The Soul Bearers by Sylvia Massara

The Soul Bearers Reviews

• 
  Dannye

  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 BreakthroughBookstore.com
  
• 
  Sandy Wolters

  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.
• 
  Darcia Helle

  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.
• 
  Laura Warby

  I really enjoyed reading this book. It had me sobbing from about a third of the way through, and I didn't really stop until I finished!
  I loved Steve's character, and his relationship with Matthew, despite his illness, is really inspiring.
  However, I wasn't too keen on the relationship between Matthew and Alex; she comes into the book as a very damaged person, and barely months after Steve's death, she is taking steps she never imagined.
  I just found her overcoming her childhood problems a little too easily written, after reading for the majority of the book how broken and hurt she was.
  I did, despite not really liking Alex's character, really enjoy this book, and would definitely recommend it.
• 
  Nancy Carbajal

  A beautifully written book and I understood the character of Alex really well....I related to her and got what she was/is going thru. But one thing with me, when there is a male/male relationship happening or I'm reading about one, I don't like woman to be involved with them. Just a choice, otherwise, a fantastic read. Very emotional and has something to say about the nature of people. It's about love, pure and simple.
• 
  Jennifer Perry

  Strong powerful storylines woven with an artist's touch, Massara blends themes of gay love, straight love, and mixed loves with death, rejection, and painful scenes of facing up to what really was, actually is, and what is possible or just never going to happen. There is hurt, there is also hope and through everying is truth and love.
• 
  Barbara

  What a very poignant story. Dealing with dying from AIDS, homosexuality, childhood sexual abuse and family abandonment made this a very gripping story. The wonderful thing about it was how positive these topics were brought to the forefront and delivered in a message of love. Don't miss this read!!
  
  Thanks for another great book Sylvia!