The Singing Bowl

by Roy Dimond

A Tibetan monk embarks on a journey of a lifetime, filled with harrowing dangers and strange mysteries. His quest is to find a lost book and save an ancient way of life. (MORE) Under attack from Chinese Communists, a monk traveling the wilds of Tibet is given a daunting task - to bring a way of life back from the brink. That s the spellbinding journey revealed in Roy Dimond s new, action-packed adventure tale. Given an ancient artifact from his monastery, the sacred Singing Bowl, the young monk heads out on a trek to find a lost book and reunite a broken circle to keep his centuries-oldt civilization alive. Join the intrepid monk as he: # Finds the love of his life in exotic Katmandu. # Links up in Egypt with the Old Woman of Alexandria. # Meets the strange Mexican Carlos at the wondrous Machu Picchu. # Encounters a wise student of Mahatma Gandhi called the Librarian. # Learns the precious secrets of the Navajo Indians. # Meets Albert Einstein s boyhood friend. And lives many more incredible adventures in The Singing Bowl, a riveting new book in which the traveling monk and all of us learn that the true meaning of any quest is wrapped within the experience itself.

522 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2010

About the author

Roy Dimond lives with his wife in Victoria, British Columbia.

In his first life, Roy had the honor of helping at risk children and their families. In his second life, he pursues his love of travel and writing. Having explored four continents from Cuzco to Kyoto, Santorini to Tsumago, his wanderings have all found a way into his stories.

Roy’s first book is called The Singing Bowl and is out in its Second Edition by Green Dragon Books. His second novel, Silence and Circumstance is published by Untreed Reads. A fictional account of the elven days that Agatha Christie went missing. The Rubicon Effect is published by Melange Books which has also just launched, A Penny For Your Thoughts co authored with Jeff Leitch. The authors other books are, I, Bully by Authors Place and Converging Paths with co author Lorraine Dimond, by Black Rose Writing.

Reviews

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Singing Bowl is an epic journey for mankind. It follows a Tibetan Monk as he searches the World for answers to a mystery and a long lost book. Forced to flee from invading Chinese Communists the monk is one of a religious group called The Gatherers, he begins by running for his life from Tibet and walking over the mountains to Nepal.

There are many people who will help and teach the monk along his journey and the author uses few names, instead he gives them identities which help form a distinct picture in the mind of the reader. For instance "The Wise Woman of Alexandria", "The Nomad" and "Wife of Big Brother". There are some wonderful characters and many have starring roles in the journey of the monk. He travels through The Ancient World, The Old World and The New World and in each world he has a lesson to learn from the people who make up that place.

The people he meets are also from all religions and they show their generosity when they help him and share their homes and food with him. He meets some of his fellow Gatherers who are on their own journeys and interacts with them before they each move on. It's not all easy, the Communists search for the monk and want to stop and destroy him because of what he represents. Many times his life is at risk and he escapes because of some faithful friends.

I didn't want the book to end although the Monk's mystery was solved. My favourite part of the journey was from the Ancient World, I thought I was learning as much as the monk. I wanted to search the dusty book shops and sit for hours pouring over long lost books. I wanted to race through the book, not putting it down, but I also wanted to sit back and reflect on some of the parts that I had read, it really made me think about our World and if you choose to read this book I hope it makes you think as well.

[E.G. Kardos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine twists and turns. Envision a personal quest that takes you on a journey over several continents and many decades. Meet people who all have a piece of a greater picture. Is the solution to this quest in words or in the experience itself? This is all part of the joy reading this book. Mr. Dimond has mastered the art of combining time, distance and international intrigue with age old questions that underscore all cultures and religions.

Mr. Dimond had me from the first line, "Today my heart broke and a world shattered. "I wanted more and he delivered. His exquisite use and command of detail and research created a map for this journey. This is a journey that takes the reader around the world and deep into our own core. Romance and danger tempered the main character's quest giving the reader a sense of vulnerability in an ageless adventure of finding answers--the answers all humankind seek and the ones that make us always connected.

This was a wonderful read and recommend it among the best, and I anxiously await his next book.

[Christine J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book spans continents and cultures, and returns to a familiar location at the end, which was lovely. The characters and their relationships are vividly drawn, and the descriptions are full and detailed. I felt myself caught up in the protagonist's quest, and was impressed with the ideas that the book presents.