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Gaston Saves the World
veryone has their own idea of how things should work, but with a little inspiration from David Beckham, aliens, and the starry skies of his native Indian Ocean island, Gaston Le Clezio thinks he’s figured out the perfect plan to save the world from socioeconomic injustice fueled by rampant capitalism.
Years later, in a pitch to a local council in Australia, his friend Patrick calls it FAIR—Formula Advancing Income Revolution—and the concept is simple. Pay all workers the same income, and offer bonuses to those who make a positive difference on society’s progress and wellbeing. What could complicate that?
Fame, romance, political ambition, greedy developers, corrupt officials, and depraved priests in Gaston’s home village all seem to conspire against them as they navigate the volatile arenas of public policy and human nature with thought-provoking insight and bawdy humour.
In the end, it’s not a question of finding one solution for all the world’s problems, but of deciding what is fair and what is feasible.
At times farcical, Gaston Saves the World posits a formula for a better world where good triumphs over evil and true love conquers not all, but most.
Years later, in a pitch to a local council in Australia, his friend Patrick calls it FAIR—Formula Advancing Income Revolution—and the concept is simple. Pay all workers the same income, and offer bonuses to those who make a positive difference on society’s progress and wellbeing. What could complicate that?
Fame, romance, political ambition, greedy developers, corrupt officials, and depraved priests in Gaston’s home village all seem to conspire against them as they navigate the volatile arenas of public policy and human nature with thought-provoking insight and bawdy humour.
In the end, it’s not a question of finding one solution for all the world’s problems, but of deciding what is fair and what is feasible.
At times farcical, Gaston Saves the World posits a formula for a better world where good triumphs over evil and true love conquers not all, but most.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2022
About the author
Pascal Adolphe
1 book1 followerI am a writer, television producer, journalist and versatile media professional with more than 30-years’ experience working in a variety of roles across a range of media in Sydney, Australia.
I have lived most of my life in Sydney, but I was born in Mauritius and maintain family and friendship ties with the Indian Ocean islands. ,
I have been able to adapt my considerable storytelling skills to television production, newspapers, digital media, public relations and radio.
I began my media career as a newspaper reporter for News Limited in the 1990s then moved to TV production where, for the next 20 years, I researched, wrote and realised/directed television scripts for a variety of popular programs including the New Inventors, Creature Features (ABC TV); Australian Idol, Live This, FCTV, Ready, Steady Cook (Network 10); Better Homes and Gardens, Australia the Story of Us ( Channel 7) Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Channel 9); and The Full Brazilian, Insight (SBS TV).
I am presently working for the communications and media team at the NSW Education Department. But I’ve also maintains a passion for the visual arts on a side project; as an associate producer on a drama feature film focusing on the trials and tribulations of Savannah Pride - a community organisation who works with the local police to improve the lives of young people in Western Sydney through sporting, education and welfare programs. The film is currently being financed for production in 2023 and scheduled to hit cinema screens in 2024.
Gaston Saves the World is my first novel that was inspired by my Mauritian ethnic heritage.
I have lived most of my life in Sydney, but I was born in Mauritius and maintain family and friendship ties with the Indian Ocean islands. ,
I have been able to adapt my considerable storytelling skills to television production, newspapers, digital media, public relations and radio.
I began my media career as a newspaper reporter for News Limited in the 1990s then moved to TV production where, for the next 20 years, I researched, wrote and realised/directed television scripts for a variety of popular programs including the New Inventors, Creature Features (ABC TV); Australian Idol, Live This, FCTV, Ready, Steady Cook (Network 10); Better Homes and Gardens, Australia the Story of Us ( Channel 7) Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Channel 9); and The Full Brazilian, Insight (SBS TV).
I am presently working for the communications and media team at the NSW Education Department. But I’ve also maintains a passion for the visual arts on a side project; as an associate producer on a drama feature film focusing on the trials and tribulations of Savannah Pride - a community organisation who works with the local police to improve the lives of young people in Western Sydney through sporting, education and welfare programs. The film is currently being financed for production in 2023 and scheduled to hit cinema screens in 2024.
Gaston Saves the World is my first novel that was inspired by my Mauritian ethnic heritage.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 9, 2023
Thank you Red Clover Digital for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
GASTON SAVES THE WORLD
By: Pascal Adolphe
Pascal Adolphe's GASTON SAVES THE WORLD begins with an eye catching fun cover. Within the pages, however, this idea of fun does not develop any further. The storyline is erratic and staggering in its lack of continuity. I felt like a ping pong ball bouncing around in someone's head.
I see the ideas, the bones, the potential foundation to build upon, but they are solidly buried under sidebars that read like filler and throw away characters who serve no purpose. Gaston's story, in my opinion, is not believable. It seems as if the author intended to go nowhere.
To address the alleged bawdy humor, well, bawdy only goes so far until it becomes something else. The line, at least to my way of thinking, was crossed, and bawdy attempted to disguise itself as vulgarity. The attempt failed miserably.
I rarely come to this conclusion, but I, in good conscience, cannot recommend this book. It is an inappropriate mess. I wish the author success in future endeavors.
GASTON SAVES THE WORLD
By: Pascal Adolphe
Pascal Adolphe's GASTON SAVES THE WORLD begins with an eye catching fun cover. Within the pages, however, this idea of fun does not develop any further. The storyline is erratic and staggering in its lack of continuity. I felt like a ping pong ball bouncing around in someone's head.
I see the ideas, the bones, the potential foundation to build upon, but they are solidly buried under sidebars that read like filler and throw away characters who serve no purpose. Gaston's story, in my opinion, is not believable. It seems as if the author intended to go nowhere.
To address the alleged bawdy humor, well, bawdy only goes so far until it becomes something else. The line, at least to my way of thinking, was crossed, and bawdy attempted to disguise itself as vulgarity. The attempt failed miserably.
I rarely come to this conclusion, but I, in good conscience, cannot recommend this book. It is an inappropriate mess. I wish the author success in future endeavors.
February 7, 2023
I had hoped for something humorous set in Mauritius with a bit of political bite and a slice of youthful utopian vision. What I got was a huge disappointment and I (uncharacteristically) DNFed it, but need to leave a review.
One of the things that attracted me to read this book, apart from the wonderful cover, was the intriguing mention of David Beckham. He crops up in Gaston’s teenage conversations with best friend Patrick. He imagines aliens visiting Earth who are “just like us, but—unlike us—they live a perfect life on a perfect planet. Let’s call it Planet Utopia, where everyone is truly equal. They all have enough to eat, a place to live, no wars, no misery, etcetera, etcetera.” They would find the inequalities in the world baffling, especially the decision to pay top footballers millions, far more than doctors or scientists or inventors. He has an intriguing idea:
“[W]hat if we simply decided to start paying everyone the same and maybe a bit more—but just a bit more—to people who really make a difference to society and our quality of life, like doctors and nurses; surely, we’d have a better world.”
This book is problematic for many reasons. It requires content warnings for suicide, vomiting, urination and – why oh why? – so much unnecessary description of penises, masturbation, ejaculation. In fact, the book starts almost immediately with sexual acts, for no apparent reason. Equally unnecessary is the old policeman’s swearing and brutality; it seems like it’s based on something set in New York City. If this was going to be a serious exposé of paedophile priests, that would have been one thing, but when we are forced to read literally everyone’s inner monologue of sexual fantasies on virtually every page, I draw the line. It was turning into nothing more than rather puerile filth. To be clear, this isn’t erotica, either. There’s nothing sexy about something that feels like it was written by a 13-year-old boy, circa 1975. It reminds me of Tom Sharp’s Wilt, but with far more smut and far fewer laughs. In these days of internet porn, surely teenage boys aren’t interested in writing like this?
Given the cover, this is likely to be shelved in the teen section and it certainly doesn’t belong there in case disapproving middle-aged women like me accidentally buy it for their innocent children.
There may have been a good story in this book, but I wasn’t willing to dig to find it.
Fortunately I didn’t buy this but received a free e-book from Book Sirens. This is the first real dud I’ve had and proof my reviews aren’t paid for. What a disappointment!
One of the things that attracted me to read this book, apart from the wonderful cover, was the intriguing mention of David Beckham. He crops up in Gaston’s teenage conversations with best friend Patrick. He imagines aliens visiting Earth who are “just like us, but—unlike us—they live a perfect life on a perfect planet. Let’s call it Planet Utopia, where everyone is truly equal. They all have enough to eat, a place to live, no wars, no misery, etcetera, etcetera.” They would find the inequalities in the world baffling, especially the decision to pay top footballers millions, far more than doctors or scientists or inventors. He has an intriguing idea:
“[W]hat if we simply decided to start paying everyone the same and maybe a bit more—but just a bit more—to people who really make a difference to society and our quality of life, like doctors and nurses; surely, we’d have a better world.”
This book is problematic for many reasons. It requires content warnings for suicide, vomiting, urination and – why oh why? – so much unnecessary description of penises, masturbation, ejaculation. In fact, the book starts almost immediately with sexual acts, for no apparent reason. Equally unnecessary is the old policeman’s swearing and brutality; it seems like it’s based on something set in New York City. If this was going to be a serious exposé of paedophile priests, that would have been one thing, but when we are forced to read literally everyone’s inner monologue of sexual fantasies on virtually every page, I draw the line. It was turning into nothing more than rather puerile filth. To be clear, this isn’t erotica, either. There’s nothing sexy about something that feels like it was written by a 13-year-old boy, circa 1975. It reminds me of Tom Sharp’s Wilt, but with far more smut and far fewer laughs. In these days of internet porn, surely teenage boys aren’t interested in writing like this?
Given the cover, this is likely to be shelved in the teen section and it certainly doesn’t belong there in case disapproving middle-aged women like me accidentally buy it for their innocent children.
There may have been a good story in this book, but I wasn’t willing to dig to find it.
Fortunately I didn’t buy this but received a free e-book from Book Sirens. This is the first real dud I’ve had and proof my reviews aren’t paid for. What a disappointment!
December 21, 2022
The warm air caused the fronds of the tall palm trees to sway. Their trembling created a soothing ambiance as he lounged in the sand. The ocean waves crashed in front of him, their frothy tendrils inching closer to his feet. The sounds of the island would always be the music of his heart, but could these sounds drown out the evil that threatened this sacred place?
Gaston Saves the World follows the MC, Gaston, who has grown up on an island that only in recent decades had gained its freedom. Gaston sees that this freedom was not truly gained though as evil violence and inequality still permeate the people’s lives. Most distressing for Gaston is the corruption of the priests and he tries everything in his power to bring them down and end the evil.
This story has a very intriguing premise, but I’m sad to say that premise was barely explored in this book. Gaston and his agenda should be the main focus, but so many times when he encountered other characters we would suddenly be thrust into their lives and backstory which added nothing to the overall plot. In a book that had such promise on exposing the evils of this world and seeing someone try to make positive change… it failed miserably at achieving this. Also the multiple graphic sexual scenes added nothing to the story and were many times completely inappropriate as far as the overall storyline. I was so disappointed in this disjointed story and lack of exploring a topic that could have had such fantastic light shed upon it. The writing at times was well executed, but overall it’s a no from me.
CW: Racism, Sexism, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, Death of a Loved One, Religious Bigotry, Drug Use, Alcoholism, Physical Violence, Police Brutality.
Gaston Saves the World follows the MC, Gaston, who has grown up on an island that only in recent decades had gained its freedom. Gaston sees that this freedom was not truly gained though as evil violence and inequality still permeate the people’s lives. Most distressing for Gaston is the corruption of the priests and he tries everything in his power to bring them down and end the evil.
This story has a very intriguing premise, but I’m sad to say that premise was barely explored in this book. Gaston and his agenda should be the main focus, but so many times when he encountered other characters we would suddenly be thrust into their lives and backstory which added nothing to the overall plot. In a book that had such promise on exposing the evils of this world and seeing someone try to make positive change… it failed miserably at achieving this. Also the multiple graphic sexual scenes added nothing to the story and were many times completely inappropriate as far as the overall storyline. I was so disappointed in this disjointed story and lack of exploring a topic that could have had such fantastic light shed upon it. The writing at times was well executed, but overall it’s a no from me.
CW: Racism, Sexism, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide, Death of a Loved One, Religious Bigotry, Drug Use, Alcoholism, Physical Violence, Police Brutality.
December 26, 2022
Gaston Le Clezio had always seen the world differently than others. Well aware of socioeconomic inequalities, Gaston conjures up solutions to such inequalities so clearly, yet he’s written off by many as being naive and frivolous. A lack of opportunity, gumption, and drive also keep Gaston from pursuing his destined path.
As the years pass, Gaston becomes increasingly bogged down by the problems of the world, both personal and societal. In the meantime we are reintroduced to Gaston’s childhood friend, Patrick. Able to escape a thwarted island life and offered ample opportunities, Patrick pursues a life in politics. Under his FAIR (Formula Advancing Income Revolution) Plan which was greatly influenced by Gaston’s earlier philosophies, Patrick hopes to formally implement his friend’s ideas in the Australian government.
When Patrick is embarrassingly unsuccessful in his political pursuits, he returns to his childhood home. There Gaston and Patrick are reunited, and reaffirm their shared desire to change the world. But with a myriad of factors against them including social class, political and religious corruption, and even love, the men slowly realize changing the world is not without its own set of consequences.
Gaston Saves the World, written by Mauritian author Pascale Adolphe, is an overly ambitious novel that is riddled with insignificant side characters and seedy sexual perversion, even referring to sexual arousal during the administration of CPR in one scene. The oftentimes strong, sexual subtext takes away from, rather than adding to, the story. Unfortunately despite it’s positive title, this is a depressing and convoluted mess I’d like to save future readers from.
Thank you to Red Clover Digital for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
As the years pass, Gaston becomes increasingly bogged down by the problems of the world, both personal and societal. In the meantime we are reintroduced to Gaston’s childhood friend, Patrick. Able to escape a thwarted island life and offered ample opportunities, Patrick pursues a life in politics. Under his FAIR (Formula Advancing Income Revolution) Plan which was greatly influenced by Gaston’s earlier philosophies, Patrick hopes to formally implement his friend’s ideas in the Australian government.
When Patrick is embarrassingly unsuccessful in his political pursuits, he returns to his childhood home. There Gaston and Patrick are reunited, and reaffirm their shared desire to change the world. But with a myriad of factors against them including social class, political and religious corruption, and even love, the men slowly realize changing the world is not without its own set of consequences.
Gaston Saves the World, written by Mauritian author Pascale Adolphe, is an overly ambitious novel that is riddled with insignificant side characters and seedy sexual perversion, even referring to sexual arousal during the administration of CPR in one scene. The oftentimes strong, sexual subtext takes away from, rather than adding to, the story. Unfortunately despite it’s positive title, this is a depressing and convoluted mess I’d like to save future readers from.
Thank you to Red Clover Digital for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
January 4, 2023
I didn’t enjoy this book. (There’s also no way I’m the target audience, so that’s worth keeping in mind!!) But I wasn’t a fan. It was slow, it was chaotic and scattered in the writing, I didn’t relate to or empathize with any characters, and I found many of the descriptions of the sexual encounters painful to read. It was all too much. There were so many superfluous characters and details that had no bearing on the plot or ultimate outcome; I lost track of who actually mattered. The graphic sexual descriptions (many of abuse, and many inappropriate or unreciprocated) felt written in for shock factor alone. They made no contribution to the plot and didn’t fuel any character growth. It all felt somewhat…inappropriate? And then I kept thinking, “well, this is obviously a book for men…written by a man”. And that didn’t help me feel any better about powering through it. I did, but there was no pay off. The book was so long and boring, but then the end was abrupt. Gaston’s mission and ANY positive outcome in the book felt overlooked and irrelevant in the majority of these pages. I appreciated the short chapters and pacing, but that was about it. Thank you Red Clover Digital for the chance to read this one.
December 26, 2022
This story is about Gaston Le Clezio ~ Gaston grew up on an island that for decades was a controlled island, the island has recently gained its freedom and Gaston is still having issues dealing with some horrible things that occurred with several priests from the community..
This story had potential, the main character was suppose to be ambitious and wanted to build a new life for himself a life of possible fame and wealth.. The story gets muddy when so many other characters are thrust in the storyline and I honestly struggled with a lot of the sexual context in this book and that usually does not bother me but it did not fit the book and scenes very well.. This may also be a trigger for some people who read this book as it dives into child abuse, and pedophilia..
This was suppose to be a book about breaking free and following your dreams and becoming the person you always envisioned yourself to be but the writing just gets away in this book..
This story had potential, the main character was suppose to be ambitious and wanted to build a new life for himself a life of possible fame and wealth.. The story gets muddy when so many other characters are thrust in the storyline and I honestly struggled with a lot of the sexual context in this book and that usually does not bother me but it did not fit the book and scenes very well.. This may also be a trigger for some people who read this book as it dives into child abuse, and pedophilia..
This was suppose to be a book about breaking free and following your dreams and becoming the person you always envisioned yourself to be but the writing just gets away in this book..
October 20, 2022
A story of a young man coming of age in post-colonial Mauritius where the church and corrupt officials hold power. A series of vignettes delivers a resounding finale that shows following your dreams and focusing on family and community will always win out. A lovely read that takes you on a meander through the landscape of beautiful Mauritius.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews