A Summer's Exile

Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly written- breathtaking- Fun
Review: I read this book in the space of one week. It is certainly a book
that you simply do not want to put down; I surely didn't. As you read on, you truly begin to grow a ever elavating compassion towards mickey. I suppose you may find yourself identifying with
him in a way that awakens that warm spot in your heart. For any
person that has ever been bullied in school, or whosoever carry
a poor self-esteem and a longing for friendship and sensitivity
would deffinatly agree with this charactor. Like many others, I
must admit that the ending was rather disappointing however; a
true tear jerking experience. In any case, I was thinking of
finding a way to bring this book to video. I think it would be
a great idea, especially for those who read it.

Rating:
Summary: I liked the book very much, except for the ending.
Review: When browsing in the book store, I picked up a copy of Andre Gould's "A Summer's Exile," started to read it, found a comfortable chair, continued reading it, and two hours later closed it, after rereading the last page. That was two days ago. Today, I went back and bought the book. I liked it, although I found the ending disappointing, and yes, even infuriating.The quality of the book which hooked me, was the story itself, and the ring of authenticity in Mickey's voice, who for most of the book is the narrator. The gentle, gradual unfolding of the friendship between Mickey, the troubled boy, and his polar opposite, Steppin, a boy beautiful, green eyed, golden haired, and beloved by his parents. In bringing together these two opposites, Steppin raised in love, Mickey craving love and yet able to see in Steppin, that which in his mind's eye he, Mickey, lacks - a magical thing happens: each is able to see the beauty and the vulneribility in the other, each is able to recognize what the other needs and then gives it. Friendship crystalizing into love. Paraphrasing Maria Rilke's words, the definition of love is realized: love is when two solitudes recognize, touch, and protect each other. The meeting, blossoming of friendship and love, were beautifully realized. Warning: Spoilers follow! The ending, where Mickey dies, left me dissappointed. In the story, the transforming and healing power of love was demonstrated. Why is it then, that at the end, this love proved to be not enough. A cogent argument may be made, that the black hole in Mickey's heart, which wanted to be filled with love, perhaps was too enormous to be filled. Still, it would have been more interesting and challenging if Steppin's love and friendship brought Mickey back to school, to normality. That is my one gripe with an otherwise mesmarizing story. As an aside, one hauntingly beautiful book, which threads through similar waters, is Jim Grimsley's "Dream Boy." - Tony