A fearless debut novel about the restorative power of truth and love after the trauma of abuse.
As sixteen-year-old Aidan Donovan’s fractured family disintegrates around him, he searches for solace in a few bumps of Adderall, his father’s wet bar, and the attentions of his local priest, Father Greg—the only adult who actually listens to him.
When Christmas hits, Aidan’s world collapses in a crisis of trust when he recognizes the darkness of Father Greg’s affections. He turns to a crew of new friends to help make sense of his life: Josie, the girl he just might love; Sophie, who’s a little wild; and Mark, the charismatic swim team captain whose own secret agonies converge with Aidan’s.
The Gospel of Winter maps the ways love can be used as a weapon against the innocent—but can also, in the right hands, restore hope and even faith. Brendan Kiely’s unflinching and courageous debut novel exposes the damage from the secrets we keep and proves that in truth, there is power. And real love.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
For fans of contemporary literature.
By Steph @ Beyond the Bookshelf
Aiden is living in the midst of what some would describe as their worst nightmare. With his already unstable home life crumbling more and more every day, Aiden begins to self-medicate. However, the alcohol and drugs can't fill the hole inside his heart, so Aiden begins talking to Father Greg about the demons that haunt him.But when Father Greg's true motives for befriending Aiden are revealed, he attempts to escape the memories of what happened through a group of friends who offer more support than he's ever gotten from his family. And although he may try to hide it, Aiden can sense that Mark may know just what he went through... and together, they may just be able to help each other heal.This novel was so hard to put down. The second I stopped reading, I was plagued with questions about what would happen to Aiden and had to pick it up and continue.Aiden was such a likable character, and you couldn't help but sympathize as you watched him struggle to navigate the obstacles he faced - those of growing up as well as those due to the situations he'd been put into. The writing was incredibly honest while also flowing like prose. I liked that you were placed right in the center of the plot right from the start - I was hooked within minutes.The topic of clerical abuse was dealt with very gracefully in this novel. The focus was not so much on the abuse or abuser but on the healing process, and how important support from loved ones is in getting on with your life - in my opinion, it was a great approach to dealing with a usually taboo subject.Definitely check out The Gospel of Winter if you're a fan of contemporary literature or are just looking for a novel that hits your heart in all the right places.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
LOVED this BOOK
By Mary Sharkey
I was very moved by the book. The narrative provides an accessible route to understanding the specifics of this type of abuse. I’ve been in churches; I know they are filled with nooks and crannies, places generally unseen by the congregation. The novel renders the physical spaces and settings carefully and the reader is securely grounded even when he or she might prefer not to be.The reader realizes the horror of what was done to Aidan as he realizes it yet he has difficulty knowing what to do with his status as ‘victim.’ Perhaps he would live with the secret (as so many who have been abused do) or not. The consequences are great either way.It provides a realistic representation of substance use. By the time we are adults, we enjoy our favorite vices, having narrowed the window down from the heady days of trying everything. These kids are trying everything.The violence that pervades the novel is handled masterfully. The pain felt by the main characters goes beyond the physical to an emotional and spiritual depth. The myriad of confusion and clarity for Aidan and his peers with regards to their emerging sexuality is understandable and deftly handled.The beauty of this book is the hope it holds out for the future for these characters (and thus, the rest of us).I recommend it to anyone looking for an insightful, graceful novel that explores a tough topic with depth and compassion.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful."Nothing makes sense to me anymore."
By E.M. Bristol
When the Catholic diocese sex scandal broke, (known where I lived as the "Father Porter case") some years ago, I saw one of the victim's parents on TV, saying that when she tried to come forward much earlier, she was informed that hers was the only complaint they had ever received. When she finally met with a group of victims and their families, they told her that they'd been informed of the same thing. However, it's rare for a sexual predator to have only one victim, something the protagonist of Brendan Kiely's "The Gospel of Winter" discovers in the most unpleasant way possible.When the novel opens a sensitive, upper middle class teen, Aidan, is seeking counsel from Father Greg, a priest he has known, considered a friend and even worked for, especially as his own father has recently moved to Europe and doesn't appear to be coming back anytime soon. Father Greg is popular in their community and is attending a party hosted by Aidan's mom. Aidan is perplexed as to why Father Greg seems to be giving him the cold shoulder, until he learns inadvertently that he is not the only boy the priest has a "special" relationship with. Wanting to forget that the abuse ever occurred, Aidan tries distracting himself with drugs, alcohol and socializing with three of his classmates who share the same need to get high. One, Mark, who Aidan has previously believed to be confident and popular, eventually tries to open up and discuss his own experience with Father Greg. Despite this, Aidan continues to cling to the illusion, but when the scandal of the Catholic Church cover up breaks, and the community begins to question their own parish, he will no longer be able to keep his secret.The author does a stellar job of portraying the conflicting feelings a teenager (or someone of any age) would likely have in such a situation. Both Father Greg and his superior (who acknowledges that Father Greg is "sick" but simply moves him elsewhere), are skilled at twisting the truth, cautioning Aidan that many people will be hurt if he comes forward. Without Father Greg, Aidan is at a loss to find adult wisdom - his mother is too busy beginning a new career, and none of the staff at his school seems to find his behavior worthy of adult intervention. In the end, it will be up to Aidan alone to figure out whether or not to come forward, and it's clear that there will be no easy resolution, regardless of his choice.
