Elephant Song

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For over two thousand years, man has hunted elephants for white gold but over the last decade they have become an endangered species, especially the African Elephant. What is happening that has dramatically changed the scenario? What is the difference between culling and slaughtering? Where are the markets and how is illicit ivory trade done? Wilbur Smith answers these questions and much more in his fantastic book, Elephant Song.

Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a world famous TV naturalist is in Zimbabwe’s Chiwewe National Park to film the culling of a herd of elephants, accidentally films the slaughtering of elephants. He also comes across the murder of the Park rangers including his childhood friend‘s entire family and the poaching by a powerful environment friendly company. In London, anthropologist and environmental activist Kelly Kinnear is protesting against the ruin that is about to befall the African continent while a powerful conglomerate is holding a shareholder’s meeting discuss on sharing the spoils and ruining the forests and the people. Despite mutual admiration for the other’s work, their paths differ. Will they be able to overcome their differences, mislead their killers and act together to help prevent the catastrophe?

Sweeping from the unforgiving heat of the African Sun to the palatial houses in Taiwan, from the pigmy people in African forests to the powerful conglomerates around the globe, Smith weaves a fascinating tale of greed, compassion, corruption and coups. Combining awesome realism with suspense and pace that would do a Porsche proud, Smith takes you into the beautiful, wild and magnificent continent of Africa which seems to be forever threatened by the destructive hand of man and the brave but unknown African people who rise up to the challenge every time.

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa and writes with a passion and knowledge that can be characterized as truly African. Educated in Michael House and Rhodes University, Smith became a full time writer in 1964 and has since written twenty six novels which have been translated in twenty six languages worldwide.

Elephant Song is an eye opener for most people whose knowledge of Africa is limited to TV channels or shows. Extremely visual in style, Wilbur Smith takes you on a tour of Africa, its politics, its people, its geography, its economy and most importantly its wild life and the magnificent African elephant whose song needs to be heard. After reading this book, you’ll never view a national park, a wild life activist or a nature channel in the same way again.

Copyright by Deepa Kandaswamy

The Zama Codex

The Zama Codex
by Chen Tzu
282 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-4116-3809-9
Available on Amazon.com & Lulu.com
Genre : Fiction

Reviewed by Deepa Kandaswamy

A team headed by archeologist Dr. Ric Caulderon find a codex with encrypted information written by Zama, a Mayan scribe of Mayan sorcery and portals during the peak of the Mayan civilisation. However, the codex is stolen by a secret cult. Will the archeologists and anthropologists be able to retrive the codex in time? What secrets does Zama's codex contain that the cult is willing to kill for it?

From the palaces and rites of Mayans to the 21st century archeological dig sites in Guatemala, from sacrificial offerings and the doomsday prophecy of Singing Lizard to the healing techiques of today's native Americans, the author weaves a seamless tale of sorcery, time travel, ignorance, quest for knowledge and universal healing.

The author seamlessly weaves the story of Zama and Ric, the way time has weaved our history - ancient and modern. His writing style is easy to comprehend. Interestingly, Mayan numbers are used for chapters which proves useful as you learn the Mayan numbering system without being force fed. This is one of those books which during the first read seems like a suspense thriller but on a second read, provides insights and on successive reads makes you contemplate. It is a difficult feat to accomplish but Tzu aka Chensue manages to do so easily.

Is the world really going to come to an end on December 21, 2012 as some predict? Read the book to find out.

Buy the book by clicking on the title of the post.


© Deepa Kandaswamy, All rights reserved.

Gypsy Magic for the Lover's Soul :A Romany Book of Spells, Sachets, Oils and Incense

Gypsy Magic for the Lover's Soul :A Romany Book of Spells, Sachets, Oils and Incense
by
Allie Theiss
150 Pages, Gypsy Girl Press
ISBN 0-9771835-0-5
Available on Amazon.com ( click on the title link above to buy)

Reviewed by Deepa Kandaswamy


The Roma people have always been a misunderstood lot in the West and ignored in the East. Magic and Meditation on the other hand mean different things to different people. The author, Allie Theiss aka Allie L.T, traces her ancestry to the Roma people of Europe and has succeeded in creating a interesting, informative and intriguing book about Roma people and magic.

Easy to read and understand, the book explains what magic means to a gypsy and how the word gypsy itself came about. It contains information on stones, incenses, oils and spells and explains each in detail. It also has warnings and how to go about charging and casting spells of love and healing for friends and lovers. For those interested in magic, real magic being the healing of ourselves and our loved ones and living in harmony with the world, this book offers insight and makes one contemplate.

Crisply written, it makes an interesting read. All of us have something we wish for - healing a broken heart or mending a friendship, a longing for love or friends, a way to break off a relationship amicably, etc.

Since the crux of the book is about this very topic, it is well worth the read.


© Deepa Kandaswamy, All rights reserved.