Swami Soup

De: Valerie Gilbert

Narrado por: Valerie Gilbert

Tap dance with Valerie on her raucous journey up steep inclines and down sudden drops with pedophiles, weird witches, day court, night nurses, and plain old crazy New Yorkers at her side. Her insight and silliness will tickle your funny bone while lightening your load with irreverent and magical perspectives on the sad, the wonderful, and the inexplicable.

©2014 Valerie Gilbert (P)2015 Valerie Gilbert

Read by the Author!

Starting with a difficult experience with the medical community and hospital staff, you really wouldn't expect to enjoy this book or be prepared to find it giggling insanely funny. But it is. When it moves on to a beloved pet in her last days, you think that it would be maudlin. But it most certainly not. This book is the product of the author's journaling through some tough times, lessons learned and shared, chronicles of friendship, and the place that a faith needs to hold in one's life. Just because she is a New Yorker and a professional entertainer, don't think that you can't relate, or learn something, or laugh out loud!
The audiobook is read by the author, and that makes it super wonderful.

Great Stories From Valerie Gilbert

I really enjoyed listening to Valerie's stories. It was as if she were speaking to me, the listener rather than at me which is something I especially like when I listen to memoirs. I also loved the fact that she narrated her own book. She came across as down to earth, empathetic, and at times just plain funny. There were times where she was put in a position to help people and when she did she was taken advantage of. This showed her vulnerable side.

I liked her viewpoints on the Universe and life in general and feel that we share the same ideals in this aspect. She's a spiritual woman on her own journey. She knows who she is and what she wants. I admire her for this and to me, this makes her an artist who's continually evolving because that's what we do.

As I said before, I love when an author reads their own memoir. It makes it more real to hear their words in their own voice. The audio sounded great. There were a few places where she accidentally repeated a sentence but with that said, at least she knows her words were heard and enjoyed. I'd definitely listen to more books by her. She's a strong, inspirational woman.

This audiobook was gifted in exchange for an honest review.

Great book, awesome voice

Loved this book. Ms. Gilbert's experiences and opinions are masterfully told in her own awesome voice. I could listen for hours and did. The stories were various and a great mix, some made me laugh out loud, some made me think as they told great truths, and some were I was nodding my head saying YES that's right. I can't pick a favourite part, they all have something to offer to the heart and mind of those willing to listen AND hear the messages behind them. I totally recommend this audio experience with 5 stars. Looking forward to more.

A season in the life of a NY mystic

For folks who have enjoyed Raving Violet, Ms. Gilbert returns with more tales of her mystical life in New York city. From quirky neighborhood characters, to her adventures into spiritual education, to commentary on our modern world, she ventures into it all. The book is a mix of humor and awe at the world around us.

Once again, Gilbert entertains us with tales of her adventures through the mystics of New York. I find this part of her books so interesting because it is so very different from my own life. In this book, she focuses on dream symbology and synchronicity and how she applies them to her life. While I am not a believer in either myself, I do find it interesting how she uses both techniques to help guide her in both minor and major decisions.

She also chats about some of the fun characters around her neighborhood, and some of the not so fun ones (like the guy who didn’t like her dog at the local park). She went on at length about a mysterious elderly woman who also frequents the park whose past life seems to contradict with her current affairs. While I felt the author was a little focused and a little harsh on the woman’s looks, I like that she included her in the novel because she is just such a walking contradiction.

At one point the author takes a jibe at George R. R. Martin’s book, A Game of Thrones, which is one of my favorite epic fantasies. But she later redeems herself by waxing eloquent about the film Babette’s Feast, which is an excellent film. She ventures onto Craig’s List for the first time, with near-disastrous results. Through narrating, the author has had to update her skills to successfully operate her home recording studio. Also, it has broadened her reading; since she was in her teens she has pretty much stuck to reading spiritual books or those dealing with mysticism. It’s always good to see people step outside their safe reading zone.

Gilbert is refreshingly honest about her fears of dentists, doctors, and surgery. She speaks bluntly about her medical issues and her deep fears, and how the required surgery forced her to face and conquer those fears. I enjoyed her tackling it with humor.

My one criticism is that on occasion she would get a little preachy. By her own word, she is a mystic. So why I can see why she would want to get the word out about her believes on the spiritual realm and where the human species is headed, my eyes did tend to glaze over a it during these sections. They were sprinkled through out the book instead of being all clumped together. So pretty soon, the book returns to more interesting tales of NYC living.

Narration: The sound quality on this book was very good. Gilbert gives a god performance with a clear voice and the occasional accent. Her previous two books have a bit more emotion and I think I prefer the slightly more animated narration on those two books.

Valerie’s mystical life

This is another exciting and entertaining book by Valarie. We see Valarie’s life thru happy and sad moments. She believes in and notices all mystical things around her, and tells us about them in a very compelling way. She pays attention to her dreams, talks to psychics and mediums, and believes in miracles.

The narration was done well. Valarie is very good at changing voices and portraying different emotions.