Enjoying this book? Help it get discovered by casting your vote!

Sourav Ghorai

Reviewed on Jun 25, 2023

Loved it! 😍

The riveting and provocative science fiction book Transcendent examines the boundari of human potential and the repercussions of deity play.

Synopsis

Pathological liar? Sociopathic killer? Or just a troubled kid seeking attention? These are the questions that haunt therapist Selena Harris as she undertakes the most challenging case of her career.

Sitting on a couch two feet across from her is an ordinary-looking teenager who confessed in a text, inadvertently broadcast to his entire school, to murdering an autistic child left in his care. With no evidence to support Leal Porter’s testimony, authorities have referred him to Selena for counseling.

Challenging her professional distance is the emotional bond she develops with this lonely, isolated boy, whom classmates describe as “that scrawny kid who talks to himself at his locker.” Although Selena believes the alleged victim is the product of her client’s fevered imagination, she harbors one major doubt:

What if she’s wrong?

Stepping outside the confines of her office in a quest for clues, Selena is determined to separate fact from fiction. But nothing in her experience prepares her for the harrowing revelation of the inner demon that lurks beneath the surface of Leal’s confession.

B. Robert Conklin's book An End to Etcetera takes readers on a journey through the complexities of interpersonal relationships and the effects of our choices. Joe, the protagonist of the book, is a young man who is seeking to understand his past and establish himself in the world. Identity, family, love, forgiveness, and redemption are some of the topics that are explored in the book.


The novel's examination of the human psyche is its strongest point. Conklin examines the motivations, anxieties, and desires of its characters in great detail. As a result, the story is gripping and emotionally powerful, and it has a lasting impression on the reader.


The characters are very well-developed and rendered. Particularly Joe is a sympathetic and complicated protagonist who faces challenges related to love, family, and identity. His journey is both sad and energising as he discovers how to accept his future and face his past.


Conklin uses a number of literary techniques to build a complex and nuanced story that merits thorough reading. An End to Etcetera is a beautifully complex piece that merits careful consideration, from the use of colour imagery to the recurrent theme of water.


The novel also examines the subject of repentance and forgiveness. The plot revolves around Joe's quest for self-forgiveness, and Conklin handles this issue admirably. The book demonstrates that forgiving someone is a challenging process, but one that is essential for personal development and healing.


As a whole, An End to Etcetera is a strong and moving book that sensitively and deeply examines the human condition. Conklin's writing is exquisite and perceptive, resulting in a piece that is both academically stimulating and emotionally moving. Anyone who appreciates learning about complicated human relationships and themes of identity, family, love, forgiveness, and redemption will find the book to be a must-read. It is especially recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction.



Reviewed by

Comments

Reviewed by