Happy person is a healthy person

 

My book review - Demigod by Wilbur Arron

My book review - Demigod by Wilbur Arron

This 3^rd book - “Demigod” - by Wilbur Arron in the series of “The Forest of Allund” concludes with the ultimate transformation of mage Alexio Sopholus to a highly exalted status no human being can easily achieve. For that magnificent transition to happen, Wilbur in his fluid style narrates, how beautifully Alex:

*sets his agenda for tackling the formidable enemies and traitors.

*makes smart strategies.

*undertakes an adventurous quest that calls for certain great sacrifices.

*deploys his prowess, as the most powerful mage the three Greek kingdoms had ever seen ~2,200 years ago.

 

 

Alex and his companions even after defeating the enemy must surmount natural disastrous events destroying the kingdoms. He loses his dearest friends. Its effect looms large on him over several decades.

A new surprising danger emerges in the form of a rebellious demigod and his loathsome followers. They propound their philosophy and preach against the firmly rooted belief system people have in Olympian gods. They fervently convert and enslave the citizens, compelling them to adopt their newfound practices. Those resisting are mercilessly killed. They ruin the mental peace of Alex and his compatriots.

 

 

To survive the greatest threat, being as brave as a lion, Alex fights tooth and nail. He cleverly unites his community of mages and all the citizens. He knows Gods help those who help themselves, and so he even invokes them, in his unique way. The ensuing battle leaves many dead. As sturdy as an oak, Alex puts his best foot forward. In the end, how does he rise in his stature and walks into an unknown path as a transformed man, as Gods themselves acknowledge?

“That is why we have you and maybe others like you as examples to show the proper path into the future.”

 

 

 

Wilbur’s characterisation of Alex as a great leader, always concerned about the welfare of his team ever willing to commit himself to any extreme for their cause, as a calculative risk-taker, as a forgiving soul with genuine righteous emotions, and as a great team player with humility is excellent:

”They asked me to speak and I simply told them that the men here had done most of the fighting; I just helped out where I could with magik.” 

I liked some more characters - Alex’s team-mates including talking animals in 'his' forest -- for their clear-cut charisma as Wilbur depicted their depth of friendship. I also enjoyed Wilbur’s portrayal of the convincing abilities of the renegades and the resentment by the protagonists, through fantastic conversations between them

Wilbur’s interesting perspectives on God, with some compelling narratives, exemplary detailing of scenes and world-building springing surprises with its ironies, kept me hooked. He has intelligently moved the story forward through his imagination of God and people’s general belief systems:

”Almost from birth, all of us are taught the gods have the greatest power, are the highest moral authority, and are the final arbiters of this world. To learn otherwise is disconcerting at best…… most people obey the gods not out of deep commitment, but because they had always been told to do that since birth.” 

 

I liked Wilbur’s portrayal of ancient Greek culture, rivalry among kingdoms and even their business practices, as he has done it as accurately as possible.

Well, certain things did not appeal to me:

v  Tiresome monotonous repetitions.

v  Weak portrayals of conflicts with supposedly dreadful antagonists and anticlimactic battlefield scenes lacking power-packed actions.

v  Slow-burn start-up.

 

However, Wilbur’s panoramic narratives sprinkled throughout the book, only made it better and interesting:

”For an instant, the plant and I became one. I could feel the water coming up through the roots; the sap rising up the plant; power from the sun flowing down from the leaves and the growth of bark holding the plant in a protective hug.”

Hence, this book is worth a read just for the magical characterisation of Alex and the unique handling of an unusual situation during Alex’s transition. Yes! I am so glad that I continued with this series.

My review for the book "Curse of the Tahiera" by Wendy Gillissen

Link  for my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3810689350?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

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Check heart pressure and tension

 Image to check heart pressure and tension.

1)while seeing if circle stands firm you are ok

2)if circle moves very slowly little pressure... 

3) otherwise if it moves faster then great pressure; you need to consult a doctor

Mind and heart - Gaps

 

Inner happiness

 True inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world

Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy

Eat your food as medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food 

The ones who love you will never leave you for another because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he will find one reason to hold on

There is a big difference between being a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it

You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between you have to manage

If you want to walk fast walk alone. But if you want to walk far walk together

10 things that require zero talent

 

*The Missing Goat, "Goat no 3"...*

It all started one lazy Sunday afternoon in a small town near Toronto in Canada.

Two school-going friends had a crazy idea.

They rounded up three goats from the neighborhood and painted the numbers  1, 2 and 4 on their sides.

That night they let the goats loose inside their school building. 

The next morning, when the authorities entered the school, they could smell something was wrong.

They soon saw goat droppings on the stairs and near the entrance and realized that some goats had entered the building.

A search was immediately launched and very soon, the three goats were found.

But the authorities were worried, where was goat No. 3?

They spent the rest of the day looking for goat No.3.

The school declared classes off for the students for the rest of the day.

The teachers, helpers, guards, canteen staffs, boys were all busy looking for the goat No. 3, which, of course, was never found.

Simply because it did not exist.

Those among us who inspite of having a good life are always feeling a *"lack of fulfilment"* are actually looking for the elusive, missing, non-existent Goat No.3.

Whatever the area of complaint or dissatisfaction, relationship, job-satisfaction, finance, achievements, ...... 

An absence of something is always larger than the presence of many other things.

Let's Stop worrying about goat No.3 

And enjoy the life...

Life would be so much Happier without the worries...

And don't let the non existent imaginary goat number 3 waste your time and happiness.

*Enjoy life with what you have.*

Greatest Gift...

 The greatest gift you can give someone is your time,

because 

when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.

Take wise decisions

 A giant ship engine failed.

The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a young.

He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work.

He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do.

After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.

He gently tapped something.

Instantly, the engine lurched into life.

He carefully put his hammer away.

The engine was fixed! 

A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for $10,000

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer.. . $ 1/-

Knowing where to tap... $ 9,999/-

Moral of the story:

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life, makes all the difference.

"Life doesn't change in ONE MINUTE, but taking decision after thinking for ONE MINUTE can change life."