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sireno8's review
3.0
This book is essentially a romance and it's a delivered believably with a minumum of sentiementality. The characters are all realistically drawn, likeable and refreshingly different. Their inner musings never get overwrought (except for the teenager's and hers need to be). The backrop the author has set up -- Monterey, Steinbeck, scuba society and marine biology--is richly detailedand appealing. I appreciated how the literary mystery in the book's center mirrors what's happening in the main characters lives. The end was genuinely touching without being cloying. On the whole, the book provided a pleasant place to go at the end of the day. It takes a while to get going, though, and its popluation of well-adjusted characters seems to proclude any sense of danger, that things may not work out okay. That in itself, however, is kind of relief from the strum and drang of real life--or other gay novels.
writerlibrarian's review
4.0
it's a summer in Monterey, on Cannery Row (yes, Steinbeck's Cannery row, makes you want to go and read or reread it), you have Ben, a marine biologist, diver who is waiting for his daughter whom he sees very little of to move in for the summer. Caddie (named after a creature of the sea, won't spoil it for you) 16, is angry and not so happy to be dumped on her father's doorstep. Hudson, is on a quest to authenticate a manuscript maybe written by Steinbeck. It's a coming of age summer for all three. I liked the slow pace of the storyline. I liked that the characters were multidimensionals and that even the background characters like the girlfriend's waiter that befriends Caddie has depth. Yes the turning point of the story is a bit obvious in a duh!moment way but still believable since Ben is so oblivious of himself and the lives of the people around him.
I loved the diving sections. Really. The aquarium too. There's cuddlefish squids, octopuses, sharks. Mixed with academic literature research how could I not love this book.
I loved the diving sections. Really. The aquarium too. There's cuddlefish squids, octopuses, sharks. Mixed with academic literature research how could I not love this book.
achillespatroclus's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
evila_elf's review
5.0
Wow. I was hooked from the first page, as Ben is diving. I know nothing at all about the subject or sea life, but I could see and understand everything that the author was describing. Makes me want to learn how to dive, myself!
I was a little annoyed when we left Ben's POV for Hudson, but I gradually came to love him as well.
Don't get this book if all you are interested in is the gay storyline. It took about half of the book before they even meet.
I loved this book and plan to hunt down the author's other books as well!
I was a little annoyed when we left Ben's POV for Hudson, but I gradually came to love him as well.
Don't get this book if all you are interested in is the gay storyline. It took about half of the book before they even meet.
I loved this book and plan to hunt down the author's other books as well!
zefrog's review
4.0
I don't quite buy Ben's blind spot but otherwise this was a very enjoyable read. MTF's best so far. The writing is almost right and the book has a lot of depths.
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