River

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River’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (4)
currently-reading‎ (5)

read‎ (10)
did-not-finish‎ (0)

nonfiction‎ (8)
semiautobiography‎ (4)

wellness‎ (3)
historical-fiction‎ (1)

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River is Currently Reading

River is currently reading

East of Eden

by John Steinbeck

bookshelves: semiautobiography, currently-reading

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(page 25 of 601)
— Aug 03, 2026 06:16AM

Aug 03, 2026 06:16AM

River is currently reading

Woman-to-Woman Sexual Violence: Does She Call It Rape? (New England Gender, Crime & Law)

by Lori B. Girshick

bookshelves: currently-reading, nonfiction

Reading for the 2nd time

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(page 21 of 201)
— Jun 30, 2026 10:04AM

Jun 29, 2026 10:27AM

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Peering Through the Veil: The Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Meditation and Inner Peace

by Debbie Takara Shelor (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, wellness, semiautobiography

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River said: " Shelor is charming. She sounds approachable and warm and- at least to me- did a good job of sounding like that interesting friend who, although you don't necessarily agree with them, is fun to be around. Shelor professes to witnessing miraculous appa Shelor is charming. She sounds approachable and warm and- at least to me- did a good job of sounding like that interesting friend who, although you don't necessarily agree with them, is fun to be around. Shelor professes to witnessing miraculous apparitions, curing cancer, all the good New Testament stuff.

Unfortunately, Shelor is more interested in selling you her essential oils than she is talking about meditation. While she does provide step-by-steps, she over-promises and over-sells, while talking at length about herself and her spiritual experiences. I don't hate that- but that's not what this book purported itself to be. Some of the most seemingly interesting parts of her life- how she came to remain Christian while very quickly dismissing the whole Church and text of the Bible, how her relationship with Raven fell apart, why they were still together- what influences led her to the 'Native American' practices she purports to follow, her belief in (seemingly?) a Jungian oversoul, as well as dragons- we are whisked past all these metaphorical doors in the narrative, which remain closed to us as she shows us her essential oils again. Debbie, I do not want essential oils. We are in a meditation book, and your takes on meditation are, unfortunately, giving Yahoo Answers.

As a reader, I am acutely aware of the deaths that have occurred as a result of using essential oils in place of cancer treatments, or in non-traditional sweat-lodge tourist faith settings. But what Debbie does well is project a kind of whimsical innocence that would put squarely out of your mind that she was capable of profiteering malice... until we get about halfway through and she starts elevator-pitching you even more aggressively. I don't like to DNF books, but I had to set this one aside.

I may return to it in the future, but I think this serves as an interesting case study of a book in why people fall prey to wellness grifters- because, let's be blunt, that's her job. She's charismatic, but this is her job. If I was a more vulnerable, lonely person, I would likely be drawn to Shelor's promises- not just the wellness-related ones, but the image she projects of someone who moves effortlessly, making friends who share her worldview everywhere. If I had deeper social needs, I may not have noticed the doors she chose not to open. If you are someone in such a position, I would urge you to be cautious- both with Shelor, and people like her.

However, if you are reading this because you want a lens into the brain of a very certain type of wellness white woman, this is an excellent and informative read. It would do well as required reading in a college sociological or religious studies course, perhaps alongside The Book of Margery Kempe. ...more "

progress:

(page 85 of 216)
— May 28, 2026 07:20AM

May 28, 2026 07:37AM · see review

See all 5 books that River is reading…