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.
Gary D. Conrad lives with his wife, Sheridan, and their dogs, Inky and Karma, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Gary is an emergency and integrative physician, and his interests include Tibetan rights, meditation, the music of Joséph Haydn, organic gardening, choral work and wilderness hiking.
Gary’s first book is the award-winning visionary fiction novel, "The Lhasa Trilogy." His second is an autobiographical collection of memoirs in short story form, "Oklahoma Is Where I Live: and Other Things on My Mind." He is currently working on a sequel to Murder on Easter Island.
Gary can be reached through his website at GaryDConrad.com.
Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite
Numerous pathways collide and different cultures become blended into one odd reality in The Lhasa Trilogy. Gary D. Conrad has drawn several cultures together into one destiny in these three books. Book one chronicles the roots of Matthew Walter Johnston from life on a Davidson, Oklahoma farm. It takes him through World War Two in the Pacific theatre and the rage and guilt that he felt at the loss of his best friend. His hatred of the Japanese drove his fury and continues as he is part of the occupying forces of Japan. A twist of fate throws a beautiful Japanese face in his path and he must come to grips with his hatred. Love and death reverse course in an instant and Matt’s life becomes filled with utter confusion and bitterness as his path moves forward with an anguished soul.
In Book Two, Lama Tenzin Tashi sets forth to fulfill the promise that he had made to Matt before he died. Though the promise was a blasphemy, he had made it because by fulfilling it, he would be able to give greater assistance to the people of Tibet who had suffered a great deal. The journey to track down an incarnation is hampered by several particularly taxing challenges that he must survive and overcome in order to find a particular person and fulfill his promise. Through the struggle that he endures, he discovers many truths about himself as well. Book Three takes the reader back to Oklahoma and into the life of Wade Joshua Adams. With the life of the young man beginning to take shape and goals waiting to be fulfilled, the appearance of a Tibetan monk in his home was a bit confusing. The reason the monk was there was even more unbelievable. There is more than a treasure awaiting Wade, his girlfriend, Sonali, and his brother, Todd, in Tibet and their journey is also one of profound discovery.
The broad range of emotions encountered in The Lhasa Trilogy are packed full of deep meaning and profound truth. Gary D. Conrad takes the reader on a journey of soul searching from several different points of view. The spiritual truths that are discovered by each of the characters, the challenges and the transformations are seen through the background of different cultural perspectives and individual personalities. The richness of the search for meaning permeates all three books and raises questions and challenges to the heart and mind of every reader. All in all, The Lhasa Trilogy is a spiritual journey that steps outside the norm and challenges traditionally accepted truths. It is impossible to walk away from this book without some deep inner reflection.
