Wings in the Snow

Rating:
Summary: Mostly excellent; sometimes melodramatic and contrived
Review: All the elements were here for an excellent novel: interesting interpersonal interaction between characters; an easily read writing style; plots and subplots that bounce off each other. But when I'd closed the book at the last page, I had the feeling I'd just watched a marathon run of a daytime soap opera. In fact, except for the homosexuality of the central character, Theo, and his spouse, Sam, the whole thing could have easily been a plot for The Guiding Light. And the characters themselves, with the exception of Susan Zack, Theo's daughter's mother, seemed rather stock to me: especially Theo, whose central conflict between a noble career and a home life, offered nothing new on the subject.

All in all, I think our fiction ought to do more (or at least different) things from our sit-coms and soap operas.

Rating:
Summary: I WANT MORE!
Review: Jim Oliver has done it again! After reading his first book, "Closing Distance," I picked this up, his second book, expecting it not to be as good a read as his first. Wrong! This was too fast a read. As his first book did, this one left me smiling, laughing and, at times, crying, and at the end, yearning for more pages. Much more. What makes a Jim Oliver read better than most others is that his characters go through a lot of turmoil and, oh! by the way: the main character just happens to be gay! As opposed to other books where the main ingredient of the characters are their gayness, Jim Oliver's books seem to focus on PLOT and have something to say, rather than just an erotic gay story. Yeah, I want more, Mr. Oliver: Please, give us another book. Soon.

Rating:
Summary: Mostly excellent; sometimes melodramatic and contrived
Review: The promise displayed by author Jim Oliver in his first book, Closing Distance, is more than fulfilled in his latest novel, Wings in the Snow.

This Philadelphia story engages the reader immediately, and the multi-theme tension never falters. Reconstructive surgeon Theo Tithonus's medical partner Dr. Susan Zack,abruptly informs him that he must acknowledge his parenthood to their 6 year old daughter, Natalia. Theo, who is gay, had obliged Susan with a sperm donation on the condition that she alone be the parent. Now, things have changed as she is overwhelmed with her single parent and work stresses. Though Theo is resistant to the idea, Susan delivers their daughter to his doorstep so she can leave town to avoid a nervous breakdown.

Theo's housemate and lover, Sam, feeling neglected himself, displays more parenting skills than Theo who seems to do everything clumsily, with no intuition about kids. Oliver's depiction of a 6 year-old rings true and is funny to the reader while totally frustrating to her father. However, finally taking his lead from his small daughter, Theo begins to "get it" through a beautifully defined "Wings in the Snow " experience.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, there is a threatening undercurrent as Theo's "old flame" shows up to rock the boat of his professional advancement. This character, jerk that he is, seems familiar and is totally believable as a consequence. In fact, the entire story is believable, moving, engrossing, and beautifully written. We have a fine writer here. Enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing book that leaves you smiling for more.
Review: This is a wonderful book that I would love to share with many. The complexity of the lives of the characters leaves the reader feeling helpless, sadden, hopeful and astonished by the power of relationships. This is a wonderful book that I would love to share with many. The complexity of the lives of the characters leaves the reader feeling helpless, sadden, hopeful and astonished by the power of relationships.

Rating:
Summary: Good...
Review: This was a good book. The plot line and character development was well done and intriguing. I enjoyed this book though I was frustrated with the main character. A sign of a good book! :)