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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's hard to articulate exactly what about this book got under my skin and stayed there, refusing to let go of me.
James is young, gay, and longs to escape the quiet country village he calls home. But he is too young to leave, and anyway his family needs him. Lonely and out of place he drifts through each day in the knowledge that he doesn't belong. Then Luke arrives. A little older, but also out of place in his own way. He has been sent to live on a farm with his aunt and uncle as his mother has left and his father is in prison. That summer, Luke and James meet. Over the next year they become part of one another's lives, and James falls in love in the intense, agonising way you do when it is the first time.
In the present, James returns to the village for a day. Just to look around. Just to be there. To sit with the destruction that this single year set in motion.
This is a masterful piece of work. Although it is short, this book leaves you shattered at the end, because every word of it feels so real. From the vivid description of an ordinary village to the wonder and pain of first love. It isn't a grand, hopeful story of finding a lost love or putting your life back together. It is raw and sad and wistful. I read it in less than a day because once I started I couldn't stop. I had to know, had to understand everything that had happened between these two people. What a book.
It is such a privilege to read a book like this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
James is young, gay, and longs to escape the quiet country village he calls home. But he is too young to leave, and anyway his family needs him. Lonely and out of place he drifts through each day in the knowledge that he doesn't belong. Then Luke arrives. A little older, but also out of place in his own way. He has been sent to live on a farm with his aunt and uncle as his mother has left and his father is in prison. That summer, Luke and James meet. Over the next year they become part of one another's lives, and James falls in love in the intense, agonising way you do when it is the first time.
In the present, James returns to the village for a day. Just to look around. Just to be there. To sit with the destruction that this single year set in motion.
This is a masterful piece of work. Although it is short, this book leaves you shattered at the end, because every word of it feels so real. From the vivid description of an ordinary village to the wonder and pain of first love. It isn't a grand, hopeful story of finding a lost love or putting your life back together. It is raw and sad and wistful. I read it in less than a day because once I started I couldn't stop. I had to know, had to understand everything that had happened between these two people. What a book.
It is such a privilege to read a book like this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ich machs kurz und schmerzlos — dieser Roman was not it (für mich). Ich wollte ein Buch, das für richtig Herzschmerz sorgt und ich war wirklich bereit, Tränen zu vergießen, aber leider war mein dominierendes Gefühl (vor allem gegen Ende hin) leider eher Wut und Unverständnis gegenüber dem Protagonisten.
In »Öffnet sich der Himmel« begleiten wir James, einen Jugendlichen aus dem kleinen Örtchen Thornmere in England, der sich in Luke verliebt. Er verliebt sich unsterblich und auf den ersten Blick. Und obwohl ich verstehen kann, dass Crushes im Teenageralter manchmal so funktionieren, sie nicht zwingend Sinn machen müssen und auch nicht unbedingt etwas deeperes dahinter sein muss, war das Ausmaß in diesem Fall für mich einfach nicht nachvollziehbar. Die beiden freunden sich zwar an, für Luke war die Beziehung aber rein platonisch und nach ungefähr einem Jahr war der Kontakt auch schon wieder vorbei. Dass James also selbst nach 20 Jahren und einer (wegen seiner Gefühle zu Luke gescheiterten) Ehe nicht über diesen Crush hinweg ist, war für mich als Leserin einfach unverständlich. Ich konnte bis zum Ende nicht greifen, worauf diese „Liebe“ gründet.
Was man dem Roman zugutehalten muss, ist, dass der Autor es schafft, James‘ Sehnsucht und Verlangen nach Luke in jeder Zeile zu transportieren. (Wie gesagt, verstanden, woher das kam hab ich zwar nicht, aber well.) Sprachlich ist der Roman wirklich wunderschön und ich bin etwas traurig, dass der Inhalt da so gar nicht mithalten konnte.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Exceptional. A deep meditation on queerness in all its confusions, longings, loneliness, regrets, and hopeless but never pointless love. James's experiences, his mind, his dreams and fears—they are all so specific to him while simultaneously being entirely relatable to the reader. Often it felt like Hewitt was rooting around in my own head while I was reading this; I am in awe at his talents of introspection. This is a beautiful and painfully real novel.
Given the setting and subject matter, I imagine there will be a lot of comparisons with Chloe Michelle Howarth's Sunburn. To me, Open, Heaven is everything I wanted from that book but didn't get.
Given the setting and subject matter, I imagine there will be a lot of comparisons with Chloe Michelle Howarth's Sunburn. To me, Open, Heaven is everything I wanted from that book but didn't get.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The emotional pain, longing, and disappointment of coming of age lust stories, but without any of the fun, lightness and freedom.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced