Book ~ "Eat Mangoes Naked: Finding Pleasure Everywhere (and Dancing with the Pits)" (2001) ~ SARK

From Amazon ~ With her distinctive mix of brightly colored jacket art and handwritten text, SARK offers another fanciful yet thoughtful guide to life. This book exudes her characteristic outlook on life's continuous difficulty and people's "splendid imperfections". Retaining a light, positive and humorous tone, even when she discusses death, SARK advocates finding pleasure in every situation, while admitting that, as for many people, "the struggle still feels more comfortable to me than the pleasure." In the spirit of teaching what she most needs to learn, she reminds readers that "our spirits are in need of pleasure, like our bodies need vitamins, or oxygen, or water." Based on this ethic of joy, SARK demonstrates what might be gained from painful experiences, other people, mistakes, change, nature, ordinary things around the house and imaginary or vicarious adventures. She uses anecdotes from her own and others' lives to illustrate how "pleasure responds to invitation," showing up when and where we may least expect it, if we are open to receiving it. As always, SARK's simple artwork and scribbled text make readers feel like they've received a secret note from their best friend in the middle of a tedious class.

I read this book back in the summer of 2001. It is a good reminder that life is too short and we should find pleasure in all we do.

I especially liked this piece of advice ... if you are about to do something, rather than looking forward to having "a good time" (because this can cause us pressure or struggle), look forward to just having "a time". This will allow our actual experience to occur and we'll be open and accepting to receive it.

Book ~ "Transformation Soup" (2000) SARK

From Amazon.com ~ Since the early 1990s, SARK's playful, sympathetic style has made her an immensely popular author of self-help and creativity books. Like her past works, this vividly illustrated guide speaks to the reader's "inner child," aiming to free the imperfect, fearful, sad, funny and creative aspects that adults usually hide. This time SARK addresses the process of healing, inquiring, "What Hurts?" and gently leading readers to places (gardens, Zen retreat centers, bed) and activities (meditation, massage, creative expression) that promote recovery. With dark tales of her own experience of incest, and goofy ones including one about Rosie O'Donnell's chin hair, SARK's book reflects the "friendly disorder" of being human, covering a wide range of topics, from the trauma of broken relationships to body image and aging. Along with her heartfelt ruminations, SARK offers book referrals, transformation stories and a reference list of healers, including massage therapists, hairstylists, musicians and authors. In one fanciful section, she imagines the lessons a healing school might teach, including intuition, "non-competitive play," "accepting success" and "identifying patterns of self-defeat." All the while, she pushes readers toward their own creative expression through exercises such as "turning [inner] critics into allies" and marrying oneself. SARK's unpretentious effort illustrates her fundamental theme that "we are all swirling in the soup together" and that "whatever healing work we each do contributes to the healing of all of us."

A quick read ... I first read it in the summer of 2001.

It's a good reminder to not dwell on things, let them go and move on and experience life.

If people would tell the truth about what they are truly willing to do, there would be room for all of us to help each other in many more ways.

SARK

Book ~ "Succulent Wild Woman" (1997) SARK

From Amazon ~ SARK, an author, artist, and incest survivor with many years of therapy and self-healing behind her, wishes to shine her "beacon of hope to the world" as she encourages and inspires women of all ages to become "succulent." She defines this as transcending past pains and feeling the freedom of full self-expression. Very candidly she shares the tragic, the glorious, the intimate, and the adventurous in her life, dispensing sage advice and a lengthy menu of readily doable suggestions for arousing creativity and nurturing self-discovery.

From www.planetSARK.com ~ This book is my glowing invitation to you -- to live a rich, succulent life! I explore love, sexuality, romance, money, fat, fear and creativity. It's a little bit like reading my diary -- with permission. Succulence is powerFull! and so are we as women.

It is indeed like reading SARK's diary ... it's her honest thoughts and ramblings in her handwriting (printing?) along with doodles.

I first read this book in the summer of 2001 and enjoyed it. It's a fun reminder that we should figure out who we are and love ourselves, surround ourselves with friends and be creative.

I believe that these circles of women around us weave invisible nets of love that carry us when we're weak and sing with us when we're strong.

SARK