Body and Soul
by Mario Dell'Olio
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Pub Date 17 May 2019 | Archive Date 7 Aug 2019
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Description
Raised in a strict Catholic family, Luca seemed destined for priesthood. His safe spiritual world is shattered after just one kiss with a college roommate.
Luca enters a period of self-discovery as his journey of love opens his eyes to joy he never thought possible. Along with his new-found love comes unfathomable pain and self-doubt.
Years later, a newly ordained bishop is at the pinnacle of his career when a chance encounter with a lover from his youth threatens to upend his prestigious career and comfortable life.
His vow of celibacy and vocation are called into question as he struggles with his faith, loneliness, and need for love. How do these seemingly disparate characters come together to make sense of the unexpected twists and turns in their lives?
How do they balance their bodily desires with their soul's search for meaning?
Advance Praise
"A gripping story of sexual awakening and coming to terms with the need to be loved. Highly recommended!"
There are so many aspects to Body and Soul which are excellent. Firstly, the characters. Here is the strength of this novel. The author knows his characters, very, very well; this shows in the consistent and very individual way they act. This is not a plot-driven story; it's character-driven. In this book, the characters are the jam which holds everything together.
There is a lot of self-discovery going on in this story, particularly for Luca. I must say, it is very well-written.Overall, it's insightful and very much helps the reader to not only understand Luca, but also start to care about what happens to him. The author also understands how important 'speech' is to not only develop the characters, but also the plot.
This is a story of self-discovery; of a man who is trying to balance his work with the church with his feelings for another man. The 'sexual' elements of the story are well-handled and always sensitively written. And the dilemmas the characters must face are interesting and thought-provoking.
I would happily recommend this novel to anybody who enjoys a character-led story. Also, the LGBT community might very well enjoy - and relate to - many of the problems facing this young man. Finally, anybody who is interested in the topical subject of church and how it's possible to be a member of a church and also be gay, would find this interesting. Overall, a stimulating and well-constructed story.
A Wishing Shelf Book Review
thewsa.co.uk
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781733075008 |
| PRICE | US$7.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Jeff L, Reviewer
The journey that gay men take in a world that, even today, doesn't fully accept them, is a journey only he can choose to make. Accept and resign yourself to living a certain way, or take charge and make the situation work for you. (I know that's a simplistic statement but the essence of my thought is there.)
Body and Soul follows such a journey of two men, though undoubtedly- more from Luca's perspective than from Brad's. Though it is not told in a 'dark, depressing manner', it is the sad tale of closeted men trying to inch their way out of the dark (on their own) while hiding the passion of their lives in secrecy.
It's hard to review this as merely fiction, because whether or not this story is based on actual events; this scenario has been lived by many throughout time. The battle of BODY vs. SOUL, or better yet- Body, Mind and Soul is timeless.
Religion has both saved and destroyed many men. Readers can either choose to be judgemental of the characters' choices or try to understand their efforts to reconcile things, that by their very nature, are at odds with one another. (Body and Soul.)
It is with all this in mind that author Mario Dell'Olio tells this story. He does so, carefully relying on the feelings and experiences of his characters, in a moving account of their journey to navigate a challenging and difficult road.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
