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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Review - Guy's Odyssey by Seth Bleuer

Redemption…
In the search of lost happiness...
A second chance?

REVIEW:

“Only the dead have seen the end of war”.

This quote was brought back to life by Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (a movie from 2001), where it appears at the beginning of the film as a motto. Whether it belongs to Plato or not, whether General Douglas McArthur mistakenly mentioned it in a speech or not, has no importance for us or for the novel about which I would like to speak to you. In the book it has its meaning in the story.

As I mentioned with another occasions, the majority of our visitors and in generally, those who like to read belong to the fair sex, regardless of age. Yes, dudes, it’s a pity! No one will consider you less “macho” if they will see you with a book in your hand, and this (figure it!) will do you well. Even the brain is like a muscle that should be exercised, not just the biceps. Let's come back... so, girls, if you see that both the movie and the book are about or have as subject the war, do not make a parallel between the two of them because you will be wrong. The book will not abound with violent scenes like the movie. Now, do not understand that this odyssey is a soapy book. Again no. The subject and the drive of the book is the war, but the main characters are the man and his soul.

As for the quote that I recalled, its meaning is that life itself is a struggle. That only the death brings serenity and peace, and while you are still alive, you have to fight. Important is to which part of the barricade you’ll find yourself: on the good guys’ side or of the villains’. Under the veneer of civilization, and after a few thousand years of different religions, morals, ethics, and all sorts of philosophies, we are still there: wild, always on scuffle, selfish and cruel.

Redemption…

In the search of lost happiness...

A second chance?

Yes, as I said, Guy's Odyssey is not a soapy book, but it's about love too. About the lost love and about the one that is just before our eyes and we are too blind to see it.

Camaraderie...

The journey…

Guy's odyssey is a spiritual one. He will also have to fight the cyclops, mermaids and witches just like old Odysseus. But Guy's monsters are only his. They are his personal demons that he has to defeat in order to get well to his Penelope.

Demons…

The war has to be lived, it cannot be explained or fully understood by someone who has not gone through it him/herself, and the army comradery is something that transcends nationality, religion and culture.

But... (why always must be a but...) even the returning home is a challenge, and many will lose this personal battle. Ares is a possessive and stingy God. Not many who were under his wings, were allowed to leave him. And whoever stepped on his tracks knows that he's a liar too.

Enjoy the reading…
on sale for $0.99 until June 26th and then goes up to $4.99!
About the author:
Seth Bleuer is an author and veteran who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He currently lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife and kids, by way of the Midwest. When he’s not reading or writing he can be found playing in the mud at obstacle races with his wife, Amanda. To see what Seth is up to check out his very originally named website or find him on:

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for the review and the kind words.