Customer Reviews

Tantrika: Traveling the Road of Divine Love

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just finished reading "Tantrika". I was very excited to see it at Barnes & Noble as I was about to leave for a 3 week holiday. Honestly speaking, I don't think I have ever been so thoroughly disappointed in a book. The writing is not compelling, to say the least. And the author has managed to reduce what seem to be extremely unique experiences to a series of meaningless, fragmented, and uninspiring stories.

Let me give you specifics. It is not at all clear to the reader what actually drew the author to tantra- was it profound or did she just pick this topic because she was told to write about it? Her experiences in Nepal where she meet her "guru" are bizarre and confusing. She narrates incidents without revealing their significance. What was the point of telling us about the fact that her mother never forgave her father for having sex with her? I do not get it. There are many references in the book that seem to be there for effect.

Also, the author will jump from topic to topic. One minute she is "digging deep into her dakini energy" on a train in India, the next minute she is on some Pakistani beach flirting with a guy who she claims to feel an instant sexual attraction to. How utterly frustrating.

Lastly, I was simply shocked to find 5 spelling mistakes in this book! Did the editor lose interest also? What about spell-check? That is unbelievable!

I really believe this book was only published because of Daniel Pearl. The last third of the book is about the disappearance and subsequent murder of Mr. Pearl. Not that this can justify the utter nonsense that fills this book.

Really enjoyed this book. She's a fantastic writer, quickly drawing the reader into an intimate and exotic world... the book is dramatic and inspiring and will definately provide the reader with much to contemplate. Her story enlightens. Her storytelling skills entertain. A great summer read.

If one expects "Tantrika" to be a book on sex and sex-techniques, they definitely will not find this. It is not a "Kamasutra" book. It is a highly philosophical and serious book written in a simple and enjoyable way. One never gets bored. Actually one will get so much involved in reading they will hesitate to stop or take a break. One becomes one of the characters. One will feel that the author is describing the reader's own emotions and experiences.

It deals with the struggle of a young immigrant women. To read this book, one need not be young or an immigrant. Women and men of all ages, ethnic groups, faiths and race will enjoy the book and get emotionally affected. It will help in attaining peace within oneself and the environment - especially among people. It will help in better understanding one's religion and other faiths. The book helps us respect ourselves and other people. It will help in bringing harmony and peace in the world.

Modern day tensions and problems often lead to stressful married life and broken marriages. The book clearly demonstrates the strong relationship between sexuality and spirituality. Positive female and male energy will contribute to happy married life and the working environment.

This book is not a novel or fiction. It is a true story about the experiences of the author. The author is describing the real world and the shock of the hypocrisy and duality of people. The reader will discover how deeply people have forgotten the real message of their religion today.

Another dimension of this book is that it can serve as excellent reading material for college students in disciplines such as diversity programs, international studies, counseling and rehabilitation, sociology, social work, philosophy, psychology, religion and culture, English creative writing.

In summary, "Tantrika" is a deeply philosophical and very enjoyable book. It opens the mind of the reader. Everybody gets benefited in both their spiritual and real worlds.

Tantrika is one woman's journey to India and Pakistan is search of spirituality and discovery of her roots. Along the way she meets many characters, some warm and wonderful some a bit shady. The journey ends suddenly and you are left wondering what it all meant. The story is interesting never the less, even though the writing is sloppy and the story goes all over the place. The book feel more like a random brain dump that a coherent story. The personal and political are interwoven aimlessly.

This book is, no doubt, one of the most interesting, fantastic books I have ever had the pleasure of reading!

Not only is this book heartwarming, it is a teaching about cultures, races and the mental anguish of human beings.

The author has written this story of her own life to be anyone's life. Men, women, girls, boys and families of all cultures and races will find this book very interesting.

I, as a sixty-year-old female, lived every minute of Asra Nomani's journey of life, death, sexual feelings and love, as well as the spiritual awareness of oneself.

In this story we learn the truth - the truth being that no matter who we are or where we are from, and regardless of the color of our skin, we all want to survive in a world where we can find peace, love and compassion within ourselves. It is the answer to our existence here on this earth with our brothers and sisters of all races and nations!

Last, but not least, the author shows us how families should stick together and love one another no matter what! Life is a long journey.

May God bless the author and her baby boy angel.

There's no use in pretending here. I have known dear Asra for over 15 years and while her writing is strong, her character and heart are even stronger. If you want to visit the far corners of the earth without leaving the comforts of home, hitch a ride with this global nomad. Asra is a fearless writer, who bares her most personal experiences of marriage and romance with her readers as she searches for Tantra narratives and The One. You'll root for her the whole way and bask in the glory that is her son, Shibli, a hopeful light of life that shows us all where all divine love lies--close to the heart and hearth. A message of triumph and union for a troubled world that could use more such narratives.

Tiresome, listless and simply pointless writing. In addition, the book is so hopelessly badly edited. Lastly, how and why this book got published with so many typos and sentences with dangling modifiers is simply bewildering.

Honest and touching. Author has shown very well the relationhip between sex and spiritiality.The book is very Enjobale to read. the author has done a great service by writing this book and helpful the reader in understanding the complexities of the world; and finally to attain peace within oneself and outside.

If you've ever wondered why your relationships don't work out,
why everyone seems to be calm while you're searching desperately for love, why you feel wild when others are tame,
this book will speak to you.
If you want to read a book that's flawlessly, poetically written, that's told in a way that both reads easily but is challenging, that's refreshing and inspiring, this book is one you should read.
If you want your soul to be nourished, and want a book that has the power to change the way you think and feel about yourself and the path you are on in life, read this.
I literally could not put the book down, and walked through New York City's streets reading it, since I simply could not put it away in my bag.
If you want to find your center, want to be rejuvinated,
this book is for you.
I know you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

I very much anticipated reading this book being familiar with Asra Nomani's writing as well as being able to relate to her spiritual quest. While I simply loved the story, the recounting of a long deep spiritual journey, the telling of that story does leave some to be desired. I found the style to be choppy at times and the text was not well edited. These criticisms aside, I highly recommend this book for any one, especially Muslim women, who have ever come to a place in life where you needed to do some searching to find a truly comfortable place in your "religious" beliefs.