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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
4 1/2 stars. Tender and beautifully reflective, this novel was an unexpectedly wonderful read. Keep the tissues handy...
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ellis story was good, but I was a bit lost with all the descriptive writing, which is not my thing. I prefer a more plot driven book. But the Michael part did it for me. He made me love him from page one and finally deepen my connection to Ellis. Truly a great read and from the moment I finished it I felt like re-reading it to make sure I understood better the beginning of the book, which very rarely, if ever, happens to me to feel like re-reading something.
Opening the pages of this book means starting a gentle journey inside the human spirit that captures that uncertain space between romance and friendship and the way the two morph, they blend into each other, linked by the most beautiful, painful emotion known to us: love.
That's the foundation on which the story is built. In the beginning, we see a woman learning to love herself more, and, in doing that, she dares to speak up her mind and to demand respect from her husband, to make her wishes and desires clear, as the free, independent being she is.
Dora Judd teaches love further to her son and his friend and, in return, they both express the same feeling towards her, in this big, warm shower of gratitude and affection. Another element that kindles this powerful emotion is art. In times where boys interested in pursuing a career in that area weren't seen with good eyes, Ellis has to give up his dreams after being left without his mother's support and with his dad's burdensome expectations. There is a certain mold in which a boy or man must fit and being queer, with artistic inclinations breaks it to shreds unless you let the mold crush you instead.
With the help of a splendid, sensitive and moving prose, in addition to the mention of songs that mantain the atmosphere, a medley of "almosts", "maybes" and missed opportunities unfolds on the page with a bittersweet tenderness. The story shows plans that remain plans out of the fear to act upon them or the lack of time, how life takes people on separate roads just to bring them back together, the different layers of love one experiences over time, and how, in the end, we are all utterly and unmistakably alone, with only ourselves to keep us company.
The irony and unfairness of life is exposed through the suffering of the characters, but the story doesn't lose its sense of softness because the pain is born from love. If they hadn't felt it, that would have been the truly sad, pointless existence. The lives of these wonderfully flawed characters represent eulogies to the emotion that weaves the story together, with both the happiness and misery that ultimately follows which joined create a real depiction of what being human really means.
That's the foundation on which the story is built. In the beginning, we see a woman learning to love herself more, and, in doing that, she dares to speak up her mind and to demand respect from her husband, to make her wishes and desires clear, as the free, independent being she is.
Dora Judd teaches love further to her son and his friend and, in return, they both express the same feeling towards her, in this big, warm shower of gratitude and affection. Another element that kindles this powerful emotion is art. In times where boys interested in pursuing a career in that area weren't seen with good eyes, Ellis has to give up his dreams after being left without his mother's support and with his dad's burdensome expectations. There is a certain mold in which a boy or man must fit and being queer, with artistic inclinations breaks it to shreds unless you let the mold crush you instead.
With the help of a splendid, sensitive and moving prose, in addition to the mention of songs that mantain the atmosphere, a medley of "almosts", "maybes" and missed opportunities unfolds on the page with a bittersweet tenderness. The story shows plans that remain plans out of the fear to act upon them or the lack of time, how life takes people on separate roads just to bring them back together, the different layers of love one experiences over time, and how, in the end, we are all utterly and unmistakably alone, with only ourselves to keep us company.
The irony and unfairness of life is exposed through the suffering of the characters, but the story doesn't lose its sense of softness because the pain is born from love. If they hadn't felt it, that would have been the truly sad, pointless existence. The lives of these wonderfully flawed characters represent eulogies to the emotion that weaves the story together, with both the happiness and misery that ultimately follows which joined create a real depiction of what being human really means.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
loved it, understated, I love books like this which are essentially miniature character studies that cut into the flesh and bone of the human condition. Only note, which I've been feeling about a lot of media lately, is that I would've liked it to hold that depth for longer, there were only a couple deeply emotional and robust moments and I think a story like this would've been the perfect vessel for more.
