Customer Reviews

Out of My Mind: The Discovery of Saunders-Vixen

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Well, I ordered this book before I read all the reviews here, and I kicked myself after reading them. Not because of the book, but because I had just written a letter to Richard, not knowing of the divorce, and hinted at questions I'm sure he won't want to answer. The book isn't nearly as bad as some people here led me to believe. It is a short story, and should have been presented as a short story, but I wasn't left hanging, as some people were. I think it stands ok as it is. Maybe my perceptions were lowered enough by some of the scathing reviews, that it was easy to find it better than some people thought. It seems to me that it's too easy for some people to point fingers and shout, "Rip Off", with no attempt at understanding or empathy. Might it have occurred to them that maybe there's a reason this book is the way it is? That's certainly true of all his other books. I tried Richard's website too late; it had been shut down, so I missed what might have been said there. After doing some online research, it seems painfully obvious to me that, whatever the circumstances of the divorce, it must have been pretty rough; it seems evident that both Richard and Leslie agreed to keep the details personal, even to the exclusion of any mention of Leslie, or "Bridge Across Forever", in a recent interview for AOPAPilot. It seems plausible to me that he was driven back into seclusion by harsh criticism, just as he dismissed himself from the "Illusions" forum on CompuServe many years ago. Indeed, even in one past interview online, Leslie's face was obviously removed from a group photo. It's easy to imagine that a stipulation of the divorce is that it not be publicized. Of course, that's disconcerting to all of us that have been allowed to share in so many personal details of Richard's life in the past. But you know what? This his HIS LIFE, people; ease up. We're not entitled to anything; we should consider ourselves lucky he's still writing at all. People forget that Richard often said that he hates the act of writing, that he has to be driven to it by ideas that demand to be exposed. They also forget what a private person he can be, and how awkward it is for him at times, to have millions of people know all the personal details he shares, to the point where they feel that they have some kind of right to criticize him, or tell him what they think he should do, or what he should have done. So, "Out of My Mind" is short; so it disappointed some people who were expecting another "One" or "Running from Safety" or "Illusions". I prefer to think it was what Richard intended it to be, and maybe we should try to figure that out. Isn't that what books are for?

I'm a year behind all of the controversy about Richard Bach's OUT OF MY MIND. If I had read the reviews before getting the book, I probably wouldn't have purchased it. I'm glad, however, that I did. I can certainly understand why so many people were upset about Bach's new novel. Well, it actually isn't a novel. It's more like a twenty-five page short story, expanded to look longer than it really is. Also, the story is open-ended. There is no actual ending to it, but rather what appears to be the preparation of future things to come. Last, there is no Leslie Parrish in this book. Not even a mention of her. I wasn't aware that Richard and Leslie had divorced until I read the previous reviews. Like most fans of Richard Bach, I,too, was surprised by this and began to wonder if it is possible for anyone to have a happy, successful, long-term marriage. I mean, if soul mates can't do it, what chance does the rest of us have? Anyway, as to the story itself, I can see where a lot of people would find nothing useful in it. Mr. Bach has talked about "parallel universes" in some of his other books on a much more interesting level. There wasn't really anything new here that would capture the imagination of most readers...that is, unless the reader had also had similar experiences. For the last several years, I have visited a college town in my dream state that has beautiful oak trees lining both sides of the street, as well as a multitude of wonderful bookstores. I meet people on the street that I seem to know, and shop in the bookstores, finding new novels by some of my favorite authors. I as walk through the town, I feel like I'm finally home. The only catch here is that I have never been to this town in my awakened state, nor do I actually know any of the people I meet in the dream. Even worse, my favorite authors in the dream state don't exist outside of that realm. I have no idea where this town has come from, or why I dream about it so often ( probably around two dozen times so far). No one has been able to give me a satisfying answer to this question. I know that I experience an extreme sense of peace while visiting this place in my sleep, and that it carries over into my awakened state for at least half of the following day. OUT OF MY MIND has given me some food for thought about this unusual experience. I know that some of the leading scientists of the past century have expressed the possibility of parallel universes existing. Whether the scientists (Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawkings, & Kip Thorne) are correct is a question that may be answered in the future. Whether we can access a parallel universe, if one does exist, is another question in itself. And finally, what is real and what is simply one's imagination? I don't know the answer to that. What I do know is that I immensely enjoyed Bach's book for this particular story line. It touched something deep inside of me, and now I'm more determined than ever before to find out something about this reoccuring dream of mine. I don't know if Mr. Bach wrote OUT OF MY MIND for the money, or if he really had something important that he wanted to say. I would like to think the positive, and I would like to read more books concerning his visits to the Saunders-Vixen airplane facility. If one looks at the universe through the eyes of a child, anything is possible...maybe even the visiting of a parallel universe while one is sleeping. One last note, Mr. Bach has since closed down his web site. I wonder if it was because of too many angry E-mails about OUT OF MY MIND?

This was by no means a bad book. The fact that it's short hardly means anything--Jonathan Livingston Seagull isn't much longer. The fact that it is on the surface a very simple story doesn't mean it's unimportant. After all, Illusions is, on the surface, equally simple.

However, this is also not a very good book. It is dissapointing to me not just because I have loved Bach's books until now, but more because the idea, the story, had the potential to be VERY good. Once I was 10 pages into it, I expected great things the same way I found great things when Bach touched on a similar idea in One (when Richard and Leslie meet Tink and the others at the idea factory). When the book ended, I felt like the story was just in the beginning stages, and that was dissapointing.

Bach's books have never been based on action, from my perspective. Rather, the great parts have been driven by the ideas that inspire the action that is there. Unfortunately, it seems as though he tries to do the opposite here and when he ran out of action, the book ended. Those who have read the book are justifiably saddened to have missed the rest of the story.

That said, there was an excellent line in the book, one that was almost an aside, but one that I think every Bach fan can relate to and knows is the true theme of his stories (if there is in fact just one). Bach says he has long ago decided there is no such thing as "just my imagination." He understands that imagination is a wonderful tool for solving problems and discovering truth. He also understands (or so I believe) that imagination is a difficult thing to describe to someone else. I can't tell you the number of times I've been unable to explain to someone what I've thought about when my mind has been drifting, even though I know it's terribly important.

If this book is truly a failure, it is not a failure of Bach's imagination, nor, I think, his intent. I simply believe that in this instance, for whatever reason, his skill at describing his imagination was not up to the task.

I was SO excited when I discovered a new Richard Bach book in my local bookstore that I almost bought it on the spot. However, I waited impatiently until I could check my local library and was pleased (though surprised) that they had a couple of copies and it wasn't already reserved. I took it home and couldn't wait for the day to end so I could read it quietly that night.

Yes, I've been a huge Richard Bach fan for years - to the extent that I quit a promising job, got my pilot's license, bought an old '46 Taylorcraft and then flew it around the USA for 3 months - largely inspired by his books and ideas. And what a blast that was!

So I eagerly started reading, turning each page slowly, allowing myself to sink into his wonderful narrative (as always) and relaxed as the story gently unfolded.

Lovely detail, I thought as he described his problem with the Piper's oil cap. Great idea, I mused as his parallel universe unfolded. Interesting character, I wonder how she fits in?

And then, just as I was starting to get comfortable, it was all over! I double checked - nope, no more pages. But wait, I only just started! Its just been a few minutes! (or so it seemed - it was probably 1/2 hour).

So... all I can hope is that this is just the first of several stories drawing from the same ideas. Its wonderfully written. Its engaging enough. But it doesn't touch Illusions or Jonathan (which you DEFINITELY should buy and read if you haven't already). Its brief, and for me anyway, short on meaning and inspiration.

Definitely read it, but borrow it from your local library or a friend [hmm, wonder if Amazon will leave this in :->].

PS: Based on the jacket information, I visited the richardbach website and discovered that he has re-married. Many "One" readers are angry, but its still a wonderful book, and Richard is true to himself to the end :-).

I have read Richard Bach's books for over 25 years, and I love him and his work. Both of us are pilots, and we both love to fly. Chapter 10 in _Running From Safety_ made me cry. I have a wedding ring that's modeled after the one on the cover of _Bridge Across Forever_. So it pains me to say: _Out Of My Mind: The Discovery Of Saunders-Vixen_ disappointed me.

I have had the book on pre-order for months, it seems. Once I got it, it took me perhaps an hour to read it, cover to cover, and I'm not an exceptionally fast reader. After I finished it, I had an empty feeling -- like I had just read the introduction to a very interesting story. Characters were introduced that we never really about again (Blaine). Situations were setup that didn't *go* anywhere (Laura Bristol & her problem). We were introduced to airplanes that we never really got to know (like we got to know Daisy in _Running_). So many great ideas & thoughts, truly befitting Richard Bach, that were glossed over; never really explored. I wish that Richard had spent the same effort on _Out Of My Mind_ that he put into _Bridge_ or _One_ or _Running_.

This book is a great start, but ultimately I found myself wondering: Is this the first book in a series, or what? Very frustrating & disappointing.

This was the very first Richard Bach book I've ever read. I read it without expectation, without comparing it to anything previously written by Bach, without looking for the return of previous characters from other books, without needing it to be a certain number of pages, without looking for a plot, without needing it to take me further than Bach's other books, without needing Bach to be married or divorced, without needing him to be a flawless person. I strolled quietly through this book unencumbered, and with a relaxed openness, simply listening as if with an ear cocked to the wind, listening to whatever it wanted to say to me. And so, I found it delightful, charming, evocative, sensitive, imaginative, tender, touching. Bach's heart was in this book, and that was enough. I was very grateful to have found "Out of My Mind". It makes me want to read others that Bach has written because in it I found the clear recognition of something intriguing and lingering... and an intense but gentle kindredness that continues to beckon to me. This is a very lovely and compelling introduction to Richard Bach.

Yes,Yes we are all upset that Richard Bach divorced Leslie (me too!)...but this is about books not somebodies personal life. As Richard Bach books go, this is one of my favorites (I have read every word he has published). Like Illusions and JLS this book is short and to the point, and like those two previous books it also conveys a truth about life that only Richard Bach can express in such a marvelous way. I am an aircraft designer for Boeing an I too have on some very few occasions been to Saunders-Vixen. The place does exist, and when that little immage of the design you are struggling with finally floats in space in front of your eyes, you can not immagine the joy you receive from knowing that there is an idea factory out there in space-time that sends these beautiful designs to you. Yes, the book is short, it has a lot of blank pages ( I suggest you communicate with Saunders-Vixen and draw your designs on them!) and it tells the truth like Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions. If You want to read the best Richard Bach books, read the short ones! JLS,Illusions and OUT OF MY MIND!

Have Fun!

Lorenz

eber@wa.freei.net

I love Richard Bach's work. However, reading Out Of My Mind was a bit of a surprise, because after I had finished it, I felt as if I wasn't done. The book did not read like a finished product; instead, it felt like a first or second draft, with underdeveloped characters and a general lack of cohesiveness. It is a short work (around 100 pages), but a novella can still have a sense of arrival at the end (like Illusions or Jonathan Livingston Seagull, for instance).

One can argue that the story isn't supposed to "end," that the journey of discovering parallel universes and interacting with people from the past doesn't have to stop, and that Bach intended the ending to have this open, unfinished feeling. However, I don't feel it is crafted as meticulously as his other works.

If you want to read Richard Bach, I suggest The Bridge Across Forever and Illusions first, then JLS, One and Running from Safety. Don't start with Out Of My Mind.

As the character Laura Bristol says of why she suggested leather, rather than steel cable, "...It seemed the simplest solution to your problem, and likely the most practical."

I found this, my first introduction to Richard Bach's work, both a pleasant surprise and I suspect, something that will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely beautiful imagery! Not quite as plain, perhaps, as Hemingway, or as gut-wrenching, but it contains the same seed of powerful storytelling - not a word wasted. It was not surprising to see reviews both angry and defensive. Good writing pushes buttons. His work has obviously inspired and pricked.

I understand the inspiration - whether you've found a soulmate, or in search of one - this hints not of the sadness of loss, but at the joy of meeting and experiencing. I found that unbelievably wise in this day and time of trying to catagorize, label, psychoanalyze and define love in our desperate attempt to catch and possess it. And the writing, simple as it is, evokes the pure emotions of attraction, curiosity, frustration and quiet acceptance with no more fanfare than the scent of fresh-mown grass or a geranium makes when you happen across it on a summer's day.

I am not so sure I understand why the "pricking". It is a small book. Perhaps we measure value in volume? Perhaps we want tidy endings - we want a story, and a story that validates our own experiences rather than offering a different perspective? Perhaps it tugs too strongly at our own regretted and unfinished endings? I personally felt none - but then I have found my soulmate, and I live with the constant in-and-out of a relationship that is measured in the moment, only. To measure it by the future and past would be to destroy it. No tidy story. No assured future. Just the joy (and sometimes hurts) of now.

Personally I think this book captures the brief moment of experience, the quickest flash of eternity, more beautifully than I could imagine described. I recommend it on a rainy, reflective day when your soul needs a little quiet.

First of all, I've read all but the early flying books from Richard Bach and enjoyed most of them (my favourites are Seagull, Illusions and Bridge). I've read a lot of the reviews here before buying it, and hence knew that Leslie wasn't there and that it was controversial. I think (pity as it is to hear about the divorce) that Leslie is not strictly necessary to make a book from R.B. a good book, so I simply ordered it out of curiosity.

Anyway, it's a thin booklet, with large print, and lots of white in it. There are some "chapters" which are only one page long (which is half a page of text in a regular paper back). You'll read it in about 90 minutes. All this may not mean much ... I believe Seagull is about the same length and Seagull was simply terrific.

However, it's disappointing. You could probably leave out a third of the text without noticing (in a book of that size I simply don't want to read three times about the slow breathing and relaxing necessary to get into a trance state) ... there are no ideas in it, no questions and no answers. It's a shadow of what was there in Illusions, it makes the impression of having been written in a hurry and without spirit. It uses ideas from "One" and "Running from Safety" they way one toys with cold food on a plate. Another reviwier pretty correctly and pointedly called it "Chapter one of what might have become a good book".

In a nutshell: It gave me a tingling at the back of my neck one or two time (which accounts for the 2nd star in the rating) and may be ok (I'm not saying good), if you have just read Illusions or Seagull and skipped the later books. But if you're a Richard Bach fan and follower, it's simply disapointing (Read Jane Roberts if you want parallel universes, read Bob Monroe if you want out of body travel and read Jeoff Archer if you want good short stories [they even have a twist in the tale]).