Customer Reviews

A Voyage Beyond Reason: An Epic of Survival Based on the Original Journals of Benjamin Wade

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Too bad Amazon does not allow zero star ratings because that's what this book deserves! The whole thing reads like one big joke. The writing was terrible, the story was unconvincing, and the whole thing was the equivalent of an arrogant piece of third-rate fiction!! In short, it was nothing but indulgent nonsense!! [..]

This book is a poorly written account of a very improbable series of events. Wade, the main character and author of the journal on which this preposterous story is based, is unbelievable at best and the sole reference on many of the "amazing" events. Kidnapped by pygmies, world records and more provide an attempt at excitement, but are woefully lacking both in delivery and believability. Poorly written, poorly edited and not worth a cent.

A VOYAGE BEYOND REASON
by Tom Gauthier, Based on the Journals of Benjamin Wade
Outskirts Press PB
ISBN 978-1-43271234-1
389 Pages

The first person who walked between the glaciers into a pristine valley--and then managed to come back and show the others how to get there--had a certain gene. Nowadays, this particular gene doesn't get a work-out very often, but here's a story about a young man who had that gene, and what he had to do about it. "A Voyage Beyond Reason" is a novelization of the journals kept by Benjamin Wade during a voyage by kayak that took him from Baja to Columbia.

The title is apt. Ben Wade was in good physical condition and knew how to handle his craft, but other than that, there seems to have been little understanding of what his plan would entail. He cheerfully heads out equipped with a road map of Mexico, which obviously doesn't contain information about the treacherous tidal currents of the Sea of Cortez, the place where his journey begins--and very nearly ends. He doesn't know Spanish, he has little knowledge of the political situation in the various countries whose borders he'll be crossing, and he isn't an experienced seaman. You wonder if he'll make it.

There are storms, bad water, disease, hunger, fear, loneliness, and the occasional shark looking for a light snack. In short, it's standard "reality show" fare--a mostly unprepared person pitted against Nature and his own limitations. In this case, however, there is the very real possibility that Ben Wade isn't going to survive.

Survive he does, though, rescued by dumb luck, the kindness of strangers, Divine Providence, and his own strength and perseverance. Ben has a lot to prove to himself, and a lot of growing up to do, but he seems, pretty clearly, to have done some during his journey, which does indeed end where he'd hoped, in Columbia.

"A Voyage Beyond Reason" is billed as a true adventure story, although some occurrences, such as the discovery of the journal by the author, strain credulity. There were occasional grammatical/typographic errors, but the book is generally not hard to read. There is repetition of what I'd call an "inspirational" subtext which some readers may like, but which may grate on others. My other caveat is that at 400+ pages, it is far, far longer than it needs to be. This is something an editor could have easily remedied, but I put it down to the affection the author clearly has for his young subject. If you are fan of the "true adventure" genre--ocean-going, exotic locale variety--or, if you are a "Survivor" junkie, you might enjoy this one.

Using a found journal of Benjamin Wade as an outline, the author has written an interesting tale, whereby he allows the reader to look over Wade's shoulder as he travels the adventure of a lifetime. Interspersed are actual words from the journal in italics. This easy-to-read book keeps the reader's attention during Wade's risky kayak trip from California to South America.

Some of the terrors Wade faces are shark-infested waters, crooked Mexican police officers, machete-wielding strangers, a hurricane and a gang of druggies.

If you like action and adventure, this is one for you. Contains profanity.

I could not disagree more with the negative reviews...I enjoyed the book and had fun traveling along with Ben and feeling his emotions via journal entries. Who am I to doubt his story? Am I jealous it wasn't me on the journey? Yes! I admire him for doing it and was able to go someplace with him while not being there. I would recommend this book if you want to be taken to a place you have not been before.

A VOYAGE BEYOND REASON is a tale based on the journals of Ben Wade, who at 24 years old took a in a kayak from San Felipe to Columbia. This was not an easy feat; and he recorded his fears, thoughts, triumphs, loneliness and his thankfulness to God. Tom Gauthier has written a truly inspiring story of Bens' search for inner worth. Gauthier interlaces his own thoughts when reading the journal, sections of the journal and recreates actual events from interviews and remembrances. He has done an excellent job of capturing the human spirit. I loved this book.

Reviews have been 4 & 5 on Amazon (see the Hardcover site) and exceptional on over two dozen literary reviews around the web. Please go with the folks who actually read the book!

No one really knows what it's like to be alone with one's self and with one's nature...until now. NatGeo wasn't there to document all of the questions and answers that occurred in one man's mind during his test of courage and of his self-awareness. The author attempted to get into the head of child - a 24 year old man - who felt the need to conquer his fear of being who he really is - a sole human being alone in the world.

We all come into this world by ourselves and we all leave the world the same way. The struggles we contend with during our brief stay on this planet - like a mysterious trip down the Amazon River - define who we are.

The author's attempts to reflect these struggles we face is sometimes overstated - but none the less - they are effective in bringing us to the conclusion that everyone is on their own - and life is exactly what we make it to be.

The face of Ben Wade could be you or me. How would you deal with life as it is presented one wave at a time? That seems to me to be the question that is offered.

I'm sure this won't be the last book dealing with Mr. Wade and his struggles with life as we know it.