Author:  Jean-Claude Koven

Publisher:  Prism House Press 

ISBN:  0-9723954-5-8

The following review was contributed by:  Jennifer Brown

During an impromptu road trip to Arizona, Larry Randers – floundering after a failed marriage and melancholy over the events of 9/11 – is detoured to Joshua Tree Park by a mysterious and wise voice in his head.  Larry follows the voice’s instructions and is shocked to learn that the origin of the voice is actually his beloved companion, his dog, Zeus. 

Over the next few days, the discovery that his dog can talk is the least shocking to Larry as he communes with a tree, rocks, and even a rapping raccoon named Rocky.  These voices work together to enlighten Larry as to who he really is, namely a Wanderer – one of several million beings who agreed to be reborn in today’s world in order to help assist the world’s transition into the next density, a transition that is quickly approaching. 

Koven should be commended for putting into words a philosophy that is not so much knowable or understandable as it is palpable.  Larry’s revelations while at Joshua Tree Park are alluring, comforting, and exciting.  In words sometimes tearfully eloquent, Koven moves the reader and demands silent contemplation:

“Consider this:  When a mother kisses a booboo better, she becomes a radiant conduit of love.  In that moment, child and mother and God merge, and time is commanded to stand still.” (p.20)   

Still other times, Koven uses Zeus’s quips when reprimanding Larry to instead subtly chastise the reader and encourage him to challenge himself by shucking away that which he “knows” and opening his heart for receiving the book’s message:

“Nothing breeds arrogance more than ignorance!” (p. 159) 

Koven’s command of the message of GOING DEEPER is so clear, it is questionable as to why he would choose fiction to portray it.  As a fiction book, GOING DEEPER sells itself short.  Characterization is virtually nonexistent, rendering Larry and Zeus and company a little one-dimensional.  Because of this flatness, jokes and quirks tend to fall short, as the characters are not developed fully enough to support them.  The book is almost entirely thick, weighty dialogue and propels very little action.  Remove the philosophy behind the words, and the reader is left with a thin plot that led to little in the way of storytelling.

In Koven’s defense, strong characterization and snappy, active dialogue are not necessary to convey the message within; however, those elements are necessary in creating a work of fiction that serves its purpose.  Marrying philosophy and fiction requires more than having a couple characters mouth the words of the author – it requires all the elements of a good fictional story, where actions and words alike espouse the philosophical theme of the work in an entertaining and enlightening fashion.  While difficult at best, it is possible to infuse a philosophical message with a good, rich fictional story (think Atlas Shrugged).

In light of this, Koven would have done better to keep this a nonfiction, New Age/Spiritual/Metaphysical book, for which he is more than capable of writing, could still make interesting, and would more suit his purposes. 

No doubt about it, GOING DEEPER is a thought-changing, perhaps life-changing book.  Koven’s message is enthralling, his research impeccable, and his command of the subject masterful.