Surprisingly (!!!) I have read both these books. I wish I had them here now, but I'm at a hotel in Florida somewhere, and they are at home, so...
In general, I like these books. But i like to read many books on the same subject , especially when it comes to astrology. I find that they all add something. I find the thing with our karmic debts, seems a difficult issue, as it is not easy to see and more further accept, the places where we need to "correct" in life. The interesting thing about the North nodes though, is that they are translated in Kaballah (same thing, different terms), as our TIKOUN, meaning what we need to repair. At least here, we also get hints on "how", which is a very important part of the exploration...
After I have read that in a couple of Kabbala sources, but also in Jen Spiller's "Astrology for the Soul" (which deals specificly with the North node, and more in depth), I can say that I identify, but it is not easy. I guess a part of the "work" needed to be done... These are the most hidden and difficult things that come up for us, way more archetypal that "what happened with as because of the way our parents treated us", and so on... It's things that are not obvious, and that no shrink can tell you either...
Since mentioned, his book on Retrogrades and Reincarnation, is definitely good, and has a very interesting breakdown of teh three stages of teh retrograde affect. he summarises it in three sentences, and I have read them many times, and still hardly understand them--I do believe though that these sentences are KEY to explore the retro issues...
And well, this book is quite depressing to my opinion, as after I realise how complex I have become becasue my venus is retro, I still don't know what to do with it (especially on a bad day), so understanding how it came to be, in this case, is not helpful yet. Maybe in a few years, or after many more re-readings, I will find a productive way to use that information...
i like these books. They have some profound honesty in them, they don't just try to please.... One can definitely tell Shulman was passionate and sincere... Definitely original work...