NONFICTION - Oct. 10, 1993

LESSONS IN EVIL, LESSONS FROM THE LIGHT A True Story of Satanic Abuse and Spiritual Healing by Gail Carr Feldman, Ph.D. (Crown: $20; 306 pp.) When Barbara Maddox (not her real name) began counseling sessions with psychologist Gail Feldman, she believed her problems stemmed from vaguely remembered sexual molestation by her grandfather. As it turns out that’s the least of her worries. “Lessons in Evil, Lessons From the Light,” is, in part, an interesting but problematic account of the ritual satanic abuse endured by Barbara throughout her entire childhood. It’s also about Gail Feldman’s personal life--a strained marriage, death of loved ones--and her increasing (some would say unprofessional) involvement in Barbara’s case.

As more of Barbara’s horrifying memories gradually resurface under hypnosis, it’s clear both women must come to terms with the huge amount of evil and sadness in the world. So far, so good. But things take a completely unexpected turn when, well over halfway through the book, Feldman suddenly gets involved with past-life regression and uses it as a therapeutic tool. Wait a minute. A leap like that requires early warning, whether or not you’re a believer in reincarnation. It seems that Feldman might have benefited from a professional co-writer, someone with the objectivity and literary experience to integrate the story’s many parts and help with some almost embarrassingly stilted passages.