Succulent Wild Woman (Paperback)

by Sark (Author) "BATHe nAKeD By MoonLiGHT..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
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. Bubbly, humorous, and at times just far-out, SARK is enjoyable to listen to. Her program, comprised of passages from her 1997 book of the same title, stories, and anecdotes, belongs in public library self-help collections and also in the hands of men who seek a better understanding of the women in their lives.?Barbara Vaughan, Buffalo State Coll. Lib., N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Julia Cameron Author of The Artist's Way "Sark's gentle and effervescent work is a festive, creative catalyst that throws open a wide and generous gate." -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (May 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068483376X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684833767
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,697 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look back to see forward., May 11, 2001

By	Victoria Tarrani "writer, editor, artist, des... (Betwixt FL and CA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Several years ago, I received this book as a gift from my cousin. I read it, but found it difficult because it is filled with hand written pages in wildly colored text and includes line drawings that seemingly have no connection to the text. Yet there is magic in this book and style, and in reading it again, I see why the format is important. Sark reveals herself, without fear or shame, much as a child simply tells the truth or writes letters and numbers with a crayon.

There are many topics in this self-help book, so I will only tell a little about a few of them. What I have discovered is that I have implemented more than I realized in the years since I first read this book.

Go out Wildly and Alone. Sark wrote, "My mother taught me not to wait for a man to buy me flowers. She always said, 'Buy your own flowers, too.' ... and I do." This bit of advice also covers buying something for ourselves simply because we like it. I splurged on some new knit shirts to wear with my jeans -- because I wanted them and I loved the colors.

Old, Alone, and Succulent in Sark's words: "We are studying now to be the old women we will be." Getting older is a trick of fate, but being succulent is putting up pink towels because you want them; dancing in the rain (sans clothing) - well that's my idea of succulence; not fearing to throw your head back and laugh. Tonight I walked down to the park so I could swing.

Faces of Intimacy: "Nobody tells us as little girls that we may fall in love and have moments of hating our beloved..." We build many walls in our goals of self-protection, but ultimately the walls create isolation. Break the walls down. Start simple -- for years I have walked up to strangers to tell them that I like their earrings or shirt or tie. It is not true intimacy, but it is a small opening.

Erotic Robot is a woman in search of herself. This woman has sexual encounters because (1) it is easier than saying no, (2) she is fulfilling someone's fantasies at the expense of her own, (3) to be polite, (4) get it over with so the man would just leave, (5) to make money fast... and many more reasons. The succulence comes when the sensuous woman replaces the erotic robot.

Succulent wild women wear costumes and let their different personalities out to play.

If you want to have fun, have it. This book is fun. Five stars, and the hope that every woman will be as sensuous and expressive as she wants.

Victoria Tarrani

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Succlunt and RICH One of my TOP TEN, May 17, 2000

By	MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

It was the cover with the dancing images that caught my attention, and then I opened the cover and like a child giggled and read and anxiously waited to get to each new page.

I am being reborn, struggling with fears, wants and desires and this book is a GIFT. Finally a book by a woman who is much like me in many ways. Her sections on Blocks to Succulence and Money and Power are proving to be godsends. I am about to re-read the section on Fear. Her opening statement in the money section "Relax your money is not your life" was an eye opener as I have always struggled to make money. When she spoke of the older woman who was in her 70's (page 48) and the flair she had I couldn't help but think of the late Ruth Gordon (Harold and Maude) and how I hope to be like that in my 70's.

On page 51 where she says it is ok to be crabby I laughed so hard. What a true statement. Page 117 is the beginning of her section on the LIES magazines tell us. The damn magazines that say size 12 is BIG and that we must always seek perfection or that most womens <SIC> magazines have the same bloody topics, same lies but differetent Titles each month is or should be enough to get you to throw the damn magazines OUT. Hell even PLAYBOY has nice looking NON Barbie type OVER age 40 women now.

The book is a godsend because it covers food issues, walking, taking time for oneself, dancing, reading, painting, gardening and other everyday pleasures we should take a new look at. The book does NOT tell you how to live you life but simply encourages you to live YOUR life by your rules and not by what others demand.

I guess the author knows the TRUE meaning of "If you do not Love yourself no one else will either".

Now here is a suggestion. Do you know a woman age 40 or over? Someone you adore and care for? Buy her the book as a gift. Not a gift for any other reason than a surprise and to say to her I LOVE you and value you and respect you because you are older and wiser......

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an AMAZING Book!, February 18, 1998

By	"lorizig" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

I love this book-- it's become my "bible" of sorts! I love the honesty, freedom, delightful humor (I'm talking giggle fits!), color, and creativity that comes spilling forth from its handwritten pages! I love the little notes and pictures in the margins-- I'm even inspired to add my own to hers! I love that she "grants you permission" to read the book in random order, backwards, forwards or upside down if you want to (I read it in random order and backwards!). I love that at the end of each section she has a page full of other resources (books, tapes, newsletters, etc.) on the topic she's been writing about, and even suggestions for music to listen to for inspiration! I love that I've been quoting from it to family and friends since I started it and that I've already ordered 3 more copies for friends! I love that I received it for Valentines Day from two succulent and wild people- my Mom and Dad, and strongly recommend it be given to daughters (mothers, aunts, friends, co-workers, grandmas, etc.) everywhere who need a burst of positive energy and colorful inspiration in their lives! Wow.