What My Readers Say about Me

Some of the Amazing Readers

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Shogo is a talented writer whose use of the English language enhances the story in a delightful and refreshing way. His words flow like a spring stream in the mountains heading for the coast. I found his energy and passion for living infectious; and I admire his honesty. This is a ‘must read’ book for anyone contemplating enlightenment."
–
Sophie Boswell Author of
“The Power of Feng Shui: Living Proof”
"I have had the pleasure of reading Shogo’s book LIBERATION – Seeking the Meaning of Life and I was both amazed and inspired. Shogo has a rare talent that I have not seen in any other writer. I received the book on Friday and could not put it down I finished it on Sunday and was saddened that it had ended. I cannot wait till his second work of art is released."

Dawson C. Walton, Author
“Dreams”
"If you're looking for an inspiring read with a message of hope, look no further than Mexican Rhapsody: Having a Second Chance. This beautifully written and profoundly personal novel follows author Shogo Onoe as he leaves his old life in Japan for the vibrant cities and landscapes of Mexico. Blending thoughtful philosophical and spiritual wisdom with an undying message of living your life to the fullest - no matter what other people might think - this book paints a vivid picture of one man's exodus in search of a better life. Mexican Rhapsody is a must-read for dreamers, soul-searchers, and creative spirits, and will touch your heart encouraging you to refuse to be inauthentic and stay true to what you really feel. If you're looking for an inspiring read that will change your life, look no further."
Sue E, Net Galley
Reviewer
LIBERATION: Seeking the Meaning of Life is both a memoir of Japanese pilgrim Shogo Onoe (who found himself in Mexico cultivating a new life even as he sought the meaning of his old one) and a Carlos Castaneda-style spiritual journey that offers a dual inspection of personal and spiritual growth.
 
From its opening lines, it's evident that LIBERATION is a powerful story of a different ilk than the usual travelogue or autobiography: "I have been a stranger to my own country and my own country’s people since I was a child. I should confess that I hate Japan from my guts. On top of it all, I have never fitted into Japanese society and have not yet even started to function as a useful person there. To tell the truth, I have never agreed with the Japanese society system and the Japanese way of life. I always wanted to escape from Japan to see the world so that I could be free as a bird. From my childhood on, one thing was crystal clear to me as if it were God’s revelation: I definitely do not belong in Japan, and I just happened to be born in the wrong country. I am absolutely a lone wolf and constantly suffocated by loneliness, because I have no one to talk with about my true feelings and even a fraction of my feelings."

When Shogo Onoe, a stranger in his own country, encounters the peoples and culture of Mexico, he finds the contrasts stark and also finds a new place for himself in the world.

This is where the magic of LIBERATION begins to work its spell on the reader.  Onoe's contrast of the emotional, cultural, and spiritual milieus of these disparate countries offers a rare glimpse into the meaning of life as perceived and cultivated under different conditions.

His encounters with others on the road to defining happiness and life's meaning injects his journey with social, philosophical, and spiritual observations that are astutely analytical in their contrasts of personalities and perspectives.

This is a strength of the autobiographical format in general, but under Onoe's hand, it also represents the strength of not just accepting, but searching out new possibilities and opportunities: "Sometimes we cannot explain how a certain thing occurs in our lives. Usually, it is a most crucial thing, which you have fervently craved your entire life. You cry, scream, gibber, pray, and curse, but it never budges. Out of desperation, you swear that you will abandon your faith in Almighty God and will forever turn your back on Him while making the silliest defiant expression on your face. But it is not enough. In order to show your everlasting agony and disappointment with Him, you start pulling your hair out hysterically, dance sacrilegiously, and spit up to the heavens insolently, but it still does not budge a wee bit. It has become beyond your comprehension; you become dispirited to the point of giving it up – that moment, the thing somehow befalls upon you out of the blue."

Underlying these experiences is a consideration of the nature of individualism and exploration that encourages readers to think about their own paths of discovery and alienation in life.

The result is a highly recommended survey that blends literature, biography, and social and spiritual contrasts and reflections. These facets are topped with a dose of philosophical and psychological insight that offer much food for thought for thinkers and book clubs that look for seasoned insights spiced with the experience of a pilgrim actively seeking the meaning of life.
D. Donovan
Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Mexican Rhapsody: Having a Second Chance is at once a travelogue and a biography, and deserves a place on either shelf as it follows Shogo Onoe’s move from native Japan to Mexico.

Faith, growth, and spiritual revelations flow in this story as Onoe reveals what he loves about Mexico, what he hates about his country of origin, and the revelations that marked his journey between them.

Its autobiographical novel approach injects drama into the adventure, which incorporates cross-cultural observations in a manner few travelogues, memoirs, or novels can match: “You know, we’re very open. We don’t care where you hail from, for we know in our hearts that we’re all brothers. We welcome everyone who wants to enjoy what our fatherland can offer. But alas, goddamn Japanese have discriminated against us in the right our faces. I still don’t fathom and will never be okay with such a godawful assailment!”

From the evolving realization that Onoe has always loved writing, feeling that it is his passion, to his foray into being a prankster, his obsession with self-improvement, and his ribald enjoyment of life, Mexican Rhapsody’s adventures translate to a thirst for not just the written world, but new experiences and growth.

This, in turn, provides readers with a hearty blend of entertainment and revelation as philosophy, adventure, travel, cross-cultural experiences, and religious beliefs dovetail and evolve into the odyssey of the author’s lifetime.

Mexican Rhapsody turns the traditional travelogue on end as it incorporates all these facets into a lively survey of relationships and experiences.

While some would be surprised at its description as a ‘novel’ despite its reality-driven basis, this serves to reflect Onoe’s ability to represent the drama and changes inherent in everyday experiences and interconnected lives.

The result takes pieces of different genres to incorporate their strongest qualities into a story of discovery, change, and faith.

It’s a winning biographical novel of exploration and enlightenment that lingers in the mind long after reading, and deserves a place in libraries strong in cross-cultural and faith-based revelations alike.


-D. Donovan

Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review