Scan barcode
kay_jax's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
i loved the writing style and the narrator for the audiobook (Michael Crouch has narrated some of my favorite books!). i’m tried and don’t want to write a review, but basically these are the elements that i enjoyed:
slow-paced
not plot, just vibes
tender hearted
explored one of my favorite topics; unrequited love
seasonally atmospheric - summer through winter
slow-paced
not plot, just vibes
tender hearted
explored one of my favorite topics; unrequited love
seasonally atmospheric - summer through winter
louismunozjr's review
5.0
TEN stars! Just finished this, and I don’t know how to put my thoughts into words. This book grabbed me and never let me go.
Jim Grimsley pulls off an outrageous magic trick with “The Dove in the Belly.” Gay college kid befriends big, beefy straight jock with hints of danger: the stuff of thousands of books, shows, movies, and, yup, “adult movies” and fantasies. But right from the start I felt I was with two main characters who were very “real,” very compelling. Technically, Ronny, the gay kid, is the MC, but Ben, the football player, he comes to us as more than just a tired trope, more than just the obscure object of our desires - the movie is referenced in that context. In fact, I cared just as much, hoped just as much, believed just as much, for Ben, than one might normally care and than I thought I would.
There was electricity in this book, and there WAS danger, and I stayed wound up, keyed-up, the whole way through this incredible, beautiful, powerful journey. And the ending was so different and so much better than what I expected. No spoilers from me, but I’ll just say, I can breathe again; I didn’t realize how much I had been holding my breath. And now that I can breathe again, I can tell you, this book will stay with me for a very long time to come.
Jim Grimsley pulls off an outrageous magic trick with “The Dove in the Belly.” Gay college kid befriends big, beefy straight jock with hints of danger: the stuff of thousands of books, shows, movies, and, yup, “adult movies” and fantasies. But right from the start I felt I was with two main characters who were very “real,” very compelling. Technically, Ronny, the gay kid, is the MC, but Ben, the football player, he comes to us as more than just a tired trope, more than just the obscure object of our desires - the movie is referenced in that context. In fact, I cared just as much, hoped just as much, believed just as much, for Ben, than one might normally care and than I thought I would.
There was electricity in this book, and there WAS danger, and I stayed wound up, keyed-up, the whole way through this incredible, beautiful, powerful journey. And the ending was so different and so much better than what I expected. No spoilers from me, but I’ll just say, I can breathe again; I didn’t realize how much I had been holding my breath. And now that I can breathe again, I can tell you, this book will stay with me for a very long time to come.
srkubin717's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
debchan's review
3.0
you know, i really with i could appreciate this like it deserves. but i am simply a fantasy reader through and through.
okay so the middle i was so numb, just flipping pages not connecting with anything at all. but that beginning and that ending was different. it was *chef's kiss* perhaps it was because there was more conflict in those sections, whereas the middle parts were more of an internal and family conflict-based? anyways, there's a lot to like and dislike about this book!
the plot
it wasn't bad at all. in fact the writing style was so unique it would have been better for me to process this through a play or i can imagine an indie movie. i say a play because there's just so much dialogue sometimes i got lost. there's also a host of background characters each with their own personalities and i think that would be perfect for a play as they pop in and out of the scenes. now on the other hand, i felt that the actual prose was very direct? not that it's a bad thing per se, but just something i noted. i don't want to say childish, but it was very simple. something would happen and then something else would happen and then the characters would go pages talking to each other. but if that's the style grimsley was going for, i understand that. it mirrors ronny's thoughts.
the characters
ronny was a nice guy. occasionally he made a funny joke which surprised me. i guess i'm just used to morally grey grisly antiheroes as the protagonist. but all his relationships (bar one) were genuine and i actually liked that. too often, like [b:A Little Life|22822858|A Little Life|Hanya Yanagihara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446469353l/22822858._SY75_.jpg|42375710], the protagonist separates themselves from all humanity. ben was definitely a character. at times, i was like this guy's off his rocker and other times it was like he was just a kid who never learned how to grow up. and then i have to remind myself this was the 70s. i liked the other characters too, especially ms. dee, but i just didn't really care about them. i didn't really care about the main characters either to be fair but i definitely wanted to.
overall, i just didn't think the plot was that interesting and that's entirely on me not grimsley. if i loved reading fiction, i'm sure i would have loved this too. people's personal problems are just not my preference to read. so the fact that i even slightly enjoyed it, gives a lot of credit to grimsley! i thought it would be dark academia, but it's definitely more about people and their relationships with the people they love. definitely recommend if you're interested in that kind of thing!
okay so the middle i was so numb, just flipping pages not connecting with anything at all. but that beginning and that ending was different. it was *chef's kiss* perhaps it was because there was more conflict in those sections, whereas the middle parts were more of an internal and family conflict-based? anyways, there's a lot to like and dislike about this book!
the plot
it wasn't bad at all. in fact the writing style was so unique it would have been better for me to process this through a play or i can imagine an indie movie. i say a play because there's just so much dialogue sometimes i got lost. there's also a host of background characters each with their own personalities and i think that would be perfect for a play as they pop in and out of the scenes. now on the other hand, i felt that the actual prose was very direct? not that it's a bad thing per se, but just something i noted. i don't want to say childish, but it was very simple. something would happen and then something else would happen and then the characters would go pages talking to each other. but if that's the style grimsley was going for, i understand that. it mirrors ronny's thoughts.
the characters
ronny was a nice guy. occasionally he made a funny joke which surprised me. i guess i'm just used to morally grey grisly antiheroes as the protagonist. but all his relationships (bar one) were genuine and i actually liked that. too often, like [b:A Little Life|22822858|A Little Life|Hanya Yanagihara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446469353l/22822858._SY75_.jpg|42375710], the protagonist separates themselves from all humanity. ben was definitely a character. at times, i was like this guy's off his rocker and other times it was like he was just a kid who never learned how to grow up. and then i have to remind myself this was the 70s. i liked the other characters too, especially ms. dee, but i just didn't really care about them. i didn't really care about the main characters either to be fair but i definitely wanted to.
overall, i just didn't think the plot was that interesting and that's entirely on me not grimsley. if i loved reading fiction, i'm sure i would have loved this too. people's personal problems are just not my preference to read. so the fact that i even slightly enjoyed it, gives a lot of credit to grimsley! i thought it would be dark academia, but it's definitely more about people and their relationships with the people they love. definitely recommend if you're interested in that kind of thing!
wormariwood's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
27agraham's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
raavenreads's review
5.0
Excuse me while I sob. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It felt so raw and beautiful and real. I went through every single emotion reading this and the final one I had was pure happiness. I’m so glad I picked this up. I’ve never had a book make me cry so much before. My heart is so full.
ccleeds7's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
walton_pelkey's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
papaya_love's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0