Book Review: The Emporium by Robert Linn

Did you ever think that there is more to life than meets the eye or that one can ever imagine?  This is a metaphysical question, but one that is worth pondering. It would be a shame if the world was only what we perceived and saw with the naked eye.

     How many would fathom the idea that the illusory could become reality? Very few would perhaps. However, it is important to realize that life is not what we think it appears to be. There is more to what is real than meets the eye and our senses. And that is precisely what this novel is about. It is about stretching our idea of what is real and Robert Linn does a great job conveying this idea.

     Over and over throughout the novel, Robert Linn invokes examples of how illusions can be real. Illusions can come to us in many different forms from dreams to daydreams. They can give us inspiration and something to look forward to.

     The book is about a store called the Emporium of Illusions. At the beginning of the novel, a wealthy businessman comes to a small town and buys a big old building that has been vacant for a while. But as time goes on, he not only renovates the building to house his new business, but the intrigue of the business itself raises a lot of eyebrows and the small town is never the same again. People’s minds and hearts and changed and stretched.

     I loved the novel in that it appealed to my philosophical background. There is nothing better than a well-written metaphysical novel to keep you wondering what will happen next. And Robert Linn’s book promises to deliver that and more.  It is a wonderful joy ride of adventure and intrigue. When I started reading it, I couldn’t stop until I finished it.  And I’m sure all readers will have a similar experience.

First published at Blogcritics.

Irene S. Roth