Customer Reviews

The Soul Bearers

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With The Soul Bearers, Sylvia Massara takes on three challenging and often controversial topics. While she does not besiege us with graphic details, not once does she shy away from the emotional journey. The pain is raw, the joy exhilarating. Sylvia gives us a look at the worst and the best of humanity. We could all learn a little something from her characters.

This is an absolutely amazing story. I laughed, I cried, I felt ill at times...I felt everything the characters experienced.I really believe this story needs to be read, and also that it needs to be seen. It would make an excellent movie--it would be one of those movies that people watch again and again--an instant classic.

There were so many times that I was shocked at the way the storyline turned--and this was a good thing, because it made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I literally found myself unable to breathe sometimes in anticipation of what would come next. I absolutely love the symbolism with the butterflies (no spoilers here, read it and you'll see what I mean!!), and what a perfect ending.

This book is a real eye opener, giving you an intimate glimpse into characters who deal with real-life issues in a way that is both profound and human. Not only is the story interesting and life-affirming, but it tugs at that most private part in each of our souls that only wants to be loved and accepted for who we are. I think that, most of all, this story is truly about genuinely unconditional love, and the way that not much else matters when it's present.

This story deals with trying to overcome fear--fear of life, and it touches on serious subjects such as child abuse, dying of AIDS and living with rejection and betrayal. But with so much ugliness in the world of these 3 characters (a gay couple and a single woman sharing a house), something beautiful comes out of their friendship. This is HOPE. The characters seem to cling to each other for support and in the end they find the strength to face their new future.

In the story it says that it's partly based on true life events, and after having read the book it made me feel really grateful for my life. I found this book rather spiritual and quite inspirational.

In The Soul Bearers, Sylvia Massara was able to make the reader feel the character's emotions. Everything from rejection of family because the character needs to be himself, resolving long ago memories of horrific child abuse, to the loss of a very dear loved one.

The reader gets a glimpse into these three people's lives, all broken in their own way, and then the reader gets to see the transformation when they become more than just close friends, they become each others family and learn what unconditional love truly is.

This was one of the most heartfelt books I have read to date. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride with this book. The author has the ability to make the reader feel as though they are there with the characters, feeling both their pain and joy. I loved this book.

The is a must read.

Once the mystical tale of the Soul Bearers is revealed, the impending sorrow is evident. However, the story is not about this loss. It is about the journey that surrounds the loss. It is about discovering unconditional love, about letting go of the past in order to rejoice in the present, about learning how to love yourself enough to be open and receptive to life. Author Sylvia Massara does an excellent job of weaving the psychological evolution of the characters into the story, drawing you into their pain as well as their joy.

Alex is a woman who was damaged by her stepfather's abuse and left home at fifteen, eventually becoming a travel writer, which allows her to avoid commitments to people or places. Her life begins to change when she makes her first commitment to putting down roots and facing her fears because it draws her into the world of Matthew and Steve.

Matthew is the gay and extraordinarily handsome partner of Steve, who is dying of AIDS. Thrown out of his home when his father discovered he was gay, Matthew depended on friends for support until he met Steve, who became the love of his life. Despite the joy of having Steve in his life, Matthew has never reconciled his feelings about being rejected so completely by his parents or the superficiality of those attracted solely by his looks.

Steve has had to face the ultimate challenge--the knowledge that he is dying. He has developed a sense of peace around the process--a peace that allows him to offer those around him unconditional love and understanding. It is a gift that both Alex and Matthew need if they are going to survive their pasts.

It takes courage to change one's life, and Massara's characters exhibit this reality of change. Massara doesn't trivialize the effort required or sugarcoat the angst involved, which makes it all the more real for the reader. You may be surprised at the turn of events in this novel, but Massara doesn't disappoint as she takes you on an emotional journey that will touch your heart.

Reviewed by Dannye Williamsen for Breakthrough Bookstore

The Soul Bearers by Sylvia Massara is an absolute triumph! This is the story we all wish we could write! It is one of the most deep soul touching, more profound novels I have ever read. The depth of the despair and love that these three characters feel is unequaled to anything I have ever experienced through a book. This is a story of love and loss, of rejection and acceptance, of life and death, of hope and rebirth. You will cry your eyes out - it was a deeply cathartic read for me. Beautifully written, with characters that will get under your skin and you will embrace, with a depth of humanity unparalleled to any other book I have read, poetic and raw at the same time. Hope; hope is the word that defines this book: hope in spite of certain death, hope in spite of rejection and abuse, hope resulting from true unconditional love. Hope that heals, hope that forgives, hope that is the way to rebirth. Love as the only important thing worth living for. Alex will find love - both spiritual and physical - through the love shared by Steve and Matthew, a love that will grow to embrace her too and help her exorcise the demons of her very abusive childhood. And healing will come on the wings of a butterfly.

This book is a definite MUST READ. No holds barred, no caveats. This book will show you pure, unadulterated love and hope through tears and loss.

This was a beautiful story--so full of varying emotions and relationships. It needs to be read,to awaken all who will let it touch them deeply to see what circumstance,betrayal,friendship and deep love can create in a persons life. It is unconventional, painful and yet held together by the beauty of unconditional love and friendship in it's truest, deepest sense. I will buy this for my daughter-in-law!

what a beautiful story of love & friendship and tragedy & triumph. It brought a couple of hard subjects to light and showed how the characters found the strength of friendship and unending love to bring them to acceptance & forgiveness. It will
always warm my heart when I see a butterfly and bring a tear to my eye for the Soul Bearers! I really enjoyed this wonderful book that I was lucky enough to win, and I thank Sylvia for writing this emotionally packed book! I also thank Sandy Wolters for picking my name in the drawing, I am grateful for the chance to read this awesome book. I do give it the 5 stars it deserves!
Lori Morin

The Soul Bearers is a riveting and compelling story that brought me to tears in many places but somehow managed to leave me with hope in other places. Sylvia gives a no holds barred look within the lives of a woman who was brutally sexually abused as a child and two gay men who love each other deeply despite being disowned by their families for their lifestyle.

I cannot say that I enjoyed reading about the pain and suffering of the three people in this book because no one wants to see another human being suffer. However, The Soul Bearers was a book I couldn't put down once I started reading it. I was deeply moved by this story. It continues to stay with me even after I finished reading it.

Sylvia certainly has a masterful way with words. Excellent writing! I highly recommend The Soul Bearers.

Kristie Leigh Maguire - author