Judy Azar LeBlanc, Many Faces to Many Places

A short but very powerful story of a soul's quest for truth. At first I thought it was a children's book because of the animation. Then I realized that it was the style that allows the reader to experience the journey along with the protagonist.

Judy Azar Le Blanc has given us an allegorical imaginative story of a young girl named Many Faces. Planning escape from the custody of her guardian, a witch, Mr. Moon comes to her aid. Mr. Moon directs her to the hidden keys, As she stealthily leaves, she locks the witch in her cabin, tosses the keys and her adventure to freedom and Many Places begins.

As Many Faces continues her journey to Many Places she meets Mr. Time, Elusive, the butterfly of happiness, and Mr. Loneliness. Mr. Willow offered her rest. As she slept she dreamed of the Shadow of Death and the choice of Freedom. As she chose Freedom and continued on in her search of Many Places, she met The Dove of peace, and the Eyes of Faith.

Following Eyes of Faith, Many Faces didn't see the storm coming. At the first notice of trouble she turned from following Eyes of Faith to take cover with Deception, Greedy, and Stingy. She soon learned about Betrayal, Hate, and Envy.

Turning her back on these negative influences she is led to Mount Splendor. On her climb she met Old Man Pain, who sent her on the path to discovering Love, Beauty, and Truth.

Many Faces strayed from the path and came upon the Land of the Forgotten, and the Lost Kingdom. During her sojourn there she learned to wear masks, and bow to the God of Money and to dwell in the Palace of Pleasure. She again found herself in bondage.

Escaping the tyranny of King Ekaf, Many Faces returned to following Eyes of Faith to resume the Ascent up Mount Splendor, and to once again discover faith, peace, and love. At the top she met the teacher, the veiled man, and found the secret of unveiling her own spirit.

Le Blanc has a gift for expressing profound truths simply with impact. I personally found the following to be especially insightful. Many Faces is confronted by the voice of fear. Many Faces stood up to fear and refused to turn back. She then heard his words: "To be paralyzed in the face of fear is only temporary, but to never go beyond is crippling for life."

The profound insights of "Many Faces to Many Places" will linger long after you have finished reading this remarkable story.

Richard R. Blake

San Leandro, CA

Very rarely a book comes along that impresses me with it's wit, charm and clarity in dealing with all the emotions, traits and frailties of the complex animals known as human beings, as well as Many Faces to Many Places by Judy Azar LeBlanc.

LeBlanc's latest book shines like a diamond in a coal mine, and it is a gem of rare quality indeed. Her metaphors are unique and crystal clear, and offer insight and timeless wisdom into the art of living life to it's fullest. Her use of familiar characters in a very illuminating manner brought smile after smile to my face as I read this nearly magical book. To author Judy Azar LeBlanc, Bravo! Excellent!

Many Faces to Many Places is an outstanding, thoroughly enjoyable, and powerful book. One that everyone should read, and a book that anyone reading it will benefit from.

Judy Azar LeBlanc is the author of Things My Father Never Taught Me, The Compromise and The Unveiling.

Very rarely a book comes along that impresses me with its wit, charm and clarity in dealing with all the emotions, traits and frailties of the complex animal known as human beings, as well as Many Faces to Many Places by Judy Azar LeBlanc.

LeBlanc's latest book shines like a diamond in a coal mine and is a gem is of rare quality indeed. Her metaphors are unique and crystal clear and offer insight and timeless wisdom into the art of living life to its fullest. Her use of familiar characters in a very illuminating manner brought smile after smile to my face as I read this nearly magical book. To author Judy Azar LeBlanc, Bravo! Excellent!

Many Faces to Many Places is an outstanding, thoroughly enjoyable, and powerful book. One that everyone should read, and a book that anyone reading it will benefit.

Judy Azar LeBlanc is the author of Things My Father Never Taught Me, The Compromise and The Unveiling.

Ray Ward Editor6 @ newbookreviews.org

Life is a riddle, a samassya. Human life is more so. From the time immemorial man has tried to solve the mystery of human life on earth. Holy books - Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Bible, Quran and many others - claim to have final answers to human existence. Scientific treatises by Aristotle to H.G Wells offer explanations but never adequate answers. The fundamental questions such as who am I? Who made me? Why am I here? What is my destiny? What is death? What's after death?' remain unanswered. So the human search goes on. After Ontology the Psychology has opened up inner avenues and human spirit is still diving deep further to solve the riddle of human life on earth.

Human search for its identity among the beings will continue on two levels of 'I'- (the inner self) and outer self, the world (the society). Here is one such an inquiry into inside one's spirit in 'Many Faces to Many Places' written by Judy Azar LeBlanc, author of several books on spirituality. The 'inquiry into inside through' is brought out allegorically using the medium of fiction, and that is done beautifully by the author. The sum and substance of the book is graphically scripted on the back cover of the book, thus: 'Many Faces to Many Places is a spell-binding three-part story of a courageous spirit who, with her unique gift of communicating with nature, takes an extraordinary journey through the world of timeless knowledge. Guided by faith, Many Faces is led through a land that reveals a succession of the hidden mysteries of the soul. When she thinks that she has completed her journey, she loses her faith. Now alone, she finds herself in a land that is designed to satisfy the subtle but powerful passions of the flesh, and she then discovers that she had missed the ultimate truth. Many Faces to Many Places is a work that allegorically travels to the inner places of the spirit in search for timeless knowledge and truth'

The name Many Faces is reflective of a young and hungry soul like Mary or Martha. She escapes from the clutches of a witch (Avidhya -ignorance) and is guided by 'Eyes of Faith'. Many Faces encounters both friends and foes of the human soul - the capital virtues and vices. Finally Many Faces along with the Dove of peace, Eyes of Faith and Elusive the Golden Butterfly of Happiness reaches the radiant light of Freedom that engulfs her, and she feels born again.

The readers will find the author's reflection on time, nature, life, birth, marriage, love, faith, death and freedom. These are put forward from a new angle though the themes are age-old but will certainly help the novices and the aspirants of spiritual life. For example, "Faith is the evidence of things not seen, but the hope for them. Therefore, hope for that which is not seen, and know that which is hoped for - will come about." (pg. 86)... "Love is like the sun. It has no price, for it is a gift that is given freely to all of life. Therefore, when it comes to you, receive it joyfully and from it give freely, by doing so, it will grow and strengthen. Hoard it, and it will surely die." (pg. 80)... And so there are many for the meditation. For the lack of space we do not quote more.

The language of the author is mellifluous. Read pages 18, 39 and 87

Many Faces to Many Places is the allegorical spiritual journey of a young girl named Many Faces. At the very beginning of this story, Many Faces is imprisoned by a witch who won't allow the girl her freedom but with the help of the Moon Many Faces escapes her bonds. Once free, however, the girl is confused. She isn't exactly sure what she is supposed to do with her new found freedom and her new life. Now the real story begins as Many Faces explores the world as she meets and interacts with the River of Time, the Great Golden Butterfly of Happiness, the Eyes of Faith, the Dove of Peace, Loneliness, Betrayal, Greed, Deception, Pain, and Destiny.

Though the actual story would make a pretty decent children's adventure story, the real value of this work is in the allegorical nature of the piece. The spiritual journey is fraught with challenges and obstacles that are sometimes difficult to see and fully understand when you are actually in the situation. This story illustrates the potential challenges along the spiritual journey in an entirely different way so that the reader can distance him or herself from the process long enough to actually see his or her own obstacles and barriers.

Reviewed by Tami Brady

Heather Froeschl at book review says that Judy Azar LeBlanc Many Faces to Many Places is an Inspirational and Timeless story.

In a story that is full of beautifully descriptive moments, the reader is led through one soul's journey and is allowed to witness its transitions. "Many Faces" communicates with nature and her surrounding elements, she is guided by faith and truth, and eventually comes to find herself.

Judy Azar LeBlanc has written a memorable book that is inspirational and timeless. Her creativity abounds and her ability to impart words of wisdom through her characters is uniquely executed. You won't soon forget the journey in this tale and may be inspired to take a closer look at your own.

Many Faces to Many Places by Judy Azar LeBlanc is one of the most inspirational books I have read. She has the art of taking many spiritual teachings and boiling them down to an entertaining, easy to read book. Which is much more complicated than writing volume's on any one topic.

It is so difficult for many of us to digest many of the teachings we read today. It's just too easy to say "I don't understand" or "they are talking about someone else - not me!" The style of Many Faces is such that you are caught up in the story and finding yourself saying "Hey, that's me! I get it now."

The story alone is delightful, but what sets this book a part is that it hits home without you realizing it. We can identify and empathize with the main character.

Never before have I been so impacted by so few pages. It is a must read for young and old!