An Examined Life

By Raul Aurora

Have you lived a lie every single day of your life? Have dark secrets been kept from you by the people you trusted the most? What if you woke up to discover that you are not who you think you are? In fact, have never been. What do you do next? Is there a way out or are you trapped forever?

Set in the mid-twentieth century South Africa amidst the bitter three-way struggle for dominion between the Boers, British, and black South Africans, An Examined Life is a tale of extraordinary courage shown by a remarkable white man, who dared to challenge the status quo, forsaking everything he had worked so hard to achieve, and what most people would hold dear above everything else. Most, but not him.

Every bold move has its consequences. Courage commands a steep price. He pays with interest.

Meanwhile, far away and oblivious to all the commotion, a boy born in the lap of luxury grows into a fine man. However, all is not as it seems. Beneath the surface, a terrible past looms.

Outraged by the ways of the world, he tries seeking order and meaning. Life wears on, and he begins to question destiny until it finally reveals itself, shocking him beyond belief, ending everything the way he knows it to be.

Slowly, he tries to make peace. But can he? More importantly, is it even worth?

In this world of popular opinions, constant comparisons, standards to live up to, reputations to maintain, only real men can stand up for their beliefs.

In the form of a story, the book subtly asks essential questions of us, forcing a long, hard look in the mirror. Hatred, misery, sorrow, hurt pride, vengeance - emotions we have been burying since childhood, bottling them inside, screwing the cap tighter. Are they worth hanging onto or would we be better off without them? The final pages help arrive at a suitable conclusion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raul Aurora
• Release date: Oct 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370437726

Raul Aurora

Raul was a born rebel. Rebellion without a cause. Entering into a career at sea with the navy during his late teens followed by the merchant marines, he discovered most of the world through the dreamy eyes of a boy, gradually gaining wisdom and poise. A natural storyteller, he combines the knack with his broad experiences to satisfy the deep yearning for peace and tranquility felt since a child. Things never clicked until he began to write. Life is a story. Better make it a good one with profound purpose. Raul's works intend not only on thrilling but also enlightening his audience upon various issues that plague the mind. Societies have more questions than answers, and he tries to address them through fiction. To be precise, he helps readers arrive at solutions, perhaps even questioning the questions. His first novel, An Examined Life, helps understand the very basic emotions we often feel stuck up with and that prevent us from leading a more fulfilling life. His next book (out in 2018) will follow similar but more advanced themes. Whatever they are, in the end, Raul believes that if the stories are fascinating and make a positive impact on his fans' and readers' waking lives, his job is complete, his mission accomplished. Other interests include motorcycles, pets, machinery and tools, literature, and home mods. Please visit his website Mind Investigative where he discusses life from a deeper perspective. mindinvestigative.com