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Once Upon Our Times
Once Upon Our Times
Category:
Literary Fiction
Publisher: Createspace
ISBN-10: 1508926360
Type: Fiction
Pages: 244
Copyright: March 13, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781508926368
Price: $4.99 (eBook)
Assisted by the girl of his dreams, a mystery man redeems a spiraling life turned extraordinary by his sudden and inherited gift of being able to stop time. This is a story of love like no other, a unique account of the growing struggle between good and evil that in itself transcends all our times. Rich in humor, drama, and suspense, the experiences detailed within these pages can teach us all the value of living our lives to their fullest, despite the consequences that may await us at the end.
"Once Upon Our Times" can be viewed in different ways. Some might see it as fantasy: a mysterious young man known only as "Mister" acquires the ability to stop time while being able to move about freely. He uses that talent to selfishly bolster his otherwise miserable school grades and lackluster athletic performances, to deal with tormenting bullies, and to acquire the girl of his dreams, a school mate named Abby. She dumps him after discovering his secret and his lies, only to reconsider and reunite. The pair then spend their lives solving crimes a la Nick and Nora Charles.
On the other hand, the more discerning reader will see the true literary merit of this book, an allegory in which Mister's ability is merely the vehicle that carries us on a dark and multi-faceted journey through a decaying America along a road of self-discovery rich in religious meaning and symbolism. Its three-part structure suddenly now parallels the three basic themes of the Bible: Creation, Fall from Grace, and Redemption.
Part One finds Mister being "blessed" with his "gift" on a snowy January 6 (the day of Epiphany, by the way). He becomes "drunk with that power" as he struggles to use it for good or evil, right or wrong. He chooses unwisely and lies, cheats and steals his way toward "creating" an inflated persona—someone he once only dreamed of being—while capturing the heart of Abby.
By Part Two, Abby has discovered Mister's transgressions and leaves him because of a love falsely acquired. Mister "falls from grace," slipping into an underworld of drugs, alcohol and overwhelming depression before Abby chooses to forgive, and "saves" him from a spiraling demise.
Part Three then is Mister's "redemption" by way of Abby, his "guardian angel," whose idea for salvation puts him in touch with the "true purpose and meaning" to his special gift.
"Once Upon Our Times" thus becomes a fresh and intriguing look at some time-honored questions, a deeply layered story filled with detail and imagery yet resplendent with humor, drama and suspense, the account of an extended life full of profound revelation and understanding.
Or, it can be seen as fantasy.
The reader must make that choice.
Excerpt
Early on the morning of January sixth of that year the winds shifted and brought down a heavy snow from the north. By daybreak the blanket of virgin white seemed to suffocate all the evil beneath it, at least for a moment. Things were quiet and peaceful at that point, innocent one might naively have proposed and certainly not an omen to the terror about to be born.
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