THE SOUL OF AN EAGLE

A sequel novel about one man’s relationships and personal development.

Frank follows up The Courage of a Butterfly (2018) with another intimate look at the life of protagonist Jeff Williams, who has a motorcycle accident in the Utah desert. Things look grim, as he’s not only injured, but once again accompanied by a personification of Death, whom he affectionately calls “Big D.” Jeff believes that “everything in my life is there as a lesson for my learning,” so what better opportunity for engaging in some introspective education than being stranded in inhospitable terrain? The previous book was structured as a more linear telling of the events of Jeff’s life, starting in childhood, but this volume is mostly dedicated to specific interactions with people he met along the way. Key events include his divorce after some 25 years of marriage, and a clash with a man who claimed to have been part of a white witches’ coven. Jeff has much hard-won truth to impart, often summed up in “Spiritual Laws”; as he shares concepts such as “Everyone in your life is there, bearing you a gift of learning,” he also shows how he came to know their truth through experience, including during time spent with motorcycle clubs. Frank provides his protagonist with a crass mode of expression from the get-go; for example, Jeff reflects that his first marriage officially ended when his wife complained, “Why can’t you wipe your butt better?” It’s clear right away that Jeff isn’t the type of person to mince words, and this extends to accounts of sexual experiences; readers may not necessarily want to know about the “exotic muskiness” of one of his love interest’s “most private of privates,” for instance. That said, this style combines well with the characters’ earnest accounts of road trips and spiritual healing. There’s a heartfelt honesty that permeates the pages, which makes for a memorable read, and readers may find themselves learning a lot from this account of an unwavering quest for self-discovery.

A book with true wisdom to share, even if it’s a little rough around the edges.