BOOK REVIEW: MINOTAUR REVISITED by David Gelber

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. David will be awarding a $100 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter at the conclusion of this and his virtual book tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops in the review tour.

Legend states that the Minotaur was confined to the Labyrinth, slain by Theseus and then laid to rest by thousands of years of Greek mythology. But, the truth is far different. Read the Minotaur’s own words as he recounts his full life as god, king, warrior, matchmaker, midwife, monk, sage, father, mother, husband and, most of all, witness. The fierce Minotaur lived to see and be a part of the best and worst of humanity during a life spanning thousands of years. Part bull, part human, the Minotaur struggled to find his place in this world and, in the end, left his unique mark on history.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this book. I love mythology, though, so I wanted to give this unique chance to hear directly from the horse's bull's mouth what he had to say. And, I'm glad I did.

The Minotaur, in this offering, is a suave, cultured creature who appears before a large group of students to tell his story--and thus it begins.

Minotaur Revisited reminded me of a subdued History of the World. There are definite moments of light-heartedness (I loved his dog named Ramen "like the noodles" and his influence on Pharoah's army as they are chasing the Israelites). Yes, the Minotaur knew Pharaoh, Moses, Joshua--he raised the first Queen of Sheba--he had a hand in several other important episodes of historical significance.

The book isn't all humorous, though; he was present at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and it had a profound influence on this mythical creature. There was also some very sad moments in the book--no spoilers, but watch for Tarzan-like character.

Even though he escapes from his original labyrinth home, he soon finds that the entire world--no, his entire existence--is a labyrinth through which he must travel. Each time he thinks he might have found true freedom, he runs up against a dead end: Vlad (the inspiration for Dracula) and Jack the Ripper.

It's not just actual historical personages he meets--he also encounters Belle's sister is a "Beauty and the Beast" vignette.

Kudos to David Gelber for such an ambitious undertaking.

About the Author:David Gelber, a New York native, is the seventh of nine sons and one of three to pursue medicine. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1980 and went on to graduate medical school in 1984 from the University of Rochester. He completed his residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, followed by three years as attending surgeon at Nassau County Medical Center in Long Island, N.Y. Gelber has since joined Coastal Surgical Group in Houston, Texas.

Gelber has been a surgeon for more than 20 years, but over the last few years he began to pursue his passion for writing, initially with his debut novel, Future Hope (Emerald Book Company, January 2010). The novel speculates about future Earth and what the world might have been like if man had not succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden. Joshua and Aaron is a sequel to Future Hope and follows the battle of wills that transpires between unsung hero Joshua Smith and satanic Aaron Diblonski.

Dr. Gelber has added two books about surgery, Behind the Mask and Under the Drapes, both of which provide the reader with a view of the world of surgery rarely seen by those outside the medical professions.

"Last Light" is an apocalyptic short story which starts off asking the question: "What would happen if nobody ever was sick or injured?"

Minotaur Revisited is an entertaining romp through history seen through the eyes of Quint, the famed half bull half man monster of Greek Mythology. It was released in October 2012.

Gelber was raised in reformed Judaism, but joined the Presbyterian Church 15 years ago. He is married with three teenage children, four dogs and 24 birds of various species. His interests include horse racing, mechanical Swiss watches and, of course, writing.