Books

Carousel of Questions

Available on both the Kindle and Nook.* 

Synopsis:

Francis Maggiano, a senior at Dreux Creek High, fights to balance his faith and sexuality. He’s avoided accepting himself by hiding his nose in a book and going through the motions of faith. Exhausted from the charades, Francis finds himself alone in a chapel, praying to a seemingly silent God. Alone and abandoned, Francis must figure his life out before graduation and must address his feelings about being gay. 

In coming to terms with who he is, Francis must learn who to trust: Adam Johnson, "the Adonis" senior swim captain who lures Francis from his closet; Elizabeth Bailey, the new youth minister who pretends to listen but has an ulterior motive; or Jack Conner, the classmate who upholds all the virtues of a Christian, but lacks faith in the Church. Francis doesn’t want to be alone, crying in the chapel anymore or trapped on his carousel ride of questions. Something inside him tells him he is worthy of love and belonging. He just has to find it. 

Reviews:

"A beautifully written book using humor and deeply personal thoughts and feelings when seeking answers about one's place -within self, within family, within school and the larger community/world. I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone asking their own questions, especially a young person. Yet, a wonderful read for anyone!" - GLPeach

"This is not your typical “guy struggles through senior year. The classic high school love story? Hardly. A Carousel of Questions follows a sensitive, self-effacing young man as he journeys to find the only true and most precious treasure any human can have-one’s self. Set in an upper class Texas suburb, a tall, lanky Francis seems blocked on all sides from discovering his true calling. He battles rigid religious dogma, well meaning but hurtful friends, a selfish, hedonistic lover and the greatest of all enemies, himself. Francis is armed with an acute perception of humanity which becomes his greatest friend and his strongest enemy.

The author, Jacob Guinzio avoids the temptation to indulge in chatty, overwritten sentiment and instead creates an economy of words so powerfully fluid that the reader is almost immediately immersed in his struggle. His tactful use of powerful, highly personal prayer, which is peppered throughout the work creates an almost mystical third character and cements the struggles facing the courageous, self conscious Francis. Guinzio’s ability to understand and accept others, (and the beginnings of his real self) remind us that there is hope. This author’s first novel is a story which can take the reader down the difficult yet singularly fulfilling path of the simple advice handed down through the ages: 'know thyself.'" - J. Pedersen

*If you do not have a Kindle or Nook, you can download the app for free.