Welcome to my eight-part blog series about the main themes in At Liberty To Live. You may have read my previous blog series on the themes of Atlantic Split, so now it’s the turn of book 2. Find the links to the previous blogs at the bottom of this blog post. There will be some crossover between the two books. This week I’ll be discussing theme six: Self Discovery. Warning: This blog contains spoilers.
Blog 1 – New Beginnings
Blog 2 – Inner Strength
Blog 3 – Following Your Passion
Blog 4 – Rushing in too quickly
Blog 5 – Feminism
The theme of self-discovery is one that in fact runs through the whole of The Luke Bright Series. As these are coming of age novels, that should seem pretty standard. However, the definition of what self-discovery means to Luke changes a lot throughout each book, as his priorities and expectations shift. It’s all about Luke working out who he is and what it is he wants to do with his life, and for someone in his situation, he’s got a huge amount to learn.
In Atlantic Split, Luke always knew he didn’t want to be a police officer, but he didn’t have an alternative that was feasible. Sure, he could’ve gone into acting, but without his father’s support, he wasn’t able to make that choice. It was soon, however, he discovered that he was always made for more than the police force and his mundane life. There was a new adventure out there for him, and as he learnt about the war and the prejudice surrounding it, he decided to take on the mission of fixing the Atlantic Split, because he knew that if he didn’t do it, if he didn’t stand up for it, no one else would and nothing would change.
Similarly, in At Liberty To Live, Luke’s desperate to change the world, but of course, it’s not that simple and there are a lot of personal hurdles in his way before he can face the massive task of reuniting the two most powerful nations in the world. He’s stuck having to work a menial job, but within that job he starts to realise what he can do for Donatello’s diner and the people there. He realises that, in fact, his strengths lie in helping others. He helps Tom discover his passion and how he’s so much more than Jack’s little runty brother. He helps Linda discover she doesn’t need a man in her life or a ring on her finger to be happy. He helps turn that diner around, and not because he had any experience, but because he knew that by helping the people whom he befriended, he could improve their lives. Within that, Luke made his own discovery, that in fact, he could really make a difference to people’s lives. And that’s what he wants to do.
For me, as an author, self-discovery is an important theme. It’s a moment when you realise what is is that you want from life. What it is that’s driving you and what you can do. I think we all have those moments where we unexpectedly surprise ourselves with something we didn’t know all along. It’s a great moment and for young adult who will be reading my series, it’s extremely important for them to be encouraged to pursue and consider their own self-discovery, so they can become the people they truly are. Even as adults, there’s a lot of self-discovery left for us to do, so I’d say, never close your mind or your door to opportunities. You never know which one of them could change your life and take you on a path that you may be very comfortable and happy on. It’s about giving everything a chance and not limiting yourself to what you think you can and can’t do. That’s all self-discovery is.
I end this blog with a quote from At Liberty To Live about self-discovery. It’s the moment Luke realises what he’s been missing all along. A strength he never had the opportunity to see.
“Come to think of it, what I’d really got from there was a chance to do what I was truly good at. Not waiting, but helping people out.” – Luke Bright, At Liberty To Live.
Thank you for reading this blog, and I’ll be back next week with the penultimate theme of At Liberty To Live, which follows on nicely from Luke’s self-discovery, making a difference.
Atlantic Split and At Liberty To Live, the first and second books in The Luke Bright Series are available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and my social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.
N.A.K.
Neil A. King 
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