I may be a lot of things. But, one thing's for sure. I'm not a book critic. I just don't make the necessary distinctions that one needs to make to be a respectable critic. Nevertheless, I can find no objections in claiming to be a book lover. Like thousands of people, I love to read. And the book I've had the most pleasure reading is Illusions by Richard Bach. So, what follows is not a review but, rather, a tribute to the great many lessons that are to be found in this short, enticing novel.

The overall theme of the book is little different than the one found in Bach's most famous book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull: "We are free to do and be anything we want." That one sentence, I think, sums up all of Bach's work. It's something that we all want to hear and read (which most certainly has a lot to do with Bach's popularity). The way in which he brings that point across in Illusions is especially enlightening for me.

It's the story of a reluctant present-day messiah named Donald Shimoda who one day decides to quit "messiahing" because he finds that no one really cares about what he has to say; they just want to see him perform miracles. So, he buys an airplane and barnstorms his way across the country selling 10 minute rides for $3. The other character, Richard, does the same thing for a living and spends much of his time questioning life. The story, seen through Richard's eyes, guides us through their time together as they teach each other important lessons.

Donald does most of the teaching and unveils the know-it-all-book "The Messiah's Handbook", which provides many little comments on life such as:

Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you. There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.

I don't want to give away too much more. Discover the magic for yourself. I read the book in three hours the first time. I literally could not put it down! And ever since, I have read it every year. Even if you only read this once, do yourself a favor and buy the book or borrow it from a friend and have a great time discovering the magic you and this book possess.

Review by John Hanley, Jr.