The Spirit Man

By Sean K. Murphy

Is it possible to un-do the past? Is there still time to right the wrongs from years ago? Johnny Sullivan seems to have it all. Still in his 30s, he's cashed in his high-powered career and hit the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401058027
• ISBN13: 9781401058029
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Xlibris
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Sensitive, Well Constructed Novella

Time travel is not a new topic for novels, poetry or film or even the visual arts. The concept of second chances if only one or two aspects of events of history were altered is the stuff of dreams: every reader will relate to the 'what if' setting of Sean K. Murphy's fine first work, the novella THE SPIRIT MAN. But what Murphy does with this technique of providing a character with a return to the past to mend problems that resulted in an altered life of anxious regret is the talisman of a fine story teller: he propels his tale with enough twists and turns, discoveries, and realizations that the reader is compelled to run with him to the surprising end. The plot is one of an encounter in a stopover in Arizona where one Johnny, living a life driven by attention to business rather than emotion, pauses to mend his car and encounters a Native American 'spirit man' Huber who provides him with the means of returning to an emotional explosion twenty years ago when Johnny's behavior and choices resulted in the accidental death of his high school girlfriend and the end of his 'dream life'. How Murphy manages to make this time warp trip seem so natural and so filled with realignment of the negative aspects of the past with the 'informed' changes Johnny is allowed to make given his twenty years of living life in a fashion that has been unsatisfying is what allows THE SPIRIT MAN to succeed. For example, returning to a high school history class Johnny has the courage to say 'Sure, there are a lot of things wrong and a lot of things that I wish could be different. The luck in this world isn't equal; it should be. Yet still we keep learning and growing and finding ways to make life better, almost everyone's life. You talk about history. It's knowing history that leaves us better equipped to deal with the problems that progress brings'. Sean K. Murphy has learned the value of brevity, of character shaping, and of leaving all angles of a story resolved - even as he quietly invites the reader to identify with some solid concepts. It would appear there is a fine new artist on the literary scene, and one from whom a longer novel would be most welcome. Grady Harp, March 09

"Spirit Man" Touches Your Soul

Each of us carries a little piece of Johnny Sullivan inside of us. Who hasn't wondered "what if I had to do it all over again". Johnny has all the appearances of a successful life but his success cannot fill the void in his heart. This book is a wonderful reminder of the power of the 'small' choices that we make every day.The characters are so real and familiar - beautifully developed by the author. The story touched my soul and took me back to a time when young love was all that mattered and dreams were pure and filled with possibilities. "Spirit Man" reminds us that the possibilities are still there if we just take the time to look for them.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to re-open their heart to their dreams!

Second Chances

Spirit Man is a must read for everyone that fantasizes about getting a second chance at changing critical events in one's life. Author, Sean Murphy captures the mind and heart of his readers with this mysterious journey into a fantasy that everyone has thought about.The story centers on Johnny Sullivan, a young successful businessman who has cashed-in and hits the road in search of true meaning and purpose in his life. A fortuitous meeting with a mysterious American Indian provides Johnny with a ticket to the past, and a chance to change a tragic event in his life--the death of Amanda, his first love. Sean Murphy creates a powerful and finely drawn story, with characters having a powerful pull on its readers that will have them examining their own past of "what if" and "what could have been." Does Spirit Man's conclusion provide an ending for Johnny Sullivan and his journey, or is it just a beginning. Readers should be hoping Sean Murphy continues to share the exploits of Johnny's journey with a fitting sequel.

A Romance Novel That Will Make You Think

Part romance, part mystery and all compelling, "The Spirit Man" by Sean Murphy offers an inventive and thought-provoking twist on the fantasy of going back in time to change a pivotal event in one's life. For Johnny Sullivan, the novel's protagonist, that event is the death of Amanda, the love of his life. Twenty years later, a chance(?) encounter with a mystical Navajo gives Johnny the opportunity to prevent history from repeating. In the process, he learns that second chances carry unanticipated consequences.Although its central theme is a fantasy, the novel is solidly rooted in reality: the characters, plot developments and emotions all ring true. It also shows how even seemingly-insignificant choices can shape our path in life. As it entertains and challenges the reader, "The Spirit Man" accelerates to an unexpected yet rewarding conclusion that leaves open the possibility of sequels to come...and I hope the wait won't be long.

Old Friends,An Unforgettable First Love and Choices...

Murphy does a phenomenal job of moving the reader through an experience all of us have dreamt about. Who wouldn't want to go back in time to "right the wrongs" or to change an event? What the reader may not have anticipated is the journey the Spirit Man takes us on as a result of having this opportunity. Filled with moving events and believable characters, the reader finds that, like any choice in life, there is something else one has to give up in order to follow a chosen path. Read the Spirit Man and enjoy the unexpected twist at the end. After reading the book, I found myself thinking about old friends, old loves, and appreciating what I do have in my life today. For I know now that I wouldn't have these things had I made different choices 20 years ago.A truly, moving, thought provoking, and inspiring story. Thank you Sean Murphy!