Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: reality

  • Saturation

    Saturation

    If you are into dystopian fiction, are looking for something which appears as deconstructed as the world it portrays, that  allows you to draw your own conclusion as to time and place, Saturation from William Lane could well be the book for you.

    Set in a time when the earth has reached its limits of just about everything, the population has been culled and the remaining people are living by strict rules, librarian Ambrose and Urslua are desperate to have a child, even though it is frowned upon.

    They are also desperate to save what remaining books are in the library as the ‘Dictator’ is determined to stamp out all earlier forms of knowledge, thereby being able to influence or manipulate, the people to a specific way of thinking and governing.

    The quest to having a child is at times the focus, the lack of knowledge over simple matters and the vague memory of past creatures, is concerning and the daily edicts from the text producing ‘Yoremind’ are also now very relevant in relation to modern day events and lifestyle.

    Lack of energy, lack of explanation in some areas, the general confusion that permeates the characters and what remains of the earlier civilisation creates a sense of ennui, which is uncannily easy to understand.

    While the plotline tends to wander around somewhat, the similarities with the occurrences in today’s world  relating to the deliberate changing or whitewashing of historical facts, the desire to reduce the capacity and availability of Libraries, the dismantling or attempt to dismantle Universities, the rise and rise of ‘Dictator’ style government  and the current style of communication of Government policy through alternate mediums, makes this unusual book somewhat prescient.

    Is Saturation a clarion call to arms; to wake up and start engaging in the world as it is before it is far too late, or a combination of a raft of other dystopian ‘realities’ cobbled together to create an interesting view of what lies in the future. This question is yours to answer.

  • T

    T

    Modern, hard hitting, truthful and yet gentle, Allan Fyfe has captured the true devastation of the world of drugs, dealing and reality in his novel “T”, a work that captures the blurred lines of reality that exist once the pathway to drug use is chosen.

    T is or was once a young man with a future, a pathway to a career, a passion for music and a mother who, while dysfunctional at times loved him. Growing up in the Mandurah region of Peel he learned the hard way about survival, until he took that first step into a world only known to users.

    In one-day T is reminded of the fragility of life. Going to his dealer mate Gulp place he sees an ambulance outside his silo home, two policemen looking on smoking cigarettes. In a series of disastrous minutes, one of the ambo’s removing Gulps body falls through a rotten timber step and the body on the gurney becomes airborne.

    Several hours later he is driving along the road to Yunderup when he stops as a body appears to fall from heaven directly in front ofthis car!  It was simply all too much. This introduces T or Timothy or Tim as he was once, in a manner that is careful, gentle with words and eloquently creates the emotion required that runs throughout the duration of the story.

    An acceptance of hopelessness, of bewilderment and a deep sense of loss, not understood, but recognised runs alongside the delusional microcosm of a world out of touch with reality. Central to the story is Lori-Bird a quietly decisive figure, T does not treat well, as well as a cast of others who populate the seedy side of town, all out for a deal, all looking for something unattainable.

    Gulp, although dead, adds a little heavenly wisdom from time to time, which occasionally brings some sanity into T’s very mixed up world; a world where he realises he is a mess of humanity but feels powerless to be able to do anything about it.

    Fyfe has fashioned a powerful tale based around the history of the Peel region and the indigenous people, the overwhelming distortion prevalent in the world of meth-amphetamine use, the lack of any ability to make any sort of rational decision and the tragedy of a young life gone, wasted forever.

    Will there be any sort of peace, or happiness for T or has he gone far too far over the edge to ever find his way back? Does he even want too is the question posed, as Fyfe presents very cleverly and clearly the all too real world that is a very normal part of modern day society.

    “T”: is it a novel that needed to be written; Yes, it is. Is it a comfortable read, in parts, yes, as it has some very much larger than life characters and a Shetland pony. A wry sense of humour often and unexpectedly occurs, to lighten the moment but overall, the ever present sense of hopelessness, of futility and desperation tends to make this a book best read gently, in your own space and time.

  • The Reality Slap (2nd Edition)

    The Reality Slap (2nd Edition)

    Life isn’t always a bed of roses; at some point in life, each of us goes through a life-altering event, which Dr Russ Harris calls a ‘Reality Slap’. This newly revised updated edition of his book ‘The Reality Slap’ provides strategies which the readers can put in place, to acknowledge their pain from the adverse event which has befallen them, thus coming to terms with it in order to regain meaning and purpose in life.

    Doctor Russ Harris, an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Therapist, has divided his updated book into two parts. Part 1 is devoted to explaining, developing and learning effective coping skills, which are an important part of the ACT model. The reader is encouraged to practice these mindfulness skills through experiments, which are incorporated throughout the text.  Each experiment is easy to undertake and clearly illustrates the skill which is being developed.

    The second part of this book focusses on actively rebuilding the reader’s life. Again the author emphasises the importance of self-compassion and small acts of kindness, as well as suggesting the readers take small steps at a time in the rejuvenation of their lives. Readers are encouraged to think of their lives in terms of four overarching domains: work and education; family and friends; play and leisure; and health and wellbeing.  To successfully rebuild one’s life, the author recommends that one of these domains is worked on at a time.

    Although the ACT model acknowledges that what has happened isn’t okay or excusable, or unimportant, the author advocates that it is desirable, when inflicted with a reality slap, to visualize and value what life was like before grief, misery, wretchedness, or resentment took over

    The practical advice given and the wealth of scenarios, will aid the reader who has experienced a life-altering event to start accepting what has happened and how to move on.  Having a passion for his subject, the writer has provided three appendices of practical exercises and additional helpful resources.

  • The Reality of Your Greatness: A Personal Journey Through the Twelve Rays

    The Reality of Your Greatness: A Personal Journey Through the Twelve Rays

    One of the most profound statements amongst the many that make up The Reality of Your Greatness by Michael G. Love is ‘Many of us are not comfortable with change. It seems quite a paradox that many of us strive to maintain the status quo when everything around us is really in a state of change.’

    This is so very true, and perhaps more so as the pressures of modern life continue to build, with the very real pressure to conform to the status quo stronger than ever. In his ground-breaking book into change, Michael G. Love offers a wonderful, gentle and blessed pathway to, as he calls it, turning into teenagers, which is based in a spirituality that is considered as the basis of humankind.

    Love considers it is time for transformation in a spiritual perspective in ‘this dimension’ as there are so very many, tired of being told what their beliefs and spirituality should be, who are seeking out their own pathways to a relationship with an entity known by many names, the most familiar being God, the Creator, or in his case, All That Is.

    Michael Love’s personal story with the Twelve Rays of Enlightenment began in 2005, when he and ‘Julie’ began channelling a small group of entities who desired to discourse with humans, forwarding their knowledge on through a trusted source; a source which began to understand the role required, a role which was offered and allowed the opportunity of being able to develop further understanding to becoming true individuals.

    As the channelling progressed, it became apparent the knowledge being passed down was of vital importance to growth and a method of sharing evolved; the result is this wonderful course to freedom of mind, body and spirit.

    Presented as Twelve Rays, which are then divided into three sections, The Rays of Aspect, consists of the energy from the Source, the second Rays of Attributes represents our human characteristics, the third, Rays of Soul Integration help in moving forward to the evolution of Spirit.

    As Love works with “The Team” they advised him that the work was also, or could be heard as notes, which led to his to collaboration with long-time friend Richard Schulman, a noted musician with a wonderful ability to create a personal music soul portrait. Schulman transposed the verbal message into a divine collection of music A New Awareness: Music of the Twelve Rays to enhance the material offered in word format.

    Consider each of the Rays as a guided divine meditation; stop, feel, listen and discuss each component as you move through the workbook as is suggested.Embrace change as you rediscover, with love and guidance, the divinity that is inside you, the beautiful person that is YOU.