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Venery #1
An Exaltation of Larks
September 11, 1973: Eleven-year-old Alejandro Penda watches from his apartment window as Santiago, Chile falls to a military coup, destroying his family and his childhood. Arriving alone in America, he’s taken in by the Larks: a prominent family in the town of Guelisten. Though burdened by unresolved grief for his disappeared parents, he becomes fiercely loyal to the Larks, eventually marrying one of their daughters, Valerie.
September 11, 2001: Javier Landes watches from his apartment window as New York City falls to terrorism. As one of Manhattan’s top-paid male escorts, this professional lover has never lacked for company and is loyal only to himself. But in the wake of 9/11, Jav is named guardian for an orphaned nephew in Guelisten and must open his carefully-guarded heart to pain he's long suppressed.
Alex, Valerie and Jav meet first in their twenties, with a sudden attraction each finds strange and compelling. When they meet again in their forties, they discover not only is their bond still strong, but their life experiences are strangely similar. All have been shaped by separate 9/11's, and their unfinished business from the past will change everything they know about love, loyalty and friendship.
"Life has rules. You cannot come in the middle of the night and take what we agreed isn't yours."
Across three decades and two continents, Suanne Laqueur's fifth novel explores the unpredictability of sexual attraction, how family ties are forged, torn and mended, and how love's downfall can turn to exaltation.
September 11, 2001: Javier Landes watches from his apartment window as New York City falls to terrorism. As one of Manhattan’s top-paid male escorts, this professional lover has never lacked for company and is loyal only to himself. But in the wake of 9/11, Jav is named guardian for an orphaned nephew in Guelisten and must open his carefully-guarded heart to pain he's long suppressed.
Alex, Valerie and Jav meet first in their twenties, with a sudden attraction each finds strange and compelling. When they meet again in their forties, they discover not only is their bond still strong, but their life experiences are strangely similar. All have been shaped by separate 9/11's, and their unfinished business from the past will change everything they know about love, loyalty and friendship.
"Life has rules. You cannot come in the middle of the night and take what we agreed isn't yours."
Across three decades and two continents, Suanne Laqueur's fifth novel explores the unpredictability of sexual attraction, how family ties are forged, torn and mended, and how love's downfall can turn to exaltation.
497 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2016
About the author
Suanne Laqueur
24 books1,544 followersA former professional dancer and teacher, Suanne Laqueur went from choreographing music to choreographing words, writing stories that appeal to the passions of all readers, crossing gender, age and genre. As a devoted mental health advocate, her novels focus on both romantic and familial relationships, as well as psychology, PTSD and generational trauma.
Laqueur’s novel An Exaltation of Larks was the grand prize winner in the 2017 Writer’s Digest Book Awards and took first place in the 2019 North Street Book Prize. Her debut novel The Man I Love won a gold medal in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and was named Best Debut in the Feathered Quill Book Awards. Her follow-up novel, Give Me Your Answer True, was also a gold medal winner at the 2016 RFBA.
Laqueur graduated from Alfred University with a double major in dance and theater. She taught at the Carol Bierman School of Ballet Arts in Croton-on-Hudson for ten years. An avid reader, cook and gardener, she started her blog EatsReadsThinks in 2010.
Suanne lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children.
Laqueur’s novel An Exaltation of Larks was the grand prize winner in the 2017 Writer’s Digest Book Awards and took first place in the 2019 North Street Book Prize. Her debut novel The Man I Love won a gold medal in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and was named Best Debut in the Feathered Quill Book Awards. Her follow-up novel, Give Me Your Answer True, was also a gold medal winner at the 2016 RFBA.
Laqueur graduated from Alfred University with a double major in dance and theater. She taught at the Carol Bierman School of Ballet Arts in Croton-on-Hudson for ten years. An avid reader, cook and gardener, she started her blog EatsReadsThinks in 2010.
Suanne lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews
June 11, 2017
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
This book was absolutely spectacular! I am in awe of this author's abilities. 'An Exaltation of Larks' was the first book I've read by Ms. Suanne Laqueur, but it certainly will not be the last. I'll be adding all of her books to my TBR list ASAP!
From the opening lines, I knew that this was going to be a story that would stick with me...and it has. The writing is flawless and incredibly poetic. I could not pull myself away from this story, even falling asleep with my propped up on my chest at night. I was entirely consumed with the fascinating lives of these characters.
This story was so rich with history and emotion that I am still digesting everything I read days later. I loved the way that Ms. Laqueur was able to weave fact and fiction together so seamlessly. The end result was a superb story that ended up being enlightening and deeply touching, as well as highly entertaining.
At the onset of the book, I was sure that I knew what direction the story would head in. It had the ominous feel of danger, as a young Alejandro Penda hides in his parents closet in the days following the overthrow of Chile's government by a military coup on September 11, 1973. The air was thick with the fear of Chile's citizens, as many are rounded up and taken away, never to be seen again. His own parents had been taken, leaving a young Alejandro to fend for himself.
After days of being left alone, Alejandro's father returns. He is able to get safe passage for Alejandro to the United States, to stay with an uncle. However, he cannot go with Alejandro. He decides to stay behind to search for his wife, who is pregnant with their second child. Alejandro watches his father walk away from the U. S. Embassy, never to see his parents again.
Although Alejandro can never completely move on, haunted by the unknown, he quickly assimilates himself into his new life. Going by the name of "Alex", he is befriended by the children of his uncle's friends, the Larks. Their son, Roger, becomes Alex's best friend. One of their daughters, Valerie, becomes the object of his affections. They all grow up together in the peaceful community of Guelisten, NY, where the Lark family is practically a legend.
When Alex's uncle dies several years later, the Lark family assumes guardianship of Alex. He is older, but still in school and too young to live independently. The dynamics of his relationship with Val change drastically, but the attraction is still there, just below the surface.
This book spans decades, from the time that Alex is a young child, well into his adult life. The story follows the characters through their childhoods, chronicles their struggles as college students and young adults, and later as adults with families of their own. This book sees the rise and collapse of governments as the political climate changes across the globe. In one word, this story is "epic".
Along the way, we are introduced to Javier, a young man terribly abused and cast out by his own family. Forced as a teenager to make his own way on the streets of New York City, he is eventually introduced to work as an escort. Under the tutelage of his mentor, Gloria, he quickly rises through the ranks, becoming one of the most sought after male escorts in the city.
At first, I didn't understand where Ms. Laqueur was going with Jav's story. He seemed to be introduced out of nowhere, pulling me away from Alex and Val's story. However, fate has plans for all of them. Soon all of their lives will intersect in life-changing ways.
I don't want to give too much away, or spoil this story for anyone. It is a story that deserves to be read and savored individually. If you're sitting on the fence with this one, read it.
This was a beautiful, multifaceted story. It is just the type of thought-provoking story that I needed to start my year off right. It was breathtaking and so much more than I had ever hoped it would be. I highly recommend this book. It is absolutely spectacular!
This book was absolutely spectacular! I am in awe of this author's abilities. 'An Exaltation of Larks' was the first book I've read by Ms. Suanne Laqueur, but it certainly will not be the last. I'll be adding all of her books to my TBR list ASAP!
From the opening lines, I knew that this was going to be a story that would stick with me...and it has. The writing is flawless and incredibly poetic. I could not pull myself away from this story, even falling asleep with my propped up on my chest at night. I was entirely consumed with the fascinating lives of these characters.
This story was so rich with history and emotion that I am still digesting everything I read days later. I loved the way that Ms. Laqueur was able to weave fact and fiction together so seamlessly. The end result was a superb story that ended up being enlightening and deeply touching, as well as highly entertaining.
At the onset of the book, I was sure that I knew what direction the story would head in. It had the ominous feel of danger, as a young Alejandro Penda hides in his parents closet in the days following the overthrow of Chile's government by a military coup on September 11, 1973. The air was thick with the fear of Chile's citizens, as many are rounded up and taken away, never to be seen again. His own parents had been taken, leaving a young Alejandro to fend for himself.
After days of being left alone, Alejandro's father returns. He is able to get safe passage for Alejandro to the United States, to stay with an uncle. However, he cannot go with Alejandro. He decides to stay behind to search for his wife, who is pregnant with their second child. Alejandro watches his father walk away from the U. S. Embassy, never to see his parents again.
Although Alejandro can never completely move on, haunted by the unknown, he quickly assimilates himself into his new life. Going by the name of "Alex", he is befriended by the children of his uncle's friends, the Larks. Their son, Roger, becomes Alex's best friend. One of their daughters, Valerie, becomes the object of his affections. They all grow up together in the peaceful community of Guelisten, NY, where the Lark family is practically a legend.
When Alex's uncle dies several years later, the Lark family assumes guardianship of Alex. He is older, but still in school and too young to live independently. The dynamics of his relationship with Val change drastically, but the attraction is still there, just below the surface.
This book spans decades, from the time that Alex is a young child, well into his adult life. The story follows the characters through their childhoods, chronicles their struggles as college students and young adults, and later as adults with families of their own. This book sees the rise and collapse of governments as the political climate changes across the globe. In one word, this story is "epic".
Along the way, we are introduced to Javier, a young man terribly abused and cast out by his own family. Forced as a teenager to make his own way on the streets of New York City, he is eventually introduced to work as an escort. Under the tutelage of his mentor, Gloria, he quickly rises through the ranks, becoming one of the most sought after male escorts in the city.
At first, I didn't understand where Ms. Laqueur was going with Jav's story. He seemed to be introduced out of nowhere, pulling me away from Alex and Val's story. However, fate has plans for all of them. Soon all of their lives will intersect in life-changing ways.
I don't want to give too much away, or spoil this story for anyone. It is a story that deserves to be read and savored individually. If you're sitting on the fence with this one, read it.
This was a beautiful, multifaceted story. It is just the type of thought-provoking story that I needed to start my year off right. It was breathtaking and so much more than I had ever hoped it would be. I highly recommend this book. It is absolutely spectacular!
March 22, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! An Exaltation of Larks (stand-alone). Friendship, lust, betrayal, tragedies, forgiveness & love following three friends!
“Is not the Larks that kill you. It’s the exaltation.”
Books in Venery series are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: An Exaltation of Larks
Book 2: A Charm of Finches
An Exaltation of Larks (stand-alone, book 1) is an epic saga following three friends Alex (Alejandro Gabriel Eduardo Penda Vilara aka Alejandro Lark-Penda), Val (Valarie Lark) and Jav (Javier Rafael Gil DeSoto aka Javier Landes) from childhood until their forties.
Worlds apart yet destined to cross paths, repeatedly, they will be linked through life’s ups and downs; tragedies, heartaches, tribulations, could-have-beens, secrets and betrayals. An extraordinary journey of kinships, attractions, lust, forgiveness, healing, blessings and love, so much love.
An Exaltation of Larks, told from multiple POVs, is no ordinary story! Though love is centerstage it’s more a life saga. Three lives enriched by the impact of their crossings. It teaches that life goes on and that we can excel and blossom, not because of our heartaches, but in spite of them.
Story ends with closure and resolutions. I might have wished for one more set-back (tragedy!) and one more union. I cannot wait to catch up with them all in book 2, A Charm of Finches following Jav in his quest for uhm venery.
Three friends! Four decades! Numerous tragedies! Life altering blessings! A message of love, hope and healing! Spectacular!
“You want to kiss me well. You just want it badly.”
***
Jav: ★★★★★
Alex: ★★★★★
Val: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★★
Sexual tension: ★★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★
Story ending: ★★★1/2
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | HIGH FOCUS |
Darkness: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Humor: | LOW FOCUS |
Kink: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Suspense: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
December 13, 2019
**ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Click for video preview:
Lastly, I'd like to thank Suanne Laqueur and my GR family, I love y'all and I love this book more than double chocolate chip fudge tiramisu and caramel ice-cream (hahaha, I'm totaly kidding, nothing beats ice-cream!).
********************************************************
This is without a doubt, my best read of 2016! Review to come in a few hours!
An Exaltation of Larks**Expected Release Date: November 22nd 2016**
Click for video preview:
An Exaltation Of Larks from Bibi J on Vimeo.
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Omigosh..omigosh...Who do I thank?....First, I would like to thank my Lord and Saviour, without whom I'd not be alive to read An Exaltation of Larks. Thank you Lord!
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And thank you to my kindergaten Teacher, who taught me to read, even when all I wanted was to sleep! Thanks Mrs. O!
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And, my Parents, for paying for my Education (and no, I won’t refund the tuition) so I could read books, especially An Exaltation of Larks. I love you, Daddy and Mummy!
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Who else? Yes, my kids. For fleeing the coop thereby leaving me an awful lot of time to read books, especially An Exaltation of Larks. And to my hubby, for going without dinner 2 nights in a row! Love you hubby! We did it!
*********************************************
Lastly, I'd like to thank Suanne Laqueur and my GR family, I love y'all and I love this book more than double chocolate chip fudge tiramisu and caramel ice-cream (hahaha, I'm totaly kidding, nothing beats ice-cream!).
********************************************************
This is without a doubt, my best read of 2016! Review to come in a few hours!
An Exaltation of Larks**Expected Release Date: November 22nd 2016**
July 26, 2020
*A forever grateful thank you to NetGalley and “Cathedral Rock Press” for providing a free ARC*
”They shared breath, poised on a shared edge, shaking all their separate pieces into one.”
Do you know the kind of book that swallows you whole? That makes you want to pick it up even though it’s in the middle of the night and you just closed it. The sort of story that takes over your mind, body and soul? The kind that makes you restless and achy with the need to continue? This special sort of book that touches you on such a profound and fundamental level your heart quite literally bursts from hurting, but, boy it hurts so good?!
“An Exaltation of Larks” was everything of the above and so, so, so much more! I had no idea what I was getting myself into until it was already too late. Until I found myself so deeply immersed in this story that it seemed to be impossible to get away from its words. They followed me around, taunted me, teased me, wanted to be read with such a relentless fervour that I couldn’t even think about uttering the word “no”.
”All his movements were clumsy and reluctant. His fingers balked at tying his sneakers. Turned locks the wrong way while opening the door. He stumbled going down the hall and the elevator door banged him on the elbow as it was closing.
He didn’t want to go.”
That’s exactly how this book made me feel and even after finishing it two weeks ago it still didn’t let me go. This story swept me off my feet, dug its claws into my skin and sang me to sleep. And to be entirely honest, this effect is still going on. By now I think “An Exaltation of Larks” was written to bury itself in my soul so that I would never feel alone again. And if that is truly the case then all I can say is that it can have every inch of my heart it conquered.
”Many people like being alone, but nobody likes to be lonely.”
There are so many things I loved about this book, so many in fact that I don’t even know where to start. I adored Val and Alex, I worshipped Jav, whose character was so similar to mine that it sometimes felt like torture to read on. I connected with him on such a basic level that it killed me to accompany him on his difficult journey. But just like him I longed for more and no matter how much I got, I just couldn’t get enough. Of the strong friendships in this book, of the relationships between the characters, of the family they became. I swear the relationships in this book were everything!!! Just everything!! The humour, the banter, I loved how they joked, how comfortable they were around each other, how effortlessly those two families merged into one.
”Te lo agradezco mucho,” Alex said.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“No sé cómo agradecértelo.”
“Stop.” Jav kissed his head. “You guys are my family. I’d do anything.”
He kissed Val’s head. Then six arms wove and wrapped and they held each other tight.
There are three people that found each other because they were meant to, because destiny had chosen them before they even knew it themselves and they love each other so deeply, so madly, so unconditionally that it broke my heart. The way Suanne let them deal with their troubles, how they acted around each other, how they were angry and mad but still so very much in love. How they fought for their love, how they realized that they had to accept their feelings with all their consequences, weaknesses and flaws. It just blew me away!! Suanne can write! And it’s so convincing, so realistic that it killed me. The chemistry of those characters, the cozy atmosphere, the strong feeling of belonging, of kinship and above all else the affection and love that connects them all.
”It’s not the Larks that kill you. It’s the exaltation.”
I swear at times I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I felt so fragile you could have shattered me with a soft breeze. Val’s and Alex’s marriage was so wonderful, yet I also loved the idea of Alex and Jav. To be entirely honest, the mere thought of all of them together kind of blew my mind and I suppose in some way or another those three actually kind of were in some sort of relationship. They were so connected, it was hard to even imagine them not being involved with each other and their children Ari and Deane only seemed to add to that intense sensation of all-encompassing love.
”I want you to be all right. I wanted that long before all this other stuff showed up. I wanted you to stay in Guelisten, I wanted my home to be your home. A place where you feel good. A place you can come as yourself and bring along your happiness and your pain. I wanted you around since the beginning.”
Of course none of those characters had it easy, because as we all know life may be described with an abundance of words but “easy” is certainly none of them. This said there are quite a lot of serious topics that are tackled by Suanne and they were woven so gently into the rug of this story that you don’t know where the seam begins or ends. They are as much a part of the book as they are a part of the characters and I’m still in awe of the author’s ability to let those stories speak for themselves. “The Disappeared” of Chile, 9/11 and its effects, the way our family and our personal history shapes us. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried throughout the entire chapter that dealt with 9/11 and that the only thing that made it better was to remind myself of the things that are good in this world. Namely, a short peek at my kid while she was fast asleep in her bed. This chapter wrecked me, big time, as did so many other moments in this book... ¡Vale! I just had to take a deep breath because my emotions are still all over the place and I’m pretty certain this will never change.
”It caught Jav under the ribs and his teeth trembled together. He felt the ground tilt beneath his feet. His heart flailed, making desperate minute adjustments, frantically trying to find center. Find his way home, even as home insisted it was here. Right here in this house. With Alex.”
So this was my rather futile attempt to convey how much this book means to me and I can’t help but feel like I failed miserably. There is no way to put all of those emotions into words and if I’d live a million years I still wouldn’t be able to describe this painful contentment that I feel. “Therapy Fiction”, “Contemporary Train Wreck”, “Emotionally Intelligent Romance” those are all terms that are used to describe Suanne’s books. Well, I guess I have a new one for you: “Heart-breaking Realism”.
Make of that what you want, but I can guarantee you one thing: If you read this, you will never be the same again. All the stars! All the stars, por siempre jamás!
________________________________
There’s no possession that’s more valuable than your soul.
Yet I think I might have just given mine to this book.
Pero no lamento nada.
Or to say it with Suanne’s words:
”¿Por qué encender una cerilla cuando puedes incendiar la casa?"
I FREAKING LOVED THIS!!! Capital letters!
Full RTC once I learned to deal with the fact that my soul belongs to a book (and Suanne?) now. *lol*
_______________________________
It’s rare to come across a book on goodreads that only has about 1.450 ratings but still managed to get an overall rating of 4,52 stars.
Is this book really that good?! O_o
I couldn’t help but ask myself this very question and when I discovered that it was on NetGalley I was determined to find out. XD
So thank you NetGalley and Cathedral Rock Press for offering me “An Exaltation of Larks” to read and review.
Fictional contemporary stories that stretch over decades are one of my favourite things and I can’t wait to dive into this. Also apparently this story has an LGBT fiction element as well?!
Colour me intrigued and let me read this book! ;-)
I hope this is going to be a good one! XD
P.S: I read the first few chapters and so far it's really great!
”They shared breath, poised on a shared edge, shaking all their separate pieces into one.”
Do you know the kind of book that swallows you whole? That makes you want to pick it up even though it’s in the middle of the night and you just closed it. The sort of story that takes over your mind, body and soul? The kind that makes you restless and achy with the need to continue? This special sort of book that touches you on such a profound and fundamental level your heart quite literally bursts from hurting, but, boy it hurts so good?!
“An Exaltation of Larks” was everything of the above and so, so, so much more! I had no idea what I was getting myself into until it was already too late. Until I found myself so deeply immersed in this story that it seemed to be impossible to get away from its words. They followed me around, taunted me, teased me, wanted to be read with such a relentless fervour that I couldn’t even think about uttering the word “no”.
”All his movements were clumsy and reluctant. His fingers balked at tying his sneakers. Turned locks the wrong way while opening the door. He stumbled going down the hall and the elevator door banged him on the elbow as it was closing.
He didn’t want to go.”
That’s exactly how this book made me feel and even after finishing it two weeks ago it still didn’t let me go. This story swept me off my feet, dug its claws into my skin and sang me to sleep. And to be entirely honest, this effect is still going on. By now I think “An Exaltation of Larks” was written to bury itself in my soul so that I would never feel alone again. And if that is truly the case then all I can say is that it can have every inch of my heart it conquered.
”Many people like being alone, but nobody likes to be lonely.”
There are so many things I loved about this book, so many in fact that I don’t even know where to start. I adored Val and Alex, I worshipped Jav, whose character was so similar to mine that it sometimes felt like torture to read on. I connected with him on such a basic level that it killed me to accompany him on his difficult journey. But just like him I longed for more and no matter how much I got, I just couldn’t get enough. Of the strong friendships in this book, of the relationships between the characters, of the family they became. I swear the relationships in this book were everything!!! Just everything!! The humour, the banter, I loved how they joked, how comfortable they were around each other, how effortlessly those two families merged into one.
”Te lo agradezco mucho,” Alex said.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“No sé cómo agradecértelo.”
“Stop.” Jav kissed his head. “You guys are my family. I’d do anything.”
He kissed Val’s head. Then six arms wove and wrapped and they held each other tight.
There are three people that found each other because they were meant to, because destiny had chosen them before they even knew it themselves and they love each other so deeply, so madly, so unconditionally that it broke my heart. The way Suanne let them deal with their troubles, how they acted around each other, how they were angry and mad but still so very much in love. How they fought for their love, how they realized that they had to accept their feelings with all their consequences, weaknesses and flaws. It just blew me away!! Suanne can write! And it’s so convincing, so realistic that it killed me. The chemistry of those characters, the cozy atmosphere, the strong feeling of belonging, of kinship and above all else the affection and love that connects them all.
”It’s not the Larks that kill you. It’s the exaltation.”
I swear at times I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I felt so fragile you could have shattered me with a soft breeze. Val’s and Alex’s marriage was so wonderful, yet I also loved the idea of Alex and Jav. To be entirely honest, the mere thought of all of them together kind of blew my mind and I suppose in some way or another those three actually kind of were in some sort of relationship. They were so connected, it was hard to even imagine them not being involved with each other and their children Ari and Deane only seemed to add to that intense sensation of all-encompassing love.
”I want you to be all right. I wanted that long before all this other stuff showed up. I wanted you to stay in Guelisten, I wanted my home to be your home. A place where you feel good. A place you can come as yourself and bring along your happiness and your pain. I wanted you around since the beginning.”
Of course none of those characters had it easy, because as we all know life may be described with an abundance of words but “easy” is certainly none of them. This said there are quite a lot of serious topics that are tackled by Suanne and they were woven so gently into the rug of this story that you don’t know where the seam begins or ends. They are as much a part of the book as they are a part of the characters and I’m still in awe of the author’s ability to let those stories speak for themselves. “The Disappeared” of Chile, 9/11 and its effects, the way our family and our personal history shapes us. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried throughout the entire chapter that dealt with 9/11 and that the only thing that made it better was to remind myself of the things that are good in this world. Namely, a short peek at my kid while she was fast asleep in her bed. This chapter wrecked me, big time, as did so many other moments in this book... ¡Vale! I just had to take a deep breath because my emotions are still all over the place and I’m pretty certain this will never change.
”It caught Jav under the ribs and his teeth trembled together. He felt the ground tilt beneath his feet. His heart flailed, making desperate minute adjustments, frantically trying to find center. Find his way home, even as home insisted it was here. Right here in this house. With Alex.”
So this was my rather futile attempt to convey how much this book means to me and I can’t help but feel like I failed miserably. There is no way to put all of those emotions into words and if I’d live a million years I still wouldn’t be able to describe this painful contentment that I feel. “Therapy Fiction”, “Contemporary Train Wreck”, “Emotionally Intelligent Romance” those are all terms that are used to describe Suanne’s books. Well, I guess I have a new one for you: “Heart-breaking Realism”.
Make of that what you want, but I can guarantee you one thing: If you read this, you will never be the same again. All the stars! All the stars, por siempre jamás!
________________________________
There’s no possession that’s more valuable than your soul.
Yet I think I might have just given mine to this book.
Pero no lamento nada.
Or to say it with Suanne’s words:
”¿Por qué encender una cerilla cuando puedes incendiar la casa?"
I FREAKING LOVED THIS!!! Capital letters!
Full RTC once I learned to deal with the fact that my soul belongs to a book (and Suanne?) now. *lol*
_______________________________
It’s rare to come across a book on goodreads that only has about 1.450 ratings but still managed to get an overall rating of 4,52 stars.
Is this book really that good?! O_o
I couldn’t help but ask myself this very question and when I discovered that it was on NetGalley I was determined to find out. XD
So thank you NetGalley and Cathedral Rock Press for offering me “An Exaltation of Larks” to read and review.
Fictional contemporary stories that stretch over decades are one of my favourite things and I can’t wait to dive into this. Also apparently this story has an LGBT fiction element as well?!
Colour me intrigued and let me read this book! ;-)
I hope this is going to be a good one! XD
P.S: I read the first few chapters and so far it's really great!
October 4, 2017
5+ Stars.
Straight on my favourite shelf.One of my top two reads this year!
This book is special,I mean really special.
I loved everything about it and just didn't want it to end.
This Author's writing is stunning.Her words,her story telling,her characters-to say I was blown away is an understatement.
The story follows the lives of three characters,Alex,Val, and Jav.Introduced when they are young and spanning over three decades it's a truly amazing story of how their lives cross paths.
-it's about family( not always pretty ),
-it's about friendship,
-it's about love,loss,
-such an emotional journey,as they fall,pick themselves up again and make mistakes that have a devastating effect on their lives at times,
-the Historical elements were very well told and the way one particular event is incorporated into the story was beautifully written but so sad that it stole my breath away.
To anyone that reads mainly MM romance I urge you to give this one a chance,you won't be disappointed and there is a MM element that was so powerfully portrayed-the emotions were raw but so real.
As I neared the end I had no idea how things would play out but it turned out to be just right for the story.And it's Jav's story next....that man had me swooning throughout the whole book!
This is,quite simply,a stunning piece of writing that will stay with me for a long time.
Cannot recommended highly enough!!
Straight on my favourite shelf.One of my top two reads this year!
This book is special,I mean really special.
I loved everything about it and just didn't want it to end.
This Author's writing is stunning.Her words,her story telling,her characters-to say I was blown away is an understatement.
The story follows the lives of three characters,Alex,Val, and Jav.Introduced when they are young and spanning over three decades it's a truly amazing story of how their lives cross paths.
-it's about family( not always pretty ),
-it's about friendship,
-it's about love,loss,
-such an emotional journey,as they fall,pick themselves up again and make mistakes that have a devastating effect on their lives at times,
-the Historical elements were very well told and the way one particular event is incorporated into the story was beautifully written but so sad that it stole my breath away.
To anyone that reads mainly MM romance I urge you to give this one a chance,you won't be disappointed and there is a MM element that was so powerfully portrayed-the emotions were raw but so real.
As I neared the end I had no idea how things would play out but it turned out to be just right for the story.And it's Jav's story next....that man had me swooning throughout the whole book!
This is,quite simply,a stunning piece of writing that will stay with me for a long time.
Cannot recommended highly enough!!
This review has been posted on DirtyBooksObsession
October 28, 2018
To borrow from a language spoken periodically in this book, Madre de Dios, este libro! (Mother of God, this book!)
"Second chances are given or made."
In 1973, 11-year-old Alejandro Penda is living in Chile in the midst of a military coup. Both of his parents are arrested, and Alejo doesn't know if he'll ever see them again. With the help of family friends, he escapes to America, to live with his uncle in the upstate New York town of Guelisten. Although the trauma of what he lived through, and his grief over his parents, is tremendously difficult for him, he finds himself becoming very close to the Larks, a large, active, warm family that is friends with his uncle.
Alex becomes best friends with Roger Lark, and he and the Larks' oldest daughter, Valerie, have a love/hate relationship which turns into infatuation when Valerie returns home from college. But although she and Alex are drawn to each other, they give each other the freedom to live their own lives for a while, with Val becoming a successful costume designer in New York, and Alex studying veterinary medicine in Colorado.
Javier Landes had a tumultuous childhood growing up in Queens. When a bout of teenage experimentation is discovered, he loses his family and is forced to make his own way. Through a chance meeting with an older woman, Jav becomes a successful male escort—he's always in demand, highly skilled, and well-versed to meet the needs of his clients. But the only thing that is missing is a love of his own, although he isn't sure exactly what he wants.
Alex and Val first meet Jav in New York City when they're in their 20s. These meetings leave indelible impressions on all three, and their interactions take on different dimensions and intensities before they go their separate ways. Through the years each experiences their own set of tragedies and challenges—Val and Alex together as a married couple, while Jav tries to find his way and his heart's true path.
Years later the three are reunited when Jav comes to Guelisten, after being named the guardian of his orphaned nephew. The three become inseparable, more like family than friends, and together they weather some difficult challenges, and learn some tough truths about one another. But it's the secrets they keep from one another, the feelings they try to keep hidden, the needs each person has that threaten to untie their bonds and unmoor them forever.
An Exaltation of Larks absolutely blew me away. This is a 500-page book and I literally stayed up until 1:30 a.m. because I desperately needed to finish it. This is a story about friends that become family as well as the often-blurred lines between friendship and love. It's a story about how we can never completely outrun the traumas we face, and some times our struggles are more difficult than others, yet life is worth living to the fullest, surrounded by those you love. This is also a book about the challenges of parenthood, the trust that is so key to the success of long-term relationships, and what it is like to feel like you keep missing your chance at happiness.
I absolutely loved these characters, every single one of them. Suanne Laqueur has such love and respect for them as well that she fleshed them out so skillfully and gave them so much complexity that I found myself feeling the same way about them that the other characters did. Yes, there are one or two coincidences that made me roll my eyes a tiny bit, but they didn't detract from the beauty of Laqueur's storytelling or the emotions she made me feel.
There are a few incidences of animals getting injured or dying, due to political unrest and accidents. Those scenes may be difficult for some to read or may make some avoid the book altogether, but I skimmed them and didn't miss anything.
This is a big, gorgeous story that would make an amazing movie, but it is one heck of a book. I'll certainly be ready very soon to read the sequel, A Charm of Finches, because I already miss these characters and I just finished the book less than 24 hours ago. In short, I fell in love with this book. All in.
The author provided me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
March 6, 2019
Where are you? What did they do to you? What became of you?
Why am I alive and you are disappeared?
To say I LOVED this book is the understatement of the year. I FREAKING LOVED IT!
I am so 2 years late to the party but so happy I finally arrived.
I was afraid of reading this one because I thought it was a sad depressing book. Yes I love some pain but too much sadness is a no go for me. To my surprise i wasn't even sad. The book is so well written with so much love that I got lost in the story and the characters. Suanne got some voodoo that she is feeding me in form of book crack.
This story was the complete opposite of what I thought. I was taken through an emotional journey of love, loss, friendships that spans years. From the moment I was introduced to the characters I fell in love. IMO this is not a romance story, it is beautiful emotional love story with some romantic elements about 3 beautiful souls brought together by fate or maybe by 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Alejo, my Lejo! Animal lover... The boy who lost too much at a young age. He was broken at the same time he was so strong too. The glue, the problem solver, the one who says everything will be alright even if he is hurting.
ALEJO BECAME ALEX and Guelisten became his home.
Certain things unnerved him all his life. Helicopters. The pitch dark. Enclosed spaces. Uniforms. Interrupted sleep in the middle of the night.
Jav, Javier, Walker, nephew and occasional Assassin. A kickass escort. Damn! This guy broke my heart into pieces. Abandoned by those who were supposed to love and protect him. He survived; my beautiful Jav survived and gave me the Voyage of Trueblood Cay which I will cherish forever. THANK GOD FOR GLORIA. I LOVE thePimp Mentor.
His business card read Javier Soto with a phone number. He was a straight male escort, with or without sex. No pay-to-gay, no couples. No violence, no drugs, no urine, shit or blood. Nothing ugly or degrading. He was a professional lover. A champion date who specialized in attention, both in and out of the bedroom.
Val , Valarie Lark, I love this woman to death. I have never fallen in love with a heroine like a did Val. It is rare to find this type of female characters these days. She is strong, independent, go getter, no nonsense and so much fun.
Sheba was curled up outside the master bedroom door. A mix of Black Lab and Rottweiler, she was a trained therapy dog and Alex’s second wife since 9/11. She and Val had a clear understanding about evening hours: Sheba knew when to show up because nightmares were manifesting, and she knew when to get lost because it was business time.
Other characters were also so well written into the story. Gloria, Trelawney, Roger, Ari, Deane and the rest. GAAAH! I freaking loved everyone.
I cried, I laughed out loud, I wanted to punch something and I fell in love AND the biggest surprise of all I read an MF story that has a tiny bit touch of gay and instead of ewww! that is some Vajayjay! i was like.. Ah! Oh! Yeah! Awww! Suanne! How the fuck did you make me do that.? The voodoo you use is working, keep it up.
A group of finches is called a charm.
He looked up and through the window, watching Stef cross Main Street to the station.
“Jav,” Trelawney said sharply. She reached across the bar and whacked the back of his head.
“Ow. What?”
She pointed toward the door. “Fetch.”
Jav bolted off the stool and out of Celeste’s.
“Hey,” he called, running across the street. “Stef.”
Overall, what I am trying to say is I LOVED IT! And enjoyed picking The Voyages of Trueblood Cay Easter eggs.
You can say it my friends! you know you want to......Let me help you..
Suanne! You know you rock! Cheers.
Why am I alive and you are disappeared?
To say I LOVED this book is the understatement of the year. I FREAKING LOVED IT!
I am so 2 years late to the party but so happy I finally arrived.
I was afraid of reading this one because I thought it was a sad depressing book. Yes I love some pain but too much sadness is a no go for me. To my surprise i wasn't even sad. The book is so well written with so much love that I got lost in the story and the characters. Suanne got some voodoo that she is feeding me in form of book crack.
This story was the complete opposite of what I thought. I was taken through an emotional journey of love, loss, friendships that spans years. From the moment I was introduced to the characters I fell in love. IMO this is not a romance story, it is beautiful emotional love story with some romantic elements about 3 beautiful souls brought together by fate or maybe by 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Alejo, my Lejo! Animal lover... The boy who lost too much at a young age. He was broken at the same time he was so strong too. The glue, the problem solver, the one who says everything will be alright even if he is hurting.
ALEJO BECAME ALEX and Guelisten became his home.
Certain things unnerved him all his life. Helicopters. The pitch dark. Enclosed spaces. Uniforms. Interrupted sleep in the middle of the night.
Jav, Javier, Walker, nephew and occasional Assassin. A kickass escort. Damn! This guy broke my heart into pieces. Abandoned by those who were supposed to love and protect him. He survived; my beautiful Jav survived and gave me the Voyage of Trueblood Cay which I will cherish forever. THANK GOD FOR GLORIA. I LOVE the
His business card read Javier Soto with a phone number. He was a straight male escort, with or without sex. No pay-to-gay, no couples. No violence, no drugs, no urine, shit or blood. Nothing ugly or degrading. He was a professional lover. A champion date who specialized in attention, both in and out of the bedroom.
Val , Valarie Lark, I love this woman to death. I have never fallen in love with a heroine like a did Val. It is rare to find this type of female characters these days. She is strong, independent, go getter, no nonsense and so much fun.
Sheba was curled up outside the master bedroom door. A mix of Black Lab and Rottweiler, she was a trained therapy dog and Alex’s second wife since 9/11. She and Val had a clear understanding about evening hours: Sheba knew when to show up because nightmares were manifesting, and she knew when to get lost because it was business time.
Other characters were also so well written into the story. Gloria, Trelawney, Roger, Ari, Deane and the rest. GAAAH! I freaking loved everyone.
I cried, I laughed out loud, I wanted to punch something and I fell in love AND the biggest surprise of all I read an MF story that has a tiny bit touch of gay and instead of ewww! that is some Vajayjay! i was like.. Ah! Oh! Yeah! Awww! Suanne! How the fuck did you make me do that.? The voodoo you use is working, keep it up.
A group of finches is called a charm.
He looked up and through the window, watching Stef cross Main Street to the station.
“Jav,” Trelawney said sharply. She reached across the bar and whacked the back of his head.
“Ow. What?”
She pointed toward the door. “Fetch.”
Jav bolted off the stool and out of Celeste’s.
“Hey,” he called, running across the street. “Stef.”
Overall, what I am trying to say is I LOVED IT! And enjoyed picking The Voyages of Trueblood Cay Easter eggs.
You can say it my friends! you know you want to......Let me help you..
Suanne! You know you rock! Cheers.
January 23, 2022
1 st read: September 2017
2nd read: August 2020
3rd read: January 2022
Every time I read this story I discover new things and linger over sentences I didn't pay much attention to before.
Fav Quotes:
There is a lot to take in here, a heavenly, "too much feelz" for an angst lover like me. Besides, talent. An overdose of it.
SL tosses words around turning them into emotions. You don't know what's going to hit you and where it's coming from. And there lies the magic, an effortless intimacy with the words - the damn invisible strings tugging on my heart.
Original review:
***** 6 Stars ******
So.... I must say, I feel ruined, ruined for all other books that will come. How can a next read measure up to this?
What is this about? A MF? MM? MFM? Hmmmm…..
And I’m not going to tell you. I’m bad at it. So here are my heartfelt ramblings.
An Exaltation of Larks is a remarkable, unique, refreshing and moving story. I can’t really explain my feelings. Dammit the barrier language! I remember at the beginning of the story reading the definition of exaltation, and I think it might be the word to express my feelings while reading it. My heart was full of exaltation, on edge all the time, throbbing heart, butterflies fluttering in my stomach and the most coveted feeling by all readers – “the unputabledown book feel”.
I’m hopelessly in love with all the characters. The author not only gave life to Alex, Jav and Val. She also breathed life in all support characters, 3D, incredibly done.
Ari and Deane and Roger and Flip.
Trelawney, described in such a fascinating way.
Dr Penda, a surprise until the last minute.
Gloria, I wish to have a Gloria in my life, seriously, I would love to have a friend like her, wise, bold, confident and fearless.
People, please! Read this book. It’s for all.
I know many of my MM/readers/friends don’t like lady bits involved in their stories, but this time, this only time, I’m urging you to overlook this part. If it’s too much for you, you could always skim when the lady bits part is involved, but I’m almost sure you won’t want to because it’s that good.
Suanne Laqueur created characters that will stay with me forfuckingever. So much talent!
I wish I could give this book 6 Stars but I can’t and so I, one more time, found myself in that awkward position where I feel like going over my shelves taking stars away from books I have rated 5 stars in the past.
Flawless and stunning writing.
2nd read: August 2020
3rd read: January 2022
Every time I read this story I discover new things and linger over sentences I didn't pay much attention to before.
Fav Quotes:
There is a lot to take in here, a heavenly, "too much feelz" for an angst lover like me. Besides, talent. An overdose of it.
SL tosses words around turning them into emotions. You don't know what's going to hit you and where it's coming from. And there lies the magic, an effortless intimacy with the words - the damn invisible strings tugging on my heart.
Original review:
***** 6 Stars ******
So.... I must say, I feel ruined, ruined for all other books that will come. How can a next read measure up to this?
What is this about? A MF? MM? MFM? Hmmmm…..
And I’m not going to tell you. I’m bad at it. So here are my heartfelt ramblings.
An Exaltation of Larks is a remarkable, unique, refreshing and moving story. I can’t really explain my feelings. Dammit the barrier language! I remember at the beginning of the story reading the definition of exaltation, and I think it might be the word to express my feelings while reading it. My heart was full of exaltation, on edge all the time, throbbing heart, butterflies fluttering in my stomach and the most coveted feeling by all readers – “the unputabledown book feel”.
I’m hopelessly in love with all the characters. The author not only gave life to Alex, Jav and Val. She also breathed life in all support characters, 3D, incredibly done.
Ari and Deane and Roger and Flip.
Trelawney, described in such a fascinating way.
Dr Penda, a surprise until the last minute.
Gloria, I wish to have a Gloria in my life, seriously, I would love to have a friend like her, wise, bold, confident and fearless.
People, please! Read this book. It’s for all.
I know many of my MM/readers/friends don’t like lady bits involved in their stories, but this time, this only time, I’m urging you to overlook this part. If it’s too much for you, you could always skim when the lady bits part is involved, but I’m almost sure you won’t want to because it’s that good.
Suanne Laqueur created characters that will stay with me forfuckingever. So much talent!
I wish I could give this book 6 Stars but I can’t and so I, one more time, found myself in that awkward position where I feel like going over my shelves taking stars away from books I have rated 5 stars in the past.
Flawless and stunning writing.
Read
February 27, 2024
“Look at the nose on this guy,” Alex said, stopping by Roger’s chair to top off his wine glass.
Roger tipped his profile up to the ceiling, showing off both sides of his prominent nose.
“I swear it’s getting bigger in your old age,” Alex said.
“It’s not the size of the honker, it’s what’s in it that counts.” Roger grinned at Ari then. “You’re no slouch in the schnozz department, either, kid. Let me see.”
Ari turned his head good-naturedly.
“You got the chin to pull it off,” Rog said. “When you got a big nose and a weak chin, you’re fucked.”
“Does everyone have a drink?” Val said, picking up her glass. “Alex, give us a toast.”
Alex put a hand on Jav’s shoulder. “Help me out, man.”
“Arriba,” they said, and glasses were held high.
“Abajo.” Glasses lowered.
“Al centro.” Glasses into the middle of the table to make a bouquet.
“Y adentro.” Everyone drank.
Roger put his glass up again. “And in the words of Roland Lark: here’s to those who wish us well, all the rest can go to hell.”
“To hell.” They clinked and drank once more, then attacked the feast.
Jav hadn’t known anything like it since his childhood. A hundred years since he’d sat at a pulled-out, multi-leaved table with loved ones. Hardly able to eat for laughing as dishes, jokes and cracks passed up and down and across. The tableaux of four golden-blond larks and three dark tigers filled his eyes and squeezed his heart. Roger and Trelawney were laughing. Ari had his hand casually on the back of Deane’s chair. Val rested her chin on a fist, beautiful and happy as she gazed at her empire.
“It’s a life,” Alex said under the hum of chuckles and chatter.
Jav looked at him. “And not everyone gets one.”
July 10, 2019
“I want to wake up every morning and listen to your heart. I want to be the last man you slept with. When you say it’s been a long time since you made love, I want that time to be a matter of hours. Because I loved you last night. And I’m going to love you again tonight.”
WOW what a story!!! There should be a warning for this book, maybe like "This is going to hurt like bitch" but still that note couldn't stop me from reading this amazing book... Because this book belongs to my latest crush. <3 Yeah, Mrs.Laqueur, I'm seriously in love with you. 😃
And now I'm so curious about Jav's book. <3 I can feel it, 2nd book will be a good one too. ;)
Ps. If you haven't read one of Mrs.Laqueur's book yet, believe me you're missing a huge piece of your life... :) I've discovered her with The Fish Tales series and after that she earned a really special place in my heart and her books really (I mean it...) changed my life. I'm literally addicted her words and I highly recommend her books to you. Please, just read her beautiful and unique stories and let her touch your soul... 😏
------------------------
"He was warm as bread. Simple ingredients, finely crafted. She held his head, hand wide on his face, drawing his voice into her mouth. “I love you,” she said.
“Am I yours?” he whispered.
“Mine. Mine and only mine. Only you for me, Alejandro." ❤
"Her beating heart swelled beneath his head. Her breath lifted him up and down. She caressed his face, wondering how in hell she’d lived this long without touching him this way. My heart beats with yours. Wake up to hear my heart one day. This day. Every day." ❤
WOW what a story!!! There should be a warning for this book, maybe like "This is going to hurt like bitch" but still that note couldn't stop me from reading this amazing book... Because this book belongs to my latest crush. <3 Yeah, Mrs.Laqueur, I'm seriously in love with you. 😃
And now I'm so curious about Jav's book. <3 I can feel it, 2nd book will be a good one too. ;)
Ps. If you haven't read one of Mrs.Laqueur's book yet, believe me you're missing a huge piece of your life... :) I've discovered her with The Fish Tales series and after that she earned a really special place in my heart and her books really (I mean it...) changed my life. I'm literally addicted her words and I highly recommend her books to you. Please, just read her beautiful and unique stories and let her touch your soul... 😏
------------------------
"He was warm as bread. Simple ingredients, finely crafted. She held his head, hand wide on his face, drawing his voice into her mouth. “I love you,” she said.
“Am I yours?” he whispered.
“Mine. Mine and only mine. Only you for me, Alejandro." ❤
"Her beating heart swelled beneath his head. Her breath lifted him up and down. She caressed his face, wondering how in hell she’d lived this long without touching him this way. My heart beats with yours. Wake up to hear my heart one day. This day. Every day." ❤
October 30, 2017
#Epic and currently on SALE #99c
Amazon USA https://goo.gl/5Ke2gR
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/6m6CQ0R (Check Price before purchase)
A Beautiful and Richly Layered Story that Explores Love, Friendship & Sexuality.
“What I want is nothing I am.”
There is no doubt that An Exaltation of Larks will join my favourite ever book list in terms of its epic depth, glorious cast of characters, vivid writing, story development and the way it all made me feel. I savoured every word, my mind overwhelmingly content with the sheer wonder of the story. I finished reading a good few days ago, and still I find myself drifting back to the story, the characters, their sexuality and their connection to the 9/11 date, a traumatic day in 1973 and the indescribable devastation of 2001 that shaped the protagonist’s lives and indeed this multifaceted novel. I have questioned how I can find the words to adequately convey the vivid quality of the storytelling. A delicately weaved plot that spans effortlessly over three decades and sucked me into the lives of the cast so hard that I did not want to leave. The aching beauty literally took my breath away and all those delectable adjectives we long to feel when reading, I felt them beyond explanation. There’s a plethora of characters to love. I’m not exaggerating about the amount of people or the love. Alejandro, Valerie and Jav are the key protagonists whom everything revolves around. They convincingly lanced their way into my book heart but with equal measure I highly appreciated the supporting network of characters, who it could be argued, are equal to the protagonists in terms of their importance to the story and their development making them as rich and colourful as the three afore mentioned key players.
Both Jav and Alejandro find themselves torn away from their blood families, the dichotomy of their histories and the manner in which it affects their personas and their lives is fascinating. One is torn away from parents who loved him dearly, the other is thrown away and the effect that has on a man is immense. It’s the catalyst that shapes their thoughts, their feelings and relationships with both men and women. It’s a story complex in its entirety with beautifully convoluted relationships, richly layered but crafted so that it’s super easy on the reading ear. Seamless transitions, creative imagery and past happenings placed perfectly in the prose made me think deeply and ensured the story arc always moved forward, developing either plot, character or feeling. A few people have told me that bad choices make good stories, the statement was stated in this story too and certainly evidenced convincingly at certain moments in the third person narrative. Whatever the choices made by the characters I always believed in their motivation which is key to my personal enjoyment of a story.
The trajectory of the plot feels totally organic as it explores wanting, needing, soul mates, second chances and life coincidences. Paths crossing and random acts of fate show the happenstance of various moments that so perfectly mirror the serendipity of life with a poignancy that made me feel super warm inside. I treasured the web of friendships developed over time, the romance and the love. Loyalty, friendship and, most importantly, sexuality are the themes deeply laced within the myriad of layers where the characters experience unimaginable trauma, despair, hope and love. The sexuality element is perhaps the most engaging and thought provoking aspect and depicted with an incredible sense of struggle, uncertainty and openness. There are moments I giggled, moments I hoped, moments I absolutely sobbed and thought my heart would break for a character. It hurt so good!
The lyrical prose made the decades, and the pages fly past, I wanted to pause. I wanted the percentage on my kindle to freeze in time so I could continue to bask in the luxury of the prose. The characters worked their way deep into my psyche. It’s a story I woke up thinking about. A story that SHOWS in the extreme with beautifully crafted words on the writing canvas, sometimes so simple but when together and in the context of the story meant so much creating the most perfect imagery or thought provoking moment making AN EXALTATION OF LARKS with its menagerie of characters and layers of emotion, themes and plot a very precious commodity and a simply must read in my eyes. I DID NOT WANT IT TO END!
Advance copy provided for my honest review thoughts from the publisher via NetGalley
★ Graphics created by me with stock photos I purchased from deposit photos ★
Amazon USA https://goo.gl/5Ke2gR
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/6m6CQ0R (Check Price before purchase)
A Beautiful and Richly Layered Story that Explores Love, Friendship & Sexuality.
“What I want is nothing I am.”
There is no doubt that An Exaltation of Larks will join my favourite ever book list in terms of its epic depth, glorious cast of characters, vivid writing, story development and the way it all made me feel. I savoured every word, my mind overwhelmingly content with the sheer wonder of the story. I finished reading a good few days ago, and still I find myself drifting back to the story, the characters, their sexuality and their connection to the 9/11 date, a traumatic day in 1973 and the indescribable devastation of 2001 that shaped the protagonist’s lives and indeed this multifaceted novel. I have questioned how I can find the words to adequately convey the vivid quality of the storytelling. A delicately weaved plot that spans effortlessly over three decades and sucked me into the lives of the cast so hard that I did not want to leave. The aching beauty literally took my breath away and all those delectable adjectives we long to feel when reading, I felt them beyond explanation. There’s a plethora of characters to love. I’m not exaggerating about the amount of people or the love. Alejandro, Valerie and Jav are the key protagonists whom everything revolves around. They convincingly lanced their way into my book heart but with equal measure I highly appreciated the supporting network of characters, who it could be argued, are equal to the protagonists in terms of their importance to the story and their development making them as rich and colourful as the three afore mentioned key players.
Both Jav and Alejandro find themselves torn away from their blood families, the dichotomy of their histories and the manner in which it affects their personas and their lives is fascinating. One is torn away from parents who loved him dearly, the other is thrown away and the effect that has on a man is immense. It’s the catalyst that shapes their thoughts, their feelings and relationships with both men and women. It’s a story complex in its entirety with beautifully convoluted relationships, richly layered but crafted so that it’s super easy on the reading ear. Seamless transitions, creative imagery and past happenings placed perfectly in the prose made me think deeply and ensured the story arc always moved forward, developing either plot, character or feeling. A few people have told me that bad choices make good stories, the statement was stated in this story too and certainly evidenced convincingly at certain moments in the third person narrative. Whatever the choices made by the characters I always believed in their motivation which is key to my personal enjoyment of a story.
The trajectory of the plot feels totally organic as it explores wanting, needing, soul mates, second chances and life coincidences. Paths crossing and random acts of fate show the happenstance of various moments that so perfectly mirror the serendipity of life with a poignancy that made me feel super warm inside. I treasured the web of friendships developed over time, the romance and the love. Loyalty, friendship and, most importantly, sexuality are the themes deeply laced within the myriad of layers where the characters experience unimaginable trauma, despair, hope and love. The sexuality element is perhaps the most engaging and thought provoking aspect and depicted with an incredible sense of struggle, uncertainty and openness. There are moments I giggled, moments I hoped, moments I absolutely sobbed and thought my heart would break for a character. It hurt so good!
The lyrical prose made the decades, and the pages fly past, I wanted to pause. I wanted the percentage on my kindle to freeze in time so I could continue to bask in the luxury of the prose. The characters worked their way deep into my psyche. It’s a story I woke up thinking about. A story that SHOWS in the extreme with beautifully crafted words on the writing canvas, sometimes so simple but when together and in the context of the story meant so much creating the most perfect imagery or thought provoking moment making AN EXALTATION OF LARKS with its menagerie of characters and layers of emotion, themes and plot a very precious commodity and a simply must read in my eyes. I DID NOT WANT IT TO END!
Advance copy provided for my honest review thoughts from the publisher via NetGalley
★ Graphics created by me with stock photos I purchased from deposit photos ★
December 18, 2016
4 STARS
”Figures you’d turn out to be my best friend.”
Suanne Laqueur sure is a talented writer and this book displays a poetic and beautiful writing style. Even her sex scenes were unlike any I have read before. I’m definitely interested in exploring more of her work in the future. As for this story, I had my moments of loving it, then I found myself really bored, then within a bunch of pages I was back on board. I think she writes stellar in depth characters and though I wasn’t in love with this plot I did like the characters enough to continue.
The story spans three decades as it follows Alejandro (Alex) Penda, Valerie Lark and Javier Soto lives. These strong characters face trials and tribulations and all affect the connection they have throughout the story.
"We're so alike, you and I. It's no wonder we kept finding each other."
There’s a connection and strong attraction between two men in this story. Which I’ll be honest was well written, sexy, and yet I really didn’t like how a certain character did return these feelings Though it spices the story up a zillion notches. Bisexuality totally works for Jav but for the other character...not so much.
”What I want is nothing I am.”
There was a whole lot of positives about this book and it does tap into some true horrific events that have occurred in our world. I truly did adore Valerie and her daughter, and of course Arie and that broken sexy man, Jav. On the flip side, the length and/or pacing was just too slow for me. The big wow portion towards the end I also didn't think was needed. Still, I’m glad I kept with the story and did like how it all turned out in the end.
”Bad choices make good stories.”
”Figures you’d turn out to be my best friend.”
Suanne Laqueur sure is a talented writer and this book displays a poetic and beautiful writing style. Even her sex scenes were unlike any I have read before. I’m definitely interested in exploring more of her work in the future. As for this story, I had my moments of loving it, then I found myself really bored, then within a bunch of pages I was back on board. I think she writes stellar in depth characters and though I wasn’t in love with this plot I did like the characters enough to continue.
The story spans three decades as it follows Alejandro (Alex) Penda, Valerie Lark and Javier Soto lives. These strong characters face trials and tribulations and all affect the connection they have throughout the story.
"We're so alike, you and I. It's no wonder we kept finding each other."
There’s a connection and strong attraction between two men in this story. Which I’ll be honest was well written, sexy, and yet I really didn’t like how a certain character did return these feelings Though it spices the story up a zillion notches. Bisexuality totally works for Jav but for the other character...not so much.
”What I want is nothing I am.”
There was a whole lot of positives about this book and it does tap into some true horrific events that have occurred in our world. I truly did adore Valerie and her daughter, and of course Arie and that broken sexy man, Jav. On the flip side, the length and/or pacing was just too slow for me. The big wow portion towards the end I also didn't think was needed. Still, I’m glad I kept with the story and did like how it all turned out in the end.
”Bad choices make good stories.”
May 5, 2020
Suanne Laqueur's novel was an multi-layered, enjoyable and entertaining re-read, a moving story of trauma, grief, loss, pain and love. In 1973, with all the dangers posed by the military coup in Santiago, Chile, 11 year old Alejandro Penda is taken to live with his uncle in the United States. Haunted by the loss of his disappeared parents, Alejandro becomes Alex and close to the warm and all encompassing Lark family, with his relationship to Valerie Lark becomes something more later as the two get married. Their lives becomes intertwined and closely connected with another soul who has experienced trauma and rejection, Javier Landes, through the decades, years where they face tragedies, challenges, complications, love and friendship. In the wake of 9/11, Javier finds himself the guardian of a orphaned nephew in Guelistan. This is a immersive, colourfully vibrant drama of friendship, marriage, dysfunctional families, being a parent, sexuality, identity, despair and hope, and so emotionally engaging. Many thanks to Cathedral Rock Press.
August 12, 2022
Under normal circumstances, it's easy for me to write a review directly after I've read a novel. Occasionally, the book is so strong, I need time to think about what I want to say. I only finished An Exaltation of Larks, the first in the Venery series by Suanne Laqueur, last night but feel compelled to get some of my thoughts down before I have so many, I can't organize a review. This book was recommended to me by a very generous blogger who wrote a stellar review of one of my books. Given how much she thought I'd like Laqueur's work, I accepted the recommendation and got a copy of the book to read. I allotted it in my October TBR, slightly nervous that it was ~550 pages and I've been focusing on other genres lately. After 30 minutes in, I couldn't stop reading it... and that's just how it kept on going until I devoured the entire tome in 2 1/2 days.
Do not be fearful of the page count, or that it's only the first in a series. I haven't read the others (definitely will this year) but even if you only stopped at the first one, it would be the kind of read you always remember. It goes extremely swiftly... I'm a quick reader but I was flipping pages so fast and connecting with the story on a different plane than normal. I'd read 25% before bed the first night and still wanted to keep going despite how late it'd gotten. I finished 50% the next day and then the final 25% before bed last night.
The book was written in a way that I couldn't help but feel part of it. Between physical and emotional attraction to the main characters, a thirst for something ravenous to happen, a moment or two of crying in pain, and a recognition of things I have and might be missing in my own life, this book kept pushing me to want to climb inside the spine and become one with it. Those are some powerful words, images, and thoughts, but Alex, Val, and Jav are truly the kind of characters I navigate toward. Throw in a dysfunctional set of families, cliffhangers, over-coincidences (which ultimately I love), and a statement about the value of life, I am in awe of Laqueur's plot and character development to the umpteenth degree.
I'm sure I'll come back to write more... you don't need me to describe the plot, just read the summary and you'll get it. If you're comfortable with LGBTQ stories, somewhat occasionally graphic descriptions of intimacy, and language with multi-cultural references and speech, you will love this book. I bring these things up not as a warning, but as the primary reason this book was so phenomenal. It opens your mind to understanding physical attraction, chemistry, longing, and fear of taking an alternative step in life. It's about deciding who you are and who you want to be versus what people think you should be or where you're initially born.
I'm sure there will be more to come in the future, but this is what I've got left emotionally to say... just go read it.
Do not be fearful of the page count, or that it's only the first in a series. I haven't read the others (definitely will this year) but even if you only stopped at the first one, it would be the kind of read you always remember. It goes extremely swiftly... I'm a quick reader but I was flipping pages so fast and connecting with the story on a different plane than normal. I'd read 25% before bed the first night and still wanted to keep going despite how late it'd gotten. I finished 50% the next day and then the final 25% before bed last night.
The book was written in a way that I couldn't help but feel part of it. Between physical and emotional attraction to the main characters, a thirst for something ravenous to happen, a moment or two of crying in pain, and a recognition of things I have and might be missing in my own life, this book kept pushing me to want to climb inside the spine and become one with it. Those are some powerful words, images, and thoughts, but Alex, Val, and Jav are truly the kind of characters I navigate toward. Throw in a dysfunctional set of families, cliffhangers, over-coincidences (which ultimately I love), and a statement about the value of life, I am in awe of Laqueur's plot and character development to the umpteenth degree.
I'm sure I'll come back to write more... you don't need me to describe the plot, just read the summary and you'll get it. If you're comfortable with LGBTQ stories, somewhat occasionally graphic descriptions of intimacy, and language with multi-cultural references and speech, you will love this book. I bring these things up not as a warning, but as the primary reason this book was so phenomenal. It opens your mind to understanding physical attraction, chemistry, longing, and fear of taking an alternative step in life. It's about deciding who you are and who you want to be versus what people think you should be or where you're initially born.
I'm sure there will be more to come in the future, but this is what I've got left emotionally to say... just go read it.
December 13, 2016
This 'review' is 100% spoiler-free. Technically, it's not really a review but a bunch of ways of me telling you to 'read this book ... NOW!'
I was engrossed in this glorious novel for the last three days. The minute this pre-order hit my Kindle early Tuesday morning, I dove right in and didn't come up for air till I was done. Done with a story I NEVER wanted to end.
I don't know about you but very few books leave me feeling like this:
but this was exactly how I felt, from the moment I started till hours after I was done. This author literally rendered me speechless. And I can't thank her enough! These kinds of stories is WHY I love to read.
There are books, ladies and gents, and then there are BOOKS. 'An Exaltation of Larks' definitely falls into the latter category. Suanne's writing is exquisite. It's immaculate. It's so flawless, you forget you are reading!
If you appreciate unique stories that span decades, characters you can't help but fall head over heels in love with, storytelling that leaves you breathless and, of course, all the FEELS, drop everything and read this NOW! Don't read the blurb. Don't read reviews. Go into this book completely blind and fall in love with it on YOUR terms.
If you ever picked up a book based on my rec and enjoyed it, do yourself a favor and read this one. Not because I am telling you to but because you owe it to yourself to EXPERIENCE this story.
To sum it all up:
Q . How much did I enjoy this book?
A. Enough to make it my pick for
Cheers!
October 21, 2016
5+ Masterful and Intoxicating Stars!
How does one describe the indescribable? A Suanne Laqueur novel is one you need to be immersed in to enjoy the exhilarating journey she takes you on and experience all the intense emotions she will invoke. I could go on and on with descriptive, adjectives and adverbs, but they are just words ...... and words cannot possibly do justice.
But of course, a review needs words, so here goes ......
Let me first tell you, it has been hours since I finished reading, and my heart is still trying to find it's way back home. It was somewhere around page 26 when I wanted to ask my neighbor if I could borrow her blood pressure cuff to check for a pulse. Chapter after chapter, my emotions were all over the place trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was stunningly provocative and hauntingly unexpected.
When crushing on the beloved "The Man I Love", also written by this author, I found myself in a perpetual zone of glorious angst. While on this adventure, Suanne magically transports you smack dab into the middle of the lives of riveting characters who are dealing with issues of loss, abandonment, betrayal, and survival. You walk with them throughout their teen years, then into adulthood as they desperately try to find acceptance, love and a sense of belonging to a family. The road is not an easy one, and all along the way sexual situations and frustrations abound. Ms. Laqueur has this genius ability to draw you in and grip tight like a vice. She writes with grace and elegance, but at the same time with an explicit edginess and raw seductiveness which arouses all your senses.
Here is where the brilliance begins ........
"Friends ring the bell. Soldiers bang on the door."
Explosions, gunfire and screams fill the air. Soldiers, along with propaganda leaflets, fill the streets. Airplanes and helicopters, fill the sky. It is September 11, 1973, in Santiago, Chile, where a military coup is taking place.
It is late at night and someone is banging loudly on the front door. Alejo Penda, eleven years old, is whisked into his mother's arms and pushed inside a closet. She instructs him to hide and wait for her return. It has already been four days since he has seen his father. Others have disappeared as well. Hours pass in the darkness as he waits and listens. It is now dawn and all is silent. He tentatively opens the closet door and quietly walks from room to room, but his mother is nowhere to be found.
Alone at the American Embassy, Alejo goes in search of a new home hoping and praying his mother and father will find him again. With his VISA in hand, Alejo travels to New York where he meets Valerie Lark, and together, they meet ....... Javier Gil deSoto. Their lives crisscross and intersect throughout three decades, leading them down paths of utter destruction as well as paths which soothe the soul. Their relationships deepen and evolve into a complicated mess!
A truly unforgettable, indescribable work of art!
Suanne, your writing abilities never cease to astound and amaze me. I honestly believe you could make the ingredient list on the box of bran flakes sound fascinating!
*ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review*
How does one describe the indescribable? A Suanne Laqueur novel is one you need to be immersed in to enjoy the exhilarating journey she takes you on and experience all the intense emotions she will invoke. I could go on and on with descriptive, adjectives and adverbs, but they are just words ...... and words cannot possibly do justice.
But of course, a review needs words, so here goes ......
Let me first tell you, it has been hours since I finished reading, and my heart is still trying to find it's way back home. It was somewhere around page 26 when I wanted to ask my neighbor if I could borrow her blood pressure cuff to check for a pulse. Chapter after chapter, my emotions were all over the place trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was stunningly provocative and hauntingly unexpected.
When crushing on the beloved "The Man I Love", also written by this author, I found myself in a perpetual zone of glorious angst. While on this adventure, Suanne magically transports you smack dab into the middle of the lives of riveting characters who are dealing with issues of loss, abandonment, betrayal, and survival. You walk with them throughout their teen years, then into adulthood as they desperately try to find acceptance, love and a sense of belonging to a family. The road is not an easy one, and all along the way sexual situations and frustrations abound. Ms. Laqueur has this genius ability to draw you in and grip tight like a vice. She writes with grace and elegance, but at the same time with an explicit edginess and raw seductiveness which arouses all your senses.
Here is where the brilliance begins ........
"Friends ring the bell. Soldiers bang on the door."
Explosions, gunfire and screams fill the air. Soldiers, along with propaganda leaflets, fill the streets. Airplanes and helicopters, fill the sky. It is September 11, 1973, in Santiago, Chile, where a military coup is taking place.
It is late at night and someone is banging loudly on the front door. Alejo Penda, eleven years old, is whisked into his mother's arms and pushed inside a closet. She instructs him to hide and wait for her return. It has already been four days since he has seen his father. Others have disappeared as well. Hours pass in the darkness as he waits and listens. It is now dawn and all is silent. He tentatively opens the closet door and quietly walks from room to room, but his mother is nowhere to be found.
Alone at the American Embassy, Alejo goes in search of a new home hoping and praying his mother and father will find him again. With his VISA in hand, Alejo travels to New York where he meets Valerie Lark, and together, they meet ....... Javier Gil deSoto. Their lives crisscross and intersect throughout three decades, leading them down paths of utter destruction as well as paths which soothe the soul. Their relationships deepen and evolve into a complicated mess!
A truly unforgettable, indescribable work of art!
Suanne, your writing abilities never cease to astound and amaze me. I honestly believe you could make the ingredient list on the box of bran flakes sound fascinating!
*ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review*
November 18, 2017
5 Golden Stars
Well, this story was one of my unusual reads. Actually I don’t really enjoy stories like this but I LOVED this one. My brain screamed please don’t read it but like other times who’s listening to it! Haha! So let me tell you why it was unusual; I don’t read book more that 400-450 and I don’t really enjoy them but short chapters were in my favor here. I really really really don’t like triangle love stories, scratch that I hate them because most of the time I feel sorry for the other guy but in this one… I don’t know what to say. It wasn’t a normal triangle one, I didn’t feel it until the last 20%. But when I felt it I liked it, I enjoyed it. I don’t like death in my books and in this book it broke my heart every time, as well! The other thing that I hate in my stories is the This book wasn’t just one story! For me it was three! My heart ached for every characters, especially for Jav and Alex! For their past when they were young, for the demon they had. This book breaks your heart but then it collects your pieces and put them together. The author wrote it in such a way that you feel like you are living with them, you feel their happiness, you feel their sadness!
Told in multiple POV, 3rd person. It was the first installment in the "Venery" series and I will definitely read the second book but I need time, I drained emotionally! It’s fast-paced, well-written and characters were so so perfect, they were perfect for each other and with each other! overall, I loved it and I hope you read it and enjoy it just like me!
Well, this story was one of my unusual reads. Actually I don’t really enjoy stories like this but I LOVED this one. My brain screamed please don’t read it but like other times who’s listening to it! Haha! So let me tell you why it was unusual; I don’t read book more that 400-450 and I don’t really enjoy them but short chapters were in my favor here. I really really really don’t like triangle love stories, scratch that I hate them because most of the time I feel sorry for the other guy but in this one… I don’t know what to say. It wasn’t a normal triangle one, I didn’t feel it until the last 20%. But when I felt it I liked it, I enjoyed it. I don’t like death in my books and in this book it broke my heart every time, as well! The other thing that I hate in my stories is the This book wasn’t just one story! For me it was three! My heart ached for every characters, especially for Jav and Alex! For their past when they were young, for the demon they had. This book breaks your heart but then it collects your pieces and put them together. The author wrote it in such a way that you feel like you are living with them, you feel their happiness, you feel their sadness!
Told in multiple POV, 3rd person. It was the first installment in the "Venery" series and I will definitely read the second book but I need time, I drained emotionally! It’s fast-paced, well-written and characters were so so perfect, they were perfect for each other and with each other! overall, I loved it and I hope you read it and enjoy it just like me!
March 21, 2019
2.5*
A little too sweet and overdramatic for me.
A little too sweet and overdramatic for me.
February 9, 2017
EDIT: NOW AVAILABLE!
3.5 Stars
In the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, Santiago, Chile falls on September 11th, and eleven year-old Alejandro Penda’s life begins to take a drastic turn. His father has been gone, and when they come banging on the door for his mother, she hides Alejandro in the closet. He stays hidden except to sneak quietly out for food or the bathroom. Occasionally peering out a window to see the destruction and wreckage which is everywhere.
He arrives in America, and eventually finds a home with the Lark family whom he comes to love fiercely. He’s gone from Alejandro to Alex now. As the years pass, his love for them all grows, he cares for them, takes care of them, loves them. Eventually, he finds himself drawn to one in particular.
“As images of Chile faded and curled at the edges, the photo album in Alex’s heart began to fill with new family snapshots, all with his sleek, dark physique set like a black iris in the Lark bouquet of daffodils.”
On the other side of the city a young boy, Javier Landes is losing the family he was born into, to be shunned, kicked out. His sister. His father. His mother. He finds ways to eek out a living, but it’s barely a living. He works in a bar where his good looks and charm get him bigger tips and occasionally more, until he meets a woman who will change the course of his life. She becomes his mentor.
Years go by, Javier, not one to give his heart away, and what good what it be, in truth, it’s still quite thoroughly shattered, and bitter, until one day, he realizes that the feelings he’s having are more than unexpected, they’re undeniable. The timing could have been better for him to accept these feelings, the object of his affections about to leave on a flight first thing the next day. Their parting comment, “We’ll talk about this when I get back.” The waiting seems like agony, and only minutes have passed.
The next morning, Javier wakes in his apartment, thinking about these strange, but wonderful feelings, but the moment is short lived. When he turns on the television, it’s everywhere. Pandemonium. A plane has just flown into one of the twin towers. September 11th. 1973.
“And you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend,
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.”
– lyrics by P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri, sung by Barry McGuire (and a host of others)
And the world changes. Everything changes for Javier, and for everyone else. Javier realizes just how precious life can be. How one instant can change how everything looks. The past. The future. The world.
There are many moments throughout the rest of this story which seem genuine, and some that felt too contrived to me, they just didn’t ring true. It’s well written, but I can’t think of anyone to whom I would recommend this book, not that I would try and dissuade anyone, either. My favourite part of this book was in the beginning. The writing was lovely, the story compelling. Although there were times, as this story goes on, where the writing was lovely, the story felt very contrived and manipulated. To me. Your experience may be different. This has been given many 5 Star ratings, mine is just not one of them.
For those who are sensitive about “Language” – there’s a significant amount of “naughty words” in this book.
For those who are sensitive about Sex and / or Drugs there’s a lot of sex, some drug use (limited, but not overly descriptive about drugs).
Pub Date: 22 Nov 2016
Many thanks for the ARC provided NetGalley and author Suanne Laqueur
3.5 Stars
In the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, Santiago, Chile falls on September 11th, and eleven year-old Alejandro Penda’s life begins to take a drastic turn. His father has been gone, and when they come banging on the door for his mother, she hides Alejandro in the closet. He stays hidden except to sneak quietly out for food or the bathroom. Occasionally peering out a window to see the destruction and wreckage which is everywhere.
He arrives in America, and eventually finds a home with the Lark family whom he comes to love fiercely. He’s gone from Alejandro to Alex now. As the years pass, his love for them all grows, he cares for them, takes care of them, loves them. Eventually, he finds himself drawn to one in particular.
“As images of Chile faded and curled at the edges, the photo album in Alex’s heart began to fill with new family snapshots, all with his sleek, dark physique set like a black iris in the Lark bouquet of daffodils.”
On the other side of the city a young boy, Javier Landes is losing the family he was born into, to be shunned, kicked out. His sister. His father. His mother. He finds ways to eek out a living, but it’s barely a living. He works in a bar where his good looks and charm get him bigger tips and occasionally more, until he meets a woman who will change the course of his life. She becomes his mentor.
Years go by, Javier, not one to give his heart away, and what good what it be, in truth, it’s still quite thoroughly shattered, and bitter, until one day, he realizes that the feelings he’s having are more than unexpected, they’re undeniable. The timing could have been better for him to accept these feelings, the object of his affections about to leave on a flight first thing the next day. Their parting comment, “We’ll talk about this when I get back.” The waiting seems like agony, and only minutes have passed.
The next morning, Javier wakes in his apartment, thinking about these strange, but wonderful feelings, but the moment is short lived. When he turns on the television, it’s everywhere. Pandemonium. A plane has just flown into one of the twin towers. September 11th. 1973.
“And you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend,
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.”
– lyrics by P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri, sung by Barry McGuire (and a host of others)
And the world changes. Everything changes for Javier, and for everyone else. Javier realizes just how precious life can be. How one instant can change how everything looks. The past. The future. The world.
There are many moments throughout the rest of this story which seem genuine, and some that felt too contrived to me, they just didn’t ring true. It’s well written, but I can’t think of anyone to whom I would recommend this book, not that I would try and dissuade anyone, either. My favourite part of this book was in the beginning. The writing was lovely, the story compelling. Although there were times, as this story goes on, where the writing was lovely, the story felt very contrived and manipulated. To me. Your experience may be different. This has been given many 5 Star ratings, mine is just not one of them.
For those who are sensitive about “Language” – there’s a significant amount of “naughty words” in this book.
For those who are sensitive about Sex and / or Drugs there’s a lot of sex, some drug use (limited, but not overly descriptive about drugs).
Pub Date: 22 Nov 2016
Many thanks for the ARC provided NetGalley and author Suanne Laqueur
December 17, 2016
All The Stars in the Universe!
5 "Fucky" Stars
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
This book. OH THIS BOOK! I have never read anything like it.
I have made a new shelf and tag this year and called it "All The Stars In The Universe". It is reserved for books which even stand out among the 5 stars. Only very special stories go on that shelf. I knew when I was halfway through the book that it would get this tag.
The plot is way too complex to recount or explain. All you need to know is the blurb. Imagine a complicated braid and each strand of the braid is a story arc. Now and then they touch each other but never come together...until they do. This is how this wonderful story presented itself to me. And once the strands come together the real magic starts.
I loved Jav, Alex and Val from the start. They are amazing characters with so much pure and profound love in their hearts. Jav and Alex broke my heart a thousand times over. Javito because of the tragedies in his life and his fierce yearning for love but not allowing it into his life.
Alejo because of the tragedies in HIS life and the conflict of being attracted to a man. For his loyalty and him being a rock when everything seems to be falling apart. For his own struggles with the events that shaped his life.
I loved Val for her strength and her confidence in herself and her love. For her open mind although her house was standing in flames.
I fell in love with each and everyone of the main characters and I adored the side cast just as much. They felt real with all their struggles and heartbreaks. The pull they feel towards each other is irresistible, every single time, and with their attraction you are pulled into the circle, too. The tenderness and fierce love they feel for one another simply makes sense on an almost ethereal level.
The details are extremely well researched and I appreciate the historical facts which only highlight the atrocities we all don't know about unless somebody shines them into our faces like a torch. It is thought provoking and induces curiosity to find out more.
This story packs an emotional 1-2 punch (or several) you didn't see coming. It breaks you and puts you back together. It is full of twists you never guessed at. The love Suanne Laqueur has for her main characters jumps at you from every page and leaves an imprint on you.
Suanne Laqueur's voice is powerful and magnificent, her writing style is nothing short of gorgeous. While you might feel there is a lot of information along the way you will see farther in the story that every single detail is necessary to the development of the characters and the plot. It must have been a bit of a nightmare to plot this story out so I'm in utter awe of this author's talent to write a compelling, emotional story and keeping me interested throughout all of the 550+ pages. This author will be one to watch out in the future. I will definitely read her backlist but I'm also looking forward to "A Charm of Finches."
5 "Fucky" Stars
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
"I'd like to be faithful to you for another year. (It's hard this year.)"
This book. OH THIS BOOK! I have never read anything like it.
I have made a new shelf and tag this year and called it "All The Stars In The Universe". It is reserved for books which even stand out among the 5 stars. Only very special stories go on that shelf. I knew when I was halfway through the book that it would get this tag.
The plot is way too complex to recount or explain. All you need to know is the blurb. Imagine a complicated braid and each strand of the braid is a story arc. Now and then they touch each other but never come together...until they do. This is how this wonderful story presented itself to me. And once the strands come together the real magic starts.
I loved Jav, Alex and Val from the start. They are amazing characters with so much pure and profound love in their hearts. Jav and Alex broke my heart a thousand times over. Javito because of the tragedies in his life and his fierce yearning for love but not allowing it into his life.
"I'll pay you," he said in a desperate impulse. "Another three hours, buy the time back and it's a wash."
Her fingers run through his hair. "What's the matter?" she whispered. "This isn't you."
"I know," he said, setting his forehead on hers. "I don't know what it is, I only know I don't want to leave. I want to stay and sleep with you."
Alejo because of the tragedies in HIS life and the conflict of being attracted to a man. For his loyalty and him being a rock when everything seems to be falling apart. For his own struggles with the events that shaped his life.
"He's simple, but he's finely made. His experiences have crafted him. He has a moral compass that only points one way." Her laugh was soft in the dark. "He is a lousy liar. No pokerface whatsoever. But he's good to have in a crisis. He does we."
"We?"
"He always says things like 'We'll get through it.' Even if he knows he can't do a damn thing, he's there at your side. 'We'll work it out.'"
I loved Val for her strength and her confidence in herself and her love. For her open mind although her house was standing in flames.
I fell in love with each and everyone of the main characters and I adored the side cast just as much. They felt real with all their struggles and heartbreaks. The pull they feel towards each other is irresistible, every single time, and with their attraction you are pulled into the circle, too. The tenderness and fierce love they feel for one another simply makes sense on an almost ethereal level.
The details are extremely well researched and I appreciate the historical facts which only highlight the atrocities we all don't know about unless somebody shines them into our faces like a torch. It is thought provoking and induces curiosity to find out more.
This story packs an emotional 1-2 punch (or several) you didn't see coming. It breaks you and puts you back together. It is full of twists you never guessed at. The love Suanne Laqueur has for her main characters jumps at you from every page and leaves an imprint on you.
Suanne Laqueur's voice is powerful and magnificent, her writing style is nothing short of gorgeous. While you might feel there is a lot of information along the way you will see farther in the story that every single detail is necessary to the development of the characters and the plot. It must have been a bit of a nightmare to plot this story out so I'm in utter awe of this author's talent to write a compelling, emotional story and keeping me interested throughout all of the 550+ pages. This author will be one to watch out in the future. I will definitely read her backlist but I'm also looking forward to "A Charm of Finches."
"You and I," he said after a minute. "We're so alike. It's no wonder."
"No wonder what?"
"That we kept finding each other. I'm having a hard time thinking was coincidence. Cachai?"
"Cachai."
January 29, 2019
I wouldn't call An Exaltation of Larks an epic "romance" like The Fish Tales, but it is epic. And it's romantic. At its core, it's about love, but it's also about family and how those ties that bind grab hold of the three MCs and refuse to let go.
From the blurb:
Alex, Valerie and Jav meet first in their twenties, with a sudden attraction each finds strange and compelling. When they meet again in their forties, they discover not only is their bond still strong, but their life experiences are strangely similar. All have been shaped by separate 9/11's, and their unfinished business from the past will change everything they know about love, loyalty and friendship.
Their story is captivating, sometimes heartbreaking, and always real. Their relationships are enviable (and at times, smoking hot) and provide a high dose of romance that kept me swooning.
But what makes Larks so great isn't the romance or even the brilliant writing I've come to expect from Laqueur. It's the feelings it evokes from the very first page. Filled with beautiful highs and heartbreaking lows, it captivates. It also disturbs, charms, breaks and fixes. It exalts.
I’ve come to the conclusion that reading a Suanne Laqueur book is, and will always be, an involved, emotional experience. It’s not a simple pastime. If you pick up one of her books, be prepared to feel everything.
Her ability to tell a story is genius. Her writing is poetic. Words spill onto her pages in sentences that make my heart clench and swell, my eyes water.
I loved The Fish Tales. I miss The Fish Tales. But a few chapters into Larks, and I thought, Well, here you are.
Here I am, it whispered back.
From the blurb:
Alex, Valerie and Jav meet first in their twenties, with a sudden attraction each finds strange and compelling. When they meet again in their forties, they discover not only is their bond still strong, but their life experiences are strangely similar. All have been shaped by separate 9/11's, and their unfinished business from the past will change everything they know about love, loyalty and friendship.
Their story is captivating, sometimes heartbreaking, and always real. Their relationships are enviable (and at times, smoking hot) and provide a high dose of romance that kept me swooning.
But what makes Larks so great isn't the romance or even the brilliant writing I've come to expect from Laqueur. It's the feelings it evokes from the very first page. Filled with beautiful highs and heartbreaking lows, it captivates. It also disturbs, charms, breaks and fixes. It exalts.
I’ve come to the conclusion that reading a Suanne Laqueur book is, and will always be, an involved, emotional experience. It’s not a simple pastime. If you pick up one of her books, be prepared to feel everything.
Her ability to tell a story is genius. Her writing is poetic. Words spill onto her pages in sentences that make my heart clench and swell, my eyes water.
I loved The Fish Tales. I miss The Fish Tales. But a few chapters into Larks, and I thought, Well, here you are.
Here I am, it whispered back.
November 22, 2017
Rating this is easy, reviewing it is hard as fuck. The writing was absolutely spellbinding, even completely innocuous descriptions (like describing soup) had me enraptured. Here are a couple random sentences that had me stopping and staring at a wall for five minutes, trying to figure out how such simple sentences made such a big impact on me...
"I went up to the roof a boy, and got thrown down the stairs a man."
"She reminded Javi of Naroba, who apologized to the oxygen in the room for breathing."
"He was a foreigner in his own skin and couldn't remember a time he felt more human."If I had read a hard copy, my hand would've been sore from all the highlighting I did. Picking a select few quotes to use for this review was the hardest it's ever been. This is probably the most well written book I've ever read. There are very few authors who can make me appreciate verbosity. But I can't imagine taking a single sentence away. This book is 500+ pages and I wanted more. More plot, more words, more feelings... more everything. And not because it was lacking, but because I'm greedy.
It's also pretty rare that it takes me a month to read a 5-star book. It was almost like going on a really great vacation. You're clearly loving it and it's incredible, but you also want to slow down and savor it. You want to take a day or two to just relax and bask in what's already happened, to make it last as long as possible. In the end it's impossible to remember everything that happened and everything you felt. Because you can't review a book like this, you can only experience it. Trying to encompass everything this book did to me would look a lot like this:
This story is about so much more than one romance. Truthfully, the way I took it, it's not really about one couple or even separate couples. Love and sexual attraction aren't always between just two people. But rather, everything we've experienced, and have yet to experience, shape these feelings.
"Looking back now, it's easy to dismiss it and say I didn't know what i was doing or didn't have a clue what love was. My opinion now doesn't change what I felt then. Back then, I believed it was love. It felt like love."
"That's all that matters, cosita. What you believe and what you feel now. Later on, you might feel differently. Later you might be able to explain it better. But it doesn't ever change how you felt at the time."In the end, all we have is now. Even if it's messy and doesn't make sense, feelings shouldn't be ignored, not for anything.
It gets messy. It doesn't always make sense. But Laqueur seamlessly weaves family, love, and attraction together in such an all-encompassing and unpredictable way, you can't help but feel that this messy, confusing love story is perfection.
Alex and Val, who meet as kids and were practically family, were always destined to be together.
"I don't mean sexual attraction. It went deeper, but... I was only twelve when we met."Even if they didn't always understand what it was, they knew it was something important. Significant.
"Your brain doesn't have language for it at twelve."
"He made me so confused. The air felt different when he was around. Like it was trying to grab me by the shoulders and shake me. Do you see? Look at him. Do you understand? Look..."
They're soulmates. But sometimes even soulmates need to take separate paths and experience other people before they're meant to be together.
"Funny, whenever my thoughts start to dig into how I feel about him, it's like a voice inside says No, dear, you're not old enough yet. I'm twenty-fucking-six years old, what does that even mean?"Even when they're older, and have been together for years, they discover that sometimes being soulmates requires work too. This isn't a feel-good, everything-is-always-perfect, romance. It hurts. Mistakes are made. And their relationship is tested. But I think the fact that is was so painstakingly real is what makes it a better love story. It's proof that love doesn't need to be a fantasy or a fairytale to have a happy ending.
Twice, they cross paths with Jav, someone who easily becomes an important part of their lives. Becomes a part of their family. Jav (DIBS) has had a hard life. He's been treated poorly and has been taught some rough lessons. He becomes "bi-curious and bi-cautious," making sex with woman his occupation and treating love as a foolish daydream. But he learns that there isn't a wall high enough to keep love out when it wants in, and that the only real decision you have is whether to accept it or run from it.
"Second chances are given or made."Jav was easily my favorite character. He broke my heart and despite his feelings on love, I felt he fought for it the most. He lost more than other people can even imagine, and despite his stumbles, he wanted it. He learned from the mistakes he made and went after it.
He lifted his face to the stars, asking love to be his friend. "I want somebody to love... Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it."
This is also a story about discovering who you are, and what makes you who you are. My favorite quote (really bold statement for this book) is...
"What I want is nothing I am."Who are we? Who decides that? Us or society? And do our wants make us who we are?
"Wanting isn't having. Wanting isn't doing. Wanting isn't making come to fruition. Everyone wants. I want. It's the human condition."I love this because it has me thinking. Truthfully, I'm not sure. I think our wants have to play some role in who we are. I think describing our wants as outside of ourselves is more about fear from the repercussions of wanting what so far we've never considered. Maybe I'll come back and add to this, but right now I'm still thinking about it... which is the best way to leave a book in my opinion.
There are other characters and other loves present. Like I said, this story is too great to review, but I certainly tried. I could probably go on for days and it still wouldn't touch this book. It's different. It questions everything you think about love. And in the end you realize that sometimes all you can do is forget the rest of it and just love. I can't compare this to anything, but if you're even a little bit curious, take the plunge. This is the kind of book you take a chance on...
Safety: I really can't disclose this without revealing significant aspects of the plot. And I'm hesitant to write any sort of disclaimer because it's really not black-and-white here. I understand some people want to know what they're getting into, but I can't in good conscience provide a blanket answer to this question.
Closure:
*ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review*
November 17, 2018
This story wrecked and resurrected me over and over.
There is nothing I could write that could possibly do this book justice. Susanne Laquer is the very definition of a writer. Simply said, she was born to write.
Her prose flows like a magical elixir leaving you no choice but to lay back and let it pour all over you.
"Jav’s face was numb. Fingertips ice cold. His shirt stuck to his back with sweat and every square inch of skin prickled and tingled. He could feel his heart breaking down, dropping off piece by piece into the rolling boil of his stomach. Every splash sending up clouds of toxic steam, choking his throat. He was sure the next words out would be inside a scream."
Am I right? I mean jeez lueez the imagery, the tension, the emotion she is able to evoke is beyond reproach.
The next time you're ready to get lost and luxuriate in a story, I cannot recommend any other book more than this one.
Straight to my favorites shelf.
There is nothing I could write that could possibly do this book justice. Susanne Laquer is the very definition of a writer. Simply said, she was born to write.
Her prose flows like a magical elixir leaving you no choice but to lay back and let it pour all over you.
"Jav’s face was numb. Fingertips ice cold. His shirt stuck to his back with sweat and every square inch of skin prickled and tingled. He could feel his heart breaking down, dropping off piece by piece into the rolling boil of his stomach. Every splash sending up clouds of toxic steam, choking his throat. He was sure the next words out would be inside a scream."
Am I right? I mean jeez lueez the imagery, the tension, the emotion she is able to evoke is beyond reproach.
The next time you're ready to get lost and luxuriate in a story, I cannot recommend any other book more than this one.
Straight to my favorites shelf.
Read
October 2, 2017ETA: after much debate I've decided to withdraw my star rating, mostly because I don't want to Jedi mind trick myself in a few years into thinking I "really liked" it.
This is difficult to rate and review for a many reasons. Mostly because I am a squishy marshmallow that doesn’t enjoy reading books chock-a-block with emotional pain and suffering. So be forewarned, much rambling lies ahead.
Suanne Laqueur has crafted an exquisite Pain Cake with anguish filling and agony frosting in An Exaltation of Larks. I’m not sure if she took George R.R. Martin’s “all men must die” catchphrase as a personal affront or just a challenge, because this was worse than the red wedding. The sheer amount of pain, suffering and loss in Part 1 tainted the rest of it. I found myself throwing shade every time anyone went anywhere, got into a car, went on vacation, the doorbell rang, they got a text or a phone call I’d say, ‘well, I hope you made that goodbye a good one because they’re about to die!!!!!!!’ or something awful was about to happen. The final two parts of the book are slightly less agonizing than the first, but they’re no picnic either. When I find myself unable to relax and enjoy a story because I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop… I mean, am I supposed to enjoy this? Is that even the point? The number of 5 star reviews on GR can only lead me to believe that I’m the one who doesn’t get it.
Another thing I don’t get is why it’s categorized as a romance. It’s really not. It’s about love and sex and sexuality and life and how those intersect but there’s no central sweeping romance. An Exaltation of Larks is an ensemble cast fiction that has some romantic elements and homoerotic moments, but romance?
It begins in Chile in 1973 with a boy of 11 who’s life has just been blown apart by a monster named Augusto Pinochet. His father somehow miraculously gets little Alejandro to the embassy and from there they get him to New York to an uncle he’s never met, in a world he doesn’t understand and a language he doesn’t speak. Shortly thereafter he meets the Lark family. Valerie is 12 when they meet. There is an immediate connection between them that defies explanation. They become friends and Alejandro becomes Alex and a brother/son of the Larks. We meet Javier at 17 in Corona, Queens, New York. What transpires with Javier is awful, plain and simple. No one should have to endure what he does. All three of their lives intersect periodically with Val and Alex finally admitting that they are “it” for each other and Javier remaining a popular male escort. None of these characters escape unscathed nor does New York. 9/11 features heavily in An Exaltation of Larks, both the actual day and the aftermath.
Part 1 is richly urban and NYC is just as much a character as Val, Alex and Jav. I like stories that use the setting to tell the story as much as the characters. There are several flashbacks in this part and those I found problematic as I found myself rereading to figure out “when” we were or in whose head. Part 1 is the most grueling emotionally, so exercise caution if you’re triggered by: child abuse, violence, animal cruelty, incest or just loss, loss and more loss with a side of pain. Honestly, I was a hairsbreadth from giving up but I kept going thinking there would be a big, glorious payoff, when in actuality the narrative downshifts into the monotony of daily life post 9/11 in Guelisten, New York where the three reunite.
Ever see the movie American Beauty? Remember that scene?
I believe that. There is majesty in daily life if you look closely; if you’re open to it. But I still think the story is unbalanced. If a narrative is front loaded with pain and suffering then I assume it’ll be backloaded with joy and triumph. NOPE. It ends the only way it can but would I call it happy? Yes and no, but then it’s not really a romance so I’ve no right to expect a big fluffy HEA, right? Maybe the payoff occurs in A Charm of Finches, because this certainly has an open ending. The problem is I don’t know if I want to read it because what if it doesn’t? What if that’s mislabeled a romance too? Then what? I’m out another $6+ for The Pain Cake, Part Deux?
Fool me once…
The other side of the coin is I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t affected by this story. Laqueur has a knack for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. An Exaltation of Larks is grand in scope and even though I think it could’ve been streamlined, in winding down this long road with these complex characters they became fully realized and their story engrossing. It’s clear the onus of accurately depicting the two male characters’ heritages of Dominican and Chilean wasn’t a responsibility taken lightly. The levels of nuance in illustrating the numerous ways one person can love another are exceptional; they speak of a life lived observing and archiving the human condition. From childhood to middle age the differences and similarities are depicted fastidiously. Parts 2 and 3 expand into Deane and Ari who are the teenaged daughter and nephew of Val, Alex and Jav, respectively. The various permutations of sexuality that are explored add depth to the narrative from the degrees of bisexuality to asexuality to the delicacies of being a male escort, Laqueur was respectful in her illustration of them all. To see sexuality treated as something that’s continuously evolving rather than static was refreshing; their struggles to understand and accept what was happening amongst them were genuine.
However, An Exaltation of Larks is not a ménage story. It’s a love triangle complete with cheating. Cheating isn’t an auto-no for me, but I was pissed at the way this went down. I don’t want to spoil anything but I’ll say I was #TeamVal. Everything she thinks, says or does in the aftermath I found myself nodding right along and saying ‘yep, yep, yep’ like an addled bobblehead. To be clear, the cheating is mostly emotional with some groping and a whole lot of kissing, but it’s still shitty times infinity and not what I was expecting when I shelled out $6+ for this thing. So if you’re like me you may want to holster that 1-click finger.
But still... at the end of all this I’m still confused on how to rate this. The way Laqueur portrays human fallibility and the repercussions thereof is superb and she did it with panache, so I feel like giving it less than 4 stars would be a disservice to the writing alone. However, my enjoyment of this story is hovering around -25 stars mark so… what’s the math on that? Realistically, I feel like I endured it, but I know it will stick with me for a while so 4 it is.
And now… I’m going to read some fluff and try and shake this thing off.
Recommend to people who like pain (not the fun kind either).
This is difficult to rate and review for a many reasons. Mostly because I am a squishy marshmallow that doesn’t enjoy reading books chock-a-block with emotional pain and suffering. So be forewarned, much rambling lies ahead.
Suanne Laqueur has crafted an exquisite Pain Cake with anguish filling and agony frosting in An Exaltation of Larks. I’m not sure if she took George R.R. Martin’s “all men must die” catchphrase as a personal affront or just a challenge, because this was worse than the red wedding. The sheer amount of pain, suffering and loss in Part 1 tainted the rest of it. I found myself throwing shade every time anyone went anywhere, got into a car, went on vacation, the doorbell rang, they got a text or a phone call I’d say, ‘well, I hope you made that goodbye a good one because they’re about to die!!!!!!!’ or something awful was about to happen. The final two parts of the book are slightly less agonizing than the first, but they’re no picnic either. When I find myself unable to relax and enjoy a story because I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop… I mean, am I supposed to enjoy this? Is that even the point? The number of 5 star reviews on GR can only lead me to believe that I’m the one who doesn’t get it.
Another thing I don’t get is why it’s categorized as a romance. It’s really not. It’s about love and sex and sexuality and life and how those intersect but there’s no central sweeping romance. An Exaltation of Larks is an ensemble cast fiction that has some romantic elements and homoerotic moments, but romance?
It begins in Chile in 1973 with a boy of 11 who’s life has just been blown apart by a monster named Augusto Pinochet. His father somehow miraculously gets little Alejandro to the embassy and from there they get him to New York to an uncle he’s never met, in a world he doesn’t understand and a language he doesn’t speak. Shortly thereafter he meets the Lark family. Valerie is 12 when they meet. There is an immediate connection between them that defies explanation. They become friends and Alejandro becomes Alex and a brother/son of the Larks. We meet Javier at 17 in Corona, Queens, New York. What transpires with Javier is awful, plain and simple. No one should have to endure what he does. All three of their lives intersect periodically with Val and Alex finally admitting that they are “it” for each other and Javier remaining a popular male escort. None of these characters escape unscathed nor does New York. 9/11 features heavily in An Exaltation of Larks, both the actual day and the aftermath.
Part 1 is richly urban and NYC is just as much a character as Val, Alex and Jav. I like stories that use the setting to tell the story as much as the characters. There are several flashbacks in this part and those I found problematic as I found myself rereading to figure out “when” we were or in whose head. Part 1 is the most grueling emotionally, so exercise caution if you’re triggered by: child abuse, violence, animal cruelty, incest or just loss, loss and more loss with a side of pain. Honestly, I was a hairsbreadth from giving up but I kept going thinking there would be a big, glorious payoff, when in actuality the narrative downshifts into the monotony of daily life post 9/11 in Guelisten, New York where the three reunite.
Ever see the movie American Beauty? Remember that scene?
I believe that. There is majesty in daily life if you look closely; if you’re open to it. But I still think the story is unbalanced. If a narrative is front loaded with pain and suffering then I assume it’ll be backloaded with joy and triumph. NOPE. It ends the only way it can but would I call it happy? Yes and no, but then it’s not really a romance so I’ve no right to expect a big fluffy HEA, right? Maybe the payoff occurs in A Charm of Finches, because this certainly has an open ending. The problem is I don’t know if I want to read it because what if it doesn’t? What if that’s mislabeled a romance too? Then what? I’m out another $6+ for The Pain Cake, Part Deux?
Fool me once…
The other side of the coin is I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t affected by this story. Laqueur has a knack for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. An Exaltation of Larks is grand in scope and even though I think it could’ve been streamlined, in winding down this long road with these complex characters they became fully realized and their story engrossing. It’s clear the onus of accurately depicting the two male characters’ heritages of Dominican and Chilean wasn’t a responsibility taken lightly. The levels of nuance in illustrating the numerous ways one person can love another are exceptional; they speak of a life lived observing and archiving the human condition. From childhood to middle age the differences and similarities are depicted fastidiously. Parts 2 and 3 expand into Deane and Ari who are the teenaged daughter and nephew of Val, Alex and Jav, respectively. The various permutations of sexuality that are explored add depth to the narrative from the degrees of bisexuality to asexuality to the delicacies of being a male escort, Laqueur was respectful in her illustration of them all. To see sexuality treated as something that’s continuously evolving rather than static was refreshing; their struggles to understand and accept what was happening amongst them were genuine.
However, An Exaltation of Larks is not a ménage story. It’s a love triangle complete with cheating. Cheating isn’t an auto-no for me, but I was pissed at the way this went down. I don’t want to spoil anything but I’ll say I was #TeamVal. Everything she thinks, says or does in the aftermath I found myself nodding right along and saying ‘yep, yep, yep’ like an addled bobblehead. To be clear, the cheating is mostly emotional with some groping and a whole lot of kissing, but it’s still shitty times infinity and not what I was expecting when I shelled out $6+ for this thing. So if you’re like me you may want to holster that 1-click finger.
But still... at the end of all this I’m still confused on how to rate this. The way Laqueur portrays human fallibility and the repercussions thereof is superb and she did it with panache, so I feel like giving it less than 4 stars would be a disservice to the writing alone. However, my enjoyment of this story is hovering around -25 stars mark so… what’s the math on that? Realistically, I feel like I endured it, but I know it will stick with me for a while so 4 it is.
And now… I’m going to read some fluff and try and shake this thing off.
Recommend to people who like pain (not the fun kind either).
December 7, 2016
5 MustRead Stars
Magnificently Brilliant......
A story that spans 35 years.......
A story that weaves families together by coincidence or by fate.......
A story of love, loss, turmoil, sexuality, friendship, marriage and happiness........
A story that creeps into your soul and becomes ingrained....
A story of epic proportions.........
This story is one of those epic reads that totally grabs you and takes you on a journey of feels. It evokes all emotions. You will ache, you will cry, you will sigh, you will laugh, and you will love. The writing is outstandingly beautiful. It's poetic and lyrical, visual and awakening, and deeply layered and compelling. You become part of the story, experiencing and feeling the magnitude of this epic journey.
Family......one perfect, one broken and one devastated. Loss, betrayal and losing your innocence but finding acceptance and love.Three families make up the foundation of this story. How Alex, Val and Jav come together is thoroughly mesmerizing and captivating. Each one of these characters is surrounded by others that are essential to the full storyline. The Pendas, The Larks, Gloria, Felipe, Ari, Deane, Flip.......every character gets embedded and engrained into your fiber. Their journey through life is chronicled with the author's soul searching and though provoking words.
This story spans 3 decades. You see them grow, experience life, experience heartache and experience joy. No family is perfect but how one reacts to adversity and trials and tribulations is what makes one strong and alive. Past and present collide throughout this book. Every character tugs at your heart and opens it up to fly in exaltation. The way that this book weaves and wobbles and shoots straight to the stars will stay with you and make you think about it for days.
I know I didn't really tell you much about the story but I believe that the story should unfold for the reader. If you love books that encompass decades, this one is gold. I will say that this is a book everyone who loves to read should read. It's Epically Wonderful, Full of Feels, and Phenomenally Written. One of my best reads of 2016.
*Advanced copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Magnificently Brilliant......
A story that spans 35 years.......
A story that weaves families together by coincidence or by fate.......
A story of love, loss, turmoil, sexuality, friendship, marriage and happiness........
A story that creeps into your soul and becomes ingrained....
A story of epic proportions.........
This story is one of those epic reads that totally grabs you and takes you on a journey of feels. It evokes all emotions. You will ache, you will cry, you will sigh, you will laugh, and you will love. The writing is outstandingly beautiful. It's poetic and lyrical, visual and awakening, and deeply layered and compelling. You become part of the story, experiencing and feeling the magnitude of this epic journey.
Family......one perfect, one broken and one devastated. Loss, betrayal and losing your innocence but finding acceptance and love.Three families make up the foundation of this story. How Alex, Val and Jav come together is thoroughly mesmerizing and captivating. Each one of these characters is surrounded by others that are essential to the full storyline. The Pendas, The Larks, Gloria, Felipe, Ari, Deane, Flip.......every character gets embedded and engrained into your fiber. Their journey through life is chronicled with the author's soul searching and though provoking words.
This story spans 3 decades. You see them grow, experience life, experience heartache and experience joy. No family is perfect but how one reacts to adversity and trials and tribulations is what makes one strong and alive. Past and present collide throughout this book. Every character tugs at your heart and opens it up to fly in exaltation. The way that this book weaves and wobbles and shoots straight to the stars will stay with you and make you think about it for days.
I know I didn't really tell you much about the story but I believe that the story should unfold for the reader. If you love books that encompass decades, this one is gold. I will say that this is a book everyone who loves to read should read. It's Epically Wonderful, Full of Feels, and Phenomenally Written. One of my best reads of 2016.
*Advanced copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
December 14, 2018
An Exaltation of Larks...wow, so many five star reviews from my Goodreads friends and worthy of every star. 5 stars from me, too! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
In 1973, on September 11, Alejandro (Alex) Penda is a child living in war torn Chile, when his city, Santiago, is taken over in a military coup. Everything he knows is lost and destroyed, and his parents disappear.
Alex finds himself in the United States all alone where he is given shelter with the Larks, a wealthy family. Alejandro later marries one of the Larks, Valerie; however, understandably, he is always deeply affected by the loss of his parents in Chile.
On the same date, in a different year, in New York City, Javier Landes’ world falls apart as terrorism strikes his city. Javier is a male escort, and a wealthy one at that, when he is named guardian to his nephew who has lost his parents during 9/11.
Alex, Valerie, and Jav meet first in their twenties and later in their forties where they bond over the similarities between their life-altering experiences. Going forward, they will face their pasts separately and together.
At its core, this is a story of what makes a family and how love can join us all. The writing is exquisite, and the story is mind-bending in its loveliness.
An Exaltation of Larks is a brilliant wonder. I cherished my experience with it.
*The reader should be aware that this book involves sensitive topics like sex and language, as have been pointed out in other reviews.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
In 1973, on September 11, Alejandro (Alex) Penda is a child living in war torn Chile, when his city, Santiago, is taken over in a military coup. Everything he knows is lost and destroyed, and his parents disappear.
Alex finds himself in the United States all alone where he is given shelter with the Larks, a wealthy family. Alejandro later marries one of the Larks, Valerie; however, understandably, he is always deeply affected by the loss of his parents in Chile.
On the same date, in a different year, in New York City, Javier Landes’ world falls apart as terrorism strikes his city. Javier is a male escort, and a wealthy one at that, when he is named guardian to his nephew who has lost his parents during 9/11.
Alex, Valerie, and Jav meet first in their twenties and later in their forties where they bond over the similarities between their life-altering experiences. Going forward, they will face their pasts separately and together.
At its core, this is a story of what makes a family and how love can join us all. The writing is exquisite, and the story is mind-bending in its loveliness.
An Exaltation of Larks is a brilliant wonder. I cherished my experience with it.
*The reader should be aware that this book involves sensitive topics like sex and language, as have been pointed out in other reviews.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
March 7, 2018
4.5 stars
Could have, should have, would have been a solid FIVE stars but that "twist" at the end did absolutely nothing for me. It actually took away from the book for me ... I mean, come fucking on ... too much of a coincidence ... I know the book was based on coincidences, for the most part but that was a bit OTT for me. I know, I know, it is fiction ... poetic license and all that!!! You guys know me at this stage, it is easy to annoy me. LOL.
Apart from that I loved the book. I felt ever word, sentence, emotion, character! This author makes you feel the story. At least I think so.
I cannot imagine being exiled from your country, your family, your friends. Granted, I emigrated but it was my choice and I can go back to Ireland any time I want.
Lives are intertwined. Emotions run high.
I know my review is a bit vague but I, honestly, did not read many reviews prior to picking this one up. You don't need spoilers ... Looking forward to diving into the next in the series.
And apart from that one part that annoyed me, it was a fantastic read.
Could have, should have, would have been a solid FIVE stars but that "twist" at the end did absolutely nothing for me. It actually took away from the book for me ... I mean, come fucking on ... too much of a coincidence ... I know the book was based on coincidences, for the most part but that was a bit OTT for me. I know, I know, it is fiction ... poetic license and all that!!! You guys know me at this stage, it is easy to annoy me. LOL.
Apart from that I loved the book. I felt ever word, sentence, emotion, character! This author makes you feel the story. At least I think so.
He was not quite eleven years old and didn't understand what was happening in the world.
Love was no friend of his.
I cannot imagine being exiled from your country, your family, your friends. Granted, I emigrated but it was my choice and I can go back to Ireland any time I want.
Lives are intertwined. Emotions run high.
Second chances are given or made.
They were in his story and he was in theirs
My heart beats with you.
Wake up to hear my heart one day.
I know my review is a bit vague but I, honestly, did not read many reviews prior to picking this one up. You don't need spoilers ... Looking forward to diving into the next in the series.
And apart from that one part that annoyed me, it was a fantastic read.
January 3, 2020
As I jump from book to book in Venery series, my heart drums hard in my chest. I know it's going to be EPIC This book is Grand Winner in Writers Digest Book Awards 2017. So I know it's going to be a momentous experience, merely by opening this book.
Suanne's writing reminds me of how Léon Uris used to write. Chronicling human tragedies against the backdrop of historical events, perpetuated by social evils and how it all effects the characters and ultimately the readers. she expertly braids important events and cultural heritage into a saga of unrequited, forbidden love. The end result is a masterpiece. Visually stunning, emotionally rich and poignantly moving. The story can be summed up as a Perfect Storm of Affections & Sorrows. A crescendo of sentiments and Wallows of grief.
Her prose is eerily close to facts, inspired by true events and thoroughly researched. There's a thread that runs from events to the characters and it's pulled taut. A time line is set and all the characters appear and reappear to keep the story going.
But the meat of the story is in the powerful love entangled like Christmas lights and it gets trickier by the page. It's a triangulation of sorts, with equally fervent emotions flowing between all three people who have the fortune of being in love with each other.
Javi belongs to a tribe of psuedo-Macho race
"Find his way home, even as home insisted it was here. Right here in this house. With Alex. Let me come in. Let me stay. Let me touch you. I want to come home and talk about it. "
Javi learned a lot about tiguerismo: the Dominicans’ standard of masculinity. Men were raised to be tigers. Predators of love. In matters of the heart, the ideal man was passionate but strong. Sexually commanding and confident. Above all, macho.
Any sort of weakness was unacceptable and had to be beaten out of him....mercilessly.
Javi is a very dignified, stoic man, his world is full of loveless sex, beautiful women and oodles of money which gives him power. He's definitely never going back to vulnerability of his penniless youth again.
But inside his heart has vacant chambers where people and healing love should've been. His quest for that elusive ONE, who can strum his heart strings leads him to serendipitous encounter with charming nerd -Alex or Alejandro and Val.
"For a moment, the three of them stood in a tableau. The golden flame of Valentine posed between the dark pillars of Jav and Alex. For the single, shining, gold-dusted moment, Jav felt part of the charm. They were in his story and he was in theirs. "
Jav is certainly the most tragically noble figure I've ever read. His heart ached for love and mine ached to jump in the book and hide him in my arms.
He's as lonely as the Giants abandoned toys in Queens Fairgrounds
“It’s kind of a haunted place. Everything about it is crying, Don’t you love me anymore?”
Val & Alex are soul mates, he's yin to her yang and their reasons for existence, with no space in between. so why does javi fit with both of them so perfectly?
He becomes the blood in their veins, the air they breathe, their voice of reason, the wall to lean on and an arc that completes their circle. Their seamless friendship is taken for granted, till their emotions threaten to boil over and erupt out of their souls destroying everything in its path. Relationships, family ties, past, present and the future.
I'm completely mesmerized by Suanne's acute sensibility when it comes to portraying human capacity of endurance. She deepens the characters, carves facets into their personalities, till they shine with brilliance. The way she describes misery and grief, makes my heart bleed.....and then she pours brine on it!!
“You’re not fragile,You’re sparse.”
“You’re rake thin with obese emotions.”
I sympathize with them. I want to unearth their secrets. And I'll continue to follow them despite all the sludge I get on my shoes.
"What I want is nothing I am"
This struggle between what they are, and what they want, teared my soul. It's disheartening to watch them flutter helplessly in the cages of their own making.
I Noticed that Suanne doesn't play too much at the unfairness of life. She always gives the characters an out, a back alley of hope. A promise of better things to come. This negates the dejection and fills up the depressive sinkhole which may have threatened to swallow the lot whole. But hers the genius Suanne at work, a master storyteller, who ends the book on a promise of horizon, where the earth meets the sky!!
“This tiger is making himself a third chance,” Jav said.
“Third time’s the charm, right?”
“A group of finches is called a charm.”
I'm going to jump in the next book on the 6th and the nagging at her in pms shall renew.
"Where the fuck have you been all my life?
I for to finding you better late than never chica❤️
6 stars for the Greatest Terrible Idea
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Suanne's writing reminds me of how Léon Uris used to write. Chronicling human tragedies against the backdrop of historical events, perpetuated by social evils and how it all effects the characters and ultimately the readers. she expertly braids important events and cultural heritage into a saga of unrequited, forbidden love. The end result is a masterpiece. Visually stunning, emotionally rich and poignantly moving. The story can be summed up as a Perfect Storm of Affections & Sorrows. A crescendo of sentiments and Wallows of grief.
Her prose is eerily close to facts, inspired by true events and thoroughly researched. There's a thread that runs from events to the characters and it's pulled taut. A time line is set and all the characters appear and reappear to keep the story going.
But the meat of the story is in the powerful love entangled like Christmas lights and it gets trickier by the page. It's a triangulation of sorts, with equally fervent emotions flowing between all three people who have the fortune of being in love with each other.
Javi belongs to a tribe of psuedo-Macho race
"Find his way home, even as home insisted it was here. Right here in this house. With Alex. Let me come in. Let me stay. Let me touch you. I want to come home and talk about it. "
Javi learned a lot about tiguerismo: the Dominicans’ standard of masculinity. Men were raised to be tigers. Predators of love. In matters of the heart, the ideal man was passionate but strong. Sexually commanding and confident. Above all, macho.
Any sort of weakness was unacceptable and had to be beaten out of him....mercilessly.
Javi is a very dignified, stoic man, his world is full of loveless sex, beautiful women and oodles of money which gives him power. He's definitely never going back to vulnerability of his penniless youth again.
But inside his heart has vacant chambers where people and healing love should've been. His quest for that elusive ONE, who can strum his heart strings leads him to serendipitous encounter with charming nerd -Alex or Alejandro and Val.
"For a moment, the three of them stood in a tableau. The golden flame of Valentine posed between the dark pillars of Jav and Alex. For the single, shining, gold-dusted moment, Jav felt part of the charm. They were in his story and he was in theirs. "
Jav is certainly the most tragically noble figure I've ever read. His heart ached for love and mine ached to jump in the book and hide him in my arms.
He's as lonely as the Giants abandoned toys in Queens Fairgrounds
“It’s kind of a haunted place. Everything about it is crying, Don’t you love me anymore?”
Val & Alex are soul mates, he's yin to her yang and their reasons for existence, with no space in between. so why does javi fit with both of them so perfectly?
He becomes the blood in their veins, the air they breathe, their voice of reason, the wall to lean on and an arc that completes their circle. Their seamless friendship is taken for granted, till their emotions threaten to boil over and erupt out of their souls destroying everything in its path. Relationships, family ties, past, present and the future.
I'm completely mesmerized by Suanne's acute sensibility when it comes to portraying human capacity of endurance. She deepens the characters, carves facets into their personalities, till they shine with brilliance. The way she describes misery and grief, makes my heart bleed.....and then she pours brine on it!!
“You’re not fragile,You’re sparse.”
“You’re rake thin with obese emotions.”
I sympathize with them. I want to unearth their secrets. And I'll continue to follow them despite all the sludge I get on my shoes.
"What I want is nothing I am"
This struggle between what they are, and what they want, teared my soul. It's disheartening to watch them flutter helplessly in the cages of their own making.
I Noticed that Suanne doesn't play too much at the unfairness of life. She always gives the characters an out, a back alley of hope. A promise of better things to come. This negates the dejection and fills up the depressive sinkhole which may have threatened to swallow the lot whole. But hers the genius Suanne at work, a master storyteller, who ends the book on a promise of horizon, where the earth meets the sky!!
“This tiger is making himself a third chance,” Jav said.
“Third time’s the charm, right?”
“A group of finches is called a charm.”
I'm going to jump in the next book on the 6th and the nagging at her in pms shall renew.
"Where the fuck have you been all my life?
I for to finding you better late than never chica❤️
6 stars for the Greatest Terrible Idea
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Follow me on:
[email protected]
https://Twitter.com/BookBistro
www.instagram.com/BookBistroBlog
https://bookbistroblogger.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookB...
December 15, 2016
I don't know if this is a good post or not but it was difficult and I need to do some self-reflection.
Here it is... https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
I don't know if you would call this a review so I'm not really going to post it here but you can find it on my blog. The link is at the top.
Here it is... https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
I don't know if you would call this a review so I'm not really going to post it here but you can find it on my blog. The link is at the top.
April 15, 2017
Genre: Fiction/Saga
Type: Standalone Book 1 of Venery series
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Alejandro (Alex) Penda was only 11 years old when a coup ripped apart his country and his family. Safe in a new country, he befriended and became close to the Larks especially their daughter Valerie and formed a lifelong connection with them.
Javier Gil de Soto learned at a young age life is all about every man for himself. He barricaded his heart from any feelings that would make him weak. Ironically, he's in the business of providing "love" when he, himself avoided any. But when fate collided and brought two families together it could be a soaring joy or a violent crash to the ground.
At some point I saw this book on my Goodreads feed a lot, but I've never really paid much attention to it. After seeing the general reactions of reviewers on this book, I knew I had to check it out myself. I'm glad I did.
Val was an emotionally strong character. She's independent with a strong shot of sass, but with a soft heart that refused to be trampled.
While Alex had a big heart and readily share it with the ones he loved, he could also be quite fragile. I like his vulnerability but at times I also wish he was more assertive.
Javi was definitely my favorite character. I love his life story and how he evolved throughout the book.
I like the concept of the story - how the lives of the characters interconnected to each others. It spanned across time with many characters in between. I like seeing the characters grew personally and among themselves, but for a non paranormal/fantasy book, it is very long. There was one major scene that I'm not sure if it fit or had enough closure towards the overall story. I understand the significance but the additional drama just felt a little off to me.
An Exaltation of Larks is a saga that follows the lives of three individuals that are connected by circumstances and bound by an unbreakable bond. It would appeal to readers who like to be invested in a richly written story of family and friendship.
Books in the series:
ஃ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ஃ . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . ஃ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ஃ
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Standalone Book 1 of Venery series
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Alejandro (Alex) Penda was only 11 years old when a coup ripped apart his country and his family. Safe in a new country, he befriended and became close to the Larks especially their daughter Valerie and formed a lifelong connection with them.
Javier Gil de Soto learned at a young age life is all about every man for himself. He barricaded his heart from any feelings that would make him weak. Ironically, he's in the business of providing "love" when he, himself avoided any. But when fate collided and brought two families together it could be a soaring joy or a violent crash to the ground.
At some point I saw this book on my Goodreads feed a lot, but I've never really paid much attention to it. After seeing the general reactions of reviewers on this book, I knew I had to check it out myself. I'm glad I did.
“Aware of how tenuous life can be. How too many things go unsaid or undone. How we wait too long and miss the chance.”
Val was an emotionally strong character. She's independent with a strong shot of sass, but with a soft heart that refused to be trampled.
"He’s simple, but he’s finely made. His experiences have crafted him. He has a moral compass that only points one way.”
While Alex had a big heart and readily share it with the ones he loved, he could also be quite fragile. I like his vulnerability but at times I also wish he was more assertive.
The man had to know what a lethal weapon he was, yet his demeanor was utterly casual. He wore a tux like it was a bathrobe. Hell, he probably could stand there in a bathrobe and own it.
Javi was definitely my favorite character. I love his life story and how he evolved throughout the book.
I like the concept of the story - how the lives of the characters interconnected to each others. It spanned across time with many characters in between. I like seeing the characters grew personally and among themselves, but for a non paranormal/fantasy book, it is very long. There was one major scene that I'm not sure if it fit or had enough closure towards the overall story. I understand the significance but the additional drama just felt a little off to me.
It’s no wonder we found each other.
An Exaltation of Larks is a saga that follows the lives of three individuals that are connected by circumstances and bound by an unbreakable bond. It would appeal to readers who like to be invested in a richly written story of family and friendship.
Books in the series:
ஃ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ஃ . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . ஃ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ஃ
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews