Earth, As It Is in Heaven

Rating:
Summary: iUniverse needs editors
Review: As an online work of fiction, this was a good piece of work. As a publication, it leaves a fair amount to be desired, not the least of which would be the quality of editing provided by iUniverse. I couldn't concentrate on the book because I was too busy dealing with the errors all over the place.

As a novel, Roman's work is a decent start--unfortunately, having been started out in a serialized form, it doesn't make the transition to a novel very well. The story arc is jumpy, the characters display a level of awareness and emotional intensity associated only with people on Ecstasy highs, or serious hallucinogens. However, Roman isn't a bad writer--I would suggest picking this book up as a used text or borrowing it before buying it.

Rating:
Summary: Great story of teen struggles
Review: I first read this story chapter by chapter on Roman's website. When a friend told me that he bought the book, the title struck a memory, so I rushed to purchase it. Now I have the complete story all in one, and it's as good as ever.

The story is about Trevor McCain, the high school football quarterback. Things are great; he's the star of the school, goes to all the parties, has great friends, and generally just enjoys life. Then one day Sebastian Reynolds walks into his Algebra class, and things begin to change. That night, Trevor realizes that he's been trying to fill a hole in his life that girls, sports, friends and family can't fill. And he sets out to make Sebastian a part of his life.

I was talking with one of my friends the other day about how there really are no good gay romances involving adults. Those that do exist usually involve the first loves of high school, although still wonderful stories. This is definitely a good one, and Roman's writing is far from immature or high-schoolish. The struggles felt by both Trevor and Sebastian as they come to terms with their feelings for each other, and ultimately coming out to the school and community are very real, heart-felt and mature. Definitely a great work on a topic some of us would like to see more of. Hopefully, Roman will continue his writing and bring us more great stories like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing 'Pull' of your emotions in every direction!!!!
Review: I just finished reading `Earth, As it is in Heaven', and all I can say is WOW (as I attempt to calm my heart rate down...). I have read between 4 and 5 dozen books in the past 6 months, and I have to say, I have not read a book that left me physically, and emotionally exhausted as this one did. What an Amazing Story! The Author, Roman Genesis (I love his name!)... did one Fabulous job telling the story of Football Captain, and highly popular Trevor McClain, and shy, quiet little Sebastian Reynolds. How their relationship, and subsequent coming out to the school, football team, and the entire town transpires.

This book discusses tough events like the effects that a teacher coming onto a child can have, Gay Bashing, intolerance, and a whole host of other issues that gay kids, as well as adults have to deal with.

I am serious when I say, this story left me laughing at parts, and literally sobbing at other times. I cannot believe a writer could get my anxiety up so much wondering will they get together or not... will they live happily ever after or not... even will they win the final star football game or not....

I HIGHLY recommend this book to ALL, both gay and straight.. for Gays, it tells of the good and bad of love, for Straights, it tells of what happens to Gay kids when intolerance and hate is introduced.

I hope Roman Genesis writes more books as he is Incredible as a story teller!!!

Mike Heine (`winterstone')

Rating:
Summary: A potentially great writer and his failed novel
Review: Roman Gensis has the potential to be a great writer. He can clearly craft a narrative that is compelling, his style is smooth, his characters have depth. As noted by a previous reviewer, the copy editor should be fired. The text is filled with spelling and grammer errors. More importantly, the author chooses to add another volume to the long history of "tragic gay boy" novels. When the young author was still a child, this was the only type of novel about gay youth that could be published. The hidden meaning was clear: the universe ground gay boys under its heels in punishment for their deviation. Today we have positive or at least balanced portrayals like Bob Meets Boy and Rainbow Boys. The author may view his attempts a advocacy in the novel as redemptive. The tragic ending overwhelms any sense of redemption. At a time when life is already overwhelming to them, youth should be steered well clear of this dark tome.

Rating:
Summary: I HATED IT!!!!
Review: The characters sucked. The plot sucked. The overly-traumatic-total-break-down-of-an-ending sucked. And people shouldn't read the worthless piece of crap until they're old and about to die! The ending was so sad that it ruined everything and if it hadn't been for that... it would've recieved FIVE stars from Mr. Happy. So there. =(

Rating:
Summary: More Like Purgatory
Review: There are many things to like about this story, including some really good writing. But there are also many things that are troubling. The author's name, Roman Genesis, has got to be a nom de plume, detracting from the credibility before you crack the spine. (If I'm wrong, I apologize.) The ultimately depressing ending detracts from everything accomplished in the rest of the text. Why? The author tries to explain this in the epilogue, without success. The characters, frankly, are too young, at fifteen and high school frosh, for the depth of emotions and commitment described. And, once again, there is evidence that the proofreaders at iUniverse, the publisher,all called in sick, based on the hundreds of typos and spelling mistakes. There is greater potential in this author which we can only hope will manifest itself in future works.

Rating:
Summary: WAY over the top
Review: There is some good character development here and some strong points are made, but the characters (and a good deal of the story) are way over the top. These guys are barely in their teens and they're as sophisticated as guys in college or beyond most of the time. The emotional range is just too out-of-control for both, and one needs a shrink more than a boyfriend (granted, that's a point in the story). Some of the plot elements (Identical twins?) are just too Made For Cable movie to swallow, along with the unrelenting brutality of the surrounding world. I came out in a mid-size city high school. It was a bad choice in retro and there were some rotten people and it sucked, but it wasn't unrelentingly vicious. The constant sense of gloom and doom that comes through in this story makes it a misery to read too often, never mind an ending that sends a dangerous message to a young reader.

I'm reading quite a few Publish On Demand books these days (and they ain't cheap) for one reason - they're not as Same Old S--- Different Title as what I read from the big places, where everybody is either warm, cuddly and perfect, or the characters walk around plugging any hole they find with a minimum of plot. Unfortunately while I'm reading more interesting stories, they're hard to follow sometimes because they have so many errors. Look, I know it's hard to catch your own flubs, but at least pass the stuff to someone who understands about homonyms, common use errors and things like that. They're easy mistakes with your own stuff even when you know better, that's why I pass term papers to people who can spot my dimmer moments. If you're going to have a book printed at your own cost, why can't more of these guys do the same? There are POD writers like Donaghe, Barriger and Morrisette who work at presenting decent manuscripts although I'll be fair, they still have small errors. Just about every word program has a spell check, so use it. But the points I knocked off Earth are for the story itself. The screw ups just added to the aggravation.
He-he, and if I did the same things in this, at least it was free.

The author maintains a website but it doesn't offer much for information other than a few incomplete stories

Rating:
Summary: flawed but heartfelt
Review: This little gem of a book captured my attention from the first sentence and held it right to the last. It runs the gamut of emotions from joy to despair, as highschool hero Trevor falls in love with troubled Sebastian. Their relationship is tender and caring, but is tested to the limits by an adversarial environment: peers, parents, siblings. There are flaws (typos galore, continuity issues) and Sebastian is, perhaps, overly overwrought throughout. But the sincerity and heartfelt nature of their story makes these minimal obstacles. In any case, many highschool freshman would be freaked out by such an intense relationship, especially with a history of rejection by parents and siblings. On a brighter note, many of their friends react positively and supportively, and on the whole it seems a very realist account of what might happen when two highschool boys fall in love. The saddest thing about this book is that a simple, loving relationship between two boys must still be subject to such tragedy in our society. A beautiful story by a promising artist.

Rating:
Summary: flawed but heartfelt
Review: This little gem of a book captured my attention from the first sentence and held it right to the last. It runs the gamut of emotions from joy to despair, as highschool hero Trevor falls in love with troubled Sebastian. Their relationship is tender and caring, but is tested to the limits by an adversarial environment: peers, parents, siblings. There are flaws (typos galore, continuity issues) and Sebastian is, perhaps, overly overwrought throughout. But the sincerity and heartfelt nature of their story makes these minimal obstacles. In any case, many highschool freshman would be freaked out by such an intense relationship, especially with a history of rejection by parents and siblings. On a brighter note, many of their friends react positively and supportively, and on the whole it seems a very realist account of what might happen when two highschool boys fall in love. The saddest thing about this book is that a simple, loving relationship between two boys must still be subject to such tragedy in our society. A beautiful story by a promising artist.