The Pleasure Seeker

The Pleasure Seeker

Dayal is an other, never quite fitting it. Son of parents trafficked to Africa after WWII, it doesn't matter in Swahili Africa, where everyone is of different races and religions, but in Europe, he's constantly challenged about being African & Sikh.Being on the Autism spectrum doesn't help, as he is questioned about what and who he is. His academic and professional lives are on track.  He's invented several things, including Magicscore , and he's become a rockstar (albeit by accident), but his personal life is fraught.  He loves 2 Jewish sisters (1 madly), but marries Sita, who's Sikh, to please his parents.  Or is she really Sikh?  When his children start questioning, he has to make decisions that will affect them all. ....Taking place from the 1980s to the early 2000s, the novel reads like a fictional autobiography. Michaels demonstrates a command of history and provides a detailed look into African and Sikh cultureacross the decades,..... Kirkus Review "A highly enjoyable read with a clutch of memorable characters..." Buy On Amazon UK Buy On Amazon US Recommend for the coveted BookViral Crimson Quill. To make your recommendation simply click on the award badge below...... The BookViral Review: The best fiction novels tell stories about characters achieving something extraordinary and in The Pleasure Seeker, Robyn Michaels uses this premise to not only explore musical ambition and the twisted road to success but also the dictates of unshakeable love and the congruence between spiritual beliefs and everyday moral conduct. Unfolding over several decades and international locations, Michaels delivers a stylish plot that's brimming with thought-provoking dialogue and a narrative that benefits from perpetual momentum. Marshalled around a diverse cast of vividly realised characters Michaels doesn't overplay them but cleverly manipulates our expectations with the mood further enhanced by a captivatingly vibrant blend of romantic tension and tastefully written erotic forays. As you would expect from a novel about a rock star there are parts of Dayal's story that are glamorous and exciting, but he always remains grounded as Michaels describes his path to success. This is tempered by his easy charm, modesty and his views on religion and human rights. At times The Pleasure Seeker leans towards the melancholic as Dayal's frustrations with Sita mount, but in doing it allows Michaels to explore the family dynamics that surround Sita, Mara and Shayla and it's this that gives Michael's narrative an authentic and urgent sense of legitimacy which permeates throughout. Here her plot has a powerful emotional centre that speaks to the human need for love and companionship, a sense of belonging and the inherent need to be understood. It also injects a welcome degree of social commentary and touches upon a universal truth: that irrespective of our standing in life, colour or creed, the heart knows what it wants. And on this level, it's hard not to feel close to Dayal. Feeling that we've been given a privileged inside view of his thoughts and life. A highly enjoyable read with a clutch of memorable characters Rock stars come ago but Dayal's story is a winner from every possible angle and is strongly recommended. Robyn Michaels is a retired dog groomer and has titled dogs in performance and conformation. She didn't go to college until she was 30, and took CLEP exams to avoid prerequisites. She has degrees in anthropology with concentrations in African & Indian studies, and a master's in urban planning. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. She has Asperger's.