A Separate Reality

Set against the backdrop of the early 1970s, the narrative follows twelve-year-old Mark Grosfeld, who grapples with loneliness in Phoenix. His life changes when he meets Anna Voigt, a former hippie poet who becomes his mentor, introducing him to writing, the Beats, and Zen Buddhism. As he navigates a semi-comic suburban vision quest, Mark seeks to transcend reality through the teachings of influential authors, particularly Carlos Castaneda. The novel explores the allure and dangers of the pursuit of perfection and the journey of self-discovery.