Common Sons : Common Threads in the Life

Rating:
Summary: Common Sons to be re-issued
Review: Commonwealth Publications (Edmonton, Canada) will re-issue COMMON SONS around mid-1997. I took this opportunity to make a few revisions, though fans should not worry. I haven't changed the story line, or the characters (with the exception of a minor character)

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Summary: Great gay fiction
Review: Excellent story of gay love between two teenage boys. Having spent my gay teenage years in a small town, I can certainly identify with these characters. Very well written.

Rating:
Summary: Common Sons 101 by Kevin J. Porter
Review: Five Stars out of Five

Common Sons 101 by Kevin J. Porter

Ronald L Donaghe claims that his Common Sons is a simple story, and I agree. But within this simplicity, he takes you back to the mid 60s and delves deeply into the human condition, taking you into the lives of two teenage boys and their romantic love story. From the beginning you will want Joel and Tom to live happily ever after, but you quickly find out that the path on which Donaghe sets this story is filled with hate-filled, narrow-minded, violent characters. Even one set of parents is scarier than Hell itself.

Many sections of the book will have you holding your breath as you turn the page, convinced that a murder will bloody the scene. Common Sons is a damn fine read. I highly recommend it. A family discussion of Common Sons will make the world a much happier, safer place for us humans to live and love.
www.kevinjporter.com

Rating:
Summary: Common Sons 101 by Kevin J. Porter
Review: Five Stars out of Five

Common Sons 101 by Kevin J. Porter

Ronald L Donaghe claims that his Common Sons is a simple story, and I agree. But within this simplicity, he takes you back to the mid 60s and delves deeply into the human condition, taking you into the lives of two teenage boys and their romantic love story. From the beginning you will want Joel and Tom to live happily ever after, but you quickly find out that the path on which Donaghe sets this story is filled with hate-filled, narrow-minded, violent characters. Even one set of parents is scarier than Hell itself.

Many sections of the book will have you holding your breath as you turn the page, convinced that a murder will bloody the scene. Common Sons is a damn fine read. I highly recommend it. A family discussion of Common Sons will make the world a much happier, safer place for us humans to live and love.
www.kevinjporter.com

Rating:
Summary: Common Sons back in print in this 3rd edition
Review: For many of you who have been my fans over the years with Common Sons, you will be glad to know that it is now back in print, and it will stay that way, since I have opted to use a print-on-demand company for this service.

In addition, many of you know that I have been working on a sequel to Common Sons. You will be glad to know that I've decided to write four books in a series I call "Common Threads in the Life." Common Sons is the first book in this series. And also coming to Amazon soon will be another book in this series entitled: The Salvation Mongers.

I would love to hear from you about Common Sons and would love to tell you about my other work. I can be reached at [e-mail].

Rating:
Summary: Kudos, Mr. Donaghe!
Review: From the moment I picked up this book everything else took a back seat. I've lost sleep because I was unable to put it down. To watch the lives of Joel and Tom develop in such a pure and delicate way filled me with such a sense of joy. This is a book to be read whether you're gay, straight, or anything in between. Donaghe shows the intolerance of some churches (not all of them, thank God) and the fear and questioning, but ultimately the loving acceptance of one family. Although Tom's church decides that he is in need of a major intervention by way of a special church camp in Georgia (all the way from New Mexico!), Joel's parents show a much more loving acceptance of their son and his "friend". Although Joel's Mom has the most problem dealing with the fact that she has a gay son, His Dad, although hoping that it is nothing more than a "phase", realizes that chances of this are pretty slim. In any case, he knows his son and loves him regardless. It's this kind of unconditional love and acceptance that ultimately makes this overall relationship between Tom, Joel and Joel's parents something you want to encounter whether in person or in the pages of a book. I could ramble on forever and give it all away. Make the investment and then write your own review and tell us how you felt! Thanks for the feel good book, Mr. Donaghe. I can't wait to lose more sleep over the rest of your books!

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Summary: great, romantic love story
Review: Having grown up in a small town highly influenced by the religious right, there was a lot I could identify with in this book. It's a wonderfully romantic (though idealistic) story of love between two young men just discovering their sexuality. I had a difficult time putting it down at the end of each day.

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Summary: This is the best love story I have read in years!!
Review: I cannot say enough about this book!! I loved it!!I could not put the book down. It has to be the best book I have read this year. I read this in one sitting from cover to cover. The characters are written like real people that I could imagine being from my small town. It was extremely well written and it flowed with an electricity that captivated me. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to go out and fine my one true love!! In this age of cynicism it was heartwarming to read a good love story between two people I could relate to. In fact I think that anyone could relate to these characters regardless of the reader's sexuality. All I know is that if you buy this book you will NOT be sorry!!

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Summary: Simply Heart Warming
Review: I finished this book last night and reread the favourite scenes. It only took a day because I could not put it down when I started yesterday morning. I just have to find out what happen to Joel and Tom next and so I just continue reading..reading...Joel and Tom are such beautiful young men that you just cry and cheer for them as they overcome all odds to be together. Their love for each other is so heart felt that you know they just have to be together. The side characters, Doughlas and Eva are great too but one wonder if parents will be that supportive if they find out about Joel's love when Joel is their only son. However this is a friction and should have brightness, happiness and hope in it. Personally I dread tragedies and try to avoid books which give you just that. A beautiful love story and I just wish to keep reading about Joel and Tom. Donaghe, thank you for creating Joel and Tom.

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Summary: Good story but you have to know the era
Review: I genuinely like this story. I'll skip the usual plot synopsis (there's plenty of that on this page) but it's sweet at times, it's got plenty of bite at others, and it doesn't stretch at the bounds of belief. But I'll caution you now - younger readers will find it difficult to get through, because this is much more of an adult novel than a lot of Donaghe's other books which seem aimed at a Young Adult market (Uncle Sean, All Over Him). It moves slowly and is filled with details that fill out the background, although it still helps if you know something of the time it's set in. I was born in '81, so I had to stop and think hard a few times and I'm sure I missed some things, but that's just me. Otherwise you'll have a tough time, but that's more a general warning than a criticism.

The characters are interesting and well developed, even if I think some of the situations are a bit of a stretch at times but no one goes overboard (well, not that far overboard). At first glance some of the characters seem black and white in their presentations but gradually you see them with the shades of gray that are necessary if a character is to come to life. There is a tendency to slog at some ideas, but those periods really don't take away from the story itself.

Note to those who have misgivings about POD books because they've been stung before: Donaghe seems to understand grammar, knows how to spell, and likely has someone edit for him. I wish more POD writers did, but this one could easily have come through a big market publishing house. Excellent story and good writing in most ways.

The author has a website loaded with information and is worth checking out.