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Panorama: The Missing Chapter: From the Memoir Views from the Cockpit
After enduring a severe panic attack which left the author attached to breathing machines around foreign doctors in South Korea, Panorama--the bonus chapter for the memoir, Views from the Cockpit: The Journey of a Son, expands on the author's experiences working and living abroad in Seoul, South Korea.
After a friendship ignites and morphs into an awe-struck, curious tale of parallel souls with a Brazilian-American soldier serving in the military at the North Korean border protecting South Korea from Kim Jong-il, Panorama reflects on the author's contemplations to return to a crumbling family life in Los Angeles or to endure his life in Seoul for an end-of-contract cash payout.
In Panorama, the author broadens his stance on the importance of moments spotlighting loneliness and exposing the perks and ailments of escapism. With precise prose and a thought-provoking connected storyline that covers eating living octopus, philosophical debates about the gender of God, and a surprise pregnancy, Panorama, stands tall as a connected yet separate, compelling story. The author reminds us again, that as daunting as the vicissitudes of life, and no matter the view from the cockpit of life, the human spirit cannot be restrained in loss, or love, and strives to be unbroken--and free.
After a friendship ignites and morphs into an awe-struck, curious tale of parallel souls with a Brazilian-American soldier serving in the military at the North Korean border protecting South Korea from Kim Jong-il, Panorama reflects on the author's contemplations to return to a crumbling family life in Los Angeles or to endure his life in Seoul for an end-of-contract cash payout.
In Panorama, the author broadens his stance on the importance of moments spotlighting loneliness and exposing the perks and ailments of escapism. With precise prose and a thought-provoking connected storyline that covers eating living octopus, philosophical debates about the gender of God, and a surprise pregnancy, Panorama, stands tall as a connected yet separate, compelling story. The author reminds us again, that as daunting as the vicissitudes of life, and no matter the view from the cockpit of life, the human spirit cannot be restrained in loss, or love, and strives to be unbroken--and free.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2020
2 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Ross Victory
13 books277 followersRoss Victory, (he/him), is an award-winning author, music artist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles. Featured in LA Weekly, LA Blade, American Reporter, and Bi.org, Ross rediscovered the healing power of writing after losing his father and brother. A former English teacher, Ross creates immersive narrative experiences. He published “Views from the Cockpit,” a father-son memoir, in 2019, resulting in a portfolio of six original titles and a music catalog of 20 songs. His works explore self-discovery, adventure, bisexuality, and family. In 2023, he released the Pride anthem “Bisexual Daze” and Book 1 of the L.A.-based horror series “Grandpa's Cabin.” Ross also publishes articles and reflections about grief, biphobia, and elder abuse on Medium.com and recently spoke at their Annual Writer’s Conference.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 18, 2020
I think its always great to read memoirs written by people you know and not just famous people you admire. I love how you get to know the person on a deeper level and learn intimate parts of their lives. This was a book that I couldn’t put down once I started reading it.
You know how writing can be a form of therapy for people, this book feels like thats exactly what it was for the author. That was something that I really liked about this book as you can see as the author processes each scene and different events of his life. I like that you can feel a sense of relief at the close of each chapter and there’s a transition to a new event or moment in his life.
Something else I really enjoy about this book is how each chapter gives me a different scene. Each chapter slowly brings me through Ross’s time in Korea as if you are watching this play out in real time. I love the banter between the people who are in the story and the humor that is included throughout the book.
I love the love story that it opens with where its as if nothing can go wrong. I really enjoyed reading the relationship that Ross has with Alvi and seeing how that develops and changes. I love the vulnerability that you get from both of these men in the text messages that they exchange with each other.
I feel that society has not allowed Black men to show a range of emotions much less fear and sadness. Even more so feelings that they have towards each other that are complex and have so much history to their actions towards each other. Because of this I found that the scenes in which these two Black men are real and vulnerable with each other are powerful.
I think it was interesting to read the perspective of someone who is Black, bisexual male. I thought it was interesting to read what Ross’s thought about his sexuality were when he first realized he was bisexual and how he felt being in the middle.
Something that i found unique about this book was the explanation of the author’s views at the end. This book transitions from being a snipit of the author’s life into a series of essays on gender, sexuality, race and the intersections between them. If you aren’t interested in those portions though you can skip them and still get a good experience from the book.
I thought that was a great and interesting way to close as it leaves you thinking about sexuality and the intersection of sexuality, gender and race. While I did like the way that it closed I did find that the language was a bit academic and not accessible to all. Z
As I read the end I thought about how when I identified as female and came out as bisexual at 13 it was fine not just for me but also for others who I came out to. Then when I came to the realization that I’m a trans boy and non binary, I felt that the label was no longer okay for me. I shuffled through trying to find other terms or shift my sexuality somehow because I knew a bisexual boy was not something society was okay with. It wasn’t until this year when I really decided that I’m bisexual and was okay with that label again.
You know how writing can be a form of therapy for people, this book feels like thats exactly what it was for the author. That was something that I really liked about this book as you can see as the author processes each scene and different events of his life. I like that you can feel a sense of relief at the close of each chapter and there’s a transition to a new event or moment in his life.
Something else I really enjoy about this book is how each chapter gives me a different scene. Each chapter slowly brings me through Ross’s time in Korea as if you are watching this play out in real time. I love the banter between the people who are in the story and the humor that is included throughout the book.
I love the love story that it opens with where its as if nothing can go wrong. I really enjoyed reading the relationship that Ross has with Alvi and seeing how that develops and changes. I love the vulnerability that you get from both of these men in the text messages that they exchange with each other.
I feel that society has not allowed Black men to show a range of emotions much less fear and sadness. Even more so feelings that they have towards each other that are complex and have so much history to their actions towards each other. Because of this I found that the scenes in which these two Black men are real and vulnerable with each other are powerful.
I think it was interesting to read the perspective of someone who is Black, bisexual male. I thought it was interesting to read what Ross’s thought about his sexuality were when he first realized he was bisexual and how he felt being in the middle.
Something that i found unique about this book was the explanation of the author’s views at the end. This book transitions from being a snipit of the author’s life into a series of essays on gender, sexuality, race and the intersections between them. If you aren’t interested in those portions though you can skip them and still get a good experience from the book.
I thought that was a great and interesting way to close as it leaves you thinking about sexuality and the intersection of sexuality, gender and race. While I did like the way that it closed I did find that the language was a bit academic and not accessible to all. Z
As I read the end I thought about how when I identified as female and came out as bisexual at 13 it was fine not just for me but also for others who I came out to. Then when I came to the realization that I’m a trans boy and non binary, I felt that the label was no longer okay for me. I shuffled through trying to find other terms or shift my sexuality somehow because I knew a bisexual boy was not something society was okay with. It wasn’t until this year when I really decided that I’m bisexual and was okay with that label again.
June 18, 2020
A mini memoir, teenage text trauma and political pedagogy all rolled into one tiny tome.
Author, Ross Victory, offers “Panorama: The Missing Chapter” as an add on to his original volume or it stands alone quite well. The focus is a relationship he had while in Korea and how it fared upon his return to the U. S. A.
Two guys, one girl, background family issues and foreground sexuality issues are the nuts and bolts of the story. That’s a lot for roughly 75 pages. Victory tells his story but it feels like someone else is the narrator; perhaps that’s his insecurity coming thru. Aside from the one “friend”, Alvi, with whom he explores his bisexuality, Victory has no support system and his family structure is in shambles and/or suffering catastrophic illness. Clearly, this is a time of great upheaval on many levels.
The second part of the book is told largely by way of text exchanges between Ross & Alvi. I found it incredibly annoying, juvenile and well, stereotypical. That is infinitely odd from an author with his stated goals. Even if this is an honest recounting of events from the past, there HAD to be a better way to relay the information and support the purpose of the book.
A proofreader and editor could be helpful. The ARC I read was an e-book and things happen from format to format, but this one needs attention before the cockpit is open for viewing 📚
Read & Reviewed from a GoodReads Giveaway ARC
Author, Ross Victory, offers “Panorama: The Missing Chapter” as an add on to his original volume or it stands alone quite well. The focus is a relationship he had while in Korea and how it fared upon his return to the U. S. A.
Two guys, one girl, background family issues and foreground sexuality issues are the nuts and bolts of the story. That’s a lot for roughly 75 pages. Victory tells his story but it feels like someone else is the narrator; perhaps that’s his insecurity coming thru. Aside from the one “friend”, Alvi, with whom he explores his bisexuality, Victory has no support system and his family structure is in shambles and/or suffering catastrophic illness. Clearly, this is a time of great upheaval on many levels.
The second part of the book is told largely by way of text exchanges between Ross & Alvi. I found it incredibly annoying, juvenile and well, stereotypical. That is infinitely odd from an author with his stated goals. Even if this is an honest recounting of events from the past, there HAD to be a better way to relay the information and support the purpose of the book.
A proofreader and editor could be helpful. The ARC I read was an e-book and things happen from format to format, but this one needs attention before the cockpit is open for viewing 📚
Read & Reviewed from a GoodReads Giveaway ARC
April 27, 2020
As a writer who concentrates on topics similar to those discussed in Panorama, I thoroughly enjoyed it as there are numerous moments of relatability for me. Positioned as a standalone narrative but also an extension of the memoir Views from the Cockpit, Panorama is a soul-baring look at how the author reckons with identity and healing past wounds, told through a series of narrative vignettes based on his time in South Korea and life post-return to the United States. His voice is a welcome one to the world of memoirs, as there is a noticeable literary dearth of bisexual Black men openly discussing their challenges and successes in love and life. In talking about his love(s), loss, and the consequences of avoiding pain, Victory seeks to remind readers that our decisions are ours alone to make, and while you cannot undo something once it has been done, you can use that knowledge to grow as a person.
October 19, 2020
Intimate and thought-provoking memoir about sexuality and self-exploration; Panorama is a collection of unflinching records.
A deep dive through valiant delivery of personal experiences and objective analysis. The author's profound prose makes it a ripping read.
Embellished with witty and masterful storytelling, a journey of one is an unfiltered journal of empowerment and self acceptance for many.
'Ross Victory's concoction of sex, religion, and culture is a reflecting mirror for the reader.' Highly recommended to readers of memoirs and creative non-fiction.
A deep dive through valiant delivery of personal experiences and objective analysis. The author's profound prose makes it a ripping read.
Embellished with witty and masterful storytelling, a journey of one is an unfiltered journal of empowerment and self acceptance for many.
'Ross Victory's concoction of sex, religion, and culture is a reflecting mirror for the reader.' Highly recommended to readers of memoirs and creative non-fiction.
June 7, 2020
I felt very confused through most of this book. It read more like a blog than a story and then seemed to switch to a political or moral opinion than a story. There were several grammatical errors throughout. I’m not judging this author’s stand on gender, just confusion on what he was trying to get across to me as a reader. Too many directions.
April 14, 2020
An amazing journey.
May 24, 2020
Throughly enjoyed the storyline and read
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews