Customer Reviews

Journeys of a Tortured Soul

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I could tell you what a captivating and interesting book this is to read. Or I could tell you how well-developed the characters are, or how brutally honest, shocking and realistic this story is, but I dont think you should take my word for it. I think you should discover for yourself this talented new African American writer. Whether this story is based on fact or fiction, it will keep you interested to the end, and looking forward to a sequel.

Arthur Wilson is a young man who comes from a severely dysfunctional family, and whose father is physically and mentally abusive to both he and his mother. Add to this the fact that his mother is very ill, and therefore at a point where she is quite helpless in changing the situation. Arthur is a talented musician and an excellent student, but no matter what he does, its not the right thing in his fathers eyes. So the abuse continues and Arthur decides to run away to Atlanta with his best friend Daniel to escape his unhappy home life. In order to survive in the Big City Arthur & Daniel must turn to prostitution and drugs. At this point, the story unfolds at a fast pace as Arthur sets out on a series of bus trips as he experiences his coming out from boyhood to manhood.

I also enjoyed the poetry by Nicole J. Niblack dispersed throughout the story. These classically styled poems are beautiful and serve an integral purpose as part of the story. Nicole is a gifted poet who understands the power of words, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

So discover this captivating treasure of a book for yourself. I look forward to Caesars sequel to this story, Things Found in My Fathers Attic, that revisit the characters of Journeys of a Tortured Soul some 20 years later. Hail, Caesar!!!

Arthur Wilson comes from an extremely dysfunctional family and knows what it means to have a tortured soul. As the story opens, Brunswick takes us into the life of Arthur, now a young man, who is traveling cross country via bus, as he has done so often since he ran away from home almost a decade ago. Through flashbacks/journeys back into time we witness what life was like for Arthur, who was raised by a father who was emotionally and physically abusive, while his mother, who was in poor health, silently sat by and endured the wrath of her husband against her son. Arthur was a gifted and talented student; however, while in high school, he committed an infraction that the school considered serious enough to suspend him as well as one which would probably promise brutal, cruel and unusual punishment from his dad. Deciding that he had had enough abuse to last a lifetime, Arthur and a childhood friend decided to run away from their small town in Georgia, to the big city of Atlanta where it would be hard for anyone to find them. But along with anonymity, Atlanta was also filled with demons and vices that could quickly overtake two young runaways who did not have much money. Because he had limited skills, Arthur did what so many runaways living on the street are often forced to do; he became a prostitute servicing gay men. Eventually, it was fear and a run-in with the law that made him return home and to once again endure the wrath and rage of his father. Although Arthur returns home life is worse than before he left. Basically, he must fend for himself; but through all the trials, tribulations and obstacle courses, Arthur endures and actually has a chance to lead a normal, productive life. Through the journeys which always begin with a bus ride, our hearts go out to Arthur, as we become a passenger on the road with him and learn firsthand who he really is.

Journeys of a Tortured Soul (JOATS) by Caesar Brunswick is a very disturbing story and not one for the weak and faint of heart. Its a dark, raw and gritty tale that is realistically written and portrayed with graphic sexual scenes and depiction of life on the streets. Arthur Wilsons character felt real and it was heart wrenching to read and watch the turmoil and trauma that his father put him through as well as the consequences of some of his own actions. Some of the actions of the father were downright inhumane and should have been reported to Child Welfare. Even worse is realizing that there are parents in real life who act like Mr. Wilson.

JOATS is the story of a young man who struggles to survive, while searching for love, self esteem and his sexual identity. Brunswick has a strong handle on the life of a young male living on the streets and growing up in a household with a loveless tyrant as a father and a helpless mom, so much so that I wondered if this was his story. JOATS is a story that I definitely recommend to African American males to include teens and adults. Its a story that most males should read and one that should not ever be experienced in real life. On the APOOO 411 scale JOATS is 3.5 stars and a good read.

Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO Bookclub

Caesar Brunswick is a writer to watch. In JOURNEYS OF A TORTURED SOUL he has created an auspicious debut and appears to be a new voice that is probing, wise, and eloquent. This book is a novel, though it is so successfully written that it sounds like a memoir. Arthur Wilson is the product of a dysfunctional family who gets his girlfriend pregnant at the age of eleven, drops out of highschool at age 15 to escape to Atlanta and a life of surviving by street hustling only to be incarcerated, find his way back into the world where he succeeds in finishing school and proceed on to college and graduate school, finding an unexpected profound relationship with a man, a term of infatuation with a gifted diva, an enforced sexual laison with a woman from a family of means, ending up with a graduate degree and a glimpse of what he has always yearned for - a sense of belonging to his family. And if that isn't the journey of a tortured soul, then the phrase begs explanation! This book is so tightly written that it demands being read in one evening. Arthur Wilson, for all the seemingly incredible events in his life, remains a character about whom we care vey much.

Few novels serve as reference volumes as does this one. Within the short 200 pages, Brunswick explores race, prejudice, parental abuse, prostitution in the gay world by underaged boys, fully committed gay relationships, bisexuality, heterosexuality accompanied by fatherhood, and the drive to rise above humble beginnings despite the "slings and arrows" route underappreciated in today's society. He does this ably, without resorting to maudlin victimization. Part of the beauty of Brunswick's main character is that he relates his story in eloquent language - something authors too often feel requires the associated lingo of the times, a gimmick that can create a barrier between the reader and the story.

More books are promised by Brunswick, books that will further flesh out some of the interesting prototypes introduced in this book. Good news for all of us. Hopefully the editor's eye will be more keen for those books. But for all the small flaws in this first venture, this book stands solidly with the works of new voices in American literature. Recommended.

JOATS is a poignant, bittersweet tale of a young man--wise beyond his years--reflecting upon what has been an extremely difficult life. Many things shine through from Mr. Brunswicks beautifully crafted narrative; most of all the undercurrent of hopeful optimism that pervades even the most soul-destroying events. In lesser hands, such a story may have been handled with crass insensitivity, leaving the reader confused and depressed. Brunswick, however, allows the reader to empathize with his protagonist rather than pushing his protagonist upon the reader. The concept of using a bus journey as a vehicle for the series of flashbacks that comprise the story provides for an ingenious allegory for the main characters sense of having lost control of his destiny. If this was Brunswicks intention, then it is the mark of a truly gifted author. For some reason, it reminded me of Steinbecks Grapes of Wrath, but if that is a fair comparison, then it is also fair to say that JOATS is much more relevant to todays reader. It is difficult to know quite what target market this novel should be aimed at, but it is such a beautifully written piece of fiction that it would be a crime not to give it the full exposure it deserves.

Caesar Brunswick has an imagination that makes me wonder if his work is as brilliant as it seems or if by some chance he has managed to become privy to the intimate details of conversations between myself and friends. The characters are real and the storyline compels you to replay your mental tape of what is was like to be a teenager craving love, acceptance, adventure and self discovery and learning in the process that sometimes you have to lose yourself to find your soul . Caesar shows the world as it truly is...both beautiful and grotesque but always worth the journey. A definite must-have on your nightstand to read and read again.

Once I picked up this book, I found it very difficult to put it down. The story is compelling and deeply moving. The events are detailed in an such eloquent way, yet the book smacks of realism the entire way through.

Kudos to Brunswick for being brave enough to share this story with us!

I really enjoyed reading "Journeys of a Tortured Soul". I completed the book in one day. I couldn't put it down. I felt as if I knew Arthur Wilson on a personal level. I was able to understand what Arthur was feeling.

Based on the reviews I've read about this novel, I really expected more. In the end, I was decidedly disappointed. The overly concise plot and lack of character development never allowed me to immerse myself in the text. One recurring theme for me while reading the novel was "Did the author intend to write this way or is this the best he can do?" This sentiment was often cited during discussion at the reading group I facilitate. One person suggest that if "[Brunswick] had written this book right, it would have been 800 pages."

I never really felt like I knew Arthur, the protagonist. I read Arthur's thoughts and impressions, but he sounded like a psychiatric patient in denial. For me, the bus ride motif was not developed sufficiently and fell flat. It seemed to me that riding the bus was not the true problem for Arthur; rather his inability to be proactive in his life caused him problems. Arthur struck me as a Forrest Gump-like character in that things were always happening to him, instead of him making things happen.

Brunswick's handing of the dissolution of Arthur's various romantic relationships was blase and lacked passion. Break-ups are dramatic and messy, if not downright passionate, and they were a little too clean and contrite in this book. Passion and drama were in little supply in this book and that is a shame. A more detailed contrast of Arthur's affective response to his breakups the various partners would have been interesting.

More details about Wilson family history were necessary to underscore why the family was dysfunctional. It was clear from Arthur's interaction with family that problems and resentments existed, but the absence of those details failed the breathe the necessary life into the dysfunction has a separate entity.

Finally, the characters were used as plot devices, rather than points of discourse and inquiry. Specifically, characters were introduced or revisited when Arthur needed something to do (e.g., Arthur's friend from high school and, to a lesser extent, Arthur's intimate relationship partners). Characters routinely fell by the wayside when Arthur was "done" with them. Granted, these characters were not essential to the story, but a definitive summation of their disposition would have been nice. Although the book is about Arthur and his journey, the author's decision to leave so many loose ends was problematic. This could be reflective of Arthur's focus on his academic career and musical performance, but I find it difficult to believe that Arthur would have no knowledge--even gossip in the hallways--of the people who played significant roles in his life at one point or another.

Overall, the author attempted to write an ambitious novel and chronicle of a person's life, but the end product lacked depth and was a bit haphazard. As this is the author's debut, there is room from growth and improvement. I wish Mr. Brunswick the best in his future endeavors.