David
Bromden ~ Gathering in the Mist Reviews
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Index of Reviews:
From the Critics:
The Moon over
Castle Geyser at night - Yellowstone
Review from Gary Wassner,
Moderator, Administrator, and
Book Reviewer, Science Fiction and Fantasy World (SFFWorld.com)
Author of the GemQuest Series
of Fantasy Novels (The Twins, The Awakening, The Shards, The
Revenge of the Elves)
“Gathering in the Mist by David Bromden is a very big small book. The poignant subject matter is treated in such a unique fashion that the impact of the calamity that inspired it is almost obscured until the end. That allows the reader to experience Bromden’s unique writing abilities and thoroughly unique perspective, in a far more innocent way than he or she might otherwise.
There is an innocence to this book that transcends the story. And the lessons are subtle; subtle and
invigorating. The writing style is
fresh. It’s clear that there is a
strong emotional connection between the author and his story, and though he
tells it with passion, it is not overly sentimental. Bromden draws you in slowly and persuasively until you begin to
accept the possibility of his character’s singular journey without even
realizing it.
The triumph
amidst the tragedy is a cathartic awakening.”
Review
from Wim
Coleman and Pat Perrin,
Authors
of The Maya Gateway, Outside of Time, The Wind and many other novels
“While Sammy lies in a coma after a car accident, beings both inside and outside of his mind strive to help him heal. Medical caregivers put the boy through a rigorous, often painful process of bringing him home to his body; meanwhile, his consciousness roams the rainforests of Indonesia and merges with the minds of animals—a tiger, a squirrel, a jackal, a rhinoceros, and a bright and empathic young orangutan named Sembuh. Indeed, Sembuh emerges as the story’s true protagonist as he struggles to grasp the significance and responsibility of sharing his mind with that of a human whose survival depends upon machines—and whose healing depends upon the young ape’s ability to “gather” the consciousness of other creatures.
David
Bromden’s Gathering in the Mist is an ambitious book with ambitious
themes: illness, grief, memory, healing, ecology, evolution, and—most of
all—the deep mystery of consciousness itself. Bromden’s portrait of orangutans
as wise, philosophical, and shamanic raises especially striking questions about
the quality of human consciousness and civilization. As Sembuh’s elderly ape
mentor Antik observes, “The human’s path is one of expanded comforts and
conveniences. The ape’s path is one of thought and reasoning. We have expanded
our minds and they have expanded their population.”
The story hinges on the question of whether Sammy’s rainforest experiences—including Sembuh’s very existence—are objectively real or the illusory creations of a self-healing imagination. Bromden handles this question so skillfully that, by the novel’s denouement, the reader is ready to feel fully satisfied by either possibility. This is a wise, worthwhile, and compulsively readable book for readers of all ages.”
From the Readers:
”Its truths are simple, its style intriguing”
from Susan, NH
“I was
watching a show with J. K. Rowling last night. She did a reading from a
chapter of one of her books to a huge auditorium of young people. I had
not read any of her books before, but when she was reading it came to me that
your style in my opinion has the same impact of producing a clear mental image
of what the character is seeing and what is going on around him. I have
said that your book would make a great movie because of all the images it
evokes. I especially liked the description of the squirrel taking flight.
I am color blind so I miss a lot of what is out there, but somehow when you
described the landscape, etc., I was able to visualize it in color.”
from John,
SD
“David
Bromden's Gathering in the Mist will keep you turning pages in the continually
fascinating journey that Sammy's subconscious embarks on to keep his spirit
alive. The wild creatures he meets and becomes in the rainforest are intriguing
in their detail and ability to help Sammy. By the end of the story, a part of
me was emotionally rooting for Sammy to leave his broken body behind forever
and stay with his amazing adventure that was taking place, whether it was in
his imagination or real. On the other hand, each time Sammy showed signs of
healing, I was hopeful that he would awake and be reunited with his mother.
This was a "couldn't put down" book as I raced towards the
conclusion. Gathering in the Mist is an educational yet inspiring story for all
ages that I will recommend often.”
from future
author Kay Bratt, NC
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