Can anyone put me out of my misery and tell me what book this is please?

[Litebolb]

Years ago, early '80's, I read a brilliant book, which I have never forgotten...but sadly, I have forgotten the title

As I recall, it was about a man whose daughter had been 'snatched' by some sort of 'being' and the man had to learn how to do things with his mind, in order to rescue his daughter. He had to start with some monks - possibly Bhudist - who taught him how to blow out candles, using the power of his mind... I.e. imagining a gust of wind blowing out the candle. He then had to go on and master other 'skills' until he was ready to fight the 'being'. The only other thing I can remember was that the man's soul was attached to his body by a sort of vapour trail and he had to break the trail of the 'being' to get his daughter back.

Anyone? Would so love to read it again as I cannot remember what happened in the end!

Than you

[LEMmingaround]

God, it sounds awful - The sort of thing that would have me rocking in the corner these days but there is a level of familiarity to it. sounds like the sort of thing stephen king would write.

[iheartdusty]

could it possibly be one of the Philip Pullman trilogy? it is a long time since I read them, and actually I suspect I am wrong because there is so much else that you would probably remember instead from those amazing books.

[Litebolb]

Yes Lem, that's kind of what I thought a while back, as I used to read a lot of Stephen King, but I cannot find it now.

Maybe someone will know...it's driving me crackers!

[Litebolb]

I heart, I have read the descriptions of the books you suggested, thank you, but sadly it is not them. :(

[Wrongmoreoftenthannot]

Might it be a Dean Koontz book? I vaguely recall that plot line...

[Litebolb]

Wrong...possibly, but I would have no idea which one - has anyone read any koontz books who may know?

Thanks Wrong.

[LEMmingaround]

I think its too complex for koontz

was it marshall arts related?

[DoctorGilbertson]

Roald Dahl had a short story about a man who learnt to see through things by meditating on the image of a candle. The wonderful story of Henry Sugar. Not the rest of the stuff that you mention, though.