Sea of Tranquillity

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books ever written.
Review: Ignore The Salt Point and his second novel, the bisexual one. This one and The Coming Storm were fantastic, this one being the better of the two.
There were points I had to stop reading because I was so mad at the characters. There were lines that took my breath away and left shivers down my spine. I just got them remembering the line :)
Amazing, one of the best books I've read. It deserves to be republished. I can't wait to read it again.

Rating:
Summary: A fine and complex novel, definitely worth reading
Review: In the early 1970s, Astronaut Allen Cloud returns to his Houston, TX, home from a mission in Florida to find his wife Joan sitting on their bed, drunk and toying with a pistol. He calmly takes the gun from her, which she swears isn't loaded. She lays back on the bed and, before passing out, says, "You should know, your son is a homosexual."

"Sea of Tranquility" relates the story of the Cloud family in the aftermath of that singular statement. Allen Cloud, astronaut and father who tries to cope with his mixed feelings about the son he never really knew. Not that he ever really knew anyone or would allow anyone to get close to him. Joan Cloud, finally feeling free of the loneliness of being an astronaut's wife, moves with her son to her hometown of Minerva, TN. Coninuously drinking, her life centers around her son whom she loves but feels more of an equal to than a mother. Jonathan Cloud, her son who wears tie-dye shirts and eyeliner to enhance his dark eyes. Very much a free spirit with a vivid imagination and who doesn't care much for what others think about him. Stayton Voegli, the son of a Baptist preacher and missionary, who falls for Jonathan after sneaking out to a club, watching him dance, and is then partnered with him in a high school science class.

Each chapter is told from one of their points of view, all in the first person, allowing us access to the inner workings of their brains. Stayton's hesitation at this new relationship he's forming and trying to reconcile it with his strng religious upbringing. Jonathan's vivid world, filled with the names of all the stars and planets and galaxies. But, Allen's chapters are told in the third person, revealing much more about his character's feelings of being cut off and closed to those around him.

This is a wonderful book, full of marvelous imagery and a unique glimpse into the characters. Definitely a must-read!

Rating:
Summary: A fine and complex novel, definitely worth reading
Review: In the early 1970s, Astronaut Allen Cloud returns to his Houston, TX, home from a mission in Florida to find his wife Joan sitting on their bed, drunk and toying with a pistol. He calmly takes the gun from her, which she swears isn't loaded. She lays back on the bed and, before passing out, says, "You should know, your son is a homosexual."

"Sea of Tranquility" relates the story of the Cloud family in the aftermath of that singular statement. Allen Cloud, astronaut and father who tries to cope with his mixed feelings about the son he never really knew. Not that he ever really knew anyone or would allow anyone to get close to him. Joan Cloud, finally feeling free of the loneliness of being an astronaut's wife, moves with her son to her hometown of Minerva, TN. Coninuously drinking, her life centers around her son whom she loves but feels more of an equal to than a mother. Jonathan Cloud, her son who wears tie-dye shirts and eyeliner to enhance his dark eyes. Very much a free spirit with a vivid imagination and who doesn't care much for what others think about him. Stayton Voegli, the son of a Baptist preacher and missionary, who falls for Jonathan after sneaking out to a club, watching him dance, and is then partnered with him in a high school science class.

Each chapter is told from one of their points of view, all in the first person, allowing us access to the inner workings of their brains. Stayton's hesitation at this new relationship he's forming and trying to reconcile it with his strng religious upbringing. Jonathan's vivid world, filled with the names of all the stars and planets and galaxies. But, Allen's chapters are told in the third person, revealing much more about his character's feelings of being cut off and closed to those around him.

This is a wonderful book, full of marvelous imagery and a unique glimpse into the characters. Definitely a must-read!

Rating:
Summary: Paul Russell's most moving novel...
Review: Much has been written about the latest two novels by Russell (War Against the Animals and The Coming Storm) but, in my opinion, Sea of Tranquillity is his best work.

I've read some of the other editorial & customer reviews and I can understand some of the criticism with regard to some of the more fantastical parts of the plot, but I believe that they are overshadowed by the beautiful, lyrical prose- aware of running the risk of sounding corny and trite, I really did feel the emotions of the characters.

Personally I loved the way Russell tells the story through four different narrators, each chapter being told by one of them. The chapters by Johnny Cloud and Stayton Voegli are amazing and complement each other by the "opposites attract" principle: Johnny's lyrical, somewhat free-form dazzling thoughts and feelings juxtaposed with Stayton's careful, at first longing and repressed conscience that evolves into love and acceptance.

Put simply, this is one of my all-time favorite books; whether "gay" or "mainstream" fiction, this book will touch you with its quiet beauty.

Rating:
Summary: My own view.
Review: Publisher's Weekly got it right in my opinion. The plot suffers from the disjointed narrative and long stylish descriptions.

Rating:
Summary: This writer is amazing.
Review: This book was the first I have ever read from this author. It was amazing. His words actually made me feel what the characters were going through. He has an enchanting style. I also liked how the narrative switched to keep up with all angles of the characters' minds. Stayton was the one I liked the most.

Rating:
Summary: Paul Russell's finest? Read it. You'll Agree.
Review: While Boys of Life and the Coming Storm are both excellent literary works, Sea of Tranquillity has to be Paul Russell's finest work to date. This novel is truely a masterpiece. Vivid and complex characters who live on in the readers mind long after the book is over. I read this book on a trip to San Francisco several years ago, and I still find myself moved by the voice of the characters. Nothing I've read has come close to reaching into my soul like this book did. It is a terrible shame that this book is out of print. If you can get it, do so, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Paul Russell's finest? Read it. You'll Agree.
Review: While Boys of Life and the Coming Storm are both excellent literary works, Sea of Tranquillity has to be Paul Russell's finest work to date. This novel is truely a masterpiece. Vivid and complex characters who live on in the readers mind long after the book is over. I read this book on a trip to San Francisco several years ago, and I still find myself moved by the voice of the characters. Nothing I've read has come close to reaching into my soul like this book did. It is a terrible shame that this book is out of print. If you can get it, do so, you won't be disappointed.