Consciousness and Perception by Tony McKay, is a fictional story revolving around a family of central characters who grew up amidst incredible hardships. However, the message that the book conveys is deeply real and personal. Ninian and Paul are brothers and although they are related by blood their lives are completely different. They both face dark realities and personal demons throughout their life. However, one brother copes with the darkness by taking the path of a missionary while the other brother turns toward drugs to cope.

Two stark realities, one common problem – life. Tony McKay delves into life’s hardships and how different people will resort to different solutions to deal with them. He writes with depth and intelligence in a story that is intriguing and breathtaking. Author Tony McKay realistically explores the themes of substance abuse, mental health issues, detachment from family, emotional struggles, and how all these affect the people around you. The book is captivating because of its portrayal of real human struggle. There is only one thing that separates this shared experience of pain and that is an individual’s perception and internal faith. The author has aptly combined fiction with reality. You feel connected to the characters. The characters, with their distinct traits, are very well written. The book provides a glimpse into a dark reality but also depicts how life gives you the strength to move through grave moments. The author makes you reflect on life and the people in it.

A critical aspect of the book is that it makes you look at different perspectives of life and how people under one roof can be so different. It shows you the first-hand experience of people fighting their demons and surviving through it. Some turn to God, some turn to their inner selves but the aim to fend off darkness remains the same.

Consciousness and Perception brilliantly connects you to the characters through common struggles that always feel authentic. Conversations feel real, although I felt that the words were a bit confusing in certain places, but it rarely detracted from the enjoyment of the novel. While I enjoyed the deep dive into various topics, I felt like there were moments where the book was heavy on the details.

With all of that said, I highly recommend Consciousness and Perception as it effortlessly explores family and humanity through a unique lens in a consistently intriguing way.

Pages: 321 | ASIN: B07RV78LVQ