Title: Tao of Life and Death: A Tale
Author: Stephen McDonough
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 9780557209118
Pages: 67, Paperback
Genre: Fiction/Poetry/Young Adult
Reviewed by: Beth Adams, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
The word “Tao” is defined as the eternal principle of the universe that transcends reality and is the source of being, non-being, and change. This is the fictional core of the short stories contained within Stephen McDonough’s work titled Tao of Life and Death: A Tale.Divided into 5 “chapters” referred to as books, and written as 13 passages within the books as told by 4 narrators, McDonough interestingly categorizes his prose into this structure. The storyline of the characters is set in the ancient days of China, with the spiritual development of forces of good and evil combating for life’s rewards. The characters are: Gnarled Pine, a Taoist Hermit; Happy Willow, a boy scholar; Quiet Buffalo, a Taoist Master; along with the author. Most notably is the beautiful original cover artwork by the author showing extraordinary skill in emulating the Chinese style and characters. This appreciation for a culture is very complimentary, as is his respect for the fundamental historical presence of forces within their spiritual environment.
Stephen McDonough’s writings follow imagery in the form of Asian-Inspired literature, thus it is a bit “foreign” to the mindset of young readers within the culture of the United States. This results in two of my conclusions, one good and one bad. First, as criticism, the rhymes and use of words seem discombobulated and rough. However as a compliment, if the reader has an open mind and allows for the imagery to emerge, he or she will be exposed to a different form of lifestyle, new supernatural forces and characters, and cultural icons unlike those of English literature. Many of the verses needed to be re-read by me to gain an understanding of the intent of the author. This may prove to be too frustrating for some of the audience in which I feel would be most attracted to this book, hence becoming an inherent flaw for market acceptance.
All in all the artwork, storytelling of ancient imaginary characters and use of symbols do prove to awaken the reader to different and novel cultural aspects of the world’s history, religions and spiritual beliefs. As the timeline for the stories goes back beyond the beginning of the Christian Calendar of now being 2010 years, it shows the world before “today,” and brings to light the continuity of civilizations before our culture with their idiosyncrasies, gods, beliefs, and epic confrontations. What Tao of Life and Death: A Tale shows is the continuance of good versus evil, and how wisdom is cherished by all.
