Give me a book about reincarnation, I'm going to read it. I believe in reincarnation. I have ever since reading about the possibility of a child's imaginary friend actually being said child's persona in another life. Having had an imaginary friend myself until the age of four or five, I have made it a kind of quest to read as much information about the phenomenon, fiction and non-fiction.
I found Evan's story exciting. Suddenly remembering past lives in his late teens, realizing he can read and write in Bulgarian, Evan goes on to lead a solitary existence until he meets up with Poppy and eventually, the Cognomina. Little did he know, he's not the only one in the world who is a Reincarnationist.
What I liked the most about this book were the stories Evan and the others told from their past lives. Poppy and her past life as a man in 17th century France. Samas and his experience as a woman with Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer (my favorite), and his account of knowing Poppy in one of his previous lives where he served on Coronado's expedition to the New World. Clovis, the oldest of the Cognomina, had lived again and again for 1900 years. Such history!
Ultimately though, this is Evan's story and his quest to find his place in the world, being what he is. I visited the author's website and discovered there is a sequel in the works. I couldn't be more pleased. I'm looking forward to reading the continuation of Evan's story.
Note: This book has been adapted into film. Infinite, starring Mark Wahlberg, can be viewed on Paramount+ Now that I've finished the book, I can't wait to watch the movie.
About the book
Discovered as three notebooks in an antique store in Rome at the turn of the millennium, The Reincarnationist Papers offers a tantalizing glimpse into the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives.Evan Michaels struggles with being different, with having the complete memories of two other people who lived sequentially before him. He fights loneliness and believes he is unique until he meets Poppy. She recognizes his struggle because she is like him, except that she is much older, remembering back seven consecutive lives.
But there is something else she must share with Evan – she is a member of the secretive Cognomina. They are, in effect, immortals - compiling experiences and skills over lifetimes into near superhuman abilities that they have used to drive history over centuries.
Poppy invites Evan into the Cognomina but he must face their tests before entering this mysterious society as their equal.
About the author
Author D. Eric Maikranz has led a multitude of lives. As a world traveler, he was a foreign correspondent while living in Rome, translated for relief doctors during a cholera epidemic in Nicaragua, and was once forcibly expelled from the nation of Laos. He has worked as a tour guide, a radio host, a bouncer, and as a Silicon Valley software executive. “The Reincarnationist Papers” is his first novel and has been adapted into the Paramount Pictures film, “Infinite,” starring Mark Wahlberg. He is also the author of two travel books, “Insider’s Rome,” and “Insider’s Venice.”