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The House
On receiving the very thing she wants-a divorce and the power to sell their house-over which they have fought the past year-Anna Manning learns that Edward, her soon-to-be ex-husband is dying from cancer. Anna takes him home to die in the house she has fought so vigorously to sell. But letting go of someone who has caused so much pain in your life doesn't come easily. Edward has changed. There are Anna and Edward's four children, three of whom who are married and struggling to endow their families with meaning and purpose. Edward's terminal illness provokes her to understand the present, rooted in a wellspring of the past and pouring into a future without him. The House shows what happens when one adopts the belief All hold regret and are seeking forgiveness. Our salvation rests in the hands of others-most particularly the ones we love, and who have treated us wrongly.
- GenresParentingNonfiction
312 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Anjuelle Floyd
7 books466 followersClick here, http://www.freado.com/users/settings/..., and read to the opening of Dancing Siva the first of 8 interconnected short stories comprising my linked novel, Keeper of Secrets…Translations of an Incident and and excerpt of my novel, The House.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2011
While I am not a mainstream mum (I homebirthed our first child) I am also not a mum that leans towards the wild and weird lifestyle that some do.
Put simply, I don't do birth art, candles, music, chants, belly casts or meditations. So when I was leant this book I was very hesitant as it is about how to draw a specific piece of artwork to aid in mediations for your birth.
However I strangely loved it, and I drew the artwork!
Rather than art I would view this more as a study pneumonic. The book discusses birth and in particular reflecting on what your previous births may have been like. The book helps you to see that even in a wonderful and straight forward birth we still encounter obstacles and hurdles (such as doubt) that require overcoming.
The drawing of the artwork is purely about creating a visual reminder that the hurdles, twists and turns exist and that each step draws us closer to our goal (of having a baby).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a super quick read (1 hour). I found drawing the labyrinths quite refreshing. I would recommend this book to every pregnant mum. Particular those who have already experienced birth (perhaps it would be a great reflective tool post birth as well). Definetly a book for the last trimester.
Put simply, I don't do birth art, candles, music, chants, belly casts or meditations. So when I was leant this book I was very hesitant as it is about how to draw a specific piece of artwork to aid in mediations for your birth.
However I strangely loved it, and I drew the artwork!
Rather than art I would view this more as a study pneumonic. The book discusses birth and in particular reflecting on what your previous births may have been like. The book helps you to see that even in a wonderful and straight forward birth we still encounter obstacles and hurdles (such as doubt) that require overcoming.
The drawing of the artwork is purely about creating a visual reminder that the hurdles, twists and turns exist and that each step draws us closer to our goal (of having a baby).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a super quick read (1 hour). I found drawing the labyrinths quite refreshing. I would recommend this book to every pregnant mum. Particular those who have already experienced birth (perhaps it would be a great reflective tool post birth as well). Definetly a book for the last trimester.
May 2, 2022
This book is about approaching birth using both brain hemispheres. I definitely liked the book and it has made me look into the other offers the author has and find more resources from her to use with my clients. As a birth doula, I am getting more and more frustrated with this 'informational' approach clients demand from us, and losing the essence of what really a birth companion means.
June 23, 2023
I’ve owned a few copies of Pam’s book, Labyrinth of Birth, but I’ve lent them out and am hoping they are still be passed from hand to hand! I draw a Labyrinth or as I call it, a Laborinth with each of my Doula families and we discuss this hero’s journey. Today I am waiting for a fresh new baby to be born and for this newborn family to walk out of their Laborinth together. It’s a beautiful visual for moms and dads to meditate on in the waiting days and then waiting hours. A beautiful contrast to what some fear based, medicine, drug centric societies feed the minds of strong healthy able bodied birth givers! 🌀
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April 28, 2016Hurray, it's finally out! I've been waiting for this book for a couple of months and I'm so excited that it's finally here (note to self: go write review on Amazon . . .)
And it's wonderful. I have already been using the LabOrynth (birth labyrinth) in my childbirth classes and with doula clients. I've even shared the model as applicable to all kinds of transitions with my religious education colleagues. But I found lots of things that will enrich my sharing in this book.
Things I especially like: the Mother and Child labyrinths from the Hopi people. The Animal Labyrinths of the ancient Nazca people. A picture of a pregnant woman with labyrinths and spirals drawn all over her body, making me want to try that as a mehndi pattern on a live pregnant woman. A deeper understanding of the footprint part of the LabOrinth. Awesome description of Ovarian Breathing. For whatever reason, the whole section on death & rebirth. the LabOrinth Birth Story. Inspiration to make myself a clay labyrinth. And Most of All: the collection of "seeds" in the back of the book!
The quote that calls to me:
"It is an act of humility to ask the Mother to take your grief and pain because it is too great to heal by yourself." (p. 82)
And it's wonderful. I have already been using the LabOrynth (birth labyrinth) in my childbirth classes and with doula clients. I've even shared the model as applicable to all kinds of transitions with my religious education colleagues. But I found lots of things that will enrich my sharing in this book.
Things I especially like: the Mother and Child labyrinths from the Hopi people. The Animal Labyrinths of the ancient Nazca people. A picture of a pregnant woman with labyrinths and spirals drawn all over her body, making me want to try that as a mehndi pattern on a live pregnant woman. A deeper understanding of the footprint part of the LabOrinth. Awesome description of Ovarian Breathing. For whatever reason, the whole section on death & rebirth. the LabOrinth Birth Story. Inspiration to make myself a clay labyrinth. And Most of All: the collection of "seeds" in the back of the book!
The quote that calls to me:
"It is an act of humility to ask the Mother to take your grief and pain because it is too great to heal by yourself." (p. 82)
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February 4, 2016I'm really loving this book. I wish I had had it for my first pregnancy/postpartum period. The labyrinth is a perfect metaphor for the birth and postpartum process. I love that England acknowledges that it can take up to three years (not the six weeks the medical profession often cites) to move through postpartum difficulties. I definitely intend to make my own labyrinth and work through the meditations and exercises in this book during my current pregnancy and hope to use the images and guidance through my postpartum period. Highly recommended. Might pair nicely with Birthing from Within but I'm not finding it a necessary pairing. This book stands alone for sure.
April 21, 2012
This book helped me so much! Pam England is amazing and brings such insight and ancient truth to modern birthing. The labyrinth is a great metaphor of giving birth and the post natal experience. We are warriors and powerful beings capable of making our way through this labyrinth and coming out even stronger and wiser than we were before. Read this book and make your birthing experience an even more radical one!
July 31, 2010
I love Pam England and her work. What this book offers are excellent tools for the inner journey of birth and birth preparation...and also to bring into other aspects of your labyrinth life journey.
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February 8, 2016A bit repetitive, but is an excellent resource for creating personalized meditations. There were a couple of pages I really liked- the section on brain waves and meditation was interesting.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews