Customer Reviews

TO YOUR OWN SELF BE TRUE

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ray Melnik's second novel "To Your Own Self Be True" and sequel to "The Room" opens us up to "String Theory" and the science relating to it while incorporating the love interest of his characters in a way which makes "all things seem possible". Through his characters, Mr. Melnik shows us how our world could benefit from scientific research in String Theory and Quantum Physics . Mr. Melnik leaves us questioning our religious beliefs as well, relative to Creationism and opens our minds up to a universe of endless possibilities. I enjoyed reading "To Your Own Self Be true" and would highly recommend it to everyone.

I enjoyed the story thoroghly. A facinating fantastic look into a possible future. This sequel flowed as nicely as his first but also will read well on it's own. Thanks Ray... give us another one!

In this new work, Ray continues to create a wonderful world of the near future where good people can make the world better and seek to do so in all their words and deeds. And along the way amazing and miraculous things happen to them. And what is so reaffirming is that this is accomplished with a firm grounding in the real world as opposed to the faith based scenarios that offer so much to the gullible but must in the end provide next to nothing-

I do not possess the bona fides to understand the science that strongly conjectures in favor of multiple and concurrent realities. But know that it is based on tangible and demonstrable truths.

This is Faith I can believe in.
This is a paradigm change in my world view that I can believe in.

This is a story that you will want to read straight through to the end.
It entertains and it opens up thinking so that you want to explore the threads that are begun in these pages.
It makes you want to be the better person in your soul we sometimes forget about when the daily travails of life overwelm-

This is about all we can hope for- Well done- Enjoy!

To Your Own Self Be True introduces Kaela Ladd, the other daughter of scientist Harry Ladd from author Ray Melnik's first novel, The Room. This story takes place in the year 2021.

Kaela is all grown up now and her father is gone. She will never forget the lessons he taught her, even if it took her a while to believe. Kaela is very excited. After finishing her internship, Kaela was offered a position at SciLab. There Kaela is tasked with teaching a Universal Personal Assistant how to function.

Research is not cheap work. Kaela's boss asks her to do a presentation to the board of a company in order to try and get more money. Besides working with a Universal Personal Assistant, Kaela also is very invested in trying to learn just what really happened to her father.

Mr. Melnik integrates physics with M-Theory. M-Theory is the concept that there is an eleventh dimension of space time. This so called eleventh dimension is believed to unify all these dimensions and be more powerful. While I love science, this book went over my head. Let me say this is not because it wasn't good but because the concept seemed a little far out there for me. As well as the fact that I believe that the story had some loop holes that probably would have been filled in better for me had I read The Room first, prior to reading To Your Own Self Be True. Again I want to say this was not a bad book, only that I felt to better experience what Mr. Melnik was trying to portray with his characters and time rifts that you should read the first book, The Room.

In Ray Melnik's sequel to The Room, it's the year 2021, 15 years in
the future, Kaela, Harry's daughter, has grown up to be an intelligent, independent woman, albeit a little lonely and very much involved in her scientific work and attached to a computerized assistant Adam. Adam is brilliant, attentive and grows emotionally as the story unfolds. (Every woman's dream.) Unfortunately, he's not real. But Kaela does open her heart to real love and her capacity for empathy is refreshing. The characters in this book are not perfect but they're real. You actually experience the unconditional love they have for each other. As you read this heartwarming story, you start to ask questions about your own life and the lessons you've learned just as the author's main character Kaela questions everything in her life. She takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions through events - (I won't spoil it by telling you) - intertwined with her love of science and a desire to find her "it". There is nothing more inspirational than a book that makes you question your own choices about yourself and the people around you. If you're looking for an alternative view of the world, you should really read this book. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

The year is 2021 and twenty-three year old Kaela Ladd loves her job as a scientist at SciLab. Although she is happy with her career achievements she has little time for others, and would rather be crunching numbers than waste time on a boyfriend. Besides, she has a prototype Universal Personal Assistant (UPA) unit, otherwise named Adam, to keep her company. He is a beautiful face on a 3-D monitor and while Kaela converses with him about life, work and love, or lack of it, Adam parses data regarding her human thoughts, feelings and emotions in order to understand them. He is quick to evolve socially, in ways no one at SciLab expect. But then no one in SciLab expected some of their experiements to work either.

Before Kaela's father passes away he shares a secret he has kept close to his heart. It is something that happened fifteen years earlier, and although he is a little embarrassed he feels it is right to tell her in the hope that as a scientist she'll not dismiss what he reveals, but learn from it. Something happened in her grandmother's room that opened a door into the past, her father was there and experienced it for himself. Together with Adam they try to work out what caused the rift-- teaming Kaela's knowledge of science and Adam's sophisticated computing abilities.Will Kaela and Rael get it together and fulfill each others lives as you know they should? What will they do with the knowledge of what happened to Kaela's father?

While reading To Your Own Self Be True I felt the author, Ray Melnik, was sending a message to his readers through Kaela; that just as she was taught through science and moral lessons by her father, we need to go deeper into ourselves to find fulfilment and should learn (as the author says) to be people of reason in the hope of influencing the course of history, as many already do with their faith. We follow open-minded Kaela on a futuristic journey where she uses theoretical science such as String and M-Theory as tools to unlock the mystery surrounding what happened to her father. Many of these points were explained through her conversations with Adam, like the complicated spiritual side of humans; how we sense feelings and perceive ourselves in a way which goes beyond the physical, chemical and electrical activities of our bodies -- not easy for a "normal" robot to grasp. Adam is an intriguingly unique addition to this tale, and I found myself wanting a UPA of my own. He does everything from securing Kaela's home to ordering her food and even adjusts the temperature in her house. He's also a very good listener and a fast learner when it comes to Kaela's needs.

This story is told in the first person with a few point-of-view changes where we see into the minds of some of the other characters, and broaches aspects of religion, philosophy and science in a manner that provokes both interest and thought. I can't claim to understand all the scientific jargon, but I did come away feeling like I had learnt something in that respect. In addition, I enjoyed the way Rael came into the Kaela's life as a character with his own family troubles to enhance the storyline and that the heroine, Kaela, is a sensible, realistic character who makes you think about finding your "it" -- something that really makes you happy. And I am not talking material things. In my eyes, this proves Melnik's ability to craft a story, which will have you contemplating your own life choices and how, in turn, these choices will affect not just yourself, but others, too. To Your Own Self Be True is an inspirational, scientifc look into an alternative possible future reality.

Sassy Brit
July 2009

Succinctly I felt this book tries to drive home the point that you are what your choices make you. The experiences of a new, young scientist and her interaction with both her technology and the people around her provide the experiences and data for her to define her self.

The growth of an introverted, somewhat sad self contained young woman into someone who makes some decisions to change her life was interesting. I liked the interaction with an artificial intelligence and the growth of that AI into a personality based on decisions and beliefs. I think Melnik could double the number of pages and put a lot more flesh on the characters. I really liked the willingness of characters to stick out their neck for each other. Rael's connection to reality and the darker side of human nature was a good counterpoint to KaeIa's naiveté. I was disappointed that Adam, the AI, wasn't more of the story. I enjoyed the interaction between it and Kaela. Overall I felt the message was be cognizant that your choices are defining your life.

I recommend the book, it isn't a kick back, relax and be entertained book, it is a thought provoking, hmm do I believe that kind of book that we all need to read once in awhile.

I have now read both books, The Room and To Your Own Self Be True. I am not usually a fiction reader, but both of these books kept me turning pages long after I should have been sleeping. I couldn't wait for the second book to publish and, after reading it, made me stop and think what "IT" really is in my life. I truly recommend both books for reading. The love shared between the characters is heartwarming and I wonder if some of the storyline in each book reflects a little something about the author himself. A++++ - buy both - you won't be disappointed.

I had very high expectations for this book after The Room left me on the edge of my seat with so many questions unanswered. I definitely feel like the technology is the coolest part of the book. However, I enjoyed the story line and how it unfolded. This book is not long and drawn out but thoughtful and compassionate. It was a very enjoyable read and I was sad when I finished it. I will be anxiously awaiting Mr. Melnik's next book. I feel he is a great writer with the ability to open peoples minds to the message he is trying to convey as well as help people to visualize the unique and interesting technology due to the way he describes it. A definite must read for people who enjoy reading!

i like this book i wish i had my very own Adam the car is awsome the relationship between father an his girls is very touching .the technolegy in the this book gives hope for things to come i have a weak spot for gagets lookin foward to more from Ray .