Review of Shifting Tides

[Priya Murugesan]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Shifting Tides" by The Journeyman.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Shifting Tides by The Journeyman is a philosophical book that portrays the thoughts of a solitary man who is grappling with numerous questions about life and is on a desperate quest to find the answers. The narrative follows a series of events that happen in four days, with a strong emphasis on the narrator's reflections. The author mentions in the author's note that even though he has written the book from a first-person perspective, the narrator's experience represents not only him but also the readers. Interestingly, the author's name is mentioned as The Journey Man, and his real name is not revealed.

The book begins with the author's note and dedication, followed by an introduction and a prologue. It then contains chapters titled Workingman’s Blues, Wayward Gestures, The Water’s Edge, and Shifting Tides. I found the Dedication section to be quite intriguing.

The book explores the common dilemmas and fears that one faces when entering adulthood. The narrator is having difficulty adjusting to adult life after leaving adolescence. While the world expects him to behave like an adult, it continues to treat him like a child. He feels pressured to meet the demands of a man while he is still quite young. In this world, life comes with a set of rules that everyone is expected to abide by. The narrator overthinks a lot about this and questions the meaning of his life. He is trying to find his way in this confusing and mad world by confronting his fears and inner demons while also managing various difficult life choices and social expectations. Furthermore, he worries that his life would revolve around the responsibility to provide for a family, and he fears that his life would be wasted by it. He wishes for a life with a meaningful experience rather than a mechanical life. He questions the system that has set the rules about how to lead our lives. I believe many of us would have experienced similar thoughts at some point in our lives.

This book was quite short, but many sentences were very long, and I found them a little difficult to understand. Using simpler sentences will enhance clarity. I also noticed many profane words. Moreover, I felt the thoughts of the narrator were somewhat repetitive. The author could have explored the dilemmas of the narrator a bit further. Additionally, I found the ending a bit unsatisfying. I also noted more than ten errors while reading, making me believe the book is not professionally edited and needs another round of editing. For these reasons, I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars. Readers interested in philosophical books, especially those that focus on young adult dilemmas, would find this book intriguing.

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Shifting Tides
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[Elavarasi Charles]

This book feels like a raw and authentic account of someone's adulthood experience. With more attention on editing and flow, as you point out, this book could resonate with a lot of readers. I will look out for an opportunity to read this book. This is a detailed, well-presented review, and I loved reading it!

[Priya Murugesan]

This book feels like a raw and authentic account of someone's adulthood experience. With more attention on editing and flow, as you point out, this book could resonate with a lot of readers. I will look out for an opportunity to read this book. This is a detailed, well-presented review, and I loved reading it!

Thanks for reading my review!