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Asylum Q8
Few sacrifice the safety of the known and plunge into the unknown.
What happens when a young person sheds the safety of parochial England despite the pressure from all to conform, and does what we have all yearned to do, 'take a wrong turn and never go back'?
Michael Lockwood a twenty two year old untainted by cynicism ventures off to live in Kuwait in 1983. Via his journey we are catapulted from the mundane to an alien culture, encountering strong characters and affecting events well beyond his previous experience, challenging beliefs on religion, prejudice, relationships and the definition of sanity.
Through an innocent the reader takes a journey from the depths of loneliness to shared joy and love. He faces work and social challenges and forms deep bonds with an array of quirky folk including the angelic Araby from Egypt, endures treachery at the hands of Doug the charming Irishman; reflects on the controversial opinions of the arrogant, aristocratic, misogynistic Jean, and there's the turmoil of a relationship with wild Zufan the warrior woman Eritrean air hostess, through to an unlikely friendship with Jamal the devout Muslim, to name but a few.
Each character brings a powerful voice and asks the reader to question their views on issues relevant to us all, especially now in this ever shrinking World where we must learn to live together, accept diversity, overcome fears, prejudice and preconceived beliefs about others.
The book also smuggles in awareness to the largely ignored dark and prevalent issue of childhood sexual abuse which crosses all social divides. Michael is a ‘survivor’ and some of the characters also exhibit personality traits many survivors develop in order to cope with a life infected by childhood trauma.
Asylum Q8 is also loaded with irony, insightful character commentary and outrageous circumstances, offering patches of laugh out loud relief whilst posing questions around morality and guilt given the behavior of the victim in the narrative, and the circumstances of their demise.
This is a story about a young man that turns his back on 'the program' and adventures beyond the comfort zone, learning and expanding from a rich adventure..
What happens when a young person sheds the safety of parochial England despite the pressure from all to conform, and does what we have all yearned to do, 'take a wrong turn and never go back'?
Michael Lockwood a twenty two year old untainted by cynicism ventures off to live in Kuwait in 1983. Via his journey we are catapulted from the mundane to an alien culture, encountering strong characters and affecting events well beyond his previous experience, challenging beliefs on religion, prejudice, relationships and the definition of sanity.
Through an innocent the reader takes a journey from the depths of loneliness to shared joy and love. He faces work and social challenges and forms deep bonds with an array of quirky folk including the angelic Araby from Egypt, endures treachery at the hands of Doug the charming Irishman; reflects on the controversial opinions of the arrogant, aristocratic, misogynistic Jean, and there's the turmoil of a relationship with wild Zufan the warrior woman Eritrean air hostess, through to an unlikely friendship with Jamal the devout Muslim, to name but a few.
Each character brings a powerful voice and asks the reader to question their views on issues relevant to us all, especially now in this ever shrinking World where we must learn to live together, accept diversity, overcome fears, prejudice and preconceived beliefs about others.
The book also smuggles in awareness to the largely ignored dark and prevalent issue of childhood sexual abuse which crosses all social divides. Michael is a ‘survivor’ and some of the characters also exhibit personality traits many survivors develop in order to cope with a life infected by childhood trauma.
Asylum Q8 is also loaded with irony, insightful character commentary and outrageous circumstances, offering patches of laugh out loud relief whilst posing questions around morality and guilt given the behavior of the victim in the narrative, and the circumstances of their demise.
This is a story about a young man that turns his back on 'the program' and adventures beyond the comfort zone, learning and expanding from a rich adventure..
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2023
About the author
Gregory David
7 books2 followersPublished Author and Poet. Gregorys latest work, "Soul Mate" will be available early in September and can be found at "Poems from the Soul" .com
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