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Aglow
It's "Da Vinci Code" meets "The Mission"... only a lot more naked!
When an earthquake strikes the oldest public library in the Americas, a young historian and an art collector begin a quest for ancient, hidden testimonies that lead to a radical new understanding of the human body in the natural landscape. Putting a new spin on legends such as El Dorado and the Fountain of Youth, Will Forest leads his readers on a beautifully written, thrilling adventure from Mexico to Brazil and into the pre-Columbian past. Forest artfully blends fast-paced historical and speculative fiction with compelling characters, arresting imagery, a strong body-positive message, and an unforgettable climax.
You can learn some Spanish and Portuguese while you read!
When an earthquake strikes the oldest public library in the Americas, a young historian and an art collector begin a quest for ancient, hidden testimonies that lead to a radical new understanding of the human body in the natural landscape. Putting a new spin on legends such as El Dorado and the Fountain of Youth, Will Forest leads his readers on a beautifully written, thrilling adventure from Mexico to Brazil and into the pre-Columbian past. Forest artfully blends fast-paced historical and speculative fiction with compelling characters, arresting imagery, a strong body-positive message, and an unforgettable climax.
You can learn some Spanish and Portuguese while you read!
252 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2016
17 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Will Forest
31 books18 followersWill Forest is the author of novels that bring new contexts to naturist fiction. Based on real events, Co-ed Naked Philosophy explores the changes brought to a college community by a group of intrepid students and professors who take off their clothes to take on social conventions. Aglow follows the adventures of a historian and an art collector as they discover ancient testimonies from the 16th and 17th-century Americas that reveal a radical new understanding of nudity in nature. Skinners and its sequel Song of the Sea Witch portray the lives of clothesfree buccaneers and maroons in the 17th-century Caribbean. Forest is also the co-editor and a featured author of the short story anthologies Murder in the Nudist Colony, Romance in the Nudist Colony, Holiday in the Nudist Colony, Adventures Without Clothes, and Beneath Healing Skies.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2024
This is an enjoyable book that blends naturism, culture, and a bit of Indiana Jones adventure. It’s an interesting take that involves a bit of kidnapping a little bit of falling in love a little bit of archaeology a little bit of history. The character development in the story is very well done. And the ending is very well collaborated with the prior events in the story. I highly recommend this story if you enjoy nudist fiction. The discovery into the naturism side of things is better than most stories of how somebody discovers naturism unlike other new stories. This one is not so much about the self discovery and how much better the person feels after exploring a clothing, free lifestyle. There’s more story than that strongly recommend this as your next book.
July 17, 2017
Aglow is two stories masterfully woven into one. The first is an adventurous quest to learn more about specific indigenous people of 16th century people of Central America and South America on a crusade to save a large section of the Amazon rain forest. The reader learns that historians in search of knowledge and truth have much in common with Sherlock holmes. The plot line draws you immediately with intrigues, mysteries and endearing characters.
The secondary storyline seamlessly introduces the reader to joys of naturism. Ze, the man on a mission to save the Amazon, kidnaps Marisol, the protagonist, to induce her to help him accomplish his goal. Her next surprise, much to her chagrin, is to find out Ze lives in a household of nudists. By using her curiosity to draw her into his project, Ze temps her by explaining his objective and asking her to translate the ancient writings which will help him succeed.
On top of being there involuntarily, Marisol is put off being in a house occupied by naked people, though she adapts to it rather quickly. Ze immediately tries to win her over, not only by tempting her with the translation, but also by his charm, which he has in abundance. He soon tells Marisol she is free to go, but tells her that he sincerely hopes she will stay voluntarily. Drawn in, she stays, tempted by the project and on some level Ze's irresistible charm. The research begins. Though Ze will be nude on every practical occasion, Marisol will clearly have nothing to do with it. Like most people, that was not how she was raised, nor is public nudity in any way acceptable.
Eventually two factors change her mind: a trip to a secluded beach where neither Marisol or Ze have swimsuits, and by force of Ze's irresistible charm. He strips off to go for a swim; Marisol, concluding the beach is deserted and increasingly curious about nudity, gives in. As most people do that give social nudity a try, she quickly realizes a number of things: that it doesn't really feel all that strange to be naked with someone that is also naked, that it is sensual not sexual, that it feels liberating and wonderful, that all fretting over an imperfect body goes away, and it is fun.
To avoid giving too much away, I will simply relate how much I enjoyed this novel on several levels. As a history buff, I always love learning things I didn't know, in this case a bit ancient South American history. "Aglow" fed my love for mystery stories, for conflicts and challenges, and for romance. The novel also accomplished something else: it beautifully provided an overview of naturism, how innocuous social nudity is, how liberating and refreshing, how natural and human. It's not that nudists want to change the world, though we would love to change people's perspectives. Few nudists want to impose their nudity on those who do not want nothing to do with it, but we would like to have more places, such as sections of public beaches, city parks, national parks, etc. to be designated clothing optional. So if you are curious about nudity, follow through on that first step. If you want to read well-written and delightful novel, scroll back up and order your copy of Will Forest's book "Aglow".
The secondary storyline seamlessly introduces the reader to joys of naturism. Ze, the man on a mission to save the Amazon, kidnaps Marisol, the protagonist, to induce her to help him accomplish his goal. Her next surprise, much to her chagrin, is to find out Ze lives in a household of nudists. By using her curiosity to draw her into his project, Ze temps her by explaining his objective and asking her to translate the ancient writings which will help him succeed.
On top of being there involuntarily, Marisol is put off being in a house occupied by naked people, though she adapts to it rather quickly. Ze immediately tries to win her over, not only by tempting her with the translation, but also by his charm, which he has in abundance. He soon tells Marisol she is free to go, but tells her that he sincerely hopes she will stay voluntarily. Drawn in, she stays, tempted by the project and on some level Ze's irresistible charm. The research begins. Though Ze will be nude on every practical occasion, Marisol will clearly have nothing to do with it. Like most people, that was not how she was raised, nor is public nudity in any way acceptable.
Eventually two factors change her mind: a trip to a secluded beach where neither Marisol or Ze have swimsuits, and by force of Ze's irresistible charm. He strips off to go for a swim; Marisol, concluding the beach is deserted and increasingly curious about nudity, gives in. As most people do that give social nudity a try, she quickly realizes a number of things: that it doesn't really feel all that strange to be naked with someone that is also naked, that it is sensual not sexual, that it feels liberating and wonderful, that all fretting over an imperfect body goes away, and it is fun.
To avoid giving too much away, I will simply relate how much I enjoyed this novel on several levels. As a history buff, I always love learning things I didn't know, in this case a bit ancient South American history. "Aglow" fed my love for mystery stories, for conflicts and challenges, and for romance. The novel also accomplished something else: it beautifully provided an overview of naturism, how innocuous social nudity is, how liberating and refreshing, how natural and human. It's not that nudists want to change the world, though we would love to change people's perspectives. Few nudists want to impose their nudity on those who do not want nothing to do with it, but we would like to have more places, such as sections of public beaches, city parks, national parks, etc. to be designated clothing optional. So if you are curious about nudity, follow through on that first step. If you want to read well-written and delightful novel, scroll back up and order your copy of Will Forest's book "Aglow".
September 26, 2023
Marisol is an intern at a museum of ancient indigenous cultures in Mexico, when they have an earthquake. Clearing out antiquities that haven't seen the light of day in centuries, some startling manuscripts, records and artifacts are uncovered. And thus begins a journey of discoveries and also intrigue spanning time from pre Spanish Aztec society to now, and from Mexico, to Texas to the Amazon hinterland, rapacious land developers pitted against those who would see the area protected. Dramatic turns occur. Finally, ancient knowledge from the discovered records, coupled with local preserved knowledge, turn perceptions upside down. Who will win this final showdown...?
Another cracking yarn from Will Forest.
I couldn't put it down.
Recommend.
Another cracking yarn from Will Forest.
I couldn't put it down.
Recommend.
February 21, 2017
Top of the naturist genre
Exciting from the beginning to the end. It is not just a naturist book, it is a fascinating journey into the history of indigenous tribes. So much was destroyed by the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors. When will we learn from other cultures instead of destroying them.
Exciting from the beginning to the end. It is not just a naturist book, it is a fascinating journey into the history of indigenous tribes. So much was destroyed by the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors. When will we learn from other cultures instead of destroying them.
July 19, 2020
This story truly shines!
I really enjoyed this novel, one of the finest I have read in a long time! Hard to describe it; saying it focuses on the positivity of social nudity, ancient and modern cultural clashes and assymilations, and fascinating characters undergoing development and growth barely scratches the surface. Read with an open mind, ponder, learn, enjoy!
I really enjoyed this novel, one of the finest I have read in a long time! Hard to describe it; saying it focuses on the positivity of social nudity, ancient and modern cultural clashes and assymilations, and fascinating characters undergoing development and growth barely scratches the surface. Read with an open mind, ponder, learn, enjoy!
November 4, 2018
Not my cup of tea
I was only interested in what the sun Prince said,since I'm not sure this was a good book it was kind of interesting but not that good.
I was only interested in what the sun Prince said,since I'm not sure this was a good book it was kind of interesting but not that good.
September 30, 2016
This is a fascinating book. It takes place in Mexico and South America where the search is on for the mystery surrounding a codex found in an ancient part of a library.
What makes this book so fascinating? The concept of the story, where people find each other to unravel a mystery is one. The revelations that come about is another one. The texts read out from the ancient codex and other old writings are also well crafted. They gave me a lot of food for thought.
If the cover of the book, showing nude people, shocks you, this is a book you should read. If it doesn’t shock you, you should read it too. If you’re interested in the connection of people to nature, guess what… it’s a book for you.
Yes, there is talk of nudity in this book. Yes, people take their clothes off in this book. But it’s not what for you may think. I’m adding this because too many people connect nudity with sex. Sex involves nudity but certainly not all nudity automatically means sex. If you want to know more… read the book.
What makes this book so fascinating? The concept of the story, where people find each other to unravel a mystery is one. The revelations that come about is another one. The texts read out from the ancient codex and other old writings are also well crafted. They gave me a lot of food for thought.
If the cover of the book, showing nude people, shocks you, this is a book you should read. If it doesn’t shock you, you should read it too. If you’re interested in the connection of people to nature, guess what… it’s a book for you.
Yes, there is talk of nudity in this book. Yes, people take their clothes off in this book. But it’s not what for you may think. I’m adding this because too many people connect nudity with sex. Sex involves nudity but certainly not all nudity automatically means sex. If you want to know more… read the book.
Want to read
October 1, 2016I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and will review once I've read it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews