Thursday, 6 June 2013

BOOK OF THE DAY: Spell On Me by Serge Smith


by Serge Smith




BOOK DESCRIPTION
A transcendental experience dramatically changes the life of a young, career-minded professional hurtling towards middle age. Subsequently, cracks begin to appear in his well-ordered way of life. Even the most secure aspects of his world, which previously underpinned the stability of his existence, suddenly now seem alien, indefensible, and directionless. He begins to question the value of his own status in his adopted world, and sets out on a quest for a new meaning to his life: it must exist, the essence of it seems almost tangible, but how to reach it? From a series of allusions, disturbing dream sequences, visions and experiences, and from the conversations with the people close to him, the author, in the impressionistic form of a daily journal, takes the reader with him on his voyage of discovery, moving forward sometimes by intuition, sometimes by touch. It seems that the words even to express what he is seeking will forever elude him…until one final, defining moment.


AUTHOR BIO




The author has made a successful career as a lawyer. However, over a period of time, he realized that this was not the only thing he could and wanted to do in life. After much soul-searching, he came to the conclusion that he needed a new mode of expression, one capable of adequately portraying his innermost thoughts, feelings and emotions, as well as his personal life experiences. Part of this search is reflected in his book. Spell on me is his first foray into the world of literary fiction. Like the character in the book, the author tries to be sincere and honest with the reader, but first of all with himself. Always, the overriding theme is a quest for what can be called the ultimate meaning or essence of life.

In his late thirties, the author lives in northern Europe, is married, and is the father to a small son. He counts among his interests reading classical philosophy, attending Aikido classes, studying Xi Gong and playing the piano.


REVIEWS
5.0 out of 5 stars He put a spell on me too May 9, 2013
Format:Kindle Edition
"In the middle of the journey of our life, I found myself in a dark wood, for the straight way was lost", wrote Dante all those centuries ago when he was just 35 years old, half the biblical expectancy of three score and ten (70 years). The author echoes the sentiment in this work with the courage few have been able to summon up at this critical phase in their lives: a time for reflection, a time to look back at achievements, and a time to reassess the future direction of their endeavors.

The author relates how he was presented with a crossroad in his life, as a result of transcendental experience he underwent when walking beside the ocean. Like a magician, Serge Smith puts his spell on the reader leading him/her through his weird dreams, intellectual conversations, meandering paths of his thoughts into the unknown, trying to discover who he is.

He is asking himself most important questions life has to offer. He is looking for answers.


5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing gripping page turner book May 9, 2013
By Camila
Format:Kindle Edition
This is simply that kind of book that grabs your attention from the very first page to the last. The author describes the events happening to him so well that I can easily imagine everything in my mind as if I were experiencing the events myself. He raises questions about life, and some situations that happen in our day-to-day existence, similar in many ways to what I have already found myself. We all find ourselves repeating the same actions everyday, and having the same thoughts all the time, but suddenly we just find ourselves starting to ask why we behave this way, why we have to do that, indeed who we are. In the form of diary, some of these questions are discussed in such a subtle and clever way that one just doesn't want the book to end.
In my opinion, this book is not intended to give you answers, but to make one think more about oneself, and the way one lives one's life -- at least this is what happened to me during my reading of it. I recommend the book to everyone, because I believe all should have the opportunity to travel through its universe, which is somehow very similar to our personal internal universe.

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