**spoiler alert** If you hope to find a naughty romance book about a priest acting on his gay discovery, you will be disappointed. This book is a seri**spoiler alert** If you hope to find a naughty romance book about a priest acting on his gay discovery, you will be disappointed. This book is a serious story about a man, Tom, struggling with being gay and a priest and where to fit in. Though I am not religious myself (though grew up Roman Catholic) I always find it interesting to see how religion and homosexuality seem to exclude one another a lot of times. How 'the church' condemns it, how the bible seems to condemn it too. I always wondered how religion and specifically the people living it, can honestly deny pure love between two people and why it matters which sexuality they have. I also have to admit I never understood the need for celibacy in order to become a priest.
I think this author wrote a very believable story about the struggle when religion and sexuality clash. When Tom discovers his attraction to Vidal (half Indian, half Irish) he believes himself to be a sinner. But when they fall in love, he questions everything he used to believe in, wondering if he can't love God and still be gay. This book is written in the 70's and, just like with The Front Runner, I think Patricia Nell Warren had a very modern way of thinking and writing, a book that still stands the test of time.
It's been a few days since I finished reading and I still think about it. But since I loved The Front Runner slightly more, I can't rate this book 5 stars as well, but it's close. If you are interested in a glimpse into 70's gay life and find the religious aspect of it interesting, I highly recommend you read this book. It's very well written, very realistic with interesting characters.
(Not to spoil, but there’s no hea in this book, which is essential for many readers. The ending is satisfying though) ...more
**spoiler alert** While reading this, at times it was hard to remind myself this book was written and published in the early 70's. It definitely stand**spoiler alert** While reading this, at times it was hard to remind myself this book was written and published in the early 70's. It definitely stands the test of time, it could have been written and published recently instead of decades ago. What I hadn't expected was that the sex scenes between Harlan and Billy often were described vividly. Not in all detail, but with enough use of language and words that there was no doubt in what was happening. It wasn't the fade to black or off page sex I had expected. Maybe that's why this was such a groundbreaking book - it calls the things by its name, which I doubt was a common thing in those days.
This is one of those books I regret not having read sooner, as it leaves a lasting imprint in my mind. It's not just the story itself, it's also the superb writing, the unforgettable characters, that ending. Lots of readers complain - and a lot of times I understand, but also many times I don't - about how the gays never get a happily ever after in books written before the 21st century. But imagine the life they were leading back in these days. And this book is a truthful reminder of how gay people had to live their lives, most of the time in hiding, secretly loving their partners, but not able to show the world, to talk about it, to be open about it. Most of the time they were rejected by society, by everyone surrounding them, even their families, their friends. The hatred they would receive if they dared to be open about their sexuality. And even in this century, in this period of time, for a lot of gay people this is still their daily life. And even if we have come a long way since the publishing of this book, there is still a lot of work to do. When will society ever not care about someone's sexuality? What is it about it that people can't seem to accept? I mean, straight people might do the strangest things in their bedroom (which they have every right to do) but nobody cares. A vanilla kind of gay gets shunned and receives hatred because he or she happens to like their same sex. I just don't get it, not even when being a cis woman myself. But I did have a deeply closeted gay father and I know what it did to him and to us as a family. And as a daughter and a mother, I try to pass on to my own children to be open minded at all times and to accept people for who they are, and that their sexuality is not something to care about. Besides, 2 of my daughters are bi-sexual, and even though they currently are in a man-woman relationship (while having had girlfriends before), that doesn't mean they are still not part of the LGBTQI+ community and I support them how, whenever and wherever I can.
This book also doesn't end on a happy note. On the contrary. I hadn't seen this one coming, even though the author had included so many hints here and there that I could hardly have missed them. But I had. I thought this book was finally showing the hatred wouldn't win, despite the threats Billy and Harlan had received after coming out. But then it did and it's part of the reason I can't possibly forget about this book. I was heartbroken after finishing it. ...more
What a beautiful, moving coming of age book. It’s about a period in our history that’s had a huge impact on millions of lives, and yet there aren’t enWhat a beautiful, moving coming of age book. It’s about a period in our history that’s had a huge impact on millions of lives, and yet there aren’t enough books left that tell about the subject of AIDS and the fear and harm it caused back then. We all remember the famous people who died from it, like Freddy Mercury for example, but we hardly take time to remember the hundred thousands of anonymous people who suffered and died, and left so many friends and families devastated and scared. With an ignorant government that did literally nothing to acknowledge and fight the crisis where their own people were being killed by a virus that spread widely, it is no wonder there was shame and anger and silence and ignorance. This book is a very good start if you want to read more, if you want to educate yourself. At some point it reminded me of Like a love story by Abdi Nazemian, one of the most beautiful YA books I read. It speaks of the fear of AIDS, of ACT UP, just like this book does.
I was a young woman, growing from a teenager into adulthood in this period of time, so I remember. There was hardly any information what to do to prevent it and how to get it. I was just as much in the unknown as most people, and it made me unnecessarily scared and afraid, as it did with a lot of people my age back then. And I wasn’t even gay. This is a book that needs to be read in order to not forget this period in history. It’s a moving account of a teenager who loses her gay dad to AIDS. It’s about grief and about acting up, about not wanting to be ignored and about being taken care of. It’s really beautifully written, it feels very much like the protagonist is a struggling teenager. I loved the found family, I loved how Danielle grew in this story and how she stood up for her father and his friends, how she wanted to break the silence with her art and stop the world from being ignorant and her father’s people from being ignored. Just read it, it’s such a relevant story. ...more
So, I had to think some about this book before I wrote my review. I decided to change my rating from 4 to 3 and I'll tell you w3,5 stars rounded down.
So, I had to think some about this book before I wrote my review. I decided to change my rating from 4 to 3 and I'll tell you why.
At first, I really thought I was reading a book with a potential 5 star rating. It was engaging, it was pulling me in from the beginning. It was quite clear from the first pages that both Luca and Danny were damaged kids, both for different reasons, but damaged they were. They don't start off very well, but they're sort of forced upon each other, relying on one another for, again, different reasons. A lot of things happen - it's a cruel world when you have to live on the streets in Chicago, and when all you try to do is survive. That's how Luca's entire world looks like. Danny comes from a different world - his dad is a rich politician who just doesn't seem to care about his son ever since he showed 'unnatural' behavior. But since his mother passed away, his father is about the only adult around whom he can turn to.
An unexpected friendship develops between Danny and Luca, a bond that's getting stronger during the night when they are faced with difficult and dangerous situations, up to a point that both realize they might have deeper feelings for the other.
That's where my potential 5 star read went a bit off the rails. I don't like insta love, it's by far my least enjoyed trope, and this felt a bit too much like it. Even after having been through a lot of emotional turmoil together, I'm convinced you can feel some sort of attraction and feel some sort of deeper connection, but love? No, not buying that. Certainly not when you know these boys are aged 17 and 16.
I had some issues with the plot as well, and that's one of the reasons I decided to round down instead of up. Because the writing is good and strong, there's the character development I need when I read a YA/NA romance. But the plot wasn't all that strong. Lots of questioning things happening and I mean, it's fiction, I usually look past that, but still it needs some sort of real life connection, some reality. And I found myself more and more thinking that some things that happened lacked reality. And I didn't like that. The ending wasn't what I hoped for either and it felt rushed. Such a bummer, because this book really started off well and promising.
Still 3 stars for the writing, for the character development and for Luca and Danny, whom I did like as main characters.
I kindly received an advanced readers copy through Netgalley and this is my unbiased, honest review...more
I was right - my first 5⭐️ read of the year. Although a story that has no happy ending, it has a cast of intriguing characters and despite the heavy fI was right - my first 5⭐️ read of the year. Although a story that has no happy ending, it has a cast of intriguing characters and despite the heavy feeling, it made for an emotional and impressive read. I won’t forget about this book for a long time.
For some reason this book was very different than what I expected. I'm not sure I can explain what exactly it was that I expected, but for example, thFor some reason this book was very different than what I expected. I'm not sure I can explain what exactly it was that I expected, but for example, there were hardly any dialogues here. And I just LOVE real life dialogues. They can make or break a book for me. But when they aren't there, well... So there was a lot of story telling, sometimes going back and forth in time. And for the first chapters I wasn't sure if I would finish. Maybe it was my disappointment that kept me from enjoying, my expectations not met. I don't really know. But in the end I'm glad I kept on reading, because eventually this story grew on me. I wanted to know what happened after Thomas and the protagonist finally give into their attraction. Thomas keeps a certain distance, as a reader you sense he is not in for this for the long haul. It simply seems like he fulfills a need he can't resist. While doing so, they become friends, and closer than I think Thomas had anticipated. It sets a few things in motion and the author used an interesting way to tell us readers what actually happened back then. The story is set in the south of France in the 80's. I love the music that's mentioned, bringing back memory's. The author's writing is different, it took me some time to get used to. As I mentioned, there are hardly any dialogues, so we spend the majority of the story in the protagonist's head. But in the end, I'm glad I read this book. It was on my tbr for a while, and I don't regret picking it up. I'm just happy I continued reading when I wasn't sure I would. ...more
When I started reading, I was sure this was going to be a 5 star read. But then the dialogues happened and even though the writing is beautiful and lyWhen I started reading, I was sure this was going to be a 5 star read. But then the dialogues happened and even though the writing is beautiful and lyrical, I couldn’t get over the dialogues. They really do make or break a book for me. Such a pity because it had so much potential. ...more
Wow, this book brought me back to my teenage years very easily! It's the start of a new decade, the 80's, it's the decade that I become a teenager, anWow, this book brought me back to my teenage years very easily! It's the start of a new decade, the 80's, it's the decade that I become a teenager, and I remember all the story's we heard about these countries behind the iron curtain. A few years later I would be writing letters to people in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany, and I learned a lot from that. This book easily gave me that feeling again. That feeling how privileged I was to have been born in a western country. To have my freedom. To be able to speak up and do as I please. Specially when you're a teenager and learning to navigate the world I can imagine how hard it must have been to grow up in these controlled countries. Later in life I took in a refugee from Poland for a few months. Another friend of mine living in Czechoslovakia escaped the country before the wall fell. Their story's were heartbreaking.
But back to this book. It's so beautifully written, very lyrical, very descriptive. I felt myself walking these streets in Warsaw, I turned into a witness, seeing how Janusz and Ludwik tried to navigate their feelings while keeping them secret. But that's not all. They have very different views about their country's future and with that, also about their own. Janusz still embraces the Polish regime, finding his way by meeting the right people in all the right places. But that's not how Ludwik wants to live his life. He hates having to depend on others to achieve something. Multiple happenings only confirm his feelings about that. It makes things extra difficult for them because both have a hard time understanding each others views.
If you want to read about sex and romance, this is not a book for you. It's simply not that kind of book. But if you are interested in this time era and the setting, I highly recommend you read this. You won't regret. ...more
Re-read on audio and it’s still as unsettling and disturbing as it was the first time. Beautifully narrated by Michael Maloney, his distinctiv*update*
Re-read on audio and it’s still as unsettling and disturbing as it was the first time. Beautifully narrated by Michael Maloney, his distinctive voices for the different characters is just sublime. (July ‘24)
So raw, so full of sadness and so beautifully written. I know it’s probably impossible to compare a novel written by an established author like John Boyne to a debut novel, and the two story’s are basically very different, but at heart the ugliness and madness of the First World War is exceptionally written in both this book and in Alice Winn’s In Memorial, a book that was constantly in the back of my mind while reading of the trenches and the battles.
About 5, maybe 6 years ago I read The Absolutist in a translation and right then I already considered this to be a special story. Ever since I decided to stick to original works, I knew I wanted to do a re-read of this and I can only say it took me much too long. Because reading this book as John Boyne wrote it was everything I hope to find in reading. A poignant, raw and beautiful story, one that leaves you with so many feelings, with characters that crawl under your skin, find a way to your heart and will stay there forever. How I felt for Tristan! The madness of that ugly war, the numbness, the dehumanisation, the repetitive, unnecessary, ongoing killing and death as a constant companion, how would anyone get through this daily and not go mad?! And when on top of all that one develops strong feelings for a fellow soldier, a man you called your best friend, a man who is afraid and in horrible denial about his own sexuality that in the end the yearning and the worries for his well being are too much to handle, it only adds to all of the above mentioned emotions and mental instability.
Tristan didn’t handle it very well and the consequences of what he did ended up giving him a lifelong sentence, a life filled with shame and regret and painful memories of what happened. The realisation about who was the real coward in all that took place. Unable to forgive himself he won’t ask for forgiveness of the ones who matter in the end - Will’s sister Marian and his parents. When he finally does find the courage to tell Marian, all I felt was his pain, his shame and his anger. It was so real, and I couldn’t help but feel for him and Will. I still like to think that, in the end, Will was a victim of time, of the way society handled homosexuality. Had he lived in another era, he might have been able to put his shame aside and answer Tristan’s feelings. It’s a more peaceful thought than the painful words Will used to push Tristan away, the ones that lead to the climatic, heartbreaking happenings. Was it truly justification or madness that ruled in the end?
There’s a reason I love to read historical novels set in one of the great wars. The conflicts usually guarantee heartfelt and emotional reading. At least, when the writing is good. No worries about that with an author like John Boyne. He is one of the few I have put on a high pedestal, and he keeps on living up to my expectations. He is such an extraordinary writer, and one day I hope to have read every single book he has published. This book will be forever on my shelf of unforgettable story’s, it’s a book that will stay with me for a very long time to come....more
**spoiler alert** Do you recognize the feeling that there’s a lot you want to say about a book and yet at the same time you don’t know what exactly? O**spoiler alert** Do you recognize the feeling that there’s a lot you want to say about a book and yet at the same time you don’t know what exactly? Or where to begin? After listening to this book for over 30 hours I am drained and exhausted. I feel for the narrator. And yet, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that this book will have a lasting effect. Even when I have a lot to say about it.
So, where to start? This book is one long horrible experience. Exhausting. It drained me emotionally. There is never, ever a break, never a happy moment, never, if only for a little while, a chapter where you can just sit down and enjoy this story about 4 friends who meet in school - Jude, Willem, J.B. and Malcolm. We follow them throughout most of their adulthood, though in the end it's Jude we learn about the most. I have read reviews where the author is accused of having written trauma porn, deliberately wanted to make her readers feel uncomfortable and emotionally exhausted. Well, she sure managed to do that. Every horrible thing you can think of happens or happened to Jude. It was too much for one person to experience and instead of feeling sorry for him, it started to feel unbelievable and unreal. And while experiencing all this while reading, it was obvious that there could never be a happy ending to this. The dreadful thing that was Jude's life could never again be accepted or turned around into something happy. The only time I felt slightly hopeful was the time he was with Willem, but of course the author had to kill that too. Literally.
Look, from experience I know what trauma, experienced as a child, can do to a person. So I will be the last one to judge how people deal with such a thing. At least, I try to be. Everyone experiences things different, every single person handles things differently. But the way Jude kept refusing proper treatment made me think he never really wanted to be better. And by refusing, he didn't respect the people who loved him, who wanted to help him. People like Willem, people like Harold and Julia. Like Andy. All these people had proven again and again that he could trust them, and I know, once trust is broken, once you are told as a child you are unworthy and unlovable, it's the toughest thing to find again. But I also know that there are such things as proper therapy, no matter how long it takes, if you want to get better, if you want to get rid of that ugly past, if you hope to ever find love and trust again, it's the way to go. And yes, I know it takes a lot of pain, a lot of energy. It asks a lot of you, but it's needed in order to get better. It won't ever go away completely, you won't ever again become the person you could have been without all these horrible things happening to you, but I do believe you at least find reasons to live and become as happy as you possibly can. I never felt like Jude wanted to get better. The way he constantly escaped into cutting himself as means to deal with all the ugly thoughts in his head, how could he ever think that was a way to live his life? He literally saw how much it hurt Willem, if not for himself, wouldn't he want to get better for him? Wouldn't he at least want to try?! But instead he found Willem, Andy, Harold, he thought they were annoying in pushing him too hard. It takes courage to ask for help, it takes courage to seek and find the right therapy, and Jude was too bright a person not to know he could never solve his past and his present all by himself. He would have known he needed someone to turn to, someone who could help him find peace. It just didn't suit his personality.
And as later on in life, when Willem has gone, and Jude doesn't see any reason left to go on, I was mad at Andy and Harold for forcing him like a child to eat, to see someone, to do exactly what they wanted him to do, even when they could see he didn't want to go on any longer. I get it that when you love someone and you see that person fade away in front of you, when you see the self harm and the self hatred, the self destroying, you want to save that person because your grief would be unbearable. But to me it feels disrespectful to take over a person's life when clearly he doesn't want to live any longer. To me it never felt like Jude was a grown up man in his forties - he sounded way, way younger than that. And again, I would never ever underestimate or bagatelle the harm of traumatic memories, of a traumatised man. But I couldn't feel any connection to Jude because of the way he acted. I didn't feel for him the way I should, and even if there were happy moments between him and Willem, or at any other moment, we never experience them because they are only told, never shown. And maybe that's what makes this story so unrealistic, so black and exhausting. Jude never gets a break from the horribleness that for some reason seems to seek him out.
But...Yes, there's a but. The writing is sublime and out of this world. Hanya Yanagihara knows her way with words, with crafting a story. And because of that, I know this is a book I won't forget about. Even though I found it hard to connect with Jude, with the other people in it, there's still something about it that sticks with me, something I can't seem to shake, and if you were to ask me what it is, I couldn't give you a proper answer to that. I have a lot of thoughts and opinions about this book, but despite of them, it's still a book I won't forget reading.
I was a teenager when AIDS hit the streets and the world. When I heard and read about it in the news, these terrible stories of gay men dying of a disI was a teenager when AIDS hit the streets and the world. When I heard and read about it in the news, these terrible stories of gay men dying of a disease nobody knew how to cure. How to stop this epidemic. The world watched and for a long time the world did nothing but watch. The fear was evident, all these young people suffering and no cure. It was a sad and tragic and heartbreaking time. All the rumours of how you could get sick. The fear of touch, of blood, of breathing the same air. It all seems so unreal now, and even sickening to think how people reacted out of fear. How people could call it the gay disease and God’s punishment for how they lived their lives. This book recalls a lot of how I remember this dark and awful period in history. And it’s my opinion that there can’t be enough books like this. People have the habit to forget. To forget the suffering, to forget the truth about how the world looked, the people who denied the tragedy, the people who found an unimaginable truth in it.
This is anything but an easy read. Told from different pov’s we read the story of Brian, a young queer twenty-something who went to New York City to chase his dreams and returns to his hometown when he finds out he has AIDS, like so many of the friends he has already lost. Everything in this story takes you back to the 80’s, when there still was no cure, when fear ruled and even doctors were afraid to treat patients with AIDS. It’s heartbreaking to read how Brian and his family get rejection upon rejection, the hateful treatment of their own family, their friends, the people they’ve known for years. I was mad at his mother, for putting her religion and her fears and ashamed husband before her dying son. Eventually she came around and I have to admit, regained my respect, but I wanted to strangle her many times before that. The only objection I have is that we only get Brian’s father’s pov in one chapter, the last one. I would have loved to get more of his thoughts sooner. But thank the world for people like Andrew and Annie, the fearless caretakers, when especially Annie must have been so tired and angry and frustrated with yet another young friend dying while the people generally didn’t seem to care. Thank the real world for the people who took the stage in their fight for medication, for recognition and for not accepting. For fighting for their dying friends, the queer community, to make the world aware that something needed to be done and quickly. It’s their undeniable strength for not giving up, for their continuing fight and uprising that this awful disease has found proper medication. You might remember the movie, The streets of Philadelphia, where Tom Hanks portrays a victim of society’s fear for AIDS. Or the last photograph’s of Freddie Mercury, who died from it. It truly was as ugly as you think it was. Maybe even worse, almost beyond imagination. And we should never forget. ...more
My only regret is that I didn’t read this sooner. An unforgettable story, leaving me speechless and shattered.
I've had quite some time to think about hMy only regret is that I didn’t read this sooner. An unforgettable story, leaving me speechless and shattered.
I've had quite some time to think about how to give words to my thoughts about this book, and I can't help but feel like I'll have a hard time with that anyway, no matter how long I'll put off this review. And honestly, reading other reviews, what else can I say that hasn't already been said?
I've had this book on my tbr since it was released in 2018 and tried to find the courage to read it ever since. Because I knew this book didn't end on a happy note. That this book had the potential to shatter me, to break my heart and who could guarantee me it would be put together again after that devastating experience? I hardly cry at books, it's just something I don't do easily. There's only a hand full of books that have managed to do just that. On the other hand, I do get touched by a book quite often. And it's all the feelings that come with that, that make me love reading so much. I want to feel. I NEED to feel. Even when it's a low angst book I need feelings. It's what makes reading worth while. Characters that hold my attention, story's that are gripping and maybe even grab me by my throat. That's what the real good ones tend to do. So what if this book would disappoint me in that matter? What if it wouldn't give me all the feelings I was expecting to feel? The longer I waited to read it, the higher my expectations became. And yes, I did read all these raving reviews, read how readers were heartbroken. And I really love Taylor Fitzpatrick's writing. But still...there have been books before that have been rated with many 5 star reviews that I didn't enjoy. I wanted to love this book! Maybe I even needed to love this book. I wanted to be devastated, I wanted to be left feeling like the world had shattered all around me.
So then I finally said to myself that this was the time to kick myself and stop being scared. Just read it already! And so I did. And it was everything I wanted. It was everything I feared it would be, and at the same time needed it to be so badly. And you know what the weird thing is? I can't even explain why this book worked so well for me. Because I had been warned that Mike was a character that was hard to like and he was. He was grumpy, he wasn't encouraging Liam to even like him, let alone love him. On the contrary, he tried to drive him away multiple times. But while reading, I had a feeling I needed to look passed that. I needed to take the things he said with a grain of salt. Because what came out of his mouth, wasn't what he really wanted to say. So why couldn't he give words to what he felt, just tell Liam what he meant to him. That he didn't want him to go, that he wanted him to move in with him. Oh yes, he made it happen anyway, but every question, every attempt of being nice was always followed up by something insulting or a cover up for his real feelings. Why? It isn't exactly explained, we don't get to know Mike that well. But there are a few hints. About how his father left him and his family. So maybe that was a reason for him to not believe in love anymore. Maybe it was a reason for him to protect himself, to not be vulnerable by falling in love with someone. I think it's a plausible explanation. He was never looking for love. Sex was all he really wanted. But Liam couldn't just keep away. Liam loved him anyway. What I found quite surprising in this matter was that first summer they were spending apart from one another. When Mike didn't want to hook up because of Liam, but Liam did. As a reader, you should think it would be the other way around. It's these little things that tell you much more about Mike than whole paragraphs of soul searching could.
And Liam...I was thinking that we all need a Liam in our lives. A fresh breath of air, youthfully energetic, just going after what he wants and accepting the consequences when he does. I loved how he wasn't afraid to be honest with Mike and still knew he wouldn't really lose him. Yes, they are on and off throughout the story, but I think Liam always knew they would be together again, and that there would come a time where there would be no breaking up again. That they belonged together. Infinity. And I'm sure Mike knew that too.
I felt so much for Mike when he got sick. When his life crumbled into a life he never wanted for himself. When the 4 walls of his home were suffocating him, imprisoning him, and even within these walls he couldn't be how he wanted to be. Everytime a little piece of him is taken away. Everytime he has to accept that the things that gave him joy, were taken away from him. I understand that at this point he didn't want Liam to take care of him. It's a hard thing to process and accept that you eventually will be needing someone's help to get through the day at the age of barely 35. That takes a lot of time. And maybe some people never get there. So it was a good thing Liam was so consistent, so set to be there for Mike, no matter what.
It's specially this last chapter (which is the only chapter we get from Liam's pov) that is heartbreaking. There is so much love there. So much anger too. But it's undoubtedly a love letter to Mike, and it's the most beautiful one.
Taylor Fitzpatrick's writing is different from most authors. There's not a lot of dialogue, but she still manages to write in a very touching way, making me feel so much! There's also some humor, there's the typical hockey banter, likable secondary characters as well. But Mike's and Liam's love story is just written so beautifully, these men got under my skin very deeply and I doubt if they will ever leave. It's been a while since I finished this book and I haven't been able to finish another book since. I don't know if Thrown off the ice is the exact reason for that, but it's certainly something new to me. One thing is certain, and that is that Mike and Liam will always be there in the back of my mind, as will this book. It's unforgettable and as devastating as I might have felt right after finishing it, I can't say I won't be reading it again. I guess pain and heartbreak is something I really need every now and then. ...more
After reading (and finding myself devastated by it) The Silver Cage I started this one right away. It's the second book in this series, but it's actuaAfter reading (and finding myself devastated by it) The Silver Cage I started this one right away. It's the second book in this series, but it's actually the prequel to The Silver cage, since this is Caleb's story. In this book we get to see how Caleb became the man he was when he met Michael in The Silver cage. This is the story in which he meets Jamie (the young man that eventually ends up determining Caleb's course of life) at summer camp, and where the two of them become the best of friends. Since both are brought up within a religion, they are hesitant to let their growing affection towards each other grow into something more. But the pull is so strong, a moment comes where they can no longer resist. And that's a heavy secret to keep. And as pure and deep as their love is, it's still a forbidden one. Love between two boys would never be tolerated by their family or their church, and both struggle with their faiths and beliefs, while at the same time they don't feel like they are doing something wrong together because it feels too good. In this book we see how Caleb meets the woman he is married to in The Silver cage, and his reasons for doing so. In short, this book answers a lot of questions and shines a light on the mysterious man Caleb became. I felt so deeply for him and Jamie, knowing what would happen didn't make it any easier. This duet is not for everyone, but I would wish for every reader to experience such a beautiful story, and yet so heartbreaking and devastating. The writing is beautiful too - the words flowing, the dialogues real, the pacing quite right. You'd wonder who the author is that hides behind this. There's no doubt they know how to write a captivating, touching story and I would really wish for more of this to come.
This duet is unforgettable - Caleb, Jamie and Michael have found a place in my heart, they occupy this small room in my mind and I don't see them leaving there yet soon. I still hurt for them. ...more
NicoleR.M.M.
>
Books:
no-hea
(22)
Loading...
