 |
Ex-convict Josh Rostam finds shelter as a therapist at an addiction treatment center. Although he is immensely successful in helping patients overcome drugs via spiritual hypnosis (to achieve past-life regression), Josh has a bigger "therapy" project in mind: to take revenge on those who targeted and wrongfully accused him of murder. Following an unusual three-stage plan, Josh places his victims in solitary confinement, feeds them nutritious food laced with LSD, and showers them with reading material on reincarnation. Josh is confident that he will accomplish his goal of escaping the wheel of (reincarnated) life, which will break the vicious karmic cycle of unforgivable once and for all. But Josh is in for some surprises en route—ones that he least expects.
Eric Artisan creates an interesting platform for reincarnation in his debut novel. Unique to Artisan's writing style is the way he explains pretty much everything that one would want to know about that form of spirituality via character dialogue. But this is no ordinary dialogue setting. Central to Josh's persona is a well-developed foiled cast of four radically different people—namely Judge Harden, Gloria, Dani, and Santos—who are earmarked as Josh's captives. Interacting individually with his hostages, Josh uses a "modicum of altruism" in his quest for revenge as he provides plenty of opportunity for introspection, which he hopes will open the channel of forgiveness. Artisan utilizes Josh's one-on-one time with his captives with page after page of fascinating discourse illuminating and debating the validity of reincarnation. Interestingly enough and certainly unbeknownst to Josh is that his supposedly controlled project will not be as controlled as he thinks since the reactions from his hostages will force him toward his own introspection.
Artisan's third-person narrative is carefully crafted within the omniscient viewpoint to capture the thought processes of his characters, especially Josh's hostages who have no choice but to examine Josh's beliefs via true-to-life reincarnation resources. While some are convinced that reincarnation makes sense, others (especially those bent on conservative Christian thought) constantly battle with the concept. Yet in the midst of all these meditative and interactive scenes, Artisan deftly and aptly incorporates a literary collection that clearly is not limited to character discussion. Artisan provides readers with further research by including a nearly three-page-long suggested and required (books that offer definitive information on the topic) reading list.
By alternating character scenes amid cliff-hanging chapter closures, Artisan's over 400-page novel is a continually and seamlessly flowing end-to-end story. While much of his storyline is heavily sated in reincarnation while zeroing in on Josh's project, Artisan keeps his plot light and fresh by throwing in a handful of sarcastically comedic and action-packed scenes (especially building to the story's apex) and one distinctive character. Known for his unique personality trait, Artisan introduces Gavin to his narrative. A flat character who manages to steal the reading audience with his hilarious New Zealand banter and quirky persona, this newest addition to the treatment center has a light-hearted and carefree attitude that often overshadows the mere fact that he is slowly dying of pancreatic cancer. Regardless of Gavin's dismal demise, Artisan utilizes Gavin's character by randomly placing him within unexpected scenes.
Escaping the Wheel is indeed a one-of-its-kind novel. And while it is a breath of fresh air to reincarnation believers, Artisan's novel includes so much more than spiritual subject matter, which has the capability of attracting a wide range of readers.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review