Reviews

And Then the Gray Heaven by RE Katz

Only show reviews with written explanations

mobooks_mojoy's review

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emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

cadencegracereads's review

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

grace_machine's review

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

This is one of those books I read in one sitting. Holy cow.

I cried. I laughed. I sat with how achingly this book described grief.

The "buddy roadtrip" trope is one I adore, and the adventures of Jules and their friends did not disappoint. And Then The Gray Heaven is suffused with love. Sometimes the love is messy, or takes a while to show through, or is mottled by trauma. Other times the love is bright and queer and wonderful. But there is so much love in this book.

There is so much I adore about this book, and I'm so glad I grabbed it at my library. The characters were complex, even in such a short period of time. Queerness was explored beautifully.

I really have no idea how to put this book into words–R.E. Katz wrote an earth-shaking, stunning work of art.

half_book_and_co's review

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5.0

"When we die, do we belong to only those who remember us as we knew ourselves? I would say we do, but that's not what history is."

And Then The Gray Heaven follows Jules whose partner B has died unexpectedly in an accident. B's passion had been museum's dioramas which they have built for many places throughout the US. After their death, Jules packs a (borrowed) truck and new friend Theo (also owner of said truck) for a cross-country road trip to some of these places - to leave some of B's ashes.

I struggle to concentrate at the moment, but when I got this slim novel (just over 140 pages) yesterday I read it in one evening. Then The Gray Heaven shows so vividly Jules struggle as B's longterm partner who is not really recognized by B's family and has no legal rights. But while this is part of Jules very specifically queer/ trans reality of loss and grief, the book's focus eventually lies elsewhere: As grief is a powerful form of love, Then The Gray Heaven is an ode to new and old friends and found family, to queer love, to care and support in unexpected places. As Jules recounts in one instance about a friend: "B said Fran was like a stister stepdad to them or some safe thing that straight people don't have a word for, someone looking out for you without being expected to, that queer affection whose namelessness is its power."

This novel while tethered to reality feels fantastical in many places, just like a fun heist movie was swallowed up by the beautiful, quiet prose. It is strange to describe but the blurb uses the phrase "burial as hero’s journey" and it's incredibly fitting to the content and feel of the story.

The title is taken from the book Weight of the Earth by David Wojnarowicz, the artist and activist (who wore the infamous "If I die of aids - forget burial - just drop my body on the steps of the F.D.A."- leather jacket to protests in the 1980s). The paragraph which ends with "And Then The Gray Heaven" begins with the line: "But I know that I want to live." RE Katz draws on this lineage of queer grief, experiences with death - but also artistery, community and the irrepressible will to live and to live fully.

pearloz's review

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2.0

Eh. 2.5? I found the first half a lot more interesting than the second half. B on their deathbed in the hospital, Jules not allowed to visit, conflict between Jules and B's family, that stuff of the book combined with the flashbacks of B and Jules's early relationship really flowed well. After B's passing, and after their cremation, when Jules is trying to break into the various museums to scatter some of their ashes in specific exhibits--that part dragged. I don't know why, it was a clever/fun/romantic/sentimental expression of grief and a keen insight into a relationship others didn't either understand or care to understand. But I found the faux caper-ishness about it little wearying, relied too much on coincidence (oh! the intern left the key in the lock of the door Jules wants to get into! Oh! Jules knows someone who knows someone that will let them into the Museum after dark!? How perfect! Oh, no! They got caught--but, wait! That's Jeff, B's old boss--he wants to help!). It was fine, but what was w/ the moon landing stuff?