House As A Mirror of Self

House As A Mirror of Self, by Clare Cooper Marcus; Nicolas-Hays, Inc. Publishing, 2006

Reviewed by Jim Buckham

I recommend this enlightening examination of self through insights of our housing choices. Author Marcus presents an eye-opening study of peoples emotional ties to their houses, apartments, cottages, trailers and other types of dwellings. What, exactly, makes a house a home? House As A Mirror of Self includes many interviews of people in their domestic settings over a 10 year period. They show how their dwellings generally reflects their emotional ties with other people, and may even be substitutes for close or strained relationships--even unresolved issues from childhood. I will never look at a house in the same way! On the other hand, I found Anita Amirrezyani's Blood of Flowers was unfortunately disappointing. The time frame of the story was fascinating, but the story itself was otherwise lacking. If you are looking for fascinating insights to the past, present and future, try Wisdomkeepters: Meeting with Native Spritual Elders, by Steve Wall and Harvey Arden. It demonstrates how we mourn lost opportunities while retaining hope as we move forward.