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ljrinaldi's review
4.0
As the author told me, when I interviewed her, the protagonist, Sam, had something that happened that made his father throw him out of the house, but like Jeannette, the other protagaonist, for the longest time, she could not figure it out. And as she wrote, she realized that it was because he was Gay.
This is a well written take on Gay life in the 1980s, during the height of the AIDS crisis, when President Reagan did not give a damn, and the Gay men were dropping like flies.
This is not a quick read. It is a well written, long drawn out story of what happens when you try to act straight while your gay former lover is dying of AIDS, and you can't tell anyone about it.
With a background of music, this story dives not only into the world of orchestras and small towns, but what one person, one man would do to be loved by his father, even to marry a woman, and try to be straight.
I would recommend this both for lovers of historical fiction, as well as for those who like stories that explore the feelings of two people who have secrets that they are suffering through.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for making this book available for an honest review.
This is a well written take on Gay life in the 1980s, during the height of the AIDS crisis, when President Reagan did not give a damn, and the Gay men were dropping like flies.
This is not a quick read. It is a well written, long drawn out story of what happens when you try to act straight while your gay former lover is dying of AIDS, and you can't tell anyone about it.
With a background of music, this story dives not only into the world of orchestras and small towns, but what one person, one man would do to be loved by his father, even to marry a woman, and try to be straight.
I would recommend this both for lovers of historical fiction, as well as for those who like stories that explore the feelings of two people who have secrets that they are suffering through.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for making this book available for an honest review.
saarahn's review
2.0
Didn't much like the characters
This book tells the story of a man, Sam, alienated by his parents due to his romantic involvement with another man, Gil who is suffering from AIDS. To 'redeem' himself in the eyes of the Church, he attempts to change his sexuality. This gets out of hand, and those he loves are hurt..
I did like this book, the core message that you shouldn't change who you are just to fulfil the desires of others is obviously a good value to uphold. I also liked the music theme which remained a constant throughout: something the characters could trust with their true selves. I just felt the story needed some more excitement or something to entice the reader enough to actually care about the characters and Sam's struggle. For instance, I felt little sympathy for any of the characters, aside from Gil. Sam never thought through the consequences of his actions or the unfairness of deceiving someone who already showed herself to be vulnerable. Sam, for the most part, remained passive and detached from everything passing his attention aside from Gil. It just seemed as though he actually believed he could sustain his deception. This was obviously silly because it was plain to see that the author's intent had not been to portray him as the bad guy. Then, there was the character of Jeanette who foolishly refused to listen to her gut instinct and actually speak her mind or seek advice. I understood that she had little confidence but her thoughts always seemed to suggest that she would hurt anyone who hurt Sam. This conflicted ridiculously with the Jeanette that the author set out to describe from the beginning. Then, like Sam, her decisions were barely thought out. For someone described as socially anxious, introverted and cautious, her behaviour was implausible.
This book wasn't necessarily terrible. I just found that the characters, more often than not, made it a trying read.
I wouldn't describe this book as a love story, at least not in the traditional sense.
I received this book through NetGalley.
This book tells the story of a man, Sam, alienated by his parents due to his romantic involvement with another man, Gil who is suffering from AIDS. To 'redeem' himself in the eyes of the Church, he attempts to change his sexuality. This gets out of hand, and those he loves are hurt..
I did like this book, the core message that you shouldn't change who you are just to fulfil the desires of others is obviously a good value to uphold. I also liked the music theme which remained a constant throughout: something the characters could trust with their true selves. I just felt the story needed some more excitement or something to entice the reader enough to actually care about the characters and Sam's struggle. For instance, I felt little sympathy for any of the characters, aside from Gil. Sam never thought through the consequences of his actions or the unfairness of deceiving someone who already showed herself to be vulnerable. Sam, for the most part, remained passive and detached from everything passing his attention aside from Gil. It just seemed as though he actually believed he could sustain his deception. This was obviously silly because it was plain to see that the author's intent had not been to portray him as the bad guy. Then, there was the character of Jeanette who foolishly refused to listen to her gut instinct and actually speak her mind or seek advice. I understood that she had little confidence but her thoughts always seemed to suggest that she would hurt anyone who hurt Sam. This conflicted ridiculously with the Jeanette that the author set out to describe from the beginning. Then, like Sam, her decisions were barely thought out. For someone described as socially anxious, introverted and cautious, her behaviour was implausible.
This book wasn't necessarily terrible. I just found that the characters, more often than not, made it a trying read.
I wouldn't describe this book as a love story, at least not in the traditional sense.
I received this book through NetGalley.
yetanothersusan's review
3.0
The synopsis for this book makes it sound very related to popular culture in the late 1980s. That is a bit misleading. The only link this story has is to the AIDS epidemic and society's nonacceptance of a homosexual male. There is no quirky pop references to balance out the seriousness running throughout the book. Sam is trying to distance himself from his former lover, who is dying of AIDS, and his life as a gay man. Jeanette is trying to distance herself from the small town where she grew up as the bastard daughter of the town slut. When they meet, their insecurities latch on to each other and they form a really unhealthy relationship built on Sam's lie. It was a struggle to not yell at the book "why?" as Sam and Jeanette are emotionally tortured throughout the story. But this heartbreaking story was an excellent reflection of how people let society pressure them to be what they aren't.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
thepinkmoose's review
Very rarely will I not finish a book, and this makes three this year. During the first chapter, the setting seemed so familiar, then it clicked “This sounds like Philadelphia with Tom Hanks. I’ve already seen this movie.” While there are definite similarities between the movie and this book, I decided to give the book a try.
Sam, the main character is so secretive he’s unlikable. He hides and lies, and this not only makes him untrustworthy, but makes me hate him before I even really get into the story. Starting in chapter one you figure out that Sam has secrets, an entirely secret side of him. While I understand the stigma about his secret, especially in 1986, I find it really difficult to read about.
Jeanette is a weak woman, terrified of her own shadow. She only cares about what every one else thinks about her. She has a “scandalous secret” that I really doubt any one in the 80s, or even in the 70s when she was young would care about. As usual, I’m not big on spoiling the book, but every time she discussed her “secret” I rolled my eyes.
With both main characters being so unlikable, I just have no love for the book. I decided to quit torturing myself with a book I couldn’t get behind at 35%.
Like my review? Read them all at the-pink-moose.com
Sam, the main character is so secretive he’s unlikable. He hides and lies, and this not only makes him untrustworthy, but makes me hate him before I even really get into the story. Starting in chapter one you figure out that Sam has secrets, an entirely secret side of him. While I understand the stigma about his secret, especially in 1986, I find it really difficult to read about.
Jeanette is a weak woman, terrified of her own shadow. She only cares about what every one else thinks about her. She has a “scandalous secret” that I really doubt any one in the 80s, or even in the 70s when she was young would care about. As usual, I’m not big on spoiling the book, but every time she discussed her “secret” I rolled my eyes.
With both main characters being so unlikable, I just have no love for the book. I decided to quit torturing myself with a book I couldn’t get behind at 35%.
Like my review? Read them all at the-pink-moose.com
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