The Godchild Trilogy has recently been updated. These are the new and improved versions.
You can contact Jymi about The Godchild Trilogy at authorjymicliche@gmail.com
The Godchild 1: My So-Called Delusions (Written in 2013. Published first in 2020. Updated 2022/2023)
The Godchild 2: The Mixtape Years
The Godchild 3: Becoming An Artist
Here are some of the Reviews…
“Like Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar, this book takes you inside the mind of someone struggling with trauma and mental illness. To be honest, I found it a rather challenging read, as it alternates pages of slice of life images with unexpected recollections of trauma and wide-ranging speculations about the meaning of it all. Which is, of course, how trauma and mental illness look from the inside, and I found myself remembering times in my own life when things seemed similarly disjointed. It’s a good read, though; a psychological thriller that’s all the more real for the author’s unflinching honesty in recounting his life and perceptions.” – Unknown
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“I found it immediately enthralling, true from the heart. Easy to read and compelling. I enjoyed the non-linear flow and the short diary format. Scenes were easy to visualize and characters had a lot of depth. I found myself compulsively turning the pages. It is a harrowing story, but with an undercurrent of hope and love throughout. It takes a lot of guts and heart to bare your soul as Jymi has done and I applaud him for it. Well done! Highly recommended….” – Tippy
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“This is a great read.
Jymi writes as if he is sitting in front of you which makes the story all the more intimate.
Heartfelt and honest. Beautifully funny and heartbreakingly sad.
Highly recommended.
Looking forward to the other two.” – Dan
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“The sheep story reminded me of my own story in high school freshman year. School was crazy; some rare good memories but mostly bullshit. I love how he talked about his parents reaction. Very much been there, haha. It’s also serious stuff too, most of it, but it’s so relatable. I like how he tells the story like it’s just another day or something, with humor throughout at random points but also its honesty of how it’s so much more than that. Its really great.” – Rhonda
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“I work in mental health and feel this book should be mandatory reading for anyone in the field. Then again, it should be mandatory reading for everyone else too because it is insightful, creative, and full of depth. I highly recommend it.” – Prospero
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I really enjoyed this book! Easy to read, yet captivating. It’s easy to relate to the character who is open and honest with a sense of wit. I felt like I was on the journey with each chapter. A sense of wonder and suspense. If you want to read an honest account of what it feels like to experience trauma and triumph, this book doesn’t disappoint! – Dani
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“Written like a blog or journal, Jymi Cliche is extremely relatable in this, the first book of his trilogy. The reader becomes a partner, along for the ride in the life of the author, and his experiences of growth, loss, trauma, and conquest. The book is easy to read and keeps the reader captivated with wonder to see where each new adventure will lead the author. If you enjoy reading about the meaning of life, conspiracies, and other real life thrillers, this is the book for you!
I enjoyed learning more how music and art played a part in the author’s life, as well written within the pages of this book.
I feel much of the book is extremely relatable to anyone who has experienced any form of bullying or mental illness while growing up, without a completely devastating and depressing ending. Facing demons head on and making the best of life’s situations, while becoming “the ultimate me,” is one of the author’s goals.
I leave you with this quote, ‘Anything’s possible for an artist. We create our own paths.'” -Zan
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“‘And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.’
– Friedrich Nietzche
I wanted to read this book as I’ve been following the author on social media for some time and was curious to know more of the backstory behind Jymi’s persona, his art and music. I’ve never met Jymi, or interacted with him much, but I have been interested in his developing art practice, the music he shares, his raps, and I’ve been impressed over some years by his willingness to uncover his wounded self and engage with authenticity and courage.
Though this book is well written, Jymi’s writing has little of the artifice of the studied wordsmith. It is an unblinking narration, a diarised record of small and large details, both significant and meaningful and apparently insignificant events, thoughts and emotions, memories and solitary and unique perspectives on the world from the point of view of the author as he navigates a difficult, strange and convoluted life trajectory, though surrounded by the commonplace. It deals with trauma, PTSD, mental illness and all the associated tropes and cliches, belief systems, customs, conventions and institutions.
I read this book in quick grabs over a few days, impelled by a need to stay in contact with the unfolding revelation of the author’s inner world and outer actions. In some ways, it is fairly heavy going. I can understand why literary agents shied away, it’s a pretty challenging read.
But this book needs to be read widely, not just by people with a role or interest in mental health, because although a lot of Jymi’s story pivots around those experiences, that’s not what this book is about.
It’s about you and me and the nature of ‘reality’, the slip-knots, funnels and tunnels in time-space, the swinging doors that are the ‘doors of perception’, the nature of illusion and delusion, the apparent and the real. Or maybe it’s not.
Maybe we are all just actors, 3D images on a vast screen, acting out the script of our life (some of us get to improvise a little). Maybe those who have ‘lost the plot’ from time to time have seen or glimpsed the reality behind the cosmic play.
I’m glad that Jymi stuck to the task and wrote this book. It is well written, humorous in parts, engaging and at times very insightful, but more importantly it is honest. I thank you Jymi for allowing me that view into your world and your self.
‘Life is one big road with lots of signs.
So when you riding through the ruts,
don’t complicate your mind.
Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy.
Don’t bury your thoughts,
put your vision to reality.
Wake Up and Live!’
Bob Marley” – Jo
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“Couldn’t put it down. I’ve been hooked on this book and I can’t explain what it is about it that kept me reading all day. Maybe it was similarities between the author and I or maybe it’s the stories within the story, or maybe it’s just the way mental illness resonates with me. It kept me going till the end.” – Jaz
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“This is a compelling story of a talented artist and the intricate details of his past that aims to tell the whole truth of his life and all the mystery that surrounds it. Jymi details his upbringing and his experiences, both good and bad, including his struggles with gender, sexuality, the mental health system, the criminal justice system, and just being a kid trying to make it through life. This story will pull you in and leave you wanting more…luckily, there are two books that follow!” – Jen
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“An intense roller- coaster ride of swirling emotions and experiences.” – Kris
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“In resonating with the art and the elegant raw words Jymi uses that tells so much about the truth of our shared reality as human beings how we are all connected by the same experiences but are not connected at the same time how the journey of life is a tricky illusion but how it’s still real and that we need to focus on the reality and not lose ourselves inside of our own delusions; to use them for artistic vision so we can focus on cleansing our souls of the dark corners of our minds that how word vomit (in my own way what I call poetry on paper) can heal lives when we sit down and share our experiences with one another as human beings as souls that when we open our hearts to sharing more how much less of a burden life feels like that we aren’t alone anymore and everyone has a treacherous walk in the jungle of their own lives, no two alike but definitely never alone and yet always alone in the end. The author and artist of this book Jymi is a beautiful soul molded from the secrets of his life and his trauma regretfully he went through by circumstances out of his control. That such a beautiful book could come from such a deep powerful place, how we wish we could all be so bold as to share the skeletons hanging in our own closets the same way he so boldly does in his art and his words, so real so raw, totally not to be ignored pure bravery and courage.” – Shayne
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