Semi Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The author does a fine job detailing his life story, warts (and there are many) and all. He makes no apologies for the road rage that almost costs him his life, and manages to derive meaning from tragedy. Overall, he recounts an absorbing story that holds the reader's interest.
Prose: Catania is a very good writer who at times gives too much unnecessary detail but still manages to thoroughly engage the reader. The writing is clear, if not concise, and direct.
Originality: This is a wholly original story of the author's personal journey.
Character/Execution: While there are others described in the book, the main focus is the author himself. His tale comes across as honest and insightful, and as his life settles down, the reader fully comes to understand the turmoil that rages within him.
Date Submitted: October 07, 2022
Official Review: The Atheist and the Afterlife
Post by Jachike Samuelson » 04 May 2021, 08:14
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Atheist and the Afterlife - an Autobiography" by Ray Catania.]
4 out of 4 stars
What do you call a committed skeptic of the afterlife who has just had a supernatural experience? The Atheist and the Afterlife – An Autobiography is the story of Ray Catania's transformation from an atheist to an authentic believer in the afterlife. In this three-part memoir, Ray begins by taking the reader back in time to his early years before any psychic involvement. He talks about the mistakes he makes, the traumas he suffers, and the decisions he makes as a result. In the following two parts of this book, the author delves into his time with people who believe in the supernatural and the effects they have on his life. These people include his love interest, Jessica, who helps him with his psychic beliefs, and Nicole and Bonnie, who help him journey deeper into the world of psychics, mediums, and the afterlife. Ray also has some interesting first-hand experiences of death and the afterlife while trying to find a connection between science and the supernatural. This book is an exciting read, but you'll need to pick it up to uncover the details of Ray's journey.
I liked how Ray was articulate in describing the events that led to his change in beliefs to the universal collective consciousness structure. He was open and vulnerable—and vulnerability, in my opinion, is an authentic trigger for inspiration—in how he talked about the events he experienced, his moments of self-doubt, and eventually how he got to accept the reality of the laws of the universe.
I also liked that beyond his stories themselves, he included the dates of each of his experiences. It almost felt as if he was trying to prove the veracity of his experiences further. His stories and their time stamps were even more realistic and relatable to me because Ray kept a journal, and the stories in this book were lifted from it. We all know how stories get jumbled up in our memory if we never write them down. A journal suggests that Ray wrote down his experiences as close as possible to the moment they occurred, which says something positive about the accuracy of his narration. The fact that these stories came directly from his journal was the best part about this book for me.
In addition to the prose-like approach the author took in this book, there were also healthy helpings of humor and sarcasm. And who doesn't like moments of laughter in a text? Not me. While the author did reveal some things—some incredible abilities—in this memoir that could elicit pride in anyone who possessed them, he managed to maintain an air of humility while doing it, which is hard to achieve.
As I read more of Ray's story, I could sense a motivational slant to it. I could see how it would hit home, especially for people who have gone through the same traumatic experiences that he did. I don't mind a bit of motivational talk as long as it's backed by relatable stories, and this book fits the bill.
I found less than a handful of grammar issues while reading this book, which means that it was professionally edited. There was nothing I disliked about this memoir at all. The detail and presentation of the author's experiences, his vulnerability in sharing them, and the infusion of humor and sarcasm were enough for me to award it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to people who are interested in the supernatural, the afterlife, and the work of mediums and psychics.
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The Atheist and the Afterlife - an Autobiography
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Review by Deborah Lloyd » 22nd of August 2021
The following is an official ReadersFavorite.Com review of "The Atheist and the Afterlife - an Autobiography" by Ray Catania.
Reviewed By: Deborah Lloyd
Review Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed By Deborah Lloyd for Readers’ Favorite
Author Ray Catania shares his journey of “inspiration, transformation and the pursuit of enlightenment” in the nonfictional work, The Atheist and the Afterlife-An Autobiography. He tells his story with honesty, with a gritty sense, but always based on Truth. He shares how his childhood developed into an atheistic belief system. However, through some amazing occurrences in his life, he learned to trust the visions and messages he received, transforming this belief system. Over time, he embraced the practice of meditation, leading him to embrace the gift of becoming a clairvoyant medium. This transformation is told through his sharing of personal stories, illustrating the evolution of his abilities.
One of the most unique aspects of this book is the three parts he includes: his real-life experiences, his love story, and the beginning days of his transformation; the science of the afterlife. His relationship with Jessica, and her role as well as her deceased father’s, are a major part of Ray’s expanding path. This illustrates how teachers appear when one starts to open up to new ways of being. Additionally, his seeking to work with others in the field is an important lesson. The scientific aspects are frequently not included in these types of books, and these facts offer a needed perspective in this topic area. Throughout the text, Ray encourages the reader to open up to their abilities, as evidenced in Chapter 35, Becoming Limitless. The Atheist and the Afterlife-An Autobiography, penned by Ray Catania, should be read by everyone who is awakening to new possibilities.
Reprinted with permission. Readers Favorite ©2021 All rights reserved.
Readers' Favorite recognizes "The Atheist and The Afterlife—An Autobiography" by Ray Catania in its annual international book award contest, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RW48GPT.
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“The Atheist and the Afterlife – An Autobiography” by Ray Catania
ISBN: 978-0578832579
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/2022)
“The Atheist and the Afterlife- An Autobiography: A True Story of Inspiration, Transformation, and the Pursuit of Enlightenment,” is the first book in the Ray Catania Awakening series.
In this amazing autobiography, Ray Catania tells his story about how he evolved from being an atheist to a gifted clairvoyant medium. The transition was not an easy one at all. Coming from a background where he based his beliefs on scientific evidence, Catania had to make some paradigm shifts to move him to a more spiritual path. From what I read, the universe really did not give him a choice! As Catania started having some unusual experiences, he looked for scientific reasons as to why he was able to have these special experiences. He found evidence to help him gain a greater understanding that allowed a scientific connection. This really helped him to tune in, and further expand the gifts that he discovered he had. Being in a supportive relationship helped, except that his girlfriend’s father was a man with a very strong spirit, and he was relentless about making sure that Ray heard him!
In addition to telling about his personal journey, the author also does an excellent job of explaining terms related to his experience so that all readers will be able to understand. At the end, he also offers easy steps that people can take to help them “Become Limitless.”
I recently lost a relative who had some tremendous gifts. Being able to attend his celebration of life, and gifted with a direct sign of his presence, helped remind me how far I have fallen off my path and allowed myself to become stuck back in the mundane world. I was also reminded how we should not waste time, because we do not know how much we have left in this reality.
While I was not an atheist, I do appreciate the value of scientific evidence. Early in life, I had many unexplainable situations in which I tried to put them on a back burner until I could find a reasonable explanation that rarely, if ever, came. Like the author, the universe was not letting me off the hook, so I started studies in some interesting areas. To learn how to work with energy, I even became a Reiki Master. My experiences were different, yet similar enough that I was able to relate to what Catania was experiencing. He had a panel of three guides; I have always referred to mine as “The Council of Three.” These and many other similarities really helped me relate to this autobiography. It also reminded me I needed to get back to work!
Readers will appreciate “The Atheist and the Afterlife.” I cannot adequately put into words how profoundly impacted I was by reading this. No matter what spiritual level you are at, I think there is something in here for everybody. If you are waiting for a sign from the universe to help you get back on your path, please know that this is it.
