Reflections on Reality: How ‘Lost in Thought’ Challenges Our Perceptions

‘Lost in Thought’ is Deborah Serra’s new book. Photo: Amazon

Literary fiction explores the complexities of the human experience, often prioritizing character development and thematic depth over plot-driven narratives. The themes are often identity, society, and morality, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives. Another noteworthy work of literary fiction coming out next month is “Lost in Thought” by Deborah Serra. It is available for pre-order on Amazon.

“Lost in Thought” dares us to question our unconscious decisions and ask: Does your mind wander? Where does it go without you? (Meryl Moss Media, 2024)

Deborah Serra was a recipient of the Hawthornden Literary Fellowship and a semifinalist for the Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Award. She has been published in several literary magazines and is an editor with the ethics and short story magazine After Dinner Conversation. She has been nominated for the O. Henry Prize. Deborah has two previously published books, “Primal” (a thriller) and “2 Broads Abroad” (a humorous travel memoir). On assignment, she has written ten TV films and numerous episodes and spent two years on staff. She has worked for Showtime, CBS, NBC, Sony, Fox, and Lifetime. Her new book “Lost in Thought” will be out October 22, 2024.

“Lost in Thought” – Ilana has an enviable job as production manager at the Lyric Opera House, a committed relationship, a cozy Greenwich Village apartment, wonderful friends, and the satisfying feeling of accomplishment. But the questions growing insistent inside her are about to shift the trajectory of her life.

Are Ilana’s questions due to her scientist boyfriend’s research on how people make their decisions, or is she suffering suppressed grief from the death of her mother? Adopted as an infant, she becomes curious about who she would be if she’d grown up with her birth family. Is she truly who she thinks she is? Has she ever freely chosen anything at all?

When Ilana learns that her birth mom owns an Irish pub upstate, well, what could be the harm of stopping in for a drink? Entering the pub has surprising consequences. She’s knocked over in a brawl, and so what begins as curiosity about her origins, evolves into a traumatic shift in her world. After the dust settles, something new takes its place. Something unexpected. Something that looks a lot like freedom.

“Lost in Thought will take you on a fascinating journey between your heart and your mind, your conscious and your unconscious. You won’t stop thinking about what it means for you. What you do next with your own life is up to you…or is it?” —Lawrence Kasanoff, Film Producer True Lies, President, Threshold Entertainment, Production Manager, Platoon, Dirty Dancing

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‘Godspeed, Cedar Key’: Insights and Reflections on Michael Presley Bobbitt’s latest work

‘Godspeed, Cedar Key’ is the debut novel by Michael Presley Bobbitt. Photo: Amazon

Michael Presley Bobbitt is an off-Broadway playwright, novelist, and clam farmer living on a tiny island in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. He always wanted to be a novelist, but first had to spend all those years in the theater to learn how to create memorable characters. Prose was always his first love and will be the windmill he tilts after for the rest of his life. “Godspeed, Cedar Key” is his debut novel; it isn’t just another end of the world book, it’s a despite the end of the world book. (Amazon, 2024)

“Godspeed, Cedar Key” – Cedar Key is an island off the western coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. On a chilly February morning, the horizon is covered in a piercing light, and in an instant the old world is gone forever. Fires burn on horizons around the planet but the heat eventually gives way to the creeping monotone of the skies. The gray sets in overhead and all around, determined to keep the sun away from the land and waters.

In the aftermath, 300 islanders must learn to survive, battling invaders from the mainland, disease and natural disasters, and the intensifying dread of hearing almost nothing from the wider world. Despite the loss of most technologies and modern comforts, the islanders persevere in the face of hardship and death– burying their loved ones in the morning and planting spring vegetables in the afternoon.

Review:
The story begins as the town council is voting on taking down the Number Four Bridge that separates the island from the mainland. Hayes David is the current mayor who briefly left town but eventually returned, as most people often do, but “…was unable to escape for long the reach of its familial and environmental tendrils.” It then goes on to tell the backstory of the town’s various citizens, how they survived the town’s shifting priorities, and how they worked together to tackle the fallout from ‘the gray.’

This novel is an interesting blend of historical and literary fiction set against the backdrop of the charming town of Cedar Key, Florida. It has intrigue, small-town dynamics, and personal redemption with the main focus on character development and atmospheric storytelling. Bobbitt excels in creating a vivid small town setting that feels almost like a character on its own, with its coastal beauty and close-knit community adding layers to the narrative. The writing style is engaging, offering an emotional depth that keeps readers engaged. With language that is vivid and easy to understand, the plot unfolds at a steady pace: “For a moment, he missed her disapproval like an aimless former prisoner homesick for the familiar walls of his cell.”

Overall, “Godspeed, Cedar Key” is a compelling read that combines heartfelt personal journeys with historical facts. By exploring the themes of family, friendship, isolation, death, and resiliency, it emphasizes the need for humans to live in true community with one another. Despite the theme of a nuclear accident, it’s not a dystopian novel, but an excellent piece of literary fiction with rich prose and deeply developed characters. It is an homage to small towns, their citizens’ shared history, and the spirit of community and recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary literary fiction centered around small coastal towns.

“Since that awful morning in early February, the islanders had faced one disheartening setback after another. It would be something short of the truth to say they had met every challenge with honor and courage. Certainly, their resolve was worthy of praise, but in the crucible of those hard five months, there had been less heroism than self-preservation.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

It Ends With Us: The New Adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Bestseller

The movie adaptation of ‘It Ends With Us’ will be released on August 9, 2024. Photo: Amazon

In movie news today: If you’re a fan of the worldwide bestseller “It Ends With Us,” the long awaited movie adaptation hits theaters next month.

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty four novels and novellas. Hoover’s novels fall into the New Adult and Young Adult contemporary romance categories, as well as psychological thriller. In 2015, her novel “Confess” won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance. That was followed up in 2016 with her latest title, “It Ends With Us,” also winning the Choice Award for Best Romance; it has been adapted into a feature movie and will be released on August 9, 2024. It stars Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar. (Amazon/Colleen Hoover, 2024)

“It Ends With Us” – Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. When she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

Celebrate your love for “It Ends with Us” with the all new official journal.

For the millions of Colleen Hoover fans, this officially licensed journal gives you a space to write and reflect on your favorite quotes, characters, and scenes of the novel and its soon-to-be-released movie adaptation.

This journal is the perfect place to keep all your thoughts and feelings as you watch the movie. Featuring art inspired by the movie, this journal includes 192 pages of high-quality ruled paper, printed end sheets, an elastic closure, a ribbon placeholder, and plenty of space to record your musings.

Perfect for fans of the novel—and its soon-to-release movie adaption—this journal is sure to be a treasured keepsake.

‘The Watchers’: Adapting A.M. Shine’s Epic Tale for Film

The movie adaptation of ‘The Watchers’ is in theaters now. Photo: Amazon

Book to movie adaptations bring beloved characters and intricate plots to life, yet often spark debates among fans about the faithfulness to the source material. Directors face the challenge of condensing rich narratives into a cinematic format, risking either losing nuance or gaining new perspectives. Successful adaptations capture the essence of the book while leveraging the unique power of film to enhance emotion and spectacle. These adaptations continue to captivate audiences worldwide. The most current one is “The Watchers” by A.M. Shine; the movie adaptation, produced by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Dakota Fanning, is currently out in movie theaters nationwide.

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master’s Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. His stories have won the Word Hut and Bookers Corner prizes and he is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, “The Watchers,” has received critical acclaim. It is a horror adventure set in the remote and sinister forests of Ireland. (Amazon, 2024)

“The Watchers” – You can’t see them. But they can see you.

This forest isn’t charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina’s is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.

Mina finds herself in a room with a wall of glass, and an electric light that activates at nightfall, when the Watchers come above ground. These creatures emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn’t reach the bunker in time.

Afraid and trapped among strangers, Mina is desperate for answers. Who are the Watchers, and why are they keeping the humans imprisoned, keen to watch their every move?

Book to series adaptation: ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ by Heather Morris

‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ has been adapted into a Peacock original series. Photo: Amazon

Historical fiction transports readers to bygone eras, blending fact with imaginative narrative. They resurrect ancient civilizations and wartime landscapes with meticulous research and vivid storytelling. Through the eyes of fictional characters, readers explore crucial events, from epic battles to intimate moments of daily life, offering insights into the human condition across time. These stories often combine real historical figures with invented protagonists, creating a rich tapestry of emotion, intrigue, and adventure. These books not only entertain but also educate, inviting readers to ponder the echoes of the past in our present and future. One such historical novel is The New York Times and International bestseller “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” by Heather Morris.

Heather Morris is a native of New Zealand, now living in Australia. For several years, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, she studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an Academy Award-winning screenwriter in the US. In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who ‘might just have a story worth telling.’ The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Their friendship grew and Lale embarked on a journey of self-scrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Heather originally wrote Lale’s story as a screenplay – which ranked high in international competitions – before reshaping it into her debut novel, “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.” It is a tale of hope and courage based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity. It has now been adapted into a Peacock original series (6 episodes) and will be available for streaming starting May 2, 2024. (Amazon, 2024)

“The Tattooist of Auschwitz” – In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.

A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

Forthcoming new book release: ‘You Like It Darker’ by Stephen King

‘You Like It Darker’ will be out May 21, 2024. Photo: Amazon

It is no secret that I love horror novels, especially from Stephen King. His were the first books I enjoyed in elementary school (yes, elementary school) but surprisingly, have yet to give me nightmares. I look forward to every one of his releases and my home library is filled with most of his books, especially the short story collections. I even have “The Bachman Books;” if you’re a Constant Reader, you get it. So today, I’m pleased to share that the Master of Horror has a new book coming out next month: “You Like It Darker.” Enough said.

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection “Holly,” “Fairy Tale,” “If It Bleeds,” “The Outsider,” “Sleeping Beauties,” (cowritten with his son Owen King) and the Bill Hodges trilogy: “End of Watch,” “Finders Keepers,” and “Mr. Mercedes.” His epic works “The Dark Tower,” “It,” “Pet Sematary,” “Doctor Sleep,” and “Firestarter” are the basis for major motion pictures, with “It” now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. His new book “You Like It Darker: Stories” will be released on May 21 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. It is an exciting new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER. (Amazon, 2024)

“You Like It Darker” – “You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that dig into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in “You Like It Darker,” readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

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Upcoming new book release: ‘Ghost Station’ by S.A. Barnes

‘Ghost Station,’ the new horror novel by S.A. Barnes will be released April 9, 2024. Photo: Amazon

S.A. Barnes works in a high school library by day, recommending reads, talking with students, and removing the occasional forgotten cheese-stick-as-bookmark. The author has published numerous novels across different genres, but “Dead Silence” is the first published as S. A. Barnes. She writes YA and romance under Stacey Kade. Barnes lives in Illinois with more dogs and books than is advisable and a very patient spouse. In her upcoming new horror novel, “Ghost Station,” a crew must try to survive on an ancient, abandoned planet. It will be released on April 9, 2024 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. (Amazon, 2024)

“Ghost Station” – An abandoned plant. A hidden past. A deadly danger.

Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—the most famous case of which resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. It’s personal to her, and when she’s assigned to a small exploration crew who recently suffered the tragic death of a colleague, she wants to help. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.

And Ophelia’s crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizers’ hasty departure than opening up to her.

That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something even more sinister?

Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by…and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Book to series adaptation: ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ by Amor Towles

The series adaptation of ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ will be available on Showtime/Paramount +. Photo: Amazon

Amor Towles is an American novelist who graduated from Yale College and received an M.A. from Stanford University. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers “Rules of Civility,” “A Gentleman in Moscow,” and “The Lincoln Highway,” as well as the short story collection “Table for Two.” His books have collectively sold more than six million copies and have been translated into more than thirty languages. His 2016 novel “A Gentleman in Moscow” was adapted into an 8 episode series and will be available on Showtime/Paramount + starting on March 31, 2024. It stars Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander Rostov. (Amazon, 2024)

“A Gentleman in Moscow” is a beautifully transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel.

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.

Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.

New book release: ‘Black’ by Skyler Van Kirk

‘Black’ is the exciting new novel by Skyler Van Kirk. Photo: Skyler Van Kirk, used with permission.

I am excited about today’s new book release news. It combines historical and speculative fiction. Stories in speculative fiction take place in a setting other than the real world, a parallel universe of sorts. These are some of the most artistic works of literature because they immerse the reader in either futuristic, dystopian, or imagined worlds. Now picture, if you will, a novel that puts forth the question: is the chief in the oval room really in charge, or is it the fury of the people that fuels the country? In Skyler Van Kirk’s “Black,” the time is coming when the Commander in-Chief will be in direct confrontation with the potent retribution of the people. Sounds exciting, right? If you enjoy the types of novels that explore such topics, pick up your copy today. It is available on Amazon.

Skyler Van Kirk’s journey began in the heart of a sprawling urban wilderness. The raw material of fantasy, woven into the very fabric of this concrete jungle, was the crucible that forged his inspiration to awe-inspiring heights. From those pulsating streets, his words ascended. The strokes of his pen metamorphosed into narratives of passion, love, epic drama, and heart-wrenching tragedy. What was once a pursuit of artistic expression has now become a relentless odyssey to push the boundaries of his readers’ emotions to their limits. When it comes to the sky, it does not get any higher! His new book, “Black,” is about the true power of the Commander-in-Chief and what happens when the pale faces behind the most protected building on the planet have to face the vengeance of the people who built it. (Skyler Van Kirk, 2023)

“Black” – In the past, dreams were taken away by force. Labor was forced and ran by profit. This country was built on a billion-dollar business. Laws were made to keep certain people mentally and physically broken. Families were ripped apart, all for the fortune of this country. Women were used, men were emasculated, and children became the worst victims. Yet, through all of this, they survived. One day they became free, or did they?

In the present, it seems that in generations down the line, certain people are still fighting for the American dream. It is supposed to be better, yet it is not. It is supposed to be easier but it is not. Our children learn that with their ancestors this country would not exist. The people in power are fighting hard to hide their dirty little secrets. People in power are going as low as to rename what really happened to so many people. The one word that still haunts them is “Slavery.”

Now here we are in the future, and things have actually changed. We have our first female president in history. The commander-in-chief is a woman, a woman who is supposed to be a beacon of hope. Yet, just like in the past with every action, there is a reaction. Our newly elected president really thinks she can solve this country’s number one problem. A problem that has been growing for decades, “Debt.”

Regrettably, that ember of hope has morphed into a venomous mirage, adorned by people dressed in powerful deceptive lies. The Commander-in-Chief, seated atop the pinnacle of universal power, desperately clings to a perilous conviction: Only by rebirthing relics from the darkest past of history can she exorcise the unsurmountable national debt.

The past seems to fade into the dark hushed abyss, vanishing like a fridged whisper in the night, while it unfurls its mighty wings. A vengeful lineage, no longer willing to be pawns in the government’s game, stands fortified. No longer shall the heavens rain down fire and brimstone upon, for this time this generation will go to war.

The ancestors of this country were scared by new land and therefore forced into shackles. Now, the juggernaut of a government must finally come face to face and grapple with a nation that has thrown on war paint like the gladiators of yesteryears. How then, will a governance contend with the people who hold them up? The People are finally awake from years of slumber and refuse to yield.

Welcome to black.

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Book review: ‘Dissection’ by Cristina LePort, MD

‘Dissection’ is the debut suspense thriller by Cristina LePort, MD. Photo: Amazon

Dr. Cristina LePort was born in Bologna, Italy, where she attended medical school before emigrating to the USA to complete her Internal Medicine residency at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and her Cardiology fellowship at West Los Angeles VA/UCLA. She has been practicing medicine for more than 30 years as Dr. Cristina Rizza. “Dissection: A Medical and Political Thriller” is her first published novel and a tense thriller with complex characters that combines cutting-edge medical technology with horrific yet still believable terrorist plots.

“Dissection” – DC heart surgeon Dr. Steven Leeds is suddenly overwhelmed by a handful of extremely complicated heart attack and stroke cases, all caused by a rare arterial injury―a dissection. The victims all have one thing in common: they receive harmless-looking cards announcing, “Your heart attack/stroke will arrive within one hour!” It all starts with Dr. Nirula receiving a card warning him of an impending fatal heart attack. At first he dismisses it because he knows his personal odds of such an episode are slim, but then he remembers that 25% of people who have heart attacks have no known risks. His heart starts pounding as his life flashes through his mind, but eventually he moves on. He is the first of many such cases but unfortunately some do not make it. When private detective Kirk Miner and FBI agent Jack Mulville start investigating, they immediately suspect Leeds’ former lover, Dr. Silvana Moretti, a brilliant research scientist who harbors a grudge against all the victims. When important people in the U.S. government begin to receive these same threatening cards and experience similar cardiac emergencies, it falls to the unlikely team of three―the headstrong FBI agent, the gifted private investigator, and the brilliant but conflicted heart surgeon―to find the actual perpetrators and to snuff out a catastrophic plot that only the medically astute can divine.

Dr. Cristina LePort has written an impressive debut novel. Her experience as a medical professional gives it an authentic voice, for example, when she describes a heart attack: “a heavy sickening pressure rose from the center of his chest and spread like an oil spill to reach his jaw.” When doctors themselves get sick, the experience tends to give them a reality check, such as when Dr. Nirula admits that it is not fun being on the other side, being the patient instead of the doctor. The thorough character development makes them relatable, flawed, but overall courageous. With her descriptive language, the author makes the story come alive: “Fear receded like a wave from the shore and crashed into anger.” The political thriller subplot gives it an extra thrill ride during the rush to find the designated survivor to avoid a catastrophe and in case the president does not make it. The chapters are short and the action is mostly dialogue driven. Highlights include Chapter 3: Dissection where Dr. LePort describes Dr. Steven Leeds preparing to perform surgery: he “slid a cap over his thinning black hair, reached for a sponge, and stepped on the pedal to switch on the water” and Chapter 31: Choices when all hell breaks loose and Kirk Miner and Jack Mulville relentlessly pursue the terrorists even though they have both been injured. “Dissection” is a must read suspenseful page turner that combines a fast paced medical thriller with white knuckle political action. It is recommended for readers who appreciate the best of Tom Clancy and Robin Cook.

“She stared at her husband for a long moment as if deciding how to best handle the possible emergency. The man flapped his hand, hurrying her to get ready. A few minutes later, man and wife sat buckled up in their car on their way to Capitol Hospital. The man’s headache and neck pain escalated with the car’s bouncing and swerving. To him, the city street lights appeared blurred. Panic set in.”