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Welcome!! My name is Paul Lappen. I am in my early 60s, single, and live in Connecticut USA. This blog will consist of book reviews, written by me, on a wide variety of subjects. I specialize, as much as possible, in small press and self-published books, to give them whatever tiny bit of publicity help that I can. Other than that, I am willing to review nearly any genre, except poetry, romance, elementary-school children's books and (really bloody) horror.

I have another 800 reviews at my archive blog: http://www.deadtreesreviewarchive.blogspot.com (please visit).

I post my reviews to:

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I am always looking for more places to post my reviews.

Monday, May 2, 2022

Memoirs of a Buddhist in Los Angeles

 Memoirs of a Buddhist in Los Angeles: Synchronicity is No Coincidence, Deborah Favorite, Independently Published, 2022

The author is your average person trudging through life, trying to deal with a very difficult childhood. In her mid-20's, she tries Buddhism (very reluctantly). She is given a chanting mantra to use anytime, and, for her, it seems to work.

The synchronicities seem to come to her, fast and furious. If she needs a new apartment, a For Rent sign suddenly appears (this is in modern-day Los Angeles). If she finds herself suddenly unemployed (she works as a legal secretary), a nearby attorney or law firm just happens to have a vacancy. When a family member is in the hospital, synchronicities arise just before the doctor is about to do something not intelligent and life-threatening. It's not all good; along the way, there are 5 failed marriages. The author is not suggesting that everyone should become a Buddhist, or that chanting this phrase will cause the Universe to shower you with good things.

These synchronicities can't all be real, can they? This is an excellent, bordering on wonderful, piece of writing. It is incredibly easy to read, and is highly recommended.

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