Customer Reviews

In the Shadow of the Sphere: A Journey of Heart & Spirit

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Musician/composer "Digger" Taylor embarks on a perilous rafting trip down a central American river. He hopes the change of scene will help him forget the recent disappoints in his life. he encounters a beautiful, mysterious woman who leads him deep into the rainforest where he meets a wise man, a black jaguar, shocking tragedy, and a host of characters who change his life forever. The Stone Spheres are unique granite monoliths found in Costa Rica and served as the inspiration for In The Shadow Of The Sphere, Thomas Youngholm's skillfully written, highly recommended metaphysical novel which combines elements of romance, science fiction, mystery, and spirituality in a riveting tale of personal transformation.

Excellent spitual book written as a fast paced adventure. Similar to Dan Millman and Richard Bach - lots of adventure and spiritual meanings. Speaks to the fears in us all and allows the reader to put them in perspective. Makes life seem much bigger than just my own view points. I now want to reread his first book, Celestial Bar. Great read and well worth your time.

Tom Youngholm's writing has matured considerably since his first Novel, The Celestial Bar, which I highly recommend also. The images he presents in this, his second novel, are so rich, I felt that I was lost in the Costa Rican Jungle along with Digger, Youngholm's likable, reluctant hero. Often throughout the story I would find myself lingering over a seemingly casually tossed phrase that either brought incredible visual images to my mind or took me to a place inside myself that I hadn't explored in eons. The adventure that unfolds is so compelling that I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next and yet I wanted to savor each moment. As Digger is swept from one experience to the next, the reader learns and grows with him, but the process is so subtle that the reader doesn't realize immediately that this is in fact the author's intention. In the end, the lives of Digger, his girlfriend Bendi, and the reader, are all enriched by this exciting adventure.

I liked this book. If you're a fan of fiction that takes some geographical starting point that is soaked in the supernatural (like "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil") and then takes off on a flight of philosophical fancy, you'll like Youngholm's second novel.

By the way, to learn more about the REAL spheres, the mysterious and ancient Diquis Balls, which are
perfectly round, carved stones found all over Costa
Rica, pick up the wonderful book, "Costa Rica: The last Country the gods Made."

I was intrigued and enjoyed the ride through time and space with this imaginative story. Digger faced his inner self and won. Many of us don't get that far. If there is no legend about the mysterisous spheres in Costa Rica, there is now. The story is well crafted and told. It takes you from the mundane into the bush, slashing away at the jungle in your life, looking to free your spirit. Great ride.

John Wolf
[...]

Great adventure.... wonderful insight shared.... good story.
I shed a couple of tears of fullness as I finished the last pages. If you are awake in this world, consciously walking upon your path you will well appreciate this book. If you have just begun on your journey it will offer you tools that are helpful along your way. If you are not yet awake.... it will beg to open your eyes, your mind, your heart and remember.

Having read The Celestial Bar, I was pleased when I received "In the "Shadow of the Shere" at Christmas. As Digger's journey continued, I found myself swept up in his journey, somewhere on the rafting excursion, I found myself in shock as unexpected events took a turn and I found myself rivited to every page of adventure, by the last page I had goose bumps, and did not want the story to end, I look forward with anticipation to Tom Youngholm's next book and further adventures with Digger and his Spirtual Journey.