Gastien: The Cost of the Dream
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3.9 • 58 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Gastien has dreams far bigger than a mere peasant has a right to. When he flees the farm for Paris, the late nineteenth century bohemian era is in full swing. Color has always called to him, beseeching him to capture it on canvas and show people a new way of seeing things. His father belittled his dream of being an artist and tried to beat him into giving it up. The dream wouldn't die, but Gastien would have had he not left.
He also yearns to become a great lover. After the years of anguish he has endured at the hand of his father, it would be heaven to feel pleasure instead of pain.
However, the city of Paris has a ruthless agenda. Unless a man has money and connections, Paris unfeelingly crushes dreams and destroys souls. With neither of the required assets, Gastien faces living in alleys, digging in trash bins for food, and sleeping where a man is often killed for his threadbare blanket.
Left with only his dreams, Gastien stubbornly pushes on. He vows that absolutely nothing will stop him, not yet realizing what keeping that vow might mean. Sometimes the "impossible" is possible - but the cost can be extremely high.
This historical fiction novel is book 1 of a 5 book drama/family saga for adults (The Gastien Series). As such, it contains adult themes and graphic scenes. Each book can stand on its own, but is most compelling read in order.
Customer Reviews
Gastien!
Gastien: The Cost of the Dream by Caddy Rowland is a touching coming-of-age story that grabs hold from the start. A mesmerizing tale of a young man wanting to leave his family farm to become an artist in France. A beautifully told story that was as vivid as a moving film, as I could see the story unfold before my eyes. The author has the rare ability to show a story that comes to life right off the pages. I was glued to these pages and it was hard to think of anything else but Gastien and his adventures. And many of these adventures were a shock to me which made it that much more desirable.
This Gastien had a passion and nothing was going to get in his way.
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Knowing you are good looking is a very heady thing, especially for an eighteen-year-old boy about to become a man. It is sometimes said - usually by people that have never been good looking - that looks are not as important as other traits because they fade. Not so. Looks are as great of an asset as any other. Fair or not, being extremely good looking can open many doors. You just need to be savvy enough to knock. Gastien learned quickly to use those looks, especially those huge eyes, to knock.
Gastien: The Cost of the Dream
While this book is well written, and very accurately depicts homelessness and poverty, nothing in the description prepares you for the depravity graphically depicted in this book! Information on the nature of the content, specifically homosexual conduct should be included in the very first paragraph--"explicit adult content" does not address this issue adequately!
Gastien: The Cost of the Dream
True feelings of an artist. It was a fascinating exploration of ones dreams and fears, believable.
Heartfelt and passionate. I can't wait to read the next.
Why do others dislike any one that does not conform? We do not dislike them. Passions of the heart!