This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Ibrahim Aslan for Readers' Favorite
Orlando Chavez's Portrait of a Hollow Man follows a man who ends up trapped in the same routines, glued to technology, and mentally checked out from the world around him. He wakes up early, goes through his phone, eats breakfast, takes care of his aging dog, and goes to work on autopilot. Along the way, he notices simple details unfolding around him, like a dead coyote on the road or a stranded driver needing help, but he hesitates to act because of his own uncertainty. At work, he goes through the motions and is distracted frequently, which reveals the emptiness of his life. Now and then, the story shifts to other perspectives to reveal the small, random events occurring in his world. But since this is actually his story, we wonder: will he ever break free from his hollow routine and find meaning in his life? Read this compelling story to find out.
Orlando Chavez's Portrait of a Hollow Man is a literary novel that explores modern life, loneliness, and finding one's purpose in the world. I was captivated by how the author shows the protagonist’s thoughts as they happen, which helped bring his character to life. The story reveals how repetitive routines, technology, and trivial distractions can drain a person of their motivation, and honestly, I began to notice the same thing in my own habits as well. What I really liked was the way the book explored other points of view, such as the spider and the stranded driver. It made the story richer and reminded me that everyone shares struggles, even in little ways. The story stayed with me and encouraged me to think about my own decisions and how important the little things are as well. Very highly recommended.
