FLOATING AGAINST THE CURRENT: Inspired by an Actual Event

by Robert Arsenault

***** 2021 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS FINALIST *****Elias, a troubled young man, seeks to live his own life, only to be thwarted time and again by factors beyond his control. Well-meaning parents and medical providers try repeatedly to help him live within the constraints of societal norms. Against his will, he is put on mind-altering medications and constant supervision. Desperate for some type of independence, he moves to Costa Rica with his girlfriend, but the people who are ostensibly helping him do not relent in their misguided efforts. Over time, he formulates a plan to escape into the jungle and find himself and his purpose. The framework of the plan takes root subliminally, almost unconsciously, but the path becomes inexorable as he loses his job, loses his girlfriend, and makes his way on to a journey so fraught with danger that it appears, to the common man, to be the actions of a man with a death wish. Day after day, Elias proves that he knows what he is doing, and he more than simply survives. He thrives against the longest of odds and wins over the local population, never quite gaining acceptance for his methods but garnering the trust and respect of the villagers he meets on his journey of self-discovery.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2020

Reviews

[Noelle Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild read!

Elias, an unlikely protagonist , won me over with his enthusiam for the natural world. It must be said, however, that he may be in need of serious psychiatric help. I could not help but root for him in his journey to find his true home. This is an off-the-beaten path saga that rivals the famous "Wild" and other adventure stories.