Set in the small west Texas town of Seymour--Proud Souls--is the emotional journey of one man, Justin Olerude Bower, and his pending decision to end his life or move forward with what life he has yet to live. Set six-years after the loss of his wife and son in a terrible accident, Justin wakes one morning to find a new emotion stirring within his soul. A faint glimpse of hope has begun to clash with his earnest desire to drink himself to death and his emotional battle sets the story in motion and leads our hero down a path to discover why he had to lose the most precious part of his life--his family.
"Proud Souls" is an emotional roller-coaster ride, taking the reader from one aspect of the human psyche--sensations of hatred and discontent--to varying emotions of soft sensual arousal, laughter and relief. Our hero is accompanied on this inner journey by the town pastor, Reverend Hillard Ray Polk, the town grocer, Ralph Winslow Parison and the lovely woman dubbed town whore and head barkeep to The Hawk's Nest, Tessa Jameson. Each of these individuals was devastated and affected by the loss of Justin's wife and son six-years prior to the opening of this story and each character now suffers to live within metaphorical prisons--a church, a grocery store and a bar--and their lives parallel the struggle and pending fate of our hero, Justin Olerude Bower.
"Proud Souls" is a thought provoking, must read, story that will leave a lasting impression on the reader. Its descriptive form will weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of its audience and the manner in which it captures the powerful essence of true human form within its pages will leave us to ask ourselves, which choice would Imake? Life or Death? Death or Life?
Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2008
Bobby Ozuna's novel the Proud Souls is a remarkable read. Seymour is a small town in Texas and it has developed quite a history in the last six years. Justin Olerude Bower, the Rev. Hillard Ray Polk, Ralph Winslow Parison and the so called ¿ town whore¿ Tessa Jameson have been living the last six years in their own self induced personal prison. Justin has lost his wife and son in an accident. He has spent the last six years in a bottle, just waiting to die. Ralph Parison is in the truck that crashes into Justin and his family, for which he just can't forgive himself. The Rev. Polk, lives in his prison, feeling as though he has lost Justin's soul. Tessa's prison is one of torn feelings toward Justin, she¿s fallen in love with a man who doesn't want to live. Each character in this novel will come alive and you will feel their desperation, their sadness and loneliness. You will come to wonder, what if my life was to come to these types of problems. How would I handle such a difficult time? Who would I turn too? Who would really be able to help me? Who would make me make the right decisions in life? And the most important question of all. Would I choose life or death or choose to live with the pain of losing the people you loved the most. Bobby Ozuna has done a spectacular job in writing this novel. His writing style is one that will bring his characters to life. He has the ability to take your feelings on a roller coaster and leave you needing to turn the pages. This is a must read. You, the reader, will not regret reading this book, even though it will mean you will be sacrificing a few nights sleep just because you can¿t put it down. 4.5 stars
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Posted February 14, 2008
The story of Justin Olerude Bower is a story that will relate to many people. The emotions accompanying the loss of a loved one can never really be put into words but Bobby Ozuna does an amazing job of taking the reader through each step of Bower's despair and each glimpse of possible hope. Ozuna's writing allows you to feel a connection to all the characters that is definitely more than a spectator's view and that connection heightens every part of your experience with 'Proud Souls'. The decision that Bower is faced with is one that everyone goes through in their life, whether it be the actual decision to continue to live or the decision to live your life to the fullest and Bobby Ozuna writes the struggle to perfection. I loved this book and hope to hear more from this author.
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Overview
Set in the small west Texas town of Seymour--Proud Souls--is the emotional journey of one man, Justin Olerude Bower, and his pending decision to end his life or move forward with what life he has yet to live. Set six-years after the loss of his wife and son in a terrible accident, Justin wakes one morning to find a new emotion stirring within his soul. A faint glimpse of hope has begun to clash with his earnest desire to drink himself to death and his emotional battle sets the story in motion and leads our hero ...