Let me tell you about myself. I am a feeling, a passion that resides in every soul. I am attachment, a deep connection, and an unwavering keenness. I am a religion of love—multidimensional, boundless, and united. I know no dogmas, no theologies. I am an infidel to every religion, unconfined by the boundaries of any region. I rise higher and higher, reaching altitudes and horizons that stretch far beyond sight. I am present in every wicket, every fountain, in every moment that calls for tenderness, and I soar with the winds.
My wings are intentions and temptations, and I am a divine force, a sheet that covers griefs, shortcomings, and sins. I stand superior to all visions, untouched by envy, lust, or apprehension. I quench the thirst of souls, whether they are black or white, rich or poor, like rain that falls on deserts and mountains alike. I am the tree that stands tall in the sun, a home for the birds who perch upon my arms, swinging and singing their melodies. As they sing, I burn in a moment of pure presence, asking nothing in return.
Like the water in lakes and oceans, I keep flowing, forever navigating through the currents of life. There is no racial difference in my supreme meditation, no barrier to my song. I am a tune on which every heart sings, without lyrics or rhythms—no gain, no loss, just oblivion. There is no possession in my essence, no ego to tie me down. I am free from selfishness, obsession, and saturation. I am a feeling of liberty that knows no obstacle, no hindrance, forever pure and untainted.
Like a saint, I give prayers for the bliss of heaven. This is who I am, a force beyond measure, beyond any comprehension—an eternal song of love.
“A fascinating and soul-stirring trip as I expected it to be when I picked it.”
Zadan Zarik
If you are going to pick this novel, it will remain in your mind long after you’ve finished reading it because the themes of love, sorrow, faith, humanity, sciences, religions, and so much more have been marvellously added to them. How can this even happen in one good-length novel? It is because of Adam’s deep research and submerged attitude. He was totally absorbed while working on it. If you want to read the full story, you can visit his website, which is attached to his GoodReads Profile.
The words are woven so intricately that I just loved the mind of Adam Brownlie, who has done this masterwork. I already admired his work through his short personal details on his website, and reading his book made it more intense, so I opted to volunteer to promote him further. Though it is branded as science fiction, if you read it, you will think, as I do, it goes beyond science fiction. You will feel like he shares something he sees and feels himself in the spiritual world. Not just this but the time travel, the concept of immortality, religion, faith, the general perception of humanity on love, sorrow, and intense feelings, I mean everything. If you read this book with all your senses engaged, you will gain insights that are at once enduring and critically important.
There is a little spoiler, but I will ensure it doesn’t harm your reading curiosity. Let’s talk about theme, character, and plot:
Key Characters:
Elodie Black is the heart and soul of the story. She is a profoundly relatable protagonist. Her journey from a grieving wife to a transcendent being grappling with humanity’s nature is heartbreaking and awe-inspiring at the same time. Her struggles with faith, identity, and love anchor the narrative. I will credit Adam for making her evolution feel authentic and deeply human, even as she transcends her physical form.
Markus Black is Elodie’s husband and a brilliant neuroscientist. He is driven by a desire to conquer death after nearly losing Elodie in a car accident. His research sets the stage for the novel’s exploration of immortality, but his untimely death early in the story leaves Elodie to navigate the consequences of his work alone.
Coby is a pivotal character in the latter part of the novel, representing the intersection of humanity and technology. His conversations with Elodie explore the philosophical and existential questions that define the book.
Main Themes:
Immortality and Humanity
Faith and Science
Love and Loss
Mind Provoking Questions!
The plot of The Last Gods is both intimate and epic. It begins with Elodie and Markus’s life together, quickly shifting gears after Markus’s death and Elodie’s immersion into his research. She then evolves physically and mentally. The story goes into the evolution of humanity, civilizations, and much more. The narrative is fast-paced, so you will not get bored. With each twist and turn, you will submerge into the novel’s philosophical underpinnings. The ending… I will leave it over to you!
For me, Elodie’s world is attractive, because I am a human who is witnessing the evolution with my own eyes. It captivated me from the first chapter. I will not share what was there and leave it for you. But it is a strange blend of the familiar and the terrifyingly futuristic. The story is emotional. Its underpinning becomes their love as her relationship with her bright but haunted husband, Markus, is depicted with such sensitivity that you will pause and think about Adam and how he did it. After a tragic event forces Elodie to adopt a realistic approach toward practical immortality, her journey reflects our existential concerns (we all have these at some stage of life). Death is certain. Death is a fact. So, the question that always pops up is when we think about the future and advancements in medical sciences, which is the reversing of age and the work on aging cells. We ask how we can live when death is no longer a certainty. Will we be able to maintain our humanity? The question is left for you to answer after reading the book. After we transcend the physical and mental boundaries imposed by nature, who we will be? Gods? The Last Gods? Animals? Angels? Satan? Who?
Adam’s Research of over 500 Research Papers!
He has done some research, and I just loved it. His investigation into the possibility of eternal life is astounding; it just gave me chills. However, when I did some of my own research, I agreed with him, and the fiction became like an upcoming reality to me. That is the reason I admire his work.
The philosophical and ethical questions raised by the prospect of everlasting existence are not issues he avoids. A lot of the same questions that his character has as she changes leaves her body behind, travels through time, and sees civilizations build and fall are ones that I have been asking myself. Could eternal life be both a boon and a bane? When a body stops being human, does it mean the soul can’t? That there are no simple solutions is part of the novel’s allure. Sitting with uncertainty, facing the contradictions of life, and finding your meaning in the turmoil are all invitations it extends.
The Last Gods’s handling of religion and science is one of its most remarkable features, so I picked it up to read. This is rare to find in this genre. Elodie’s strong religious beliefs are not downplayed or ignored. They are subtly and respectfully included in the story. One of the most endearing things about her is how she fights to balance her religion with the fact that she will live forever. Instead of contrasting religion with science, Brownlie demonstrates how the two can live side by side. Presenting this fact is hard, and balancing it is rare, with each providing a unique perspective through which to comprehend the secrets of life. One of the things that makes this novel feel so new and interesting is the balance, which is unusual in science fiction. Either religion supersedes science or science denies the religious aspects of immortality.
There are passages of breathtaking poetic beauty within the graceful and evocative words. The gentle touch of fiction. The intangible, such as the pain of loss, the impermanence of time, and the delicate beauty of human connection, are all beautifully rendered by him as an author. It evokes a feeling of detachment that reflects Elodie’s personal metamorphosis, the novel’s chronological progression is both startling and captivating. My emotions were a mix of wonder and sadness by the conclusion. I don’t know why I wished it should be a series or that more than 2 quarters of the story should be there. Maybe if I ever contact Adam, I ask him to write some more. But the work he has just done is … superb. As Elodie and Coby face the infinite in their interactions. Brownlie’s talent is on full display when he makes the impersonal seem so intimate. Mesmerizing is one word to tell it. I am just holding not to spoil your reading.
My Point of View!
I used to read a lot of science fiction, especially about time travel, mythical creatures, the Gods and Goddesses of Mythology, Immortality, Genes, and others. There has never been a reading experience quite like The Last Gods, both emotionally and intellectually, which I think is the pure work, the nectar he poured while authoring this novel. Maybe! I am sure that reading this book will force you to contemplate the meaning of life, death, and everything in between. It will answer a lot of your fictional questions. The heart, as well as the concepts in this book, make it memorable. Suppose you have strong imaginative power amidst the boundless. In that case, you will see Elodie’s narrative has served as a poignant reminder that our humanity, our ability to experience love, loss, and hope, is what truly sets us apart.
I also wish to shed some light on Adam, whose work is this. If he has time for his farming business, I will conduct a personal interview with him; otherwise, I will take it slow and proceed slowly, as I will be covering him for one of my other blogs about inspiring souls.
In our Muslim belief system, we have a life hereinafter, just as in Catholics. Where life will be as per wishes, two things that will be exceptional will be that no more death will exist. The 2nd will be the wishes acting as commands. I will not go deeper into this, but I can justify that this novel is a real story for me, woven in fiction, but I believe Adam senses the same. Farmers are too close to nature, and nature gives them a lot of wisdom. The way Mom has schooled him; I can understand the deep-rooted belief system and the efforts of Mama to make him a fine human being.
Finally, back to the book The Last Gods, a novel that will shake you to your core and make you wonder about life and everything. I am incredibly excited to witness Adam Brownlie’s future creations because he has genuinely accomplished something remarkable. Read it, enjoy it, and rate it. Share your thoughts here or with Adam as well.
This is a book I’ll return to repeatedly, each time discovering new layers of meaning. It’s not just a story; it’s a meditation on life itself.
Up, up, and away I go with the wind, soaking myself in this lovely drizzle. A new tune rises from within me, and I revel in its melody. My soul, drenched in joy, swings freely, carried by the rain that falls in tender rhythm. I am lost in this unearthly meditation, transported to a world where the magnitude of my imagination knows no bounds.
I sing a song as the raindrops kiss the green leaves, the music played by nature herself, the best musician of all. New flowers bloom around me, their fragrance filling the air—come, my friend, immerse yourself in this divine medicine, this elixir of life. Sing along with the melody of dancing branches and the rain, the ariels in chorus, sensing the wet earth and its frankincense scent.
My soul, drenched in pure delight, swings once more, and I fall in love with this sweet zephyr, this mythical wind that carries me into a world of transcendence. In this moment, I become a timeless object, a spirit in harmony with nature, a fleeting presence that dances with the rain. It is a wonderful, bewitching atmosphere, and my soul reaches its zenith, lost in the magic of the moment.
I sing along with the flowers—yellow and crimson—as they join me in their silent songs. The freshness of the greenery, the vibrant leaves, all become a part of my melody. In this world of love, relations sacred and sentimental, there is peace. There is joy. Everything is tranquil, as if the world itself is wrapped in a gentle embrace of serenity.
Up, up, and away, I go once more with the wind, soaking in the rain, singing my song anew. My soul, drenched in joy, swings into the heart of this divine moment, and all is well with the world.
“Faith, hope, goodwill—these are just daydreams,” you say, dismissing them as “a fool’s paradise, empty words, it seems.” Life’s path, you claim, is turbulent and destined for unrest. You speak of false expectations, lofty ideals that sound so high and blessed but are, in reality, nothing but illusion. Then, you walk away, leaving behind only doubt and cynicism. But stop! I cannot help but smirk at your naivety.
Closed eyes see nothing, only darkness. Open your eyes, and behold this world—a world luminously alive, filled with rapture and glee, brilliant and radiant, a masterpiece of beauty. We sin, yes, but still, the call for prayer rises, the lamps are lit, burning away the insects that gather around them. Despite the hardships, their light never fails. Seasons come and go, each one returning with a promise of renewal. Flowers bloom, leaves spring to life, only to wither, grow pale, and fade. Yet, with time, new branches bear fresh green—an eternal, undying cycle.
Trust, hope, and love bind this world, my friend. They are continuous, immortal forces that never cease. Storms may approach, devastating nests and hives, but still, blessings abound in this life. We see the quakes, the debris, and the ruins, but from the rubble, new houses rise, and new lives begin where others once ended. We watch as planes are hijacked, trains crash, and we witness droughts, floods, and rains. Yet through it all, nature’s process never fails. A single step, and all perils and fears disappear. Stillborns are mourned, but life continues to find its way.
Have you ever experienced a moment when everything falls apart, leaving you to wonder what will happen next? That’s just where Cheryl Strayed found herself, struggling with the devastating loss of her mother, a broken marriage, and a string of damaging decisions that left her feeling completely disoriented. And what was her action? She embarked on a solo journey up the Pacific Crest Trail, carrying a heavy rucksack and her sorrows and regrets. Lack of background. Lack of instruction. All she wants is to be herself again.
And believe me when I say that Wild is more than a memoir; it’s an adventure, one that is unfiltered, honest, and occasionally hilarious.
The Reason This Novel Seems So Genuine
The protagonist makes mistakes, experiences heartbreak, and pushes forward despite these negative emotions. It sets it apart from the usual heroic survival story. Strayed doesn’t sugarcoat her narrative; she tells it all, including the careless choices she made, the pain she felt, and the times she was so exhausted that she wondered why she had ever believed she could do it. The relatability, nevertheless, comes from that very fact. Attempting to put herself back together piece by piece, she is not an adept outdoorswoman or trained hiker.
Moments That Made an Impression on Me
The trail was very horrible. Envision yourself hiking with a rucksack so hefty that you seem to crumble under its weight. For example, you can lose ingrown toenails if your boots don’t fit. If you read Strayed’s account of the physical toll the trail takes on her, you will imagine yourself developing blisters on your feet.
The unanticipated generosity of total strangers – Along the way, she encounters kind hikers, trail angels, and other nomads who serve as gentle reminders that life isn’t always so bleak. These seemingly insignificant gestures of compassion have a big impact, particularly during her lowest moments.
Her writing style regarding loss
If you’ve ever experienced the pain of losing a loved one, this book will resonate deeply with you. In Strayed, we see how loss changes you and how mending isn’t always a smooth process; it can be difficult and painful at times, and sometimes, all it takes is finding a new way to bear the burden.
Who Is It Designed For?
The truth? Anybody who has ever felt disoriented… Everyone who has ever wished they could start over in life but didn’t know how! Any reader interested in tales of bravery, exploration, and coming-of-age would like them. On a more personal level, it’s about survival more than merely hiking.
If you were a fan of Eat, Pray, Love but thought it lacked determination or if you were captivated by Into the Wild but desired a tale with more emotion, then Wild is the perfect choice for you.
As a last thought
There aren’t going to be any simple solutions or bows provided in this book. It’s all about the trip, about continuing forward despite a lack of direction. This kind of book remains with you long after you’ve finished reading it because of how honest Strayed is.
So, Wild is a great pick if you want to read a book that will make you feel like you’re conversing with a friend who has been there and done that. You should do it.
Is this the kind of challenge you would accept? Alternatively, are you more of an armchair adventurer? What do you think?
Up, up, and away I go with the wind, soaking myself in this lovely drizzle. A new tune rises from within me, and I revel in its melody. My soul, drenched in joy, swings freely, carried by the rain that falls in tender rhythm. I am lost in this unearthly meditation, transported to a world where the magnitude of my imagination knows no bounds.
I sing a song as the raindrops kiss the green leaves, the music played by nature herself, the best musician of all. New flowers bloom around me, their fragrance filling the air—come, my friend, immerse yourself in this divine medicine, this elixir of life. Sing along with the melody of dancing branches and the rain, the ariels in chorus, sensing the wet earth and its frankincense scent.
My soul, drenched in pure delight, swings once more, and I fall in love with this sweet zephyr, this mythical wind that carries me into a world of transcendence. In this moment, I become a timeless object, a spirit in harmony with nature, a fleeting presence that dances with the rain. It is a wonderful, bewitching atmosphere, and my soul reaches its zenith, lost in the magic of the moment.
I sing along with the flowers—yellow and crimson—as they join me in their silent songs. The freshness of the greenery, the vibrant leaves, all become a part of my melody. In this world of love, relations sacred and sentimental, there is peace. There is joy. Everything is tranquil, as if the world itself is wrapped in a gentle embrace of serenity.
Up, up, and away, I go once more with the wind, soaking in the rain, singing my song anew. My soul, drenched in joy, swings into the heart of this divine moment, and all is well with the world.
The hands of the clock are in motion, relentless in their progression. The second arm rotates and rotates, counting each fleeting moment. I watch as it ticks away, sixty seconds at a time, while the minute hand follows its path, navigating the space between thirty minutes of silence. It’s the dead hour of the night, and once again, I am alone.
Burned into the stillness is the rhetoric of my own thoughts, a rhapsody of sorrow that only I can hear. The chair rocks gently, but it’s empty, as I sit forlorn, unaccompanied by anything but the ticking of the clock. It plays a reprise of my melancholy, echoing the emptiness that fills the room. My pen lies motionless on the table, the papers empty, the forgotten carols of joy lost to time, replaced by the cold reality of moments passed.
Another day is yet to come, but it promises only more censure, more remarks that sting, ending with a poem that will be just as lugubrious as the last. It’s a sad day, slipping quietly towards the end, a quarter to twelve, with no one beside me—no companion, no friend. I sit, playing with words, as they call me a poetess, a label that only highlights my solitude.
Feelings are my cloak, rhymes my only attire, as the clock continues its eternal ticking. Another day of life fades away, only to give way to another, filled with the same cycles of isolation. Words from a broken heart—people call them a diadem—but I know them as nothing more than the remnants of pain. And I am here, alone, carrying the weight of these feelings, with nothing but their momentum to keep me company.
Today’s digital environment makes claiming “I don’t have time to read” an all-too-common excuse, yet one look at your phone’s screen time can show otherwise: hours spent browsing social media feeds or checking notifications can often dwarf reading time; priorities and habits often play a bigger role than time alone in shaping our reading habits.
Average smartphone users spend several hours every day engaging in activities that are neither urgent nor meaningful, such as social media apps, video streaming platforms and casual games that provide quick bursts of dopamine to keep you coming back for more. While such activities may offer instant gratification or short-term fulfillment; reading can provide much longer term satisfaction and enrichment that keeps us coming back for more. Reclaiming even a fraction of this screen time for books could revolutionize both intellectually and emotionally enrichment lives.
Consider this: By dedicating just 30 minutes a day to reading, in just one or two months you could easily complete one or two books a month and over the course of a year finish anywhere between 12-24 books–enough to significantly broaden your knowledge base, perspectives and understanding of our world. All it takes to get there is being aware of where your time goes and making conscious decisions about its use.
Reading offers numerous advantages that screen time simply cannot match. Where scrolling social media often leaves us feeling depleted, anxious, or discontent, reading engages your mind, sparks creativity, and gives a sense of achievement. Reading provides an escape from digital distractions by immersing ourselves into different realities such as fictional universes, historical narratives or engaging dialogue; not only will this engage your mental faculties but it will also sharpen focus and improve critical thinking skills.
Reading can also serve as a form of self-care, providing your mind a welcome respite from digital devices and screens and giving it an opportunity to relax and refuel. Furthermore, unlike digital media consumption that requires passive consumption only – reading is more rewarding and meaningful in comparison.
If screen time has become an integral part of your daily routine, turning even just some of it towards reading doesn’t need to be drastic change. Make small steps toward reading every day: set achievable goals like reading for 10-15 minutes instead of scrolling your phone; replace idle moments such as waiting in line, commuting and sipping coffee with reading pages from a book instead; over time these small adjustments will build into an impressive reading habit!
Apps and tools can also help bridge the gap between your digital habits and reading goals. E-books and audiobooks allow you to seamlessly incorporate reading into existing routines – for instance listening to an audiobook during exercise or reading an e-book on your phone instead of checking social media – which makes books an easy addition even to busy schedules. “I don’t have time to read” is often less about time itself than how you choose to allocate it, with screen time reflecting that decision. By taking control of your habits and prioritizing reading, wasted hours can become lifelong sources of knowledge, growth, and joy – so next time you say you don’t have enough reading time pick up a book instead!
I see two friends; I smile, and I walk away. The world around me is full of reasons to remind me of you, bursting with joy, and vibrant with colours, yet I feel your presence in every corner. You are still with me—your essence, lingering in the air, as real as the rain that falls upon this valley, as tangible as the autumn leaves, gently crumbling and fading to the ground.
The love I have for you remains, as steadfast as the valley itself—unchanging, as enduring as the bare trees that stand in the cold wind. Things come and things go, like the dried-up fountain that still stands tall and silent, an echo of what was once full of life. Loved ones arrive, but they too must part, and yet the feelings in my heart remain, unbroken, undiminished.
Immersed in your love, I am immortal, yet I am shattered. I burn, break like fragile crystal, the pain sharp and intense, like the thread that melts away with the candle’s flame—its light remembered, its wax long forgotten. I am like the sea, vast and endless, on which ships sail—visitors come to my shores, but they must leave. The full moon touches my veins, its glow illuminating the emptiness within me. Alone, I continue to flow, moving endlessly with the tide of time.
The nights and days paint the sky, arriving and departing as they please, but the sky remains unchanged. Flowers bloom with morning’s light, only to wilt by dusk, their beauty fleeting, their grace passing. Yet, the honeybee still loves them, still flies to their fading petals, seeking what is no longer there.
The sands that lie still after the storm, the cactus standing alone under the relentless sun—these too mirror the tempest of thoughts that swirl in my soul. The world brings so many reasons to remember you, yet I remain forever caught in the whirlwind of your absence.
Tears fall, dreams shatter, but my eyes, though wet with sorrow, remain open, hopeful like nature itself. Buried deep within me are the moments of the past, the echoes of time now gone. For it is not the ocean that dies in the rivers, but the rivers that eventually merge into the ocean’s endless embrace.
And like the moon in the heavens, I am alone, incomplete, forever shadowed as though in eclipse. But love—love remains. It is eternal, unbroken, undying. Though you are gone, the connection we shared lingers on, deathless and unwavering.
As technology revolutionises how we consume information, the definition of reading has expanded well beyond physical books. All forms of reading count; the key is finding one that suits your lifestyle and personal preferences to ensure reading becomes an enjoyable part of daily life.
Each form–print books, ebooks and audiobooks–has its own special draw for readers; exploring them all will help you find which works best. Traditional print books offer tactile experience many readers find immensely gratifying: their feel in your hands and the smell of pages can create a sensory connection between reading and sensory engagement; making print books ideal for deep uninterrupted reading sessions.
Ebooks offer unparalleled convenience and accessibility. Carrying an entire library in one device makes reading anytime and anywhere simpler. Ebook readers and apps often come equipped with adjustable font sizes, built-in dictionaries and customized lighting settings that cater to a wide range of reading preferences – perfect for busy individuals or frequent travelers looking to make reading more accessible than ever!
Audiobooks bring another dimension to the reading experience by turning text into spoken words, making reading while performing other tasks such as commuting, exercising, or cooking easier than ever. They are especially beneficial for auditory learners or those with limited time for traditional reading; when performed by skilled narrators they can bring characters to life, add emotion, and provide an immersive sense of immersion unique to this form.
Importantly, none of these formats is intrinsically better than another; what matters is how they fit into your life. Some readers might use one exclusively, while others mix and match depending on the situation; perhaps you enjoy reading a print book at home but switch over to ebook reading while traveling or listening to an audiobook while running in the morning – reading is there no matter your schedule or lifestyle! This flexibility ensures reading remains part of everyday life no matter the schedule or circumstance.
Approving of multiple formats makes reading more inclusive and accessible for people of all abilities, such as those with visual impairments who might find audiobooks or ebooks with text-to-speech features more suitable than traditional books, while individuals struggling with reading due to learning differences like dyslexia may benefit from audiobooks or other supportive technologies.
Some readers mistakenly believe that listening to audiobooks doesn’t count as “real” reading; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You still benefit from engaging with an author’s words, ideas, and imagination in either form of media consumption; both can stimulate comprehension and empathy in similar ways, showing how all forms of reading contribute to intellectual and emotional growth. At its core, all forms of reading matter equally. From physical books and ebooks to audiobooks and audiobook listens, all reading contributes to personal growth, broadening horizons, and unlocking the transformative power of language. By exploring various formats you may discover which work best with your lifestyle and preferences so reading remains enjoyable and accessible – modern technology provides so many avenues for engaging in reading! So why not give each format a try and enjoy what reading can offer you!
