A warehouse
in Japan used as an emergency shelter in the aftermath of the 2011 Tsunami. A
distraught, young Japanese woman in dishevelled clothes sits on a box, holding
her infant daughter. Ben, a US rescue volunteer, kneels in front of her
offering comfort. They hug, the baby between them. The moment turns into an hour as the woman sobs into his shoulder; mourning the
loss of her husband, her home, the life she knew. A picture is taken, capturing
the moment. It becomes a symbol; of help freely given and of the hope of the
survivors. The faces in the picture cannot be recognised, and that is how Ben
likes it. No celebrity, thanks not required.
But others believe that being
identified as the person in the picture is their path to fame and fortune. Ben
stands, unknowingly, in their way, but nothing a contract killing cannot fix.
My Thoughts:
The Picture is the second book I have read by Roger Bray and I am fast becoming a fan of his writing. The plot for this one is memorable and original and I was just sucked right in to the beautiful writing.
Roger Bray excels at his characterisations and making the reader feel for them and follow along with them rooting for a positive outcome all of the while. I felt emotionally invested and hung on every word. This is truly a very captivating and absorbing read.
The plot centres on a picture that is taken after a disaster, a picture that captured a moment in time. A picture that shows the best of humanity, a young woman being comforted by Ben who was a volunteer. A picture that even in the worst of times, there is always hope to cling on to and the fact that life will go on.
On the other side of coin the positivity is marred by some who are trying to identify those in the picture and make themselves rich and famous. I feel that The Picture is a unique take on the Good vs Evil debate and how we can triumph over adversity.
This is a wonderful story that I will remember for a long time. Roger Bray is a really brilliant writer and I can't wait to read more from him in the future. What I appreciated most is the fact that I was made to care about the characters and the events and disasters that happen to our beautiful planet. An examination of the vulgarities offset against decency.
I can highly recommend this one.
About the Author:
I have
always loved writing; putting words onto a page and bringing characters to
life. I can almost feel myself becoming immersed into their lives, living with
their fears and triumphs. Thus, my writing process becomes an endless series of
questions. What would she or he do, how would they react, is this in keeping
with their character? Strange as it sounds, I don’t like leaving characters in
cliffhanging situations without giving them an ending, whichever way it
develops.
My life to date is what compels me to seek a just outcome, the good will overcome and the bad will be punished. More though, I tend to see my characters as everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, but in which we may all find our selves if the planets align wrongly or for whatever reason you might consider.
Of course, most novels are autobiographical in some way. You must draw on your own experiences of life and from events you have experienced to get the inspiration. My life has been an endless adventure. Serving in the Navy, fighting in wars, serving as a Police officer and the experiences each one of those have brought have all drawn me to this point, but it was a downside to my police service that was the catalyst for my writing.
Medically retired after being seriously injured while protecting a woman in a domestic violence situation I then experienced the other side of life. Depression and rejection. Giving truth to the oft said saying that when one door closes another opens I pulled myself up and enrolled in college gaining bachelor and master degrees, for my own development rather than any professional need. The process of learning, of getting words down onto the page again relit my passion for writing in a way that I hadn’t felt since high school.
So here we are, two books published and another on track.
Where it will take me I have no idea but I am going to enjoy getting there and if my writing can bring some small pleasure into people’s lives along the way, then I consider that I will have succeeded in life.
My life to date is what compels me to seek a just outcome, the good will overcome and the bad will be punished. More though, I tend to see my characters as everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, but in which we may all find our selves if the planets align wrongly or for whatever reason you might consider.
Of course, most novels are autobiographical in some way. You must draw on your own experiences of life and from events you have experienced to get the inspiration. My life has been an endless adventure. Serving in the Navy, fighting in wars, serving as a Police officer and the experiences each one of those have brought have all drawn me to this point, but it was a downside to my police service that was the catalyst for my writing.
Medically retired after being seriously injured while protecting a woman in a domestic violence situation I then experienced the other side of life. Depression and rejection. Giving truth to the oft said saying that when one door closes another opens I pulled myself up and enrolled in college gaining bachelor and master degrees, for my own development rather than any professional need. The process of learning, of getting words down onto the page again relit my passion for writing in a way that I hadn’t felt since high school.
So here we are, two books published and another on track.
Where it will take me I have no idea but I am going to enjoy getting there and if my writing can bring some small pleasure into people’s lives along the way, then I consider that I will have succeeded in life.
Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/rogerbray22
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Thank you so much for this wonderful review Leah, very much appreciated :)
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