#BlogTour How We Got To Today by Ben Ellis

 

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour How We Got To Today by Ben Ellis.

About the Author

Ben Ellis is from Worthing, UK and writes in his spare time. 'In a Right State' is his debut novel. 'Broken Branches' is his second novel.

Follow @b3n3llis on Twitter, on Goodreads, Visit b3n3llis.com, Buy How We Got to Today

About the book

How can you find love, when you've lost sight of yourself?

Sheridan doesn't know what he looks like. There's nothing wrong with his vision, it's just that he's the only person in the world who can't see his own face.

Despite this, he has it all going for him - a good job as an optometrist, a nice home, and a wonderful girlfriend. All until Heidi, totally out of the blue, dumps him.

And to make matters worse, not only has she broken his heart, but she's disappeared. Distraught, Sheridan begins to search for her, and ends up finding himself along the way. . .

This is a story about how sometimes it's the people closest to us that see us the best and, if we lose sight of ourselves, can tell us who we really are.

Review

It starts off a little wobbly, but I can only suggest you stick with it. The element that drew me in completely is possibly not what other readers will be attracted to with this read. It might be the disappearance, the search for love or the inability to view oneself as others do.

I was absolutely engrossed by the premise of Sheridan not being able to see his own face or facial features. His obsession with being able to see what others do with such ease and them having such a blasé attitude about it all. The determination to see himself almost eclipses everything except the loss of his girlfriend.

He becomes convinced that there is something more nefarious to her disappearance and all the ties she has broken off, including their relationship. Sheridan wanders between stalkerish, manic and just plain old weird behaviour.

Are the eyes the window to the soul, is there no soul or acknowledgement of self if one is unable to see into the window. What happens when there is a recognition of self?

Although I loved this book I sort of wished Ellis had run with the story of Sheridan a little bit more. I found it absolutely fascinating. The ending of this book fits with the overall narrative and plot, and is special in it own way. However, oh my gosh the absolute pot of literary gold in this story was and is the story of Sheridan and his lack of recognition of self, and being unable to see his own face. Something worth exploring in another book perhaps?

Either way it is a read I would recommend and one that doesn't necessarily fit into a specific genre per se. Ellis has a grasp on something really special in this read. I'll be interested to see what he comes up with next.

Buy How We Got To Today at Amazon Uk  or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Headline Accent; pub date 24 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.