During his senior years, John – a retired high school English teacher – decided to finally write his memoirs. His story begins at a young age, with his first visit from a spirit playmate his own age. To John, Jason is just an ordinary child like him, and John never gave much thought to where Jason came from – or where he disappeared. As years passed by, more playmates followed, and as John got … and as John got older, his playmates shared more and more information about the spirit world with him.
In The Door To Forever, John recounts the various encounters he, his family, and close friends experienced with spirits, spirit guides, earthbound spirits, haunted houses, and visits to Heaven, as well as soul groups and the purpose of their souls reincarnating together over many lifetimes to collectively advance their soul development in order to reacquire their original, perfect state when God created them.
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The Door To Forever by Doug Simpson was quite a surprise for me. Although I knew the book had spiritual and/or religious tones, I wasn’t familiar with the actual plot or focus. I chose the book through a recommendation from someone I trust, and when I began reading, I kept trying to decide whether it was fiction or non-fiction… or at least whether it was about the author’s life or an imaginary character. And imaginary characters is exactly what this story is all about!
Truth be told, we have an age-old argument here. How many of us had imaginary friends as children? Do a few of us see ghosts appearing from time to time? Have you ever spoken to someone who wasn’t actually there with you either? People debates this frequently. Can it really be happening?
Our story starts off as a journal of sorts, where an old man shares the tales of his life, from the beginning when he had an imaginary friend to the end when he is ready to die. I do not want to give a lot a way, but this book tells you all about his career, family life, and the journey to get from seeing his first spirit or soul to seeing his last one. And in between, you meet dozens of characters all whom have multi-dimensional relationships.
I really enjoyed this book. It read more like a narrative, and because it was very genealogical in nature, it appealed to many of my treasured interests. John, the main character, is a teacher who grows up in a rural environment and has an imaginary friend who disappears. Over the years, he has siblings, children, friends, grandchildren, and neighbors, all who weigh in on the concept of souls, spirits, ghosts, and imaginary friends. Some believe. Some do not. There is a pattern, and by getting to know John, readers feel a very intimate connection to the beauty of life.
This is a very simple story. There is no suspense or mystery in the traditional sense, but truly, between the characters and relationships, there is a dynamic intrigue that keeps you guessing and wondering. Coincidence is paramount. How much of our lives are being guided by others we cannot see? Whether you believe in these things or not, or if you have religious tenets that dictate otherwise, there is something of importance in these messages. We are not alone, and sometimes, we must sit back and look at all that is happening around us. Answers come in different shapes and forms.
I really liked this book, and I will read others by the author. The style is easy-flowing, casual, without excessive language or detailed descriptions. It’s experience-based, and readers are meant to think about the actions and the people involved, not necessarily where it’s taking place. The author isn’t trying to put certain images in your head nor direct you in a specific emotional manner. You will react to the story based on how you’d react to believing in these topics. I have an open mind, and I want to believe all this is possible. I applaud Simpson for sharing this type of story, and the lovely heartfelt sentiments in the last few chapters were timely. I knew it was coming, but the impact was still quite strong. Give this one a chance.
A group of souls who live ordinary lives as they work, love, marry, have children, know tragedy and joy, and share a common “secret” – that they are bound together through eternity – create an engrossing story as told through the experiences of John. As a child, John is visited by “imaginary” playmates who appear to him because he believes in them, who leave only when they must reincarnate as other beings, but who re-enter his life as siblings, co-workers, and dear friends. Even at a young age, John accepts the appearance of these playmates as a normal occurrence, and soon finds he has one friend who will be with him always, as his Spirit Guide.
In Doug Simpson’s book, readers discover the difference between ghosts – earthbound spirits who are stuck here because they are fearful of crossing over- and kindred souls who are in our lives to share our journey to transcendence. Spirit guides, who are always hovering close, come and go when they are needed or whenever we call upon them. We all have a spirit guide, but unless we believe in their importance to our life’s mission, we will not see or hear them. This book does not give you tips on how to conjure your own guide, but it does offer up romance, a compelling murder mystery, and enjoyable adventures of specific souls whose lives are changed and enriched by their unique interactions with one another.
“The Door to Forever” might just be the opening you need to discover the spirits around you and within you as you make your own way through this challenging lifetime.
This is a book for those who believe in Spirit Guides and reincarnation as it details the life of one man an his family through several generations. You’ll encounter ghosts or spirits that they meet. One has been murdered, and another who experienced a tragic death. They are lost and cannot find their way to the other side without assistance. If this is your believe, this is your book. The author has a well written tale so sit back and enjoy.
The story opens with John, as a young child, suddenly finding a playmate. He has no idea where Jason, the young boy lives, as his parents live on a remote farm. Nevertheless, he is delighted at being able to have fun with someone his own age. However, one day, when John is in his room with his friend, his mother walked in and asked who he is talking to. John points towards Jason and is so surprised that his mother can’t see his friend; even though Jason is standing next to him. Once his mother has left the room, Jason explains that only John can see him as he is from the spirit world, but he promises to tell him more as they grow up together.
As the years pass, John is introduced to other playmates, who slowly begin to explain the reason why they are with him here in this world. He learns that everyone has a spirit guide watching over them.
To say any more at this point. would simply spoil the story. I’ll leave it to you to read this wonderful story and decide for yourself whether you think you have a spirit watching over you.
I found this to be a really interesting read. I understand that this is a tale of fiction. Yet, it sounded so real, there were times when I paused and looked around the room wondering whether someone was sitting there watching over me. Of course, I could have tried asking my spirit guide to show him/herself to me, as John did whenever he needed to talk something over with his guide. But, in the end, I decided not to.
Written in the first person from the point of view of a ghost reflecting back on his life, The Door to Forever is a charming story, gentle, romantic in places and heartfelt throughout. Written as memoir, the novel opens on a four-year-old John and his ethereal playmate, Jason. John is confused when his mother refuses to believe Jason exists. Then Jason introduces John to other souls poised to incarnate into the bodies of those close, either as friends or family, and from then, the narrative depicts how their lives are intertwined. Simply told in an engaging conversational style, Simpson invites his readers to ponder on the possibility that there is life beyond our own ordinary everyday existence.
The Door to Forever: by Doug Simpson
This fictitious tale is narrated by “John. Just John”: a man in his golden years who relays his life from the sprightly age of five- years- old to the present day. The story is a tumultuous mix of living people and past life souls all intertwined around the life of John. There are unsolved murders, mishaps, ghostly sightings, wailing voices and spirit guides all thrown together, perhaps cosmically or maybe not, to help and guide one another along life (or death´s) Iong highway.
Some of the messages John receives from the spirit guides, were, for me, reminiscent of the writings of Brian Weiss, the famous psychiatrist who wrote “Many Lives, Many Masters.” The references to soul clusters and their rebirth in particular helped to make the story more plausible. Therefore, I feel that this book will definitely appeal to people with an interest in the supernatural, reincarnation and anything ghostly or spooky…
By the end of the story, John had become like an old friend. I really warmed to him and I felt like I knew him and his earth family inside out. The ending of the book was touching and also gave me cause for thought.
I would recommend this book
If you like family sagas that weave through several generations, you’ll enjoy reading about the Tranter, Obagato and Radcliff families. Assisted by spiritual guides, Crystal and John even help their neighbor Abie get rid of a ghost in the basement. There several adventures for this group of “related” friends, most of whom have known each other since childhood. Mysterious childhood friends who disappear and reappear as brothers or sisters. They might even reunite as uncles, aunts, even husbands and wives.
Cleverly written, I kept actually wondering whether I was reading a work of fiction. Especially, when quite annoyingly, the writer sort of pops out of the fourth wall and says things like, “By now you are probably wondering what this is all about.” Even worse, “Remember back a number of chapters? Probably not.” Well, I did remember back, and it sort of upset me to be told I didn’t remember.
Though a good writer, he shouldn’t use that writing ploy. I don’t like it, but you might. Anyway, that being said, there’s a similar paragraph toward the end, asking whether we think this could happen to us. Yes, as a matter of fact–I’m pretty sure our ‘souls preplanned our life from the other side’, but that’s another story— a true story–as in, I met my husband the day his mother passed away, and she lived 6,000 miles away at the time. Imagine that! We’re pretty sure she set us up.
Anyway, this is an entertaining novel and I recommend it.