‘My mom leans back, smiles, and strokes my cheek. “That’s all right, Charlie. Never you mind. You just got soft living with your grandparents, is all. You forgot that most people don’t have it so easy–that you have to be tough to make it in this world.”’ Set in the 1980’s, Dyed Soulsfollows the life of 13-year-old Charlie; an intelligent, troubled teen, taken from his grandparents by his drug … grandparents by his drug addicted mother, only to end up at Hawthorne Residential Treatment Village.
There he ponders Darwin, Socrates, and Plato, and unexpectedly falls in love with a girl named Margo. When she breaks his heart, Charlie runs away, beginning a new journey that will leave him shattered before he finally makes it to Virginia. Back with his grandparents, the return of his mother forces him to learn a bitter truth that changes his life forever.
Dyed Soulsis a thought-provoking, gritty novel, that will appeal to fans of literary fiction and philosophical literature. A coming-of-age novel, it is suitable for both young adult and adult readers.
Dyed Soulswas awarded Silver in the Young Adult Fiction Category of the 2018 Global Ebook Awards and was selected as a Top Ten Indie Book by The BookBag in 2018.
“This is a novel of the highest quality, one that pleads to be read and experienced by young adults who face similar barricades, but also one that will impress readers of fine literature. Simply put, it is brilliant! Highly recommended.” – Grady Harp, San Francisco Review of Books
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I love when you go into a book without really knowing what you’re getting into and it delieveres an incredible story! That’s what happened with Dyed Souls. I read the Blurb, but the cover made me interested. I wasn’t sure if this would be my style of novel, but it was!
I relate to Charlie so well. He lacks self-confidence which often leaves him the odd one out. He is trying to find himself and fit in. I loved him, he was such a well written character. I just wanted to get inside the book and tell him he had a friend in me. Gary Santorella is very talented in his character building and I’m throughouly impressed.
I highly recommend checking out Dyed Souls. I think you will be as pleasantly surprised as I am. Fantastic story with fantastic characters. I’m looking forward to reading more by Gary Santorella.
*I read this book as part of a blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
Dyed Souls by Gary Santorella is a classic in philosophical literature. A very touching 5 star, must-read story
Poor Charles! My motherly instincts wanted to wrap my arms around him and take care of him forever… and that is great writing! From the first page until the last Santorella invites us deep into the psyche of a troubled teenage boy. I wondered all the way through this book if it was the author’s own story because it reads much like an autobiographical novel, especially the last chapter. On reflection, I believe there is a mix of truth and fiction in this tale, whether that stems from personal knowledge in some way or from massive research doesn’t matter, was this truth – or very cleverly written fiction, does is make this a book that moved me and brought tears to my eyes.
With thoroughly compelling characters, and Gary Santorella’s eloquent and sensitive writing style you will find it hard to put this book out of your mind once you have put it down.
Charles is a recluse, retreating from his pain and loneliness into a world of books and internal dialogue. Abandoned, yet again, by his drug addicted mother, he tries to crawl into a shell of words and learning. Some parts of the story, Charles’ discoveries are very philosophical and deep as he struggles to understand what life is all about. There are a number of strong characters in the book. Margo, what a poor mixed up girl, yet his love of her helps to bring Charles out of isolation. Javier, was another strong teenager that helped to bring more depth and meaning into Charles life which encourages him to start really noticing his peers for the first time since arriving at the Residential Treatment Village.
The blurb does not carry a warning of rape content and I believe it should, this is a ‘trigger’ that some readers cannot read. That said, the very short scene is done simply without graphics, and is integral to the storyline.
There is one beautiful line in the book that for me sums up this emotional story… “The soul would have no rainbow, if the eyes had no tears.”
This novel is a moving, heart-felt masterpiece that deserves a place on your bookcase. Dyed Souls by Gary Santorella is highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews.
This was a really good book! I couldn’t put it down, the story line is captivating, and you will find yourself thinking about the book long after you have read it. You will fall deeply in love with the characters, my favourite was Charlie, he doesn’t have a great relationship with his mother and there is a reason for it. His has a troubled family history that has a lasting and terrible effect on his life. Charlie didn’t deserve to go through the things that he was forced to endure at such a young age. It makes you quite infuriated knowing that even though this is a story, there are kids out there who have to suffer because of the mistakes their parents have made. Great book, highly recommended!
Dyed Souls is a coming of age story packed with troubles, pain, love, betrayal, pain, trust, and triumph. Gary Santorella does an amazing job. The characters, though few, are engaging and well-developed. The story revolves around Charlie, who is a troubled 13-year-old. His drug-addicted mother takes him away from his grandmother.
Charlie is a well-read teenager. We are privy to him pondering about Darwin’s philosophies, meaning of life, and God’s existence. Charlie falls in love with Margo as he does time in a therapy home known as Hawthorne Residential Treatment Village. Unfortunately, Margo betrays him and breaks his heart. Charlie runs away to reconnect with his grandparents, where he learns bitter truth.
It is a good read if you love thought-provoking novels that blend philosophy and fiction. The story is interesting and well-crafted, albeit emotional. It will steal your attention as you find yourself turning one page after the other. This award-winning book is ideal for both young and adult readers.
Author Gary Santorella is a writer of substance, an important fresh novelist who deserves wide attention. He does not offer biographical information, but while it appears that DYED SOULS is his only novel, his other book – LEAN CULTURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY – suggests his career. It seems obvious that with an increased exposure to readers he will gain the stature he deserves!
Gary opens his impressive novel with Charlie’s mother driving him to the halfway house that will become his ‘home’: “My mom isn’t saying anything. Then again, most times she doesn’t have to. She’s evolved a silent language all her own that can paralyze my tongue as well. The sagebrush ad scrub oak race past the corner of my eye and I stare out the windshield, swallowing down the scream that’s rising in my throat…It’s stiflingly hot, but we ride with the windows up. It isn’t because my mom wants everyone to think that we’ve air conditioning this time. She wants me to sweat for what I did…’ In that brief passage the relationship between the broken mother and the needy son is made clear, and we are off on one of the most sensitively written novels exploring the dark avenues of weakly constructed families and the vulnerability of the coming of age rite that has been written!
Attempting to condense the story is a challenge, but to hopefully secure more readers of this fine novel, the following attempt is made: ‘Charlie is 13 years old, very bright (his interests include Darwin, Socrates, and Plato and authors Steinbeck, Maugham, Dostoyevsky), and is entering the coming of age realm of life in a world that seems incompatible: his mother is an addict, he has been placed in the Hawthorne Residential Treatment Village where he is prevented from visits with his beloved grandparents, he falls in love with a lass named Margo who disappoints him, and he flees to seek meaning and happiness, both of which are elusive. Charlie learns surprises about his family, ‘connects’ with his mother in a horrifying way, and lives with his grandparents as the only path to stability.
The magic of Gary’s writing, as well as his sensitivity to philosophy is beautifully scripted in a passage toward book’s end. Words from Charlie’s grandfather: ‘Charlie, men are like icebergs; the deepest and most important parts of them lie buried under their own weight, in cold, dark waters. The measure of a man is just how much of himself he can hold above the surface. In a world where so much is taken from us, it is important that you remember the givers, because they’re the ones who’ve helped us keep our heads above water.’
This is a novel of the highest quality, one that pleads to be read and experienced by young adults who face similar barricades, but also one that will impress readers of fine literature. Simply put, it is brilliant! Highly recommended.