G. Mikki Hayden’s novel Re-Live is the second in the Rebirth series centered around a group of people who are live in New York City and attend the same dojo. Each entry in the series has a different protagonist. In Re-Live, it’s Steven, a psychotherapist who uses unconventional methods to help his patients.
Formerly an engineer, Steven is building a practice in a new methodology called Re-Live. The Re-Live methodology, invented by his boss Viveca, revolves around healthy foods, unconventional advice, and (in Steven’s case at least) spending time with his clients in his world and theirs. For the younger people he treats, he acts like a surrogate father. In general, he attends events with some of his clients and invites them to the dojo and home parties. On the personal front, Steven wants to succeed in his new profession and have a family.
Re-Live is not a traditional novel with a central conflict between a traditional main character and an opposing force. The book is more of a chronicle of how one man achieves enlightenment through a variety of people he meets. Oftentimes, his interactions with strangers result in a positive encounter. In this reviewer’s opinion, this is more realistic than most novels that set up conflict just to make their narratives sensational. In Re-Live, though, Steven is often uncomfortable in his position as psychotherapist. Most readers should be able to identify with his inadequate feeling of achievement.
The strength of Hayden’s novel is its unforgettable characters. It introduces us to mysterious grandmasters, insecure patients, and artistic parents. Steven’s life evolves and changes through the thirty-four chapters. Steven himself is quirky enough to keep the reader guessing what he’ll try next. The dojo provides a fascinating backdrop to improving oneself physically and emotionally.
While Steven feels he’s not doing enough at times, there’s a general uplift with everything he tries. I would’ve liked to see Steven struggle a bit more through the story, and perhaps tie an event to the climax. But the overall theme of “treat others with tenderness and abundant kindness will be returned to you” is one we need to hear more in these times.
Re-Live is the second in a series, but it’s not necessary to read the first entry. This is a self-contained novel that continues exploring what it means to be a physical and metaphysical person in this grand universe.