The Myth Of Lost (Rising Star Series)

A Must Read Book For Lost Fans

In the preface to his new book The Myth of Lost, author Marc Oromaner makes the assertion that his book was written for all kinds of Lost fans. This is one of the only major ¿misses¿ in the book. The Myth of Lost is a provocative read, but I can't imagine that it would appeal to the casual Lost viewer or those who got frustrated by the perpetual mystery and jumped ship in the 1st season. It¿s a good thing for Oromaner that there are plenty of obsessive Lost fans who have a voracious appetite for all things Lost.

Oromaner is an avid student of pop culture, particularly of science fiction. It is his love of the genre that inspired him to write this book. Unsatisfied by the conclusions of sci-fi classic TV shows and films such as The X-Files and The Matrix Trilogy, he feared that the Lost writers would go the same route and disappoint viewers in the final reveal. He began to form a theory about the mysteries of Lost, trying to come up with an explanation that would be simple enough for viewers to understand and still resolve enough mysteries to satisfy.

Honestly, when I first read the basic outline of Oromaner¿s theory I immediately thought ¿no way.¿ It seemed both too simple and too ¿out there¿ to be the truth. But as I read on I became convinced. Oromaner backs up his theory with a breakdown of the major characters and how they fit into his scenario. He even finds a way to fit a lot of the smaller mysteries¿like the whispers and the pregnancy problems¿into his overall thesis. Oromaner doesn¿t just speculate as most Lost theorists do, he points to evidence in the show to back up nearly every point of his theory. As a result, The Myth of Lost is extremely persuasive.

Of course, Oromaner doesn¿t get everything right. The Myth of Lost was written prior to Season 4, in which some of his ideas are disproved. And in some cases, his explanations are a bit forced, which is to be expected since he attempts to fit nearly every Lost mystery into his theory. I am almost certain that any solution the Lost writers eventually come up with will leave unanswered questions so it is commendable and impressive that he was able to create a story that addresses so much of the Lost myth.

There is a spiritual element to The Myth of Lost, but it isn¿t overwhelming or preachy. Oromaner believes that one of the reasons Lost has drawn such a loyal audience is because viewers subconsciously see the island as a metaphor for the real world and they apply the lessons of Lost to their own lives. Some Lost fans are really into the spiritual aspects of the show and others who are not. Those who appreciate that facet will find Oromaner¿s ideas about the spiritual components of Lost fascinating. However, the discussions about the spirituality of Lost aren't heavy-handed and it is still possible to enjoy the book even if you are not interested in that particular part of the Lost myth.

It is possible that The Myth of Lost will prove to be totally wrong, but I hope not. I haven¿t come across another explanation that is this complete. There are thousands of theories about what is actually taking place on that island, but most of them are either too convoluted, have gaping holes or both. Oromaner¿s theory is the best that I have read, is easy to follow, and the book itself is a lot of fun with writing that is intelligent and witty, yet retains a conversational feel. In short, The Myth of Lost is a must-read for serious Lost fans (and Lost writers).

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Perfect for LOST fans AND fans of THE SECRET and Joseph Campbell

As far as interpreting LOST goes, I found that Marc's book calmed me down and made me less concerned with trying to understand everything and more excited about seeing how these characters (including the Island) evolve over the course of the series. It made me want to watch every episode again because I know I'll do it with a fresh perspective...which is always fun, right?

But THE MYTH OF LOST is much more than just an exploration of the show. It offers a way of looking at life. Marc is so knowledgeable about life (from classic literature to pop culture and everything in between!) and so humorous and so open. Part SECRET, part PSYCHOLOGY, part MYTHOLOGY, Marc weaves all of his knowledge into a wonderful tapestry that can actually serve to guide you, if you let it.

My favorite line is underlined in RED and helped me see the light:

"...don't just wish for your dreams to be fulfilled, know that they will be, and act accordingly."

Indeed.

THANK YOU, MARC! I can't WAIT to read your next book: "The Layman's Answers to Everything"

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