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Ever Wonder What It’s Like to be a Ghost?- A Review of “The Mercy of Thin Air” a Novel by Ronlyn Domingue
I purchased this book for my Kindle because I was tantalized by its premise – The narrator of this story is a ghost. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and could not put it down. I think a majority of human beings wonder what happens after death. Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? Or is there someplace in between?
Raziela “Razi” Nolan is the protagonist in this fascinating novel. On July 10th, 1929, Razi accidently slips and falls on the edge of swimming pool and dies. Impending is her graduation from Tulane University and a proposal of marriage from her one true love, Andrew.
Razi experiences a second or two of complete darkness then brilliant light followed by a sensation that she is floating above her body and observing what is happening to it. This description is similar to those told by people who have had a near death experiences.
Lingering near the pool for several days, Razi realizes she can no longer sense her body but her consciousness and thoughts continue. There is a blur where her body had been. Razi is then greeted by Noble, a colorless fellow spirit who welcomes her to this new existence. Noble asks Razi if she knows what has happened. Razi knows she has drowned but doesn’t know exactly where or what she is. Noble informs her that she is “between” and soon will come into very heightened sensory awareness and an ability to move “fluidly through this world”, yet invisibly. ”
There are rules, about which we all have an understanding,’ Noble says. ‘First, do not remain with your loved ones. You can go anywhere you please, anywhere at all, but leave them alone. Second, do not linger at your grave. One brief visit will suffice. Do that when you are able, perhaps in another seven days. And finally, do not touch. You have no need for it any longer.” In this place of “thin air” Razi will learn all the rules and will eventually become a guide to assist others who are new, to acclimate, to adapt.
Razi tells us that most souls who found themselves “between” choose what is “beyond” or “the unknown” within weeks of their deaths because “between” is disturbing to them and in conflict with what they learned or believed about an afterlife. Razi goes on to say that the dead who choose to stay in “between” for awhile, keep up with their former interests or dabble in what they had been interested in or curious about when alive. One such character and Razi’s new friend is Lionel, who studies physics, Italian, and the cello while he is in “between”. Also befriended in “between” is Eugenia, a Confederate lady who died of a bee sting. Eugenia informs newly dead Razi that the “last rule” is that the dead may not touch anyone. When asked why, no one in “between” will give Razi an answer. What Eugenia does tell Razi is that the reason they are to leave loved ones alone is that loved ones become the reason for staying in “between” and not moving “beyond”.
I was transfixed by this book for the author’s attention to detail particularly given to the characters. The main storyline is equally mesmerizing. The author deftly weaves changes in period culture and morality between the stories of the living and the dead. I have never read anything like it.
From a literary standpoint, this novel is stellar. From the paranormal aspect, the author lends a great deal of believability to what happens when we pass away and leave our physical bodies behind. She alludes to quantum mechanics in the characterization of Razi, who happens to believe we are of energy and simply change form when we make our transition into death.
Whatever your beliefs may be about the existence of an afterlife or not, this book is a great read. The story is full of the promise of young love, passion and redemption. It is also a bittersweet reminder for us to be fully present in all of our day-to-day moments, because we know not what tomorrow may bring to or take away from our lives.
Read more from Paranormal Old Pueblo on http://www.paranromaloldpueblo.com and at http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/paranormal.
2012-11-02 20:17:40
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