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Formats
Kindle Edition Digital Ebook Purchas Details
  • 11/2022
  • B0B8B426VJ
  • 288 pages
  • $4.99
Mark Rasmussen
Author
The Journey ( No Matter How Far You Run, Your Demons Always Follow)
“The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu Raiden, an emotionally troubled 40-something guy at a major turning point, undertakes an epic road trip adventure across North America, all with the aim of escaping the single most transformative event of his life – imminent fatherhood. While he does his best to find himself, the impactful events he experiences along the way will reveal more about Raiden and his nature than the strange assortment of characters he meets on his overland odyssey. 'The Journey' is a story that no matter how far you run, your demons always follow.
Plot/Idea: 6 out of 10
Originality: 6 out of 10
Prose: 7 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot: Rasmussen delivers an impactful story of a middle-aged man who embarks on a road trip in an effort to run from the new responsibility of impending fatherhood. The author reflects honestly on the urge to escape from obligation and the uncertainty involved in raising a child when one feels unworthy of the task and unprepared to do so.

Prose: The prose style is engaging and gently confessional in style. As with many classic 'road trip' novels, the central character has a number of random encounters en route, taking from each of them a greater awareness of himself and the world at large. 

Originality: Stories of road trips and the search for internal truth are familiar. Regardless, Rasmussen delivers a satisfying journey for the protagonist with a number of distinctive moments arising throughout.

Character/Execution: Rasmussen creates an engaging arc of redemption for Raiden, who may initially strike readers as shallow and self-serving. Side characters Raiden meets along his journey are convincingly expressed.

Date Submitted: August 27, 2022

Reviews
A middle-aged Toronto journalist runs away from his pregnant girlfriend in Rasmussen’s uneven debut. Raiden, acting on a vague plan to connect with a former lover in California, leaves a note for his Colombian girlfriend, Clea, before crossing into the U.S., where he hitches a ride with sex worker Brianna and ends up in Tennessee. He accepts a questionable offer for a special tour of Elvis’s Graceland mansion, and quickly discovers that his guide does not have the access he claims. After this episode, Raiden’s bag containing all his possessions is stolen at a diner, and later he is raped in a truck stop bathroom. The assailant is unidentified, though he suspects it was the truck driver who’d just given him a ride. Raiden then makes his way to Texas to track down Aracelli, a friend he made sharing erotic content on Pinterest. As he seeks comfort from Aracelli, Raiden wonders whether he’s made the right decision in abandoning Clea. The women in the story are only props for Raiden’s journey of self-discovery (he says he’d like to “experience” Aracelli) and the tonal shift from zany road trip to traumatic aftermath is likely to give readers whiplash. Still, it’s a realistic and no-holds-barred portrayal of one man’s arrested development. (Self-published)
Amy Louise Hill (Readers’ Favorite)

“As soon as I began reading, I couldn't put it down. 5-stars!”

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“It's a rollicking road adventure… and those seeking a character who undertakes a life-changing journey, will find The Journey epic on a psychological level that draws all ages.” 

Jennifer Juvenelle, author of Daughter of Belial

“Stunning! Mark T. Rasmussen takes us on a ride that becomes increasingly more riveting with every turn of the page.”

K.C. Finn (Readers’ Favorite)

“Mark T. Rasmussen rewards readers with a fascinating tale of transformation. ‘The Journey’ is a novel that I enjoyed a lot. 5-stars!”

Kirkus Reviews

“An ultimately upbeat novel with an engaging hero. Our verdict: Get It!” 

Formats
Kindle Edition Digital Ebook Purchas Details
  • 11/2022
  • B0B8B426VJ
  • 288 pages
  • $4.99
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