In The Myth of Lost, Marc Oromaner has an idea about what is really happening on the mysterious unnamed island and exactly how the many mysteries will come together in the end. He proposes a theory, provides evidence for that theory, and effectively argues how it will play out. Many readers have examined his belief and concluded that his ending will turn out to be correct, yet some are skeptical. The question I asked myself while I was reading, however, wasn't "Is he right?" but rather "Is this plausible?" And yes, his solution is definitely plausible. Even if you don't agree with his premise, you will still gain insight into the characters, will look at our beloved show through the author's perceptive eyes, will toss around something you haven't considered before. And it's just plain fun.
A myth is a story used to teach others about who we are and the world in which we live. Sometimes a myth may contain elements of the supernatural to explain what is natural to those of us who need to be bonked over the head to grasp any piece of truth. Lost is certainly a myth. To demonstrate this, Oromaner carefully lays out the structure of Lost and the reasons that it is much, much more than just a story. He walks us through Jung's archetypes and explains why there is something familiar to us about Kate, Jack, Locke, Hurley etc., all with his own unique voice.
A myth is also designed to teach, to tell a cautionary tale, to illustrate principles we each could learn to successfully navigate our way through life. Holding to that, Oromaner then turns the myth around for us to apply our knowledge of Lost and myth to our own lives. If that sounds hokey, it isn't. He took something that could have been preachy and made it worth considering.
Oromaner understands what a myth is and how it elevates one of the things we universally love the most - stories. Not that he confuses myth with storylines, and he is careful to define the difference between the two. He separates the true mysteries, the myth, (what is the smoke monster) from the surface mysteries, the storyline. (will Kate pick Jack or Sawyer)
Readers are guided through some of the most confounding mysteries of the show and provided an explanation. He addresses Smokey, The Others, Dharma, the mommy/baby issue, the numbers, Jacob, The Black Rock, and why the show often starts with a close-up of an eye etc. Perhaps his most convincing argument pertains to Hurley and some of his connections, such as Leonard Simms, Dave, and the numbers. Hurley is our every man, and he voices our, the viewer's, confusion in a humorous, simplistic way. In a similar vein, Oromaner's theory fits seamlessly when we view Hurley through this solution.
Other pleasures in the book are Oromaner's sense of humor. There is an offbeat suggestion that Ana Lucia will be "dug up and discovered to have been a man", which made me both laugh out loud and remember how little I liked her character. And for the few who didn't detest Nikki and Paolo, this book is the closest thing they will get to a defense. Also, Oromaner helped me revisit some of Locke's inconsistencies to see him more clearly. He also shares my love of Desmond's role in the myth. And any mention of Desmond is one worth reading. As a whole, his writing is clear, direct, and fast paced. Lost ties in multiple pop culture, literary, spiritual, and philosophical references; Oromaner does the same. Whether you agree or disagree with his theory, the book is well thought out, with an explanation that works for the puzzles big and small, some better than others, including the doomed Henry Gale and his balloon.
Among many reasons to geeky too list here, I watch Lost primarily because it's fun and engaging. This is the same reason I love Oromaner's book. Plus, holding the book in my hands and turning each page allowed me to dwell in the Lost world just a bit longer, for I'm always happy to disappear in there.
For those who have trouble coming to grips with Oromaner's suggested ending, consider this. The ending of a story is never what a myth is all about; the journey is the most significant. The journey is the reason we keep turning every page, why we pay to sit through a movie, the reason we connect to a particular character (Desmond) or develop an intense hatred for other characters. (Ana Lucia anyone?) In Lord of the Rings, for example, I was pleased at the end when Frodo finally threw the ring into the fire, relieved when he and Sam made it home safely, and happy to watch Aragorn marry Arwen. However, the real satisfaction, the reason I read each book and watched all three movies more often than I should admit, was because I fell in love with the characters and was inexplicably drawn in to their journey. The same is true with Lost. I engage each week because I love getting one question answered only to have two more spring up. I love the people, the weirdness, the conflict.
I tuned into this book for much the same reason that I read articles about the show and scour the internet for people's theories... to prolong my own journey in Lost. Even though Oromaner has suggested an ending, it is NOT all about the ending. It's the process, the fun, the speculation. Oromaner doesn't have to be right about the ending, though he may well be. It's about each of us getting lost in the island's freakiness. Oromaner's book is part of my lost journey, my love of solving the puzzle. But if we believe in what a myth does, the ending is only one part of the whole.
The next puzzle for me to solve is what exactly I'm going to do with my life once Lost is over.
