Official Review: The Mirror of Freedom by Russell A. Minar

[ananya92]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Mirror of Freedom" by Russell A. Minar.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Mirror of Freedom by Russell A. Minar is a book in fantasy genre written for young adults. It follows the story of Charles Stormdale on his journey of self-discovery.

Eleven year old Charles Stormdale lives with parents in Ohio but his life is almost devoid of any parental affection. Charles is isolated from his parents and their lack of concern or appreciation for him, drives him further away from them. He finds solace in his dreams which provide him an escape from reality. He desperately wishes that his dreams could be real and as it turns out, his wish is fulfilled. One day, Charles meets a man who takes him to visit a fair and after that, his life changes when he is given an option to leave behind his present life and walk into a new world. This choice brings a new turn to his life as he enters the world of his dreams. But can he ultimately escape reality and achieve the freedom promised by the Mirror of Freedom?

The author has shown a preference for using metaphors to make his point throughout the book and the result has turned out quite well. There are various parts of the book where the emotions felt by characters are expressed through metaphors in such an acute manner that no reader can feel untouched by the story. There a few black and white illustrations strewn across the book which make the book attractive for a younger audience. Apart from the effective use of metaphors, the author has also used imageries to effectively convey the emotions of the characters in the book. For example, “a chill came upon me as my feet touched the soft dirt path that led me into the forest. An unusual sense of quiet was present in the woods that flowed like a wave of silent vibration, which was only felt but could not be seen or heard.” The author has used these literary devices intelligently to describe Charles's dream world and the wonder Charles feels when his dreams turn to reality.

The storyline of the book is quite impressive. The story follows the emotionally turbulent journey of Charles and it tells a coming-of-age tale to its readers. The author has created the world of the mirror with care and sought to present young readers with a fantasy world that is free of evil. The author also tacitly refers to a lot of serious issues in our society. Has the urge for a better life ultimately led to more unhappiness? Has our drive to earn more money led us away from our loved ones? What is the use of building a good life for our dear ones if we cannot enjoy it with them? The story is relevant for adults as well, especially parents since it will provide them with a perspective on bringing up children. At another level the author also writes about the various negative emotions and impurities that have contaminated our society. Since the book is written in first person perspective from Charles's point of view, the story will be palatable to both kids and adults.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 starsfor being an enjoyable tale of fantasy interwoven with dreams and containing moral lessons as well for young adult readers.

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The Mirror of Freedom
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[ALynnPowers]

I normally wouldn't read a book with such a young main character, but the plot sounds so interesting that I might just have to check it out. Maybe I am missing out on something by being so picky with my ages.

[ananya92]

Ha, Ha!
Actually, there are various portions in this book where Charles seems like an adult because he has to take care of himself most of the time since his parents neglect their duty towards him.

-- 21 Apr 2015, 07:33 --

Ha, Ha!
Actually, there are various portions in this book where Charles seems like an adult because he has to take care of himself most of the time since his parents neglect their duty towards him.

[khardman6700]

This sounds very interesting and I would love to read it based on this review.

[ananya92]

Yes, the book is worth giving a try.

[ALynnPowers]

Ha, Ha!
Actually, there are various portions in this book where Charles seems like an adult because he has to take care of himself most of the time since his parents neglect their duty towards him.

-- 21 Apr 2015, 07:33 --

Ha, Ha!
Actually, there are various portions in this book where Charles seems like an adult because he has to take care of himself most of the time since his parents neglect their duty towards him.

That makes it sound twice as interesting.

[ananya92]

Oops, I clicked the submit option twice. My bad

[rustyminar]

The book is a little pricey in most places, but if you want to find it at a lower price, check out Abe Books or Alibris. I am almost done with my sequel.

[debo9967]

This seems like a different kind of book and quite interesting. Nice review.

[ananya92]

Thanks

[rustyminar]

Thank you for the review of my book!

[ananya92]

Thanks to you, I really enjoyed reading this one.

[Stevefromtheblock]

This sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for the review!

[ananya92]

Thanks

[Jesska6029]

Seems like a great read. Fantasy is always fun! Great review!