*****5 Stars*****
I really am finding it difficult to express what this book meant to me in a way that will do it justice. I can honestly say, hand on heart, I don't think I've ever been as truly engaged in a book as I have with this one.
At the beginning it took me a little while to grasp the lingo, especially because ashamedly I'm not familiar with any aspect of performing arts, but I quickly got into the swing of things and the fact that I now know what a pas de deux is, amongst other ballet words and phrases, has me thinking I really want to watch a ballet performance, but really that isn't even the start of what I loved about this book.
Erik, meet Daisy. They're soul mates, but love never runs smooth in the world of fiction, so what we have is one event that spirals into a multitude of things, causing both Daisy and Erik to make huge mistakes that will irrevocably change the courae of their lives. I'm talking edge of your seat stuff at times, theoretical screaming at certain characters because you know they've made the wrong choices and you've no idea what's coming next.
There is sensitive subject matter that some readers may be put off by, but I felt it was handled with care and dignity and dare I say beautifully.
I truly loved Erik. He was the strength within a small group of students. The way he and Daisy interact and are so open and honest with one another was completely refreshing.
Daisy was a little more of a mystery to me and even though she was to blame for a lot of things that transpired, I really felt that she had paid the price needed and hoped and prayed for a happy ever after for the couple. Do they get that? Well you'll have to read it and find out, because I can honestly say, if you love a beautiful tragic love story, then this one will be for you.
For me, every character in this story had a purpose. Every plotline had a purpose. It was incredibly well written, to the point that I forgot about reality while I was engaged in the book and that for me is key.
Despite this book being split into sections and each section being dedicated to a particular character, don't presume that it is told on multiple points of view as this is solely Erik's story. Also each chapter is given a title and stupidly I looked and thought I could decipher what would happen, but let me tell you I was wrong most of the time. I couldn't have anticipated half of what happened in this book.
As I mentioned, I was totally engaged in this book. Beautifully intelligent is the only thing that springs to mind, but really those words just doesn't do it justice.
I'm hoping book two will be equally as stunning as the first and cannot wait to dive straight in, I'm talking shut myself off from the world again and taken on another journey as amazing as the one I have just been on.
Reviewed by Louise Dale
Winner of a gold medal in the 2015 Readers' Favorite Book Awards, Suanne Laqueur's astonishing debut novel follows a young man's emotional journey to salvage relationships destroyed in the wake of a school shooting.
As a college freshman, Erik Fiskare is drawn to the world of theater but prefers backstage to center stage. The moment he lays eyes on a beautiful, accomplished dancer named Daisy Bianco, his atoms rearrange themselves and he is drawn into a romance both youthfully passionate and maturely soulful. Their love story thrives within a tight-knit circle of friends, all bound by creativity and artistry. A newcomer arrives--a brilliant but erratic dancer with an unquenchable thirst for connection. And when this disturbed friend brings a gun into the theater, the story is forever changed. Daisy is shot and left seriously injured. And Erik finds himself alone in the aisle, looking down the muzzle of a pistol and trying to stop the madness. He succeeds, but with tremendous repercussions to his well-being and that of his loved ones.
Traumatized by the experience, Erik and Daisy spiral into depression and drug use until a shocking act of betrayal destroys their relationship. To survive, Erik must leave school and disconnect from all he loves. He buries his heartbreak and puts the past behind. Or so he believes.
As he moves into adulthood, Erik comes to grips with his role in the shooting, and slowly heals the most wounded parts of his soul. But the unresolved grief for Daisy continues to shape his dreams at night. Once those dreams were haunted by blood and gunfire. Now they are haunted by the refrain of a Gershwin song and a single question: is leaving always the end of loving?
Spanning fifteen years, The Man I Love explores themes of love and sexuality, trauma--physical and mental--and its long-lasting effects, the burden of unfinished business and the power of reconciliation. Through Erik's experience we reflect on what it means to be a man, a son and a leader. A soul mate, a partner and a lover. What it means to live the truth of who you are and what you feel. What it means to fight for what you love.
As a college freshman, Erik Fiskare is drawn to the world of theater but prefers backstage to center stage. The moment he lays eyes on a beautiful, accomplished dancer named Daisy Bianco, his atoms rearrange themselves and he is drawn into a romance both youthfully passionate and maturely soulful. Their love story thrives within a tight-knit circle of friends, all bound by creativity and artistry. A newcomer arrives--a brilliant but erratic dancer with an unquenchable thirst for connection. And when this disturbed friend brings a gun into the theater, the story is forever changed. Daisy is shot and left seriously injured. And Erik finds himself alone in the aisle, looking down the muzzle of a pistol and trying to stop the madness. He succeeds, but with tremendous repercussions to his well-being and that of his loved ones.
Traumatized by the experience, Erik and Daisy spiral into depression and drug use until a shocking act of betrayal destroys their relationship. To survive, Erik must leave school and disconnect from all he loves. He buries his heartbreak and puts the past behind. Or so he believes.
As he moves into adulthood, Erik comes to grips with his role in the shooting, and slowly heals the most wounded parts of his soul. But the unresolved grief for Daisy continues to shape his dreams at night. Once those dreams were haunted by blood and gunfire. Now they are haunted by the refrain of a Gershwin song and a single question: is leaving always the end of loving?
Spanning fifteen years, The Man I Love explores themes of love and sexuality, trauma--physical and mental--and its long-lasting effects, the burden of unfinished business and the power of reconciliation. Through Erik's experience we reflect on what it means to be a man, a son and a leader. A soul mate, a partner and a lover. What it means to live the truth of who you are and what you feel. What it means to fight for what you love.
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1GJDkNm
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1WtUwgC
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