Based on the Mayan prediction that the world will end on December 12, 2012, one can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of doom while reading the preface of this book. "There are ancient legends...all pointing to 2010 as the beginning or end of life as humanity has lived it...Christianity has long awaited the second coming that will be heralded by end-times of fire, as well as the promise of heaven on earth. The Jews wait for the coming of the Messiah, and many aboriginal spiritual traditions have anticipated the transformation of the planet in some magical way. All in or around this sacred year of 2012."
Despite knowing that these doom and gloom predictions are usually wrong, the preface immediately put me on edge. Many have predicted the eventual end of the world and it is certainly likely, although hopefully far in the future, that it will eventually happen. Movies with this "end of the world" theme have tended to hook audiences quite easily and there have certainly been many of them - The Day After Tomorrow, Deep Impact, I am Legend, Knowing and the recent 2012, which I have yet to see.
In this particular story, the birth of the main character Max is the "Big Bang" that is the focus of the first chapter. This is immediately followed by two contrasting chapters, The Death of Max Doff and Max Lives, both taking place in 1965. This suspenseful way of beginning the story immediately hooks the reader. How will Max's near death experience change his life and provide the opportunity to meet the 12 people who will determine the fate of the world? I am excited to read further to find out.
No comments:
Post a Comment