4 out of 4 stars
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Anton Zellinksy begins by describing his early childhood years and the cold attitude his father had towards him. His father, Herman Zellinksy, was a renowned watchmaker in Russia. He loved his elder son, Chaim, more than Anton and spoke to him in a nicer tone. He had also chosen to teach Chaim the art of watchmaking, so he would take over the family business. Anton, therefore, felt estranged from his father. He loved drawing horses, though, and this provided immense solace for him. However, his world came crashing down one day when his father discovered his wife was using inkblots to see into the future of her clients. Herman burned all his wife’s books and inkblots, but one inkblot survived. Anton had to face depressing times when his mother eventually disappeared one day.
Who is Anton? Will he find the answers to the questions that have been haunting him? Who was his mother, and where did she go?
The 11th Inkblot was authored by J. Herman Kleiger and published by International Psychoanalytic Books in 2019. The book is 272 pages long and is in the genre of historical fiction. It is divided into four parts and consists of sixteen chapters. This is a story of betrayal, revenge, loss, and self-discovery. The vivid descriptions on almost every page will leave one with captivating mental images. The story presents what the worst of times can do to a person but also offers hope that every seemingly insurmountable situation can be overcome.
One of the things that I liked most about the book is that it was filled with twists and turns. Consequently, it was difficult to predict what would happen next. Some people one would easily assume they would be considerate turned out to be the opposite. Nothing was as it merely appeared on the surface. I equally appreciated the fact that the story was chronicled from the first person point of view. It takes the form of a memoir and hence one feels all the raw emotions, fears, and other mental struggles the main character faces.
The characters in the book were excellently developed. Although some had odd traits, it was hard not to feel endeared to them, and they developed over time. Anton was the principal character, but he had to experience terrible emotional turmoil. He was unsure of himself almost every time but at the end of the story, the reader finds a person who had rediscovered himself. There were other characters like Nicolai whose sense of humor cannot be understated. His jokes made soldiers laugh while at the battlefront confronting formidable enemies. The humor in the book can be chiefly attributed to him.
The language employed in the book was straightforward, and editing was professionally done as well. The book satisfactorily addresses many factual issues such as the reality of manic depression. This, as a result, is not just a gripping and fascinating book but also one that offers many important lessons. There is nothing I disliked about it. I heartily rate it 4 out of 4 stars. The book will appeal to all ardent fans of historical fiction books. Those who would like to know more about mental health while devouring an enthralling story will enjoy this too. I guess there is something for everyone.
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The 11th Inkblot
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