BOOK REVIEW
In the new novel THE WANDERERS by Naomi Gladish Smith, a diverse group of people find themselves in the afterlife, and learning to navigate this surprisingly familiar, yet unique dimension.
Maggie is a 20-year-old gymnast, Frank is a former Chicago police detective and Kate is a university instructor.
They, and several other main characters, find themselves thrown together in this new environment – or was there a plan for them to become “wanderers” together?
For readers who are interested in life after death, near-death experiences and questions about an afterlife, THE WANDERERS offers a fascinating view of what we might face in this other existence.
ANOTHER DIMENSION
Some of Smith’s characters literally wake up to a new reality when they find themselves in an apparent hospital of some kind.
They vaguely recall the accidents or medical conditions that landed them there. But this health care facility turns about to be something entirely different.
Gradually, Maggie, Frank and Kate as well as Patrick, Ryan, Marjorie, Sven and Clare, all realize that the injuries and illnesses they experienced were actually “fatal,” that they have passed on and are now in a transition in the afterlife.
Each one of them, and the many others they meet along the way, are continuing to learn and grow in this new world. The lessons are sometimes mysterious and challenging to fully comprehend.
This environment, like the one they knew, is filled with apparent dangers and deception as well as beauty and opportunity.
They also learn that we truly reap what we sow, and the consequences of our beliefs, attitudes and actions can be quite significant.
As they travel together on a road trip of discovery, these wanderers see different destinations where many other people find themselves trapped.
To continue moving toward advanced understanding, the characters sometimes must be quick learners and use courage and “street smarts” in this spiritual world.
JOURNEY OF UNDERSTANDING
Along the way, readers get to know the characters, with their own traits, quirks, strengths, weaknesses and regrets. We wander with them and experience interesting encounters that are often not what they seem.
Frank’s skills as a Chicago cop come in handy because common sense, gut instincts and the ability to read people and situations turn out to be important assets for him and his fellow wanderers.
Compassion, understanding and heart also turn out to be crucial elements for the group.
Kate misses her husband, and finds she is able to look in on him and even reach out to him. Maggie’s emotional trauma from her life unfolds as she attempts to resolve very troubling feelings. Clare’s heartache about her newborn child is almost too much for her to bear.
Greed, violence, anger and some of the darkest aspects of human nature also surface around the characters. And some of it emerges from within them.
In THE WANDERERS, the author presents a world that is really not so much different than our own. The landscape is similar and the people are familiar. The continual learning and growing are also just like the paths in our earthly lives.
Smith shows us an afterlife that is like a reflection of the life we all know. And the boundaries between our world and this spiritual dimension are very thin. In fact, in some ways, these two existences merge, making Heaven and Earth one single reality.
Smith’s previous writings have sought to answer the question, “What happens when we die?”
In this new novel, she shows readers fascinating possibilities that may help us answer this ancient and important question, and help each of us prepare for our own journeys ahead.
For more information:
Book available at: http://www.amazon.com/
Author’s Web site: http://naomigladishsmith.com/
Swedenborg Foundation: http://www.swedenborg.com/
