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Child of Gilead: A Novel Paperback – September 23, 2020

by Douglas S. Reed (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 14 ratings
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*** 2020 Booklife Prize Fiction by Publisher's Weekly - Grand Prize Winner  ******2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards, First Place - Contemporary Fiction***"Take the road less traveled, my son. Always. No exceptions."

These are Hannah's words to her child, spoken to reveal a higher truth of what it takes to live a life of meaning. Most importantly, they are words meant to keep a child away from harm and danger. But one day, mother and son are visited by an old family friend whose arrival brings with it the potential to uncover dark family secrets always intended to stay hidden.

Sparse and simply told, Child of Gilead, is author Douglas S. Reed's long-awaited second novel and is a modern-day parable that seeks to answer the seemingly unanswerable truth, "Do you know me?"
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  1. Print length
    264 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    BookBaby
  4. Publication date
    September 23, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0947481877
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0947481872
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Layered, poetic, and richly nuanced, Child of Gilead is worthy of multiple readings. The novel unfolds with a parable-like precision and grace. Reed's prose is beautifully rendered and evocative. Highly distinctive and unique, this work of literary fiction is rich in metaphorical layers--some of which may puzzle and confound readers. Whether child and mother, Old Man, and Boy, characters in Child of Gilead occupy a world of roads and choices, faith, and lurking danger. While they resonate as archetypal within the body of the novel, they are no less vivid and complete. - BookLife Prize Finalist - General Fiction 2020

"This is a book that manages to both fulfill the expectations of its genre while offering an original approach to story. Through a variety of voices, each compelling and reverent, the story unfolds as a morality tale that deftly handles multiple settings, styles, and points of view. Fairytales, biblical scenes and psalms, the stories of a loving mother, and the lonely journey of a mysterious old man, all coalesce to create a tale that itself takes the 'road less travelled' it so vividly describes."-- Orna Ross, Author

"An artful, thought-provoking, and memorable work of fiction." -Kirkus Reviews

"Oh, Douglas Reed, author of 'Child of Gilead,' this 60,000 word song - and yes, it should be classified as a song for it played a dramatic, sensual tune - is one that any reader, no matter what they say or believe, would enjoy.

Hannah is an exceptional character, who loves her child, and wants nothing but the best in whatever pursuits her child undertakes. "Take the road less traveled, my son. Always. No exceptions." That very piece of advice becomes a mantra of vital importance for Hannah, and her child, and well, it is essential to the story. For Hannah, the road less traveled involves an urgent method of protection and safety, while at the same time, those words unveil a method of living a purposeful life. But Hannah just wants to live life, and make sure the most precious gift, her child, has that as well.

Each page reveals a layer of the most beautiful gift wrap that Douglas Reed designed and created with his ink and his paper. And talk about passion, talk about mystery, talk about drama and just talk about the book all you want. Blush, fan yourself, and wonder why in the world this book scorched my creative sense.

After you take time to read it fully, you will see it is a worthy read for sure."

- Reedsy Discovery

CHILD OF GILEAD by Douglas S. Reed is an evocative, atmospheric work of literary fiction about children, families, and secrets. The writing is lyrical, philosophical, and has layered meanings for readers to interpret and enjoy. (IndieReader)

About the Author

Douglas S. Reed is an educator and author of the novels Child of Gilead and Garden's Corner. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Management from Syracuse University and a Master of Science degree in Primary Education from Lehman College.

Formerly a resident of New York City and an elementary school teacher at Public School 62 (Bronx, NY), Douglas S. Reed currently teaches at Elliot Primary School and is the Founder & Head Coach of Team Hurricane Basketball Academy. When away from the classroom and the basketball court, you'll find the author living quietly and peacefully on the beautiful island of Bermuda with his wife, Lisa and stepchildren Jalen and Mia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BookBaby (September 23, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0947481877
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0947481872
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

About the author

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Douglas S. Reed

Douglas S. Reed

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Hi, Everyone!!! I am an educator and author of the novels Child of Gilead and Garden's Corner. Born in Queens, New York, my early travels as a teen and young adult took me to such places as Greenwich, CT and Syracuse University where I received a degree in Communications Management from the Samuel I. Newhouse School of Communications.

Upon graduation, I journeyed off to Los Angeles where I was initiated to and gained experience in the motion picture industry. While on the West Coast, I worked for Walt Disney Pictures/Touchstone Films in Burbank.

With my return to New York, I worked as a freelance Script Analyst for New Line Cinema and Vision Media/Greyhound Films where my duties included reading and evaluating literary material for the screen.

Seeking to realize the inception of my own company and thereby get involved in more personal and independent-minded film and literary projects, I created Kataza Films and, by extension, Kataza Books.

A mid-career change saw the pursuit of my other passion, teaching and working with young people. As a New York City Teaching Fellow, I earned a Master of Science degree in Primary Education from Lehman College and served as an an elementary school teacher at Public School 62 (Bronx, NY). I currently teach at Elliot Primary School (Devsonshire, Bermuda). I am the Founder & Head Coach of Team Hurricane Basketball Academy and I also coach Boys Varsity Basketball at Mount Saint Agnes Academy. When away from the classroom and the basketball court, you’ll find this author living quietly and peacefully on the beautiful island of Bermuda with my wife, Lisa and stepchildren Jalen and Mia.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
14 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J Armstrong
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story of life
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
Told with 3 narrative voices, Hannah, her son and the old man, this book starts out as a mystery and slowly turns into a quietly reverent ode to life itself. Relationships, how we treat each other and the ripple effect of an act of kindness are all themes here in. There is certainly a religious overtone as passages from the bible are included and are taught by Hannah and a preacher. But it isnt overwhelmingly so and even someone of no particular faith group can enjoy the story. This is a slow building story, but the complex ending is satisfying and a wonder to behold when you reach it.
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Sophia Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, Emotionally Satisfying, Slow Build Tension, and Engaging Characters
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2020
Described as a modern-day parable, the story’s unvarnished urban setting, spiritual overtones, and emotionally engaging characters delivers a visceral reading experience that can challenge and motivate its readers.

The author was new to me and the genre is not one I reach for as often as I should, but I was quietly anticipating the story when I first read the description. Child of Gilead caught me in the right mood, but I think it also created the right mood when it captured me from the early pages and reminded me of my early years in both my career fields when I was determined to make a difference.
The book has three principal narrators, a ten year old boy, his mother, and an old man. These people representing three generations are left stark and mysterious in the beginning with their separate and then interwoven stories slowly becoming a clear, vibrant picture. I enjoyed the mysteriousness at first and the heightened curiosity to learn who they were and what had happened to lead them where they are. There is a bittersweet, nostalgic tone to the story and it is building like a brewing thunderstorm that rumbles closer and closer because the boy has been warned to stay in safety and stay where his mother can protect him, but he is growing up and wishes to spread his wings so he chafes a little at his mother’s rules. Meanwhile, there are predators watching nearby seeing the boy as prey and some knowing more of the boy’s history than he does himself. But, arriving suddenly, the old man becomes a different kind of watcher.

And, surrounding these people and their emerging stories, is the deep spiritual lessons that are being taught and learned. The mother questions God because a tragic, senseless event has happened and her past is checkered with other sorrowful events. A local preacher struggles how to guide her and the rest of his church. The boy is learning the place of religion and what he believes as he sees life around him quite clearly for his age though he is thoughtful- thanks to his mother’s care- to listen and learn, process, and then go forward.

As the story filled in, I saw how each generation had to face what life threw at them and figure out who they were going to be. Besides the young boy, there are other youths who are disadvantaged, but making decisions. There are other parents like the mother who must decide what is important to impassively or choose to actively teach their children. And, there are a few older generations who watch and sometimes act to guide the outcome. Repeatedly the question is ask, “Do you know me?” and the advice is remembered “take the road less traveled” – the long way around, the harder way- and it is pivotal to the life choices that were made.

There are bleak moments when I was unsure how it would turn out. Would the mother give in to her sadness and give up? Would the boy toss aside her careful and wise teaching to impulsively go along a darker path? Would the ruthless, greedy, and bad influences have their way against a solitary man who has grown old and possibly too weak to help?

Child of Gilead became a one-sitting read for me as I swiftly turned pages to discover the answers to those questions. I closed the book with a satisfied feeling of hope and found myself flipping back to spots to re-read a section again. It will not be for everyone or, shall I say, for every mood, but I recommend it for when you want to journey into an urban neighborhood with a boy, a mother, and an old man down the road less traveled to ponder, to feel, to take stock, and to wonder.
4 people found this helpful
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Chevron Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars Ours Is Not to Reason Why
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022
One of the things I enjoy most about reading is a story that makes me think. That's what I enjoyed most about this novel

Told in simple terms but deep in meaning, Child of Gilead is a parable of good versus evil. At stake in their battle is the destiny of a ten-year-old boy, child of an innocent young woman and a hoodlum long departed from their lives. The unnamed boy and his mother, Hannah, live on a street his mother calls The Road Less Traveled. Outside this safety zone is The Madness, where evil flourishes. Hannah ventures into The Madness daily to serve as teacher to children from broken homes.

Narration comes from several viewpoints, including the boy’s, the Old Man who rents their basement apartment, and a few other characters lurking in The Madness, where an ex-soldier’s candy store has fallen into the hands of a gangster. The boy’s chief concern is Hannah’s mysterious unhappiness, whose origin he patiently waits for her to explain.

Steadily and ominously, shadows of the past arise to threaten the little family. The Old Man’s entry into their lives is a pivotal event. Is he here to do good or evil?

Douglas S. Reed’s theme is deeply spiritual, grounded in Biblical scriptures which he uses to develop his thesis that Mankind is not meant to know why evil exists. As the Old Man says, “Trying to answer the ‘whys’ of life will only aggravate you. In the end, needing to know ‘why,’ doesn’t matter.”

Child of Gilead is a well-paced story whose archetypal characters suggest that the hearts of lost souls are borne of betrayal by other lost souls; hence Hannah’s determination to protect her son from them and, above all, to make sure he knows he is loved. Readers who look for spiritual answers in literature will find much to ponder in this novel.

Several pages late in the book contain numerous instances of offensive language, reducing my rating from five stars to four.
Customer image
Chevron Ross
4.0 out of 5 stars Ours Is Not to Reason Why
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022
One of the things I enjoy most about reading is a story that makes me think. That's what I enjoyed most about this novel

Told in simple terms but deep in meaning, Child of Gilead is a parable of good versus evil. At stake in their battle is the destiny of a ten-year-old boy, child of an innocent young woman and a hoodlum long departed from their lives. The unnamed boy and his mother, Hannah, live on a street his mother calls The Road Less Traveled. Outside this safety zone is The Madness, where evil flourishes. Hannah ventures into The Madness daily to serve as teacher to children from broken homes.

Narration comes from several viewpoints, including the boy’s, the Old Man who rents their basement apartment, and a few other characters lurking in The Madness, where an ex-soldier’s candy store has fallen into the hands of a gangster. The boy’s chief concern is Hannah’s mysterious unhappiness, whose origin he patiently waits for her to explain.

Steadily and ominously, shadows of the past arise to threaten the little family. The Old Man’s entry into their lives is a pivotal event. Is he here to do good or evil?

Douglas S. Reed’s theme is deeply spiritual, grounded in Biblical scriptures which he uses to develop his thesis that Mankind is not meant to know why evil exists. As the Old Man says, “Trying to answer the ‘whys’ of life will only aggravate you. In the end, needing to know ‘why,’ doesn’t matter.”

Child of Gilead is a well-paced story whose archetypal characters suggest that the hearts of lost souls are borne of betrayal by other lost souls; hence Hannah’s determination to protect her son from them and, above all, to make sure he knows he is loved. Readers who look for spiritual answers in literature will find much to ponder in this novel.

Several pages late in the book contain numerous instances of offensive language, reducing my rating from five stars to four.
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