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Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite
Can a person find God while imprisoned under desperate circumstances? B.D.H. Son certainly believes so, and he relates his extraordinary experiences in Book of Life: Prophesied from Book of Revelation. The author, of Vietnamese origin, was detained in Poland in 2003 on a criminal charge related to tax evasion. He faced a bleak future. His tale is one of harsh prison conditions, cells shared with potentially dangerous criminals, inmates with quirky nicknames, and cruel prison officials. He was separated from his Polish partner Beata (Bea), who was also under investigation, and his assets of $1 million were frozen. He waged an ongoing battle with the bureaucratic legal system to gain his freedom and retrieve his funds. He made two suicide attempts, which he miraculously survived. Redemption came in the form of signs seen in nature and other synchronicities that led him to explore Christianity. During this time, he received various revelations and came to believe that he was the son of Jesus and a future Pope. He became engaged to Bea after obtaining special permission, before being temporarily released on bail after serving half of his 3-year sentence. They married in 2004, followed by an opulent wedding celebration, the messages continued, and he foretold natural disasters.
B.D.H. Son's writing style, grammar, and turn of phrase reflect the author’s Vietnamese background. Words in English, Polish, and Vietnamese are compared and decoded. The text is liberally interspersed with references, symbols, and annotations that are unconventional in form. Bold type is also used, and biblical texts are quoted, creating a busy narrative. There are frequent references to sex and bodily functions. Book of Life is lengthy and requires concentration to absorb the message. The claims made by the author may not find favor with all Christians. It is left to the reader to assess the merits. It is, nevertheless, a unique work and a source of curiosity. Son interprets the book of Revelation and sounds a warning to humanity that we should obey God’s will. A follow-up is pending, which will focus on the second coming of Christ.