Awakening

By Ronald L. Farmer

Theo Gardner, a philosophy graduate student, is haunted by a recurrent nightmare. Unlike normal dreams, vestiges of this nocturnal horror infiltrate Theo's daytime hours with debilitating effects. With the help of physiological psychologist Christine Costner, he embarks on an adventure into a strange new world where recent discoveries in the study of human consciousness, physics, and spirituality converge with life-altering force. Theo's "awakening" harbingers a profound transformation for the well being of the planet.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1441428259
• ISBN13: 9781441428257
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Debut Novel a Success

Ronald Farmer has written a book that entertains, informs, and challenges a reader. Often novels provide only cotton candy for the mind and escapism from reality. Awakening, however, is a cerebral novel that plunges a reader into the world of spirituality/religion, ethics, and science. And lest a person believe that a thinking novel can be dull and stogy, think again. Like a Stephen King book, this book is a page turner, and with each turned page a reader gets caught up in the the physical nightmares of the protagonist, Theo Gardner, and in the ultimate "evil" that is out there tugging him into vortex of unexplained pain. By the end of the story, one empathizes with Theo Gardner and the transformation, both redemptive and painful, that he experiences. With playful dialogue, an eye for detail, and prosaic imagery, Farmer creatively captures and pulls the reader into a world that is grounded in reality but also the transcendent. I might add that the selected quotes at the beginning of each chapter are wonderful in themselves. A reader will no doubt pause and spend a few minutes rereading these well chosen epigrams in order to digest. I highly recommend this book. No one will read it and not reflect upon it days later. As the title suggests, reading this book might just awaken readers to events happening right before their eyes and in their very being.

Left me wanting more

This author's first novel left me really hoping that he will continue to write the story of Theo and Christine. The adventure begins as two doctoral students embark on a research project. What is supposed to be a simple study of Theo's dream life during a relaxing visit to the farm Theo has inherited in Oklahoma quickly turns into a mystery. From the moment they arrive at the farm Theo is mysteriously drawn ever deeper into his dream world. The discoveries they make about Theo's dreams will lead them to take on the powers that be in academia, government and big business. The discoveries they make about each other will lead them to explore possibilities neither had expected. Book clubs will love this, as will anyone who enjoys a good discussion of the places where justice and law, ethics and economics, science and fiction meet.

A novel with a conscience!

This is a great novel about 2 people's search for meaning and truth. One is haunted by night terrors and the other studies them--and what they learn together both entertains and teaches. Ron is able to introduce the difficult issues around meat production in the United States with compassion, theological and emotional depth, and a great story. His love of place (So Cal and Oklahoma) shines through. The conversation may at times seem a bit strange--but for those of us who have had the privilege of graduate education, you know that he gets it right! But you don't need a Ph.D. to enjoy this book--he is able to put complex ideas in understandable ways. Like John Grishom (but with better writing), Ron introduces you to new ideas that are emerging in our world today! I highly recommend this book! Nancy Brink