The Stranger on the Threshold Once again, Paul Bura has produced a superb work, which we have all been waiting for. Whether you are into nature, crop circles, standing stones, the spiritual life or just the journey for its own sake, there is something for everyone here. Paul Bura's rare ability to work with humour, vision and compassion is a gift that makes his writing immediately accessible. Maybe that is why he touches the heart so. “Congratulations, a brilliant book. “Oh yes!” comes from my lips many times as I read, and I wholeheartedly agree with the concept of ‘REMEMBERING’: a book to be picked up regularly for that very reason.” Margaret Bradley. (Isle of Wight) “I read your book at one stroke. I particularly liked THE STRANGER OF THE THRESHOLD, similar to my own experiences in the last 10 months. THE ALLOTMENT is very tender and heart moving as incidentally, all the other stories are too, and over all the great message of LOVE LOVE LOVE. I welcome all kinds of books like yours which give so much courage, strength and love to others.” Gisela Fulop. (Switzerland) “I enjoyed your book immensely. Some of it I found almost beyond comprehension. I wish I could describe the depths and heights as you have.” Vi Foad (Gorham, Maine. USA) “This latest book is a collection of essays, articles and stories, that will make you laugh, cry, and experience every other emotion in between. It will inspire, encourage, and uplift you, and leave you feeling that the world is truly not such a bad place after all.” Jan and Mike Pendragon (ONE VISION) “Last week I was feeling a bit down and depressed and on Wednesday came in from work at lunchtime feeling really washed out. I got myself a drink and went into the conservatory and sat down with your book. The more I read, the more I tingled – I was aware of healing energies flowing through me and by the time I had put the book down I felt totally different, re-energised and no longer depressed.” Judie. “After reading The Stranger on the Threshold my friend Sue, who loved it, quite suddenly opened up to the New Age and a more spiritual way of thinking, the wonderful thing is after years of shutting it all out in the belief that it was all ‘of the devil’ etc., etc., such a remarkable change, as she says: removing these blocks of years has transformed her life.” I.B. Isle of Wight. “Paul Bura is coming to terms in a most constructive way with the suffering that he has experienced from polio and later a brain tumour whose removal had triggered serious epileptic fits (now controlled with the drugs Tegretol and Cloberzam. PB). He not only makes us laugh and cry but levels with us, so that we feel our own suffering is understood. His latest book, The Stranger on the Threshold, consists of parables, stories and poems of Compassion and Love that help us to find those qualities within ourselves.” BARBARA WADDELL (Reviewed in BLACK SHEEP Magazine). “Congratulations! The Stranger of the Threshold is one compelling message after another – thank you for writing it. I read Stephanie’s lovely words. I knew I could never reach her heights (of expression), and heights are where your writing takes me – it’s impossible to put the book down. I just kept on saying to myself that I must read the next passage! Thank you for your words.” PAM WOOD. Selborne, Hants. “I have just read STRANGER ON THE THRESHOLD and really enjoyed it. Well done – another goodie! I always feel touched when I read your stuff because you are so very present – you jump out of the book! It’s like we are sitting across from each other having a cup of tea with you telling me the stories personally.” Tara Bodhi. Brighton. “Fate has a way of tapping you on the back of the head, as my 1980s Gurdjieff teacher taught me up at Findhorn. After the death of Peggy Bunt I was collecting the post at her flat and along came this package from Anglesey, “Please will you review my new book, Peggy?” At the time, I felt this was something to pass on to ‘someone more worthy’. Then I contacted Paul Bura and a quick get-to-know-you exchange showed me that I knew what he’s been going through, the polio, the brain tumour, the epilepsy, and if anyone should be able to see into the mind of this author, then my life experiences and recent work at a Head Injury centre might qualify me for that. ‘Okay, I’ll see what I can do!’     This book is a mixture of different genres of writing, gently interwoven contrasts of Paul’s personal experiences, essays and poetry. Paul has an easy-to-read conversational style, which reminds the reader that there is a real human being at the other end of the text, “Hey, this guy’s talking to me – to ME!” He has chosen to gain rapport with you in the very first chapter, explaining where he is “coming from”. The font size is lovely and large and the print so clear, for those of us with failing eyesight, and that now is a determining factor of whether I read a book all the way through.     You cannot get bored with this book; there is so much choice. You do not have to read it linear order. The information is both instructive and entertaining, blended in with Paul’s anecdotes. But above all, there are serious messages in this book. Why, I ask myself, is he reprinting certain pieces now? The answer came in his “Crop Circles”: “Why now?”…in your heart of hearts, you know the answer to that.” After offering you information, he puts the ball back into your court, to encourage you to ask questions, to look at your own life, to look at the world, to remember spiritual knowledge and skills of by-gone ages, and to return to the here and now. Is the answer to all our problems Love and Compassion? “But what about…justice, law and order; control…?” you automatically ask. “If I don’t protect myself, I’ll suffer pain.”     Then you see what Paul is demonstrating in his parable stories. Ah, the penny drops. What is the answer?? Religion? That can bring back fear, guilt. Vicious circle. Paul encourages you to look again at karma, and says to leave it all to the Infinite to sort out, but hints that we could shorten this karmic process if we became more aware of how we are living our lives. I particularly liked the story about the madman in “The Blue Pond”. Working with people and children who are often bullied, it showed me another aspect of how to deal with madness inside others, and our own anger at those who are bullying us. This book could be used in schools and prisons, to help children and adults see that there is more to life than destructive behaviour, and to see that, out there, there is another way of life – a new way of thinking and living, where love, joy and laughter can prevail; where the norm is being kind to all of nature and listening to the messages that Nature gives us – if the beauty of the flowers and animals doesn’t register, then a walloping big Crop Circle might send a cryptic message from the Earth Goddess to wake people up!! MARIANNE GRIFFIN (in the earthly absence of a very much missed Peggy Bunt!)A FOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL BOOK REVIEW Price: £6.99 [back] [order]