by James Dunning
EXPLICATIO
PARANORMALORVM - An Explication of the Paranormal
(Dolmen Tree Press / 1-463-56504-6 / 978-1-463-56504-6 / July 2011 / 270 pages / $14.95 / $14.20
Amazon / $2.99 Kindle)
Let me begin by saying that this book is one of the most
professionally produced POD books I have seen. The proofreading errors were few
and far between. I received with this book a full-color, two-sided brochure, a
postcard, and a personally written letter. The author is a highly educated man
from the Atlanta area who is well traveled in the U.S. and Europe, and this is
his first book. The Bright Lady is a sort of autobiographical story of
one element of the author's life. The action takes place over a seven-year
period, beginning when he first sees the aura of a young woman who works for
the same corporation, but in the building next door.
Is it live or is it Memorex? The most difficult part of
writing an analysis of this book revolves around the space-cadet plotline
conjured by a writer who is something of an expert in psychology,
parapsychology, and linguistics. He is also a devoted fan and researcher of the
legendary Tolkien Trilogy. He has a doctorate in pharmaceutical research and
has held some sort of high-level position at a high-tech suburban firm,
although not necessarily in the obvious field. The author is quite obtuse in
whatever mentions or descriptions of his career are contained within the
storyline. Most of the plot content takes place either at this business or on
one of the author's several excursions to Europe, where he wallows in the
languages of the area. The Bright Lady is described in a first-person
account of Dr. Dunning's prophetic meeting with a mysterious young woman at the
unnamed large corporation where they both work. He tells the story as if he
himself is uncertain if he had experienced a series of deeply imaginative fever
dreams, or if a truly paranormal experience has truly cloaked his mind.
I can understand what the author is trying to convey. The
only question I have is how many other readers will enjoy it? As a fellow
Psychology major, I read Freud's Delusion and Dream and I was indeed
fascinated by somewhat similar, intense dream sequences. To this day, I dream
profusely, all in 3D color with a full range of thoughts and emotions. However,
my interest in foreign languages or fantasy book series is basically zero.
There certainly may be many readers who will ascertain many details from these
elements and be deeply moved by the author's applications of these concepts. My
favorite parts are the author's deep discussions with his old friend concerning
his travails and unexpected delights with The Bright Lady. The final
interpretation will have to rest with each individual reader.
The author drew or painted the cover images and there is a
bibliography of resources describing the author's detailed influences. Dr.
Dunning mentions that he dislikes the distraction of footnotes, and with that I
could not agree more. The story flows nicely, whether you take it as gospel
nonfiction, the memoir of an eccentric, or a delicately told tale of silent
desire and delusion.
See Also: The Author's Website
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