First, others of MSR's books are wonderful. Her stories are good, her messages are valuable, and I re'read several of those books that I do have.

However, the excellence of her books are made even more clear when I read this one. FIRESIDE is opinionated and subjective to the extreeme. Seldom have I seen a star fall so fast. Tolerance and respect for others are virtues that I thought those on the path should be striving for. Not lashings out on all and sundry. And who needs to hear about the animals that run around in the room catching balls or sleeping?

I have thrown away my copy of the book. Hence the warning of borrowing before buying this one. And judge for yourself.

At times the conversation between the two friends seemed to get bogged down in semantics. Other times it read like a lecture. However the discussions still give one food for thought. While the author still has the talent for making the reader "feel" as if they are "there", the tone of the book is different from her previous work.

I have read all of Mary Summer Rains books and love every single one of them. Fireside Ifound was as always a most informative piece of art which has given me much insight into my own spritual development. The meditation section was extremly helpful and answered questions for me that I had not yet been able to answer for myself. The two friends spending the night together just having normal girls talk actually made one feel like they were there to, in the candle lit cabin just quietly listening to the conversation at hand. Her friend Sally had to enlighten her about certain issues concerning Goverment involvements, that if she published this information the men in black would want to cart her off to be interragated. The pure innosence of this revelation just goes to show one that Summer Rain is just a jewel. A wonderful loving messenger we have amongst us at this time and a teacher to us worldwide. I will continue to read all of Summer Rains books as I know there will always be something new in there for me to learn. Thankyou Summer.

Claiming to contain the wisdom of the Anasazi, Ancient Echoes, is a disappointment. There is nothing ancient in the ideas expressed. Indeed, most of the ideas expressed are New Age ideas with no connection to the Anasazis, who were the ancestors of today's Pueblos. I found this book insulting to anyone who cares about the heritage of the Pueblos or bout prejudices European-Americans maintain against Native Americans. The Pueblos hold that they are the descendents of the Anasazi and that the "Ancient Ones" never vanished. Scholars have long recognized the same. The National Park Service that maintains Anasazi archaeological sites at places like Mesa Verde, has also long recognized the link between Anasazis and contemporary Pueblos. Yet, this book ignores this knowledge in favor of the author's whim. Mary Summer Rain claims to have received the chants and prayers of the Anasazi through "spirit memory recall." However, the information this technique brought her does not square with the information Pueblos themselves give or with the information archaeologists can verify. Her chants bear no relation to Pueblo religious practice and her description of Anasazi society contradicts what is known for certain about the Anasazi. The "Anasazi" ceremonies suggested, like the Phoenix Dance, have never been known among the Pueblos. Indeed the very suggestion that this dance was held "twice a year" (p. 125) goes against Puebloan practice (see Alfonso Ortiz, The Tewa World, 1969). Similarly, there is absolutely no evidence that the Anasazi were enamoured with crystals, (pp. 98, 134, 144) that women were "welcomed into the Hunter Society" (p. 22) or that they traveled about in Star Vehicles (pp.118, 188). This book should be classified as fiction, or as a treatise on New Age thought. In no way should this book be taking as a serious portrayal of Anasazi life. Indeed, it perpetuates many stereotypes Europeans have long held regarding Native Americans disregarding the appeals of Native American scholars that non-Indians stop using Indians to legitimize their own beliefs.

This book,the many chants ect. are beutiful!If nothing else,they are very calming,soothing and interesting.I felt as if I was taken back in time,to a place very far away.To a wonderful place with extradinary people.Mary summer rain has the remarkable ability to captivate her readers with profound wisdom bought forth in a simple,easy to understand manner.Like so many of her other books ,this is a book you will read over and over.I highly recommend it.

Mary Summer Rain answers to the highest calling: that of her heart and soul. This collection of prayers, chants, and poems that she received from the Anasazi through a spiritual connection is something we can read and reread and use in our daily lives. I highly recommend this to anyone, who can appreciate heartfelt messages from the soul paying respect to the forces that drive us: the Great Spirit, Mother Nature, and our brothers and sisters across the world.

Although I really enjoyed this book, I felt that much of the information she presented was alluded to and not explained to the reader. This left me bothered. I wanted a braver approach to the material that she tackles. Metaphysical or Spiritual books lack in effectiveness when the author is the only one experiencing the revelations. I didn't feel I was given a clear opportunity to relate. I was hoping for some more profound insights...the 'aha' to come. This was the first book that I have read by Mary Summer Rain, and it is one of her earliest works. I would be interested to read one of her more recent publications, since her subject matter is so interesting, and I enjoy her straight-forward style of writing.

Mary Summer Rain has captured, and proliferated in writing, the true nature of the quintessential lucid dreamer, the dreamwalker. For those others who have reviewed this book and have found it to not possess the pragmatic answers they expected, be reminded that not all questions in this walk are answered. "When the student is ready, the teacher will come."