Rating: 
Summary: Truly remarkable!
Review: This book is a pleasure to read and transcends my expectation.
The story line may not seem much at first glance. After all it depicts one month in the life of the characters. Yet it is imbued with honesty and emotions which leave me truly satisfied towards the end. The characters, Adam, Jeff, Dart, are wonderfully human and it is easy to share their aloneness and insecurity and finally hope. Highly commendable.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary Accomplishment, Engaging Story
Review: This is an extraordinary piece of writing that combines wonderful character development, a wry sense of humor (almost bordering on satire, particularly of the world of Southern California) with an abiding warmth that alternately leaves you laughing out loud and deeply touched.Mr. Krach balances all this, plus a story that in lesser hands would be delicate subject matter indeed, with an economical, literate style that is engaging and lyrical. There is a splendid understanding of characters, and the dynamics between them feel consistently real and honest. Particularly remarkable is the way that Mr. Krach captures the combination of fear, excitement and uncertainty that characterize new romantic relationships. At the same time, Mr. Krach explores what happens when we shut ourselves off, lock ourselves behind the trappings of a life that looks perfect and shows with great clarity that no matter which route one chooses, there are consequences. Lives are messy. Things happen we never expected and can't predict. It's all about how we choose to respond, and Mr. Krach makes an excellent case for leading with one's heart--however risky that may be. Half Life is easily one of the most delightful new books of the summer, and must reading for anyone who has ever tried to find themselves within the context of the complex interactions of contemporary life...which would be just about anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun Read
Review: This was a thoroughly entertaining read. In fact I read it in one evening after work. My only complaint would be that as in most gay fiction, life is too easy and always ends well. I agree that would be the ideal, but it is not always the reality. Regardless of that one downside, I highly recommend this as a fun and energenic novel.
Rating:
Summary: Oustanding!
Review: What a wonderful book! I couldn't put it down! Krach's style is outstandingly lucid. The denouement was well worth the wait involving reading the chapters that preceded it! I've read over 300 books of gay fiction during the last 30+ years, and this is now in my list of 10 favorites!
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected!
Review: When I read that this novel centered on the relationship between a 38 year old man and an 18 year old man I was a little worried it was going to be nothing more than erotica (not that anything is wrong with that; just not what I wanted to read). Instead, what I found was a wonderfully observed and detailed novel that put me in mind of Anne Tyler. Mr. Krach does a terrific job of making me understand how Adam (18) and Jeff (38) come to fall in love. In fact, by the end of the book I had completely forgotten there was any age difference at all. As if their romance wasn't enough to propel the story forward the author also includes a truly unique mystery involving Adam and his father. I don't want to give anything away, but I was turning the pages like mad to find out how the situation was resolved. Another thing I appreciated about Half: Life was how the author treated the issue of gay teens. Like other recent books including Rainbow High and Geography Club the teens in this story aren't angst ridden over being gay. Which isn't to say they live in some perfect world, only that the characters themselves are much more comfortable with themselves than teens even ten years ago. Very refreshing. All in all, an excellent first novel and I look forward to reading more of Mr. Krach's work!
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