Customer Reviews

The Twelve: A Novel

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

'The Twelve' by William Gladstone is an inspiring novel centered around the 2012 predictions. He weaves prophecy into a global adventure novel about one man's relentless pursuit of the answers to a great spiritual mystery. Eventually, after continuous page-turning suspense, he meets all of the twelve people who are the key to his destiny and that of the world.

Throughout this fast-paced novel, the reader is reminded of the higher connections that all people share if they will only be open to their intuitive guidance. When the hero finally arrives at the crossroads of his ultimate destiny, the biggest surprise of the book unfolds and the chase is finally won.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who would like to treat themselves to a novel of hope, inspiration, and the upliftment of humanity. I'm adding it to my web page of Recommended Modern Spiritual Classics.

Found this in a bookstore in Hawaii, and really liked the premise.

Picked it up and read the first few pages: "If you have come upon a copy of this book and are drawn to reading it, then without doubt you are one of the chosen many who may help determine whether these end-times result in planetary destruction or the transformation of all humanity."

Hey, who doesn't want to help transform the world? America, at least to me, no longer resembles the place I loved as a kid. I think we are headed toward some important tipping points as a society. I want to help steer things in the right direction So sure, this is a work of fiction, but maybe it truly offers insight into how we can help bring about "transformation of all humanity."

Ultimately though, we get what I'll charitably call the meandering story of Max -- I mean all over the map literally, figuratively, story line and writing style. It ends with the world being saved because the Twelve, or is it thirteen, or fourteen, come together: "It has been your acts of courage, love, and choice that have brought these times of bliss upon the Earth." And in the Epiloge we read: "None of the Twelve ever revealed the role they each had played in bringing about the great shift...(to type further is to give away a spoiler)."

So, although we are promised to have a role in the transformation of humanity, instead the story is the disempowering message that unless Max and the Twelve get it together there is nothing the rest of us can do. We are interconnected and supposed to wake up to that, but no guidance is offered as to how we might do a better job of it. Instead we leave it to Max and the Twelve to do it for us. Disempowering and disappointing. We need better.

I have read many books on the 2012 philosophy. Almost all books that have been written have been simply facts and figures, which are terrific. For someone who really wants to understand these theory's, and with so many opinions out there, it is an absolute treat to read The Twelve. By the end you are so tempted to turn to the end and see what Max is going to do! This is not just for people who are curious about the year 2012, this is for all of humanity that continues to suffer daily in a world of hatred, crime, jealousy and greed...this is a book that will for an instant transform you into a complete feeling of hope...looking forward to when humanity will experience what The Twelve have experienced. It was great to read a novel and story on this subject...very captivating...I simply couldn't put it down!

At fifteen years of age, Max Doff--our protagonist--has a near death experience during which twelve names are revealed. He is unable to shake the sense that they have deep meaning.

After completing his studies at Harvard and Yale, eight years pass before he meets the first of the twelve: María Magdalena Ramírez--a Peruvian woman with whom Max feels a deep connection.

With this first meeting, Max's voyage of discovery begins, as he discovers, one by one, the identities and roles of the twelve individuals he will meet during his journey toward truth.

The twelve need to meet on Izapa, Mexico on August 12, 2012--which is a sacred date and the beginning of the final one hundred and thirty days of "love energy" that would terminate on December 12, 2012--the day that the Mayan calendar determined the world would end/transform.

As they meet on that day, they are welcomed by the "Thirteenth Apostle," which orders them to find an entity that has incarnated on the planet--an entity that created everything--and by incarnating "The One" has made the sacrifice and risked all by forgetting all and becoming truly and completely human. The task of the twelve is to search this One and reunite again here on Izapa on December 12, 2012, before sundown to ensure that mankind, in fact, fulfill the destiny promised of heaven on Earth. The fate of humanity rests in the balance.

The book is poorly written: the author uses a poor narrative--changing from Max's point of view to the universal point of view to whomever he meets. Very hard to follow and distracting as hell. Characters are never developed well. The author is so consumed in telling the story that he forgets this is a written text. We do not see them, hear them nor we know them. Perhaps the movie version will take care if that.

I was extremely disappointed that such a creative plot could be told so poorly.

I am enamored by all the places I traveled in reading The Twelve. Thank you William Gladstone for being so generous at an experiential level. I feel The Twelve opened me to the practical power of synchronicity as well as exposed me to the wealth of information that emerges as people integrate their resources.

This story reinstated my motivation to trust in each encounter with what life presents to us. Most importantly, The Twelve illustrates a balanced approach in making personal decisions while acting in accordance to trust in the Universe; the nuances of life. Many of us find our decision making process is challenged by "my will" vs. "thy will" and The Twelve offers us a guide in living the merge of these wills.

William Gladstone's work has me believing in "the moment" again; I am now encouraged to get involved with others at a deeper level for there is much work to do. - Wendy Graham

I found The Twelve to be very entertaining in a style reminiscent of Dan Brown, blending fact and fiction for a very intriguing story. It also happens to be quite timely and pertinent to the times as 2012 looms large on the horizon. Well done!

This book was recommended by a trusted friend, and from cover to cover, I was never disappointed! A bit reminiscent of Mitch Album's "The 5 People You meet in Heaven", the main character was the unwitting hero that we've been waiting for! The 2012 theme is brought in to show the urgency of the intended group meetup, and was a page turner from start to finish. Needless to say, I'd highly recommend the book to everyone.

I don't normally go for the story books. I'm one of the odd few who prefers technical and medical books - yes there are some of us out there. But I purchased this on a whim - and wow! It was a great book. I couldn't put it down. There is a great deal of history, travel, spirituality (not religion mind you),and an interesting twist on our purpose in the world. It is a FAR cry from books I normally dive into but well worth it!!!

This is a wonderfully inspirational book. Gladstone's optimistic interpretation of the meaning of the end of the world as we know it is a refreshing change from the doom and gloom hyperbole of many other thinkers and writers who project their pessimistic views of the human future onto current world events. His vivid descriptions of the many eccentric characters who populate his entertaining novel are a genuine treat. The story is not only compelling, but also thoughtful and fun - carrying readers along on a fascinating journey to countless seemingly disconnected, remote and unusual corners of the world that turn out to have a deeper connection. The travels of his leading character through all the synchronistic ups and downs of his life, toward his own surprising destiny, inspire readers to think about their own life purpose - and how even the most insignificant moments may turn out to have a deeper impact than anything they might ever have planned or imagined. Keith Harary, Ph.D., Executive Director, Institute for Advanced Psychology; Author, Who Do You Think You Are?

I don't think I haven't read a book so poorly written in quite a while. The dialogue is stilted and awkward , the logic is non-existent, and the story has yet to develop. I can usually stay with a book for a while, but this one is a total waste of time and money. Save yourself both and stay away.