Almost Like Being in Love : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Charm, Charmed and Charming.
Review: Author Steve Kluger has created two characters with wit and charm to spare. It's a pleasure to escape into their world where Craig and Travis (and the reader) all live charmed lives. For the men at the center of "Almost Like Being in Love" it's about finding what works and what doesn't at a particular moment in time; for the reader it's about a couple hundred pages of romantic-comedy-fun. Charming is the best way to describe Kluger's prose, his character's wit, and the title: "Almost"... like being in love.

(sigh)

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Loved this book!
Review: I devoured this book and found myself getting miffed at life's duties that took me away from it (sleeping, driving kids, making meals, etc.) I would have read it all in one sitting had I only been able to.

Steve Kluger can take baseball and flagrant, in-your-face gayness (two subjects that probably wouldn't jump off the bookshelf at me) and make me beg for more. Kluger's ability to use nonconventional ways to portray his characters is uncanny. His characters are intriguingly developed and brought to life through diary entries, faxes, memos, emails, menus, and even court documents. His ability to create a cohesive story with only a miniscule amount of narrative is wondrous. Very few authors could have made this strategy work, and Kluger was clearly successful!

Kluger's affection for his characters is clear and contagious. He makes them all very human and he deals with their foibles with endearing warmth and humor. He also demonstrates to us that this conglomeration of varied characters is a family in the true sense of the word. The amount of caring and compassion and acceptance illustrated in this book could easily be a lesson to all of us, no matter what orientation, preference, gender, religion, or politics we follow. Although it doesn't initially look or sound like it, this is a book about family values, friendship, support, and loyalty.

Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I loved "Last days of Summer" so I thought I would try this one out. WOW - loved it. Funny, fun and warm. A wonderful read....

Rating:
Summary: begging for more (and some sleep)
Review: I read this book after it gained praises from a discerning friend, and I can say now that it was the best thing I have possibly done in years.

This book has everything anyone could be looking for in a book: fairy tale romance gone awry, biting wit, engaging characters. I plowed through it in less than 6 hours, unwilling to let anything but blurring eyes impeed my rampage, and even then only via short breaks.

Kluger has created in this book a way for us to remember some things that we may have lost along the journey. Travis and Craig become emblematic of all our searches for love, and you become so engrossed in all of the other characters, that when so many happy endings begin to present themselves, you don't even know who gets your vote anymore

This book's unique style makes it a light read, but one with deep resonation. It truly is a page turner,; and not for its gripping suspense, but for your desire to remain in the heads of these extraordinary men and women. Read up!

Rating:
Summary: Besotted
Review: What a charming and witty story. Kluger has managed to add depth and soul into that old cliche of first loves never really die. A great set of characters, each with a clear personality. You root for every single one of them, even for the ones that are just mentioned in passing. Will read every single work of this author. But this book has my heart.