Rating: 
Summary: Aspects of desire
Review: To me this is a story less about the love affair between teacher and student and more about the ways in which its various characters deal with forbidden desire. Russell does a superb job at making his characters think, speak, and behave realistically. His interweaving of their stories is nothing short of masterly. I appreciated the hopeful, even redemptive ending. My main concern, though, is that Tracy, who for so much of the book seems aware of the ways in which his feelings for Noah are both real and reflections of broader issues within, would so suddenly and irrevocably decide to act on them regardless. Yes, the consummation takes place during a snowstorm over school break when the two are almost completely isolated from the rest of their academic existence. (This is a definite realistic touch, since many people require just such a "safe" circumstance to act on their most hidden urges -- ask anyone who went on college glee club trips. :-) Still, as I thought about it, I realized that within the timeframe of the story this meant that Tracy had waited just one(!) semester before allowing all of those misgivings and reflections to be set aside. I am just not convinced that the Tracy we meet in the first part of the book would really do that, at least not so soon. I also think the book (and its premise) would have been better served had the relationship between Tracy and Noah been given more time to develop on other levels before the sexual one had been reached. Their interaction is very endearing and it would have been nice to see more of it. It would also have been interesting to more deeply explore the aspects of their relationship after it had become sexual. Still, all told this is a terrific novel, better than almost anything else out there currently. I am a great fan of boarding-school fiction, especially older British novels in the genre. Russell's book continues the tradition while of course bringing the sexual aspect much more into the open. To his credit, the sex isn't there gratuitously; indeed, Russell uses it as another metaphor. Desire can pierce us, leading to uncharacteristic thoughts and deeds. One last point: I am glad the author didn't attempt to use the first person narrative voice in depicting the points of view of the different characters, but the constant shift between the third-person narratives was still somewhat distracting. The predictable, regular rotation between the four main players also added to the sense of exposing the literary device. Please, writers, more books that use a consistent voice, whether first-person or third.
Rating: 
Summary: Stunning, amazing, captivating, facinating - read it today!
Review: Like many of the other reviewers here I was deeply moved by Paul Russell's earlier book The Sea of Tranquility. The Sea of Tranquility will remain one of my favorite books of all time. Since reading The Sea of Tranquility I have been waiting for a new book from Paul Russell and The Coming Store was sure worth the wait! The characters and events are astonishing. For me the book evoked memories of my own life. Often I had to put the book down and reflect on my own experiences for a while! As many have noted the writing is top notch, however what I found particularly amazing is how the events unfold in such a highly realistic manner. Paul knows exactly what he is writing about! If you purchase it I hope you don't need much sleep because from the first page to the last you will not be able to put it down. Like real life experiences the ending of this book may leave you smiling and wondering "what if ..."
Rating:
Summary: Really Great, but something was missing
Review: I really liked the book, but am a little disappointed by the ending. It seems that Mr. Russell spends half the book leading up to the pinicle of the romance and then barely covers it, only to spend the rest of the book dealing with the outcome... I agree with a previous reader that he did indeed leave a nice opening for a sequel, but then again, I was hoping for a little bit more closure. But overall, this is a must read for everyone, reguardless of person preference.
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful treatis on contemporary gay life
Review: The Coming Storm is a beautifully written quartet of differing voices each encompassing the different ages of gay life. This is a remarkably eloquent and stunningly realised fourth novel from gay writer Paul Russell. From the outset I was totally captivated by the lives of the four main characters - older, stoic, repressed Louis Trempor, his loyal, forthright, compassionate wife Claire, the self confident spohisticated gay grade school teacher Tracy Parker and the naive and emotionally troubled school boy Noah Lathrop whose sexual awakening and subsequent illicit relationship with Tracy provides the stormy catalyst. Russell has a remarkable ear for dialogue and a gifted capacity fo creating contemporary , believable and compassionate characters. Characters who at different stages in the novel are forced to deal with their inner conflicts and emotional demons. Russell also paints a beautiful portrait of quiet, sleepy upstate New York and juxstaposes this effectively with the urban, hip life of gay Manhattan. The issues of the novel are also its strength - friendship, honesty, companionship, and the beauty and honesty of romantic relationships that can mark the "rite of passage" between older gay guys and younger teenage men. Relationships that are made all the more volatile by the societal restrictions and pressures which are placed upon them. At times funny, sexually frank and brutally honest. The Coming Storm is a "must" read for anyone who is interested in reading a portrait of the gay generations. Paul Russell has written yet another lyrical, edgy, sexy and fine work. I can't wait for his next one!
Rating:
Summary: Carries you along to a stunning conclusion...
Review: The careful rendering of the main characters occurs in a surprisingly non-formulaic plot --- to a neat conclusion that begs for a sequel. The writing is mostly beautiful, at times lyrical, only rarely opaque. The jarring explicitness of the sex --- at first, off-putting --- turns out to be quite necessary to the task at hand. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Rating:
Summary: Incisive and Beautiful
Review: This book is cleary one of the best books this year. Paul Russel captures the truth of people, their complexities and contradictions. He never compromises their thoughts or actions. I was caught up in all their lives and marvelled at the author's ability to be so precise and perfect with their minds and how they thought and tried to figure out their lives at the moment it was happening. Paul Russel is one of the best gay writers around, and I am still in awe of Sea of Tranquility, truly a wonderful book. And now he adds this gem to his accomplishments. The only false note hit in the book, however, was the classroom scene. I am convinced that no one has yet written (or filmed) a believable classroom moment; they are either too rehearsed, (an opportunity to give a speech), or they are farcical. As much as I loved the characters, when they entered the room they deflated into the cliche. Anyone out there who knows of the perfect believable classroom scene? I would love to hear about it) Other than that false moment ,which is miniscule, this book is a triumph.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful and dark book
Review: funny that the reader who gave this book one star became so wrapped up in the one aspect of this novel that could be seen as "controversial" and loses sight of all of the wonderful narratives Russell manages to capture in this sprawling and well-executed work. This is a web of stories and experiences that is rich with metaphor and love. And despite the central relationship between teacher and student, the real "titillation" here is between the author's prose and the reader's eye.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER TRIUMPH
Review: Several years ago, I was one of the judges of the fiction category for the Lambda Literary Awards. I was disturbed to find then that the best gay novel of the year, perhaps of the decade, had not even been short-listed for the prize. That novel was Paul Russell's THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY. Russell's newest novel, THE COMING STORM, is just as psychologically exact, although not as moving, as that earlier book. If nothing else, it's certainly the most fearless novel of the year, although, unlike previously controversial novels by A. M. Homes and Brett Ellis, its characters are more humane. One reader below described it as "pedaphile chic," but it's no more that than BELOVED is "slavery chic." It's one writer's insightful look at the complexities of who we love and how.
Rating:
Summary: A beautifully written book
Review: I found this book to be very involving...I was sad to say goodbye to the characters at the end of it. I have been waiting for Paul Russell to write another book, as I was greatly moved by Sea of Tranquility. I think he has great compassion and understanding of human beings, gay, straight, male, female. I would highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best "gay novels" I've read in years!
Review: I read about 6 - 8 books per month (fiction, bios, etc). As a gay man in my mid-30's, I've spent maybe 1/5 of that time reading gay themed books. This novel is one of the best I've ever read. I could easily have enjoyed another 500 pages with the 4 main characters. Thank you Paul Russell for writing about a topic that is controversial, but that has been experienced by many.
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