SamSara

"After reading three books by Mathews, the gifts of this author become increasingly apparent . . . He is wise, clever, earthy, and has many surprises up his sleeve." - Grady Harp, Literary Aficionado For those who have had the pleasure of discovering Mel Mathews through his first two books, LeRoiand Menopause Man the wandering, questing central figure of Malcolm Clay has become a new literary icon. The promises so obviously made in the first parts of this (to date) trilogy happily have come to fruition in SamSara - a novel of sophisticated writing, thoughtful ruminations, keen humor, informative explorations of themes from religion to traits of visited countries, and so many clever double entendres that Mathews' place in the ranks of fine contemporary writers is assured. From Carmel, California to Zurich, to Florence (a period in which Mathews details so much interesting information about the feminine aspect of Christianity, Gnosticism, the concept that Mary Magdalene as the Holy Grail bore a child named Sara Kali by Christ and escaped to a French village Saintes Maries de la Mer where the annual celebration of Sara AKA the Black Queen still exists) , to France, and to Ireland, Malcolm Clay writes in diary fashion and in dreams shared about his progress in dissembling his dysfunctional approach to life and in the process finding the validity of his own existence. One of the uniquely beautiful aspects of Mathews' writing is his ability to explore these thoughtful (even profound) topics with a effervescent sense of humor and a gift for communicating details of living in Florence, struggling with the French attitude, and seeking out the funky little eateries and Internet cafes in Ireland. For after all, the main reason for this meandering journey is to follow-up on a brief but meaningful encounter with a lass named Kelli whom he met in Carmel and agrees to meet in Ireland in hopes that he has finally found his perfect mate . . . After reading three books by Mathews, the gifts of this author become increasingly apparent . . . He is wise, clever, earthy, and has many surprises up his sleeve. - Grady Harp, Literary Aficionado