Bobby's Socks

by Nathaniel Sewell

It should have been a day to remember: in the meadows beyond the school summer camp, Bobby had his first kiss. But when a slung rock shatters his friend Breck’s front teeth, Bobby must be punished… He’ll spend the rest of his life trying to forget Assistant Principal Diabolus and the terrible things that happened in that lonely cabin.

The years pass in a haze. Diabolus haunts Bobby and his friend Willis like a specter, preying on their bodies when backs are turned. By the time he graduates, Bobby is a shell of the man he might have been; he spends his days and nights stumbling between college bars, his thoughts drifting again and again to suicide.

But when Ardee, an old girlfriend on her way home from college, finds Bobby passed out in the street, his journey toward recovery—and revenge—can finally begin.

Bobby’s Socks is the moving story of one man forced to confront his abusive past, and is a sober reminder that, through love and healing, suffering can be transcended—and evil confronted.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2012

About the author

Nathaniel Sewell lives in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. A Year Inside the Moon is his 4th novel. His 1st novel was, Bobby’s Socks. Before the era of the #Metoo movement, it was a critically accaimled story about child sexual abuse, and the epigenetic link to suicide.

He’s also the author of 5th&Hope, a Route 66 tale, and Fishing for Light - a satire.

Reviews

[Suzanne Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling read.

Had me hooked and into the characters in the first chapter. Very sad and heart wrenching that child abuse is so prevalent in our society today. It was heartwarming that Bobby had such a caring friend who put him in touch with Dr Richie to start the healing process. I found the socks very comforting and magical something to hold on to when his day wasn’t going so well. This book was very well written and portrayed how healing can be achieved when the right help and friendships are seeked out. Never judge a book by its cover as you never know the suffering that goes on in other people’s lives til you have lived through it yourself. Highly recommend this book.

[Gail Tarleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meaningful


A heartfelt story about survival, trust and resilience,
however, the author needs an editor. The story has multiple grammatical errors, missing words and an excessive use of the adjective puffy. If you can overlook all the errors, you will find a meaningful story that can invoke awareness and understanding of child abuse.

[Kimberly Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story and written so well. The horrors that Bobby experiences and lives through are vivid and leave the reader feeling scarred as well. However, Nathaniel Sewell expertly doles out dollops of hope at regular intervals so a reader isn't overcome with grief and continues reading safe in the knowledge that things are going to work out for Bobby, even if they don't work out for everyone else. As it is, things are made better for more than just himself as hundreds of other abused children are also spared from a predator and countless future children are safe from his clutches.

I found the epilogue a bit off-putting. The switching from third to first person left me wondering what was real and what was fiction. I'm not sure it was a necessary change. It was also a bit choppy as it jumped around timewise. Still, it gave the perfect conclusion to the story, showing how Bobby not only advanced science in terms of Epigenetics (something the scientist in me will be researching!) but uplifting people with happy socks. :) Making his passion also his income is just fabulous.

This book is not for the faint of heart, but I think it holds lessons for all and is a wonderful read for those who are brave enough to be honest with themselves and each other.

[Teresa Lindemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about a very sad topic! It is also wonderful that the proceeds from the book go to help abused children.