Denton, TX)
Spirit Keeper
The real test of a good book to me is how much I think about it after I read it, and whether it compels me to keep reading it. I found this book passed that test. Once I started I wanted to keep reading to discover what was going to happen to Katie O'Toole. However, I think it could have used a little more description in places (what is a "dress in the French manner?") and the whole story line was a unbelievable. I liked the characters enough and the story was compelling enough that I was able to ignore that. It was more of a romance than I usually read, but I think that it would especially appeal to more of a YA audience.
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Carole A. (Denver, CO)
...on the other hand
The Spirit Keeper was, for me, an easy book to read. It flowed with the prose and enabled me to read the book in less than a 24-hour period. Usually A book that allows this I can finish and go WOW. This was not the case. On the one hand I enjoyed the read and ON THE OTHER HAND I kept trying to sort out how I did feel about the book - so I read the book again. While the main subject has been written by others many times - Indians capture white woman ON THE OTHER HAND there was a mystical component which gave a slightly altered twist. It was another novel about a strong and focused woman ON THE OTHER HAND was this truly the only path she could see her life taking? I am torn between giving this a 3 or a 4 rating and would like to do a 3-1/2 but since that is not an option I did round it up. If the sexual attack and desires could be more subtle or simply alluded to I would think this a good book for a young teen. ON THE OTHER HAND there are 60-second commercials that are as descriptive and certainly T.V. and movies.
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Heather Z. (Celina, TX)
The Spirit Keeper
I enjoyed the book, didn't have any trouble following the "old fashioned" language, thought it added to the story. Also liked reading about the details of daily living way back then.
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Anita S. (Boynton Beach, FL)
Finding oneself
I liked this book very much. It is quite different from anything I've read especially in the way Indians are portrayed. The story takes place in the 1700's in the wilderness of USA. Syawa and Hector take Katie through the wilderness which is Indian territory and take her to many Indian villages. To me the descriptions and beliefs were very interesting. The author obviously did a lot of research. But the gist of the story is really about Kaie's discovery of her inner self - how she comes to realize how strong she really is. She also develops an understanding of her family especially her mother and learns why her mother behaved the was she did. She also accepts her fate and trusts her instincts and learns how to use them. She comes to accept the 'gift' that was bestowed on her by Syawa. The only criticism that I have is that at times it seemed like a poor romance novel especially when the first half was taken up with her emotional feelings. Then when she and Hector were journeying alone, I knew that of course there would be a love relationship. It was just a little too much. But all in all it was a good book and I think that women will like it a lot.
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Lora G. (Niceville, FL)
The Spirit Keeper
Katie O'Toole the 13th child from a poor, dysfunctional family is offered an unusual way to better herself. When her home is raided by Indians she is taken captive by two who claim they have been searching for her. They believe she is the Creature of Fire and Ice a spiritual source that will benefit their people. Instead of going back to her abusive family, Katie decides to go with them. Her journey of self discovery is compelling. The Spirit Keeper is a fascinating tale of love, loss and adventure.
