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Russell H. Plante is an Engineering Physicist with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Maine, a Minor in Electrical Engineering, and post-graduate courses in Business Administration.
With a diverse writing background, he has had two academic solar energy books published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. and Academic Press (Elsevier) and also four novels. His Young Adult novel, “Journey Home – A Cat’s Tale”, published in 2016, and “A Sense of Purpose”, published in October 2020, received Gold Medal 5 Star Book Review Awards from Literary Titan. His Adult-Visionary political novel, “Beware the Dither Bird”, published in 2018, was an award-winning Finalist in the Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest and also the 2020 Finalist for the Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal Book Award in the category for the most thought-provoking novel. His fourth novel “The Path Before Me”, published in July of 2021, was written for Middle Grade readers for educators and parents for home and classroom in order to express the concepts of compassion, empathy, and the value of hope to all young readers. It also received a 5 Star Review from Reader’s Favorite. He is currently writing a philosophical Science Fiction novel about our Earth and contact with other civilizations. He resides in the State of Maine with his wife Kathy and seven cats where there’s always a chance of a blizzard during the cold winter months and time to contemplate and create meaningful stories.
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
A Sense of Purpose, by Russell Plante, is a cleverly-crafted, thought-provoking story confirming that a purpose exists within every living creature. Told uniquely from the POV of a cat, you will be inspired by these true events. We have a cat who is an orphan, going on a journey through life, which can be symbolic of our own odyssey. It's about learning how to survive, discovering your worth, and finding meaning in your life. One of the primary messages is that we are all connected in some way, and are important to one another. This book takes a philosophical approach to events that occur, and that even small acts can mean something to someone else, even if we aren't sure what that purpose is.
Plante gives us Chester the cat, a character that could be a stand-in for any of us. We follow his life as he goes from home to home, owner to cat-friends, the lessons he learns, and the lessons he passes on to others, just as we humans do. I love that Chester is the main character in the story, therefore providing us with a very personal connection with him, and ourselves. The author's attention to detail, vivid descriptions, and poetic way with words make this book special and meaningful. Strong emotions coupled with real-life scenarios make for realism and truth. You really get inside the life of Chester and those he meets, feel his struggle, and learn from his insights and the things he does. As far as personality traits, I like his intelligence and resilience, and the photos are a heartwarming addition. If you like allegories or sweet stories with cats but a deeper message, A Sense of Purpose by Russell Plante should be at the top of your reading list.
