Title: Wisdom Seed: Challenging Perceptions of Time and Reality
Author: Trisha Portbury
Publisher: Inks and Bindings, LLC
ISBN: 979-8-88615-332-3
Pages: 132
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Carol Davala
Hollywood Book Reviews
“Wisdom Seed: Challenging Perceptions of Time and Reality” is an enticing, creative work with an imaginative and unusual premise. Here, Australian author Trisha Portbury, takes readers on a journey that blends reality, fantasy, and illusion to challenge wisdom and thought. Through this unique mixture of storytelling and visuals, engaging lessons are explored about time, perspective, and life reflections.
The story follows a father and his teenage son and daughter as their lives intertwine with unusual life experiences. Harry, the patriarch, a machine operator and dreamer, strives to be a good dad. Henty, a high school senior, is good-looking, popular, and likes science and sports. Harmony is the free-spirited daughter, navigating her way in the world. We meet them in their daily lives, dad at work, siblings in school, but a side bar in the book suggests we expand our imaginations, and soon inventive figures known as the Imaginistas and Creaturtorials enter the story to bring about a series of unexpected events that range from the likes of talking “digits” that protrude from Harry’s hand, moto x riders moving across the sky, an ancient peeling gum tree invaded by birds, possums, and bugs, and an island that begins to crack as creatures rise from its depths. Through conversations and experiences the central characters explore their personalities and values and learn to recognize the essence of wisdom.
The book is laced throughout with visual imagery corresponding to the narrative and created by Portbury herself. The artist’s renditions of characters and events help bring the story to life, with realistic and fantastical stylings of color and form. A combination of vivid drawings, paintings, and collages enhances this literary realm. Whether a flowered path, a motor biker with wings, an Elemental crustacean creature with blue-purple claws, or ethereal floating orbs with tentacles, the illustrations evoke thought and inspiration. Likewise, the language, i.e. Henty’s reference to his friend as ‘mate’, the family travelling in a ‘Ute’, as well as translucent blue kangaroos, and smiling Bush spirits, all lend the ‘Down Under’ flair to this original tale.
In an effort to attract an audience of all reading skill levels, word translations are readily provided throughout the book. Simple synonyms are often offered, perhaps to save time for those readers who might not be familiar with certain phrases or thoughts, thus removing the need to pause amidst the steady pace of the story.
This is a very reflective and unconventional read which moves beyond the traditional framework of a plot that goes from beginning to end. Portbury’s approach is to engage readers with relatable characters that ponder values, reasoning, thought and wisdom within a visionary landscape that’s sure to entertain.