Tomas Paperback – 14 Dec 2017

A really engaging story that made me think greatly about the reason for life and the suffering experienced by so many in the world.Would recommend

We first meet Tomas in a bar where he is slouched on a stool having imbibed rather more than is good for him. He normally drinks alone and doesn’t speak to anyone other than the barman, but today he becomes aware of a shadowed man who seems to be staring at him. The man moves closer and asks the question, “Are you sure you are ready to talk today Tomas?” The man remains calm but insistent in the face of Tomas’ hostile response but eventually leaves, having placed a small book on the stool next to him.Tomas goes back to dreaming about happier times when as a bright twelve-year-old he met and fell in love with a girl called Hannah. Like much ‘first love’ the relationship is doomed and as he grows up Tomas finds himself plagued by periodic illnesses which no doctor can help. Despite this, he goes on to university and becomes a lecturer, but his ill-health continues and he turns to drink and self-pity.This is an interesting novel as it addresses the age-old question of ‘what is the point of our lives when they have such a limited span?’ The shadowed man has one answer and takes Tomas under his wing to pass on his wisdom and to help the younger man turn around his life.Tomas is taken on a journey of self-discovery and a more acute awareness of the human condition and is shown how he is able to influence the lives of others.Beyond that, any further description of the novel would spoil it for readers and so I will simply say that the ideas mooted are both credible and alluring. Whatever one’s beliefs, it is difficult to dismiss the ideas. What is more is that the writing is confident and proficient, and at no time does it sink into morbidity.A small note to the author: whilst the book has clearly been spell-checked it does need proofreading as there are lots of instances of the wrong version of the word being used; ‘draw’ for ‘drawer’, ‘where’ for ‘wear’, ‘too’ for ‘to’, and my personal favourite, ‘seamen’ for ‘semen’!PashtpawsBreakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Tomas is a sort of New Age bildungsroman succeeding in giving readers a story of trauma, self-discovery, action, tragedy, and balance. Such a journey will be well worth reading for many. There is certainly much in it that will drive conversations between friends over coffee or dinner.

Great book.It's nice to read something with an intellectual approach to the concept of life, death and rebirth. So many readers will find hope in its pages.