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A Hole in God's Pocket
When Greg Aubuchon brings home an inebriated man one night, he's merely playing Good Samaritan. What's the point of a twenty-five-year-old gay virgin having designs on a twenty-two-year-old straight player who just broke up with his girlfriend? But... assumptions often prove erroneous. Faron Weaver's girlfriend was actually a boyfriend, and he's every bit as screwed up about being a promiscuous gay Amish man as Greg is about being a celibate gay ex-monk. A bond forms between them, as bizarre as it is fitting, when Greg's current housemate moves out and Faron moves in. Although mutual attraction charges the air, their friendship remains chaste. Other men disappoint and even hurt them, making real love seem like an impossible dream. Estrangement from faith and family fills them with guilt. They confide and commiserate and consider solutions, but nothing seems to be enough. Greg and Faron have a longing to belong that could send them back to the places they came from... unless they accept the blessing that's right under their noses.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2012
4 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
K.Z. Snow
57 books273 followersThis says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH7rt4...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 3, 2013
I love the title, which fits this book so perfectly. Both these men, Greg and Faron, hoped for a life within a religious community. And both of them had to leave that place, despite the way it sustained and nurtured most of their souls, because it felt hollow at the center. Because they were gay, and religious communities are not yet willing to accept that. Because they felt as if, despite everything else, they had slipped from grace through a hole in God's pocket, and landed in turmoil. In this book, each of them redefines what they need from life. And they find each other.
Short, sweet, respectful of religion despite the obvious pain. This book cries rather than rages at the feeling of wrongness in these men's exclusion from their communities, at the sense that homophobia should not be festering at the heart of a faith based on God's love for all of his creation. This is a quiet book. Despite a little tension based on a misunderstanding, it is mainly about people working through their own needs and beliefs to come home to each other.
Short, sweet, respectful of religion despite the obvious pain. This book cries rather than rages at the feeling of wrongness in these men's exclusion from their communities, at the sense that homophobia should not be festering at the heart of a faith based on God's love for all of his creation. This is a quiet book. Despite a little tension based on a misunderstanding, it is mainly about people working through their own needs and beliefs to come home to each other.
April 5, 2012
Any M/M story that has a drop of religious issue in it always makes me slightly uncomfortable. Not that because we cannot question our religious teach. It's because I think we should respect each other's faith and beliefs. Both sides can be too preachy in defending their stance, and I don't want to read a love story that comes into preachy territory. So, the words "Amish" and "ex-monk" sort of making me approach this story with caution. Then again, it's from K.Z. Snow, one of my favorite authors since I discovered her story back in 2010, and I couldn't stay away.
This is a very thoughtful and smart love story that tackles the issue of religious beliefs. The premise itself is unique.
Faron Weaver is a 22-year-old Amish young men who is premiscous and all out when he realizes he is gay (after a first blowjob he got when he was 17). Faron left his community -- and he takes the chance to be himself, to get all the gay sex experience, even taking sugar daddy so he can keep a roof over his head while still sending money to his family.
Greg Aubuchon, is a 25-year old ex monk, who left the monestary and the celibacy life because he realizes he cannot stop his nature, of liking other men. Greg doesn't want to hide himself -- however, he also has no clues or experiences in how to get a date or even makes a move on a guy. In other words, Greg is a virgin though he knows he is gay.
The two guys have their issues, trying to figure out what they want without destroying the new founded friendship between them. While he's not new to the scene of gay sex, Faron is troubled because he feels hollow inside. He doesn't know how it feels to fall in love and he seems to keep getting wrong men. He also struggles because he cannot tell his family of who he is, he doesn't want to get shunned. His family means a lot for him.
On the other hand, Greg is too insecure of making a move on Faron, for worrying about his own lack of experience. It's enough balance of angst -- and I love reading how these two men talk and connect. The part where they finally confront each other's feeling actually squeezes my heart tight (in a way that I know K.Z. Snow could).
As usual, K.Z. Snow's writing is beautifully crafted and poetic, without being too much. The way she strings up her words is amazing. At the same time, this story provides humorous words, that doesn't fail to make me chuckling in delight. Some examples:
"If you can guarantee you’ll be responsible and you aren’t a total slob, I wouldn’t give a crap if you slept with a blow-up doll that looked like Muammar Gaddafi and sang lullabies to it every night.”
...attending a gay Mad Hatter’s tea party on Craigslist,
and MY FAVORITE ...
The Church really needs to rethink its policy on celibacy, because I’m pretty sure I felt the fist of God around my balls.
Shame on me. That’s wickedly profane.
No it isn’t. He created my balls, so why can’t He touch them?
Still…
Oh okay, so maybe I just felt His breath on my cock.
That’s almost as bad.
I actually laughed out loud on that part :p
I think K.Z. Snow has written this with quite respect for the religious issue. Yes, there's that preachy part, I guess you cannot help it when you write from a different side of your beliefs. But at the same time, I don't feel like she frontally attacks the issue as well. What is the heart of this story is love and that when you find that right person that you fall in love with, everything comes together in a perfect fit. That love fills that hollow in your heart, just like what both Faron and Greg feel after they find one another.
So I would like to close this long and tend to rambling opinion, with one of the most beautiful passages K.Z. Snow provides to close the story ...
“God isn’t small, honey. God has a lot of freakin’ pockets. And we just found the one we belong in.”
This is a very thoughtful and smart love story that tackles the issue of religious beliefs. The premise itself is unique.
Faron Weaver is a 22-year-old Amish young men who is premiscous and all out when he realizes he is gay (after a first blowjob he got when he was 17). Faron left his community -- and he takes the chance to be himself, to get all the gay sex experience, even taking sugar daddy so he can keep a roof over his head while still sending money to his family.
Greg Aubuchon, is a 25-year old ex monk, who left the monestary and the celibacy life because he realizes he cannot stop his nature, of liking other men. Greg doesn't want to hide himself -- however, he also has no clues or experiences in how to get a date or even makes a move on a guy. In other words, Greg is a virgin though he knows he is gay.
The two guys have their issues, trying to figure out what they want without destroying the new founded friendship between them. While he's not new to the scene of gay sex, Faron is troubled because he feels hollow inside. He doesn't know how it feels to fall in love and he seems to keep getting wrong men. He also struggles because he cannot tell his family of who he is, he doesn't want to get shunned. His family means a lot for him.
On the other hand, Greg is too insecure of making a move on Faron, for worrying about his own lack of experience. It's enough balance of angst -- and I love reading how these two men talk and connect. The part where they finally confront each other's feeling actually squeezes my heart tight (in a way that I know K.Z. Snow could).
As usual, K.Z. Snow's writing is beautifully crafted and poetic, without being too much. The way she strings up her words is amazing. At the same time, this story provides humorous words, that doesn't fail to make me chuckling in delight. Some examples:
"If you can guarantee you’ll be responsible and you aren’t a total slob, I wouldn’t give a crap if you slept with a blow-up doll that looked like Muammar Gaddafi and sang lullabies to it every night.”
...attending a gay Mad Hatter’s tea party on Craigslist,
and MY FAVORITE ...
The Church really needs to rethink its policy on celibacy, because I’m pretty sure I felt the fist of God around my balls.
Shame on me. That’s wickedly profane.
No it isn’t. He created my balls, so why can’t He touch them?
Still…
Oh okay, so maybe I just felt His breath on my cock.
That’s almost as bad.
I actually laughed out loud on that part :p
I think K.Z. Snow has written this with quite respect for the religious issue. Yes, there's that preachy part, I guess you cannot help it when you write from a different side of your beliefs. But at the same time, I don't feel like she frontally attacks the issue as well. What is the heart of this story is love and that when you find that right person that you fall in love with, everything comes together in a perfect fit. That love fills that hollow in your heart, just like what both Faron and Greg feel after they find one another.
So I would like to close this long and tend to rambling opinion, with one of the most beautiful passages K.Z. Snow provides to close the story ...
“God isn’t small, honey. God has a lot of freakin’ pockets. And we just found the one we belong in.”
April 9, 2012
This was a very quiet story. Outwardly, nothing much happens here. When we first meet them, Faron and Greg are just two ordinary men with mundane jobs and normal everyday worries who meet, get to know each other, and gradually move from friendship to more. But that’s merely on the surface.
At first glimpse, a Catholic monk and an Amish man may seem a very unlikely pairing. Then again, given that they’re both gay and brought in conflict with their upbringing, their faith, their very life plans by that fact, maybe not. However, Greg and Faron did make a wonderful couple in the end, supporting each other on their respective ways towards self-acceptance and complementing each other in a way that made their eventual getting together inevitable, even though they almost missed the obvious.
The writing was flawless, smooth and fast-paced for all that the story unfolded so slow. It was laced with a delicious humor that had me laughing out loud at times but never turned the serious issues this book dealt with into ridicule. And yes, there was a little preaching and quoting of Bible passages, but not enough to become obtrusive.
Unsurprisingly, religion was a big theme in this book, as both main characters were firmly rooted in their faith, Faron even more so than Greg. There is a somewhat resigned acceptance of the Amish belief system about Faron, an it-is-as-it-is that carried over to me, the reader. The Amish aren’t demonized at all, but depicted in a factual, non-judgmental way that taught me a lot about a lifestyle that couldn’t be father removed from my own. At the same time, knowing where Faron came from, and seeing him live his fairly “normal” modern life went a long way to make me fully appreciative of the deep conflict he faces, of the absolute contradictoriness of being a gay man and being a member of the Amish community. It almost tears him apart, since he can’t give up either without losing a part of his very essence. And still, he’s so open and full of joie de vivre, an optimist and even an opportunist of sorts while at the same time honorable to a fault. For all that he had to keep his family at arm’s length, had to lie by omission, and scraped along on a string of sugar daddies during the last few years, he managed to preserve his innocence. I found him a very well-drawn character, multi-faceted and very likable.
Greg was more introverted and shy, which suited him well, given that he’d attempted to be a Trappist. Still, he’s got both feet firmly on the ground. His conflict wasn’t so much with how his environment might react to his sexuality (after all, even his abbot reacted sympathetically) as what it means for him personally to be gay. It took him a year of prayer and thought to admit the fact to himself, so he isn’t as carelessly open about his sexuality as Faron is. In fact, I agree with Greg that his retreat into the cloister was nothing but that, a flight. What he decided to face when he left there wasn’t so much the fact that he was gay – his conflicts were more with the vow of celibacy in itself, a struggle that would’ve been quite the same for a straight man – but life itself. From what I as the reader was given of Greg’s background, his family wasn’t particularly warm or caring towards him. He’d found acceptance and welcome among the monks, but because he finds himself unable to fully submit to the monk’s rules, he realizes he has to leave. This makes him honorable, and brave, but now he’s a little lost in the mundane world. He needs guidance, which he finds in Faron.
The two men may come from similar deeply religious backgrounds, but by the time their paths cross for the first time, they’ll have gotten there on very different roads. They may share the same idea about where they want to end up, but both need to take their individual detours and reach their individual dead ends before they can realize that they might be on a journey towards each other. And that’s what this story is at the core, even though it doesn’t cover much ground geographically. It’s a journey of two hearts and two souls, and I loved taking a crucial part of it with them. In the end, it was all about finding a place where they could truly belong. In Greg’s own words:
“God isn’t small, honey. God has a lot of freakin’ pockets. And we just found the one we belong in.”
Highly recommended.
review originally written for reviewsbyjessewave.com
At first glimpse, a Catholic monk and an Amish man may seem a very unlikely pairing. Then again, given that they’re both gay and brought in conflict with their upbringing, their faith, their very life plans by that fact, maybe not. However, Greg and Faron did make a wonderful couple in the end, supporting each other on their respective ways towards self-acceptance and complementing each other in a way that made their eventual getting together inevitable, even though they almost missed the obvious.
The writing was flawless, smooth and fast-paced for all that the story unfolded so slow. It was laced with a delicious humor that had me laughing out loud at times but never turned the serious issues this book dealt with into ridicule. And yes, there was a little preaching and quoting of Bible passages, but not enough to become obtrusive.
Unsurprisingly, religion was a big theme in this book, as both main characters were firmly rooted in their faith, Faron even more so than Greg. There is a somewhat resigned acceptance of the Amish belief system about Faron, an it-is-as-it-is that carried over to me, the reader. The Amish aren’t demonized at all, but depicted in a factual, non-judgmental way that taught me a lot about a lifestyle that couldn’t be father removed from my own. At the same time, knowing where Faron came from, and seeing him live his fairly “normal” modern life went a long way to make me fully appreciative of the deep conflict he faces, of the absolute contradictoriness of being a gay man and being a member of the Amish community. It almost tears him apart, since he can’t give up either without losing a part of his very essence. And still, he’s so open and full of joie de vivre, an optimist and even an opportunist of sorts while at the same time honorable to a fault. For all that he had to keep his family at arm’s length, had to lie by omission, and scraped along on a string of sugar daddies during the last few years, he managed to preserve his innocence. I found him a very well-drawn character, multi-faceted and very likable.
Greg was more introverted and shy, which suited him well, given that he’d attempted to be a Trappist. Still, he’s got both feet firmly on the ground. His conflict wasn’t so much with how his environment might react to his sexuality (after all, even his abbot reacted sympathetically) as what it means for him personally to be gay. It took him a year of prayer and thought to admit the fact to himself, so he isn’t as carelessly open about his sexuality as Faron is. In fact, I agree with Greg that his retreat into the cloister was nothing but that, a flight. What he decided to face when he left there wasn’t so much the fact that he was gay – his conflicts were more with the vow of celibacy in itself, a struggle that would’ve been quite the same for a straight man – but life itself. From what I as the reader was given of Greg’s background, his family wasn’t particularly warm or caring towards him. He’d found acceptance and welcome among the monks, but because he finds himself unable to fully submit to the monk’s rules, he realizes he has to leave. This makes him honorable, and brave, but now he’s a little lost in the mundane world. He needs guidance, which he finds in Faron.
The two men may come from similar deeply religious backgrounds, but by the time their paths cross for the first time, they’ll have gotten there on very different roads. They may share the same idea about where they want to end up, but both need to take their individual detours and reach their individual dead ends before they can realize that they might be on a journey towards each other. And that’s what this story is at the core, even though it doesn’t cover much ground geographically. It’s a journey of two hearts and two souls, and I loved taking a crucial part of it with them. In the end, it was all about finding a place where they could truly belong. In Greg’s own words:
“God isn’t small, honey. God has a lot of freakin’ pockets. And we just found the one we belong in.”
Highly recommended.
review originally written for reviewsbyjessewave.com
November 8, 2014
I find K.Z. Snow's writing quite frustrating. She's obviously one heck of an excellent writer; her sentences are often beautifully crafted. I admire that! And I admire the subject matter of this novella that concerns an ex-monk and an Amish young man who has left his community. When I saw the blurb for this book, I got really excited and bought it immediately, as an examination of religion within the gay romance genre is something I'm quite interested in.
But ultimately I was disappointed by this story. It felt as if all the elments for a great tale were there, but they were hung like a scarecrow's clothes on an inadequately-filled-out frame. The progression of the relationship between Greg and Faron was artificial; not enough time passes, and we aren't shown how they become friends except for one tiny scene from Thanksgiving.
The comparison between what the two have each experienced in their journey away from religion? It was told, not shown, and I never got any kind of visceral feel for their struggles. And definitely not how each reflected the other's struggle. I was told that, sure, but I didn't see it come alive through the actions and feelings of the novella.
I *know* K.Z. Snow can do way better than this. I kept thinking she maybe wrote it under a deadline, or maybe it started out as a novel and for some reason morphed into a shorter form? If ever I'ver read a story that begged to be expanded, this is it.
Four stars because of the excellent writing, though, which was a pleasure to read, sentence by sentence.
But ultimately I was disappointed by this story. It felt as if all the elments for a great tale were there, but they were hung like a scarecrow's clothes on an inadequately-filled-out frame. The progression of the relationship between Greg and Faron was artificial; not enough time passes, and we aren't shown how they become friends except for one tiny scene from Thanksgiving.
The comparison between what the two have each experienced in their journey away from religion? It was told, not shown, and I never got any kind of visceral feel for their struggles. And definitely not how each reflected the other's struggle. I was told that, sure, but I didn't see it come alive through the actions and feelings of the novella.
I *know* K.Z. Snow can do way better than this. I kept thinking she maybe wrote it under a deadline, or maybe it started out as a novel and for some reason morphed into a shorter form? If ever I'ver read a story that begged to be expanded, this is it.
Four stars because of the excellent writing, though, which was a pleasure to read, sentence by sentence.
June 20, 2012
K.Z. Snow’s A Hole in God’s Pocket is a lush, lyrical tale of a twenty-five year-old former monk, Greg Aubuchon, who meets a former Amish man, Faron Weaver and find out they have a lot more in common besides religion. As these two men forge a friendship, they also discover a deep and abiding love for each other that threatens everything they’ve ever believed.
What I love most about this book was the tone and structure of the words. They were utterly beautiful and fit in perfectly with the setting and the plot of the story. Now, this book isn’t The Thorn Birds, as Faron is sort of a little promiscuous and is not fighting the fact he’s gay, but Greg like Father Ralph is lost and alone until he finds his soul mate (Faron). So, as a love story, this book shines, but readers who like graphic sex scenes should look elsewhere, as that wouldn’t have fit within the confines of Greg and Faron’s relationship. And while there might not be up-against-the-wall sex, A Hole in God’s Pocket is deeply sensual and erotic in its own unique way.
Overall, everything about A Hole in God’s Pocket was of the highest caliber: the writing, the plot and the characterizations. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Dark Divas Reviews
What I love most about this book was the tone and structure of the words. They were utterly beautiful and fit in perfectly with the setting and the plot of the story. Now, this book isn’t The Thorn Birds, as Faron is sort of a little promiscuous and is not fighting the fact he’s gay, but Greg like Father Ralph is lost and alone until he finds his soul mate (Faron). So, as a love story, this book shines, but readers who like graphic sex scenes should look elsewhere, as that wouldn’t have fit within the confines of Greg and Faron’s relationship. And while there might not be up-against-the-wall sex, A Hole in God’s Pocket is deeply sensual and erotic in its own unique way.
Overall, everything about A Hole in God’s Pocket was of the highest caliber: the writing, the plot and the characterizations. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Dark Divas Reviews
December 31, 2012
This was my last read in 2012 - and what a fitting one. A wonderful, gentle love story.
April 26, 2012
What a great read this was! I was a bit hesitant at first, because I was worried that this could be angsty, preachy or maudlin. But at the end of the day it wasn't any of those things. What it was, was a deep, beautifully written, story about two men who are struggling with the contradictions between their faith and their feelings. And this was all done in an extremely thoughtful and sincere way.
Faron, an Amish man has struggled with being gay since he had "urges". He cannot come out, because that would mean being shunned and have repercussions in the community for his family as well. Greg was a novice in a monastery who finally came to the realisation that maybe this life was not for him and he needed to come to terms with his sexuality. Together these two men built a relationship that was beautiful to be a part of.
This whole story was handled with a grace that is breathtaking. The religion (and philosophy) wasn't jarring, but adds to the whole. There was no gratuitous sex scenes thrown in to please anyone. No the story was left to unfold like it was meant to: step by step without rushing.
Faron, an Amish man has struggled with being gay since he had "urges". He cannot come out, because that would mean being shunned and have repercussions in the community for his family as well. Greg was a novice in a monastery who finally came to the realisation that maybe this life was not for him and he needed to come to terms with his sexuality. Together these two men built a relationship that was beautiful to be a part of.
This whole story was handled with a grace that is breathtaking. The religion (and philosophy) wasn't jarring, but adds to the whole. There was no gratuitous sex scenes thrown in to please anyone. No the story was left to unfold like it was meant to: step by step without rushing.
August 1, 2014
Somewhere above 3 and below 4. Kaje and Ami wrote great reviews, check them out.
This was respectful of religion and the guys are so caught up with their upbringing I was beginning to fear they wouldn't connect. Very nice story, some real believable situations, and some quite mind blowing statements about god and sex. It is fiction so I probably shouldn't complain that it all kind of happened quickly, but it did.
The HFN (what I would call it) ending to me is too tentative. Coming from a religious background there are many more issues for these guys to work thru before a true HEA.
For those squeamish about homophobes, I don't think this will bother you. For those with religious backgrounds I think it will continue to add to your enlightenment.
This was respectful of religion and the guys are so caught up with their upbringing I was beginning to fear they wouldn't connect. Very nice story, some real believable situations, and some quite mind blowing statements about god and sex. It is fiction so I probably shouldn't complain that it all kind of happened quickly, but it did.
The HFN (what I would call it) ending to me is too tentative. Coming from a religious background there are many more issues for these guys to work thru before a true HEA.
For those squeamish about homophobes, I don't think this will bother you. For those with religious backgrounds I think it will continue to add to your enlightenment.
April 16, 2012
Wow. What a surprise. I read this on a recommendation from a friend and I have to say that when I read the blurb, I thought, "WHAT!?". There's NO way I'm going to like this. I live in PA so I have a special distaste for the Amish. How can a book about a monk and an amish guy be any kind of good? I'm happy to say I was wrong. This book was VERY interesting and well done. The characters were endearing and likeable and their relationship was complex. I would not have read this without my friend's recommendation but I'm glad I did. And I'm passing it along- Give this one a chance, you won't be sorry.
December 28, 2012
A beautiful love story. Just as she did in Precious_boy, KZ writes a powerful ending that tugged at my heartstrings.
April 14, 2012
Beautiful story, beautiful characters. Reading it felt like something special.
October 30, 2013
After a drunk Faron practically falls all over him, Greg pulls a good Samaritan and offers him a couch to sleep on for the night. He was just doing a good deed. It certainly had nothing to do with how far he wants to fall into those blue eyes and firm arms. After all, Faron is straight. And Greg's a virgin who hasn't even got a clue how to go about seducing the beautiful Amish man passed out on his couch.
But not everything is as it seems, and when Faron confesses that his last relationship--better known as a scheming asshole--was very male, Greg's got to contend with an attraction that might just be going both ways. Or not. How exactly is an ex-monk suppose to tell if an estranged Amish man is into him?
I don't often get a chance to read about Amish men, so this was an interesting look into a world that I really don't know all that much about. The pure hedonism of rumspringer was a bit of shock. The parties, the drugs, the sex...this is not the Amish that my grandma likes to read about. And against all this there is the ultimate taboo of Faron's feelings. You can apparently get away with quite a bit in the wild years of the Amish youth, just don't have the temerity to fall in lust with those hard bodies if your are sporting one yourself. Not exactly a new story, this double-standard of morality, but heartbreaking all the same.
Greg's story is both familiar and new. A religious man plagued by doubts--not only about his sexuality, but with the truth of the bible and his own feelings/misgivings as to if he can dedicate his life to a god he is unsure of--is not a new story. But I have to admit, he's the fist monk I've run across. I liked how he described his time at the Abbey, the peace and the solitude. You could clearly see why he loved it there, but also why he had to leave.
Despite my like of both men, together they seemed rather flat. Something was missing between them. Or, at least, something wasn't translating from page to my heart. I kept looking for that spark to leap off the page and it never quite got there. I don't think it was the fact it was meant to burn slow, because I've loved many a book set up along that theme. But while the words where said, the emotions expressed, I never felt them. I didn't really feel the loss at their parting, or the fire at their joining. Everything felt like it was wrapped in cotton. It was too soft--even the bits that where broken and bleeding.
It was a good story, but it never really got off the ground for me. Nice, short, and sweet--but I guess I was looking for something with more spice. I think this one is going to be about 3.5 stars for me.
(Oh, and Lance is a douchenozzle and needs to be kicked in balls repeatedly till it is assured that he can never reproduce. Or he cries.)
But not everything is as it seems, and when Faron confesses that his last relationship--better known as a scheming asshole--was very male, Greg's got to contend with an attraction that might just be going both ways. Or not. How exactly is an ex-monk suppose to tell if an estranged Amish man is into him?
I don't often get a chance to read about Amish men, so this was an interesting look into a world that I really don't know all that much about. The pure hedonism of rumspringer was a bit of shock. The parties, the drugs, the sex...this is not the Amish that my grandma likes to read about. And against all this there is the ultimate taboo of Faron's feelings. You can apparently get away with quite a bit in the wild years of the Amish youth, just don't have the temerity to fall in lust with those hard bodies if your are sporting one yourself. Not exactly a new story, this double-standard of morality, but heartbreaking all the same.
Greg's story is both familiar and new. A religious man plagued by doubts--not only about his sexuality, but with the truth of the bible and his own feelings/misgivings as to if he can dedicate his life to a god he is unsure of--is not a new story. But I have to admit, he's the fist monk I've run across. I liked how he described his time at the Abbey, the peace and the solitude. You could clearly see why he loved it there, but also why he had to leave.
Despite my like of both men, together they seemed rather flat. Something was missing between them. Or, at least, something wasn't translating from page to my heart. I kept looking for that spark to leap off the page and it never quite got there. I don't think it was the fact it was meant to burn slow, because I've loved many a book set up along that theme. But while the words where said, the emotions expressed, I never felt them. I didn't really feel the loss at their parting, or the fire at their joining. Everything felt like it was wrapped in cotton. It was too soft--even the bits that where broken and bleeding.
It was a good story, but it never really got off the ground for me. Nice, short, and sweet--but I guess I was looking for something with more spice. I think this one is going to be about 3.5 stars for me.
(Oh, and Lance is a douchenozzle and needs to be kicked in balls repeatedly till it is assured that he can never reproduce. Or he cries.)
October 18, 2016
As Greg Aubuchon, in 'A Hole in Gods Pocket' by K.Z. Snow is told by Dom Frederick: “Don’t come if you’re desperately running away from something. Only come if you’re deliberately moving toward something.”
It's probably one of the best pieces of advice ever given not just for Greg, but for any of us. In order to change anything, we need to be running toward, not away from something. It's much easier to stay in our familiar shell, but if we want something bad enough, we will find the courage to run toward what we want and not let our fears, or the attitudes of others stop us.
Greg and Faron are very much alike in their approach to life and how they deal with people. They have a great sense of honor, decency, humility, and compassion. Both men are devout Christians, raised by strict, religious families. They're both gay and struggle with church views concerning their homosexuality. After much deliberation and prayer, they decide to reject what the church says about it being a sin. Greg and Faron believe that their God doesn't make mistakes and since he created them as they are, they can't be evil.
Faron loves his family and they are very close. A confession from Faron would devastate his family and destroy their lives. Greg, on the other hand, isn't close to his family and a confession from him, although difficult, would not have been as tragic; the choice of whether or not to tell anyone was up to him.
The biggest difference between the two men is their sexual expression. Faron embraces being gay wholeheartedly from the beginning. Greg, on the other hand, decides to repress his needs and remain celibate. When they meet, they've both reached a point in their lives where they feel lonely and empty and desire a committed, loving relationship.
This story is wonderfully complex and well though out; the lyrical prose and vivid descriptions make the book shine with a glow which is so typical of K.Z.'s writing. Greg and Faron are two of the most appealing characters I've ever encountered which makes it easy to fall in love and want only the best for these two charming men. Understandably, telling this story involved somewhat detailed explanations of certain religious views and is done so without proselytizing. Without them, the reader would not feel the full impact of the dilemma in which Greg and Faron find themselves. I highly recommend this story for anyone who wants a deeper reading experience while reminding us that God doesn't make mistakes. Thanks K.Z., for the inspiration.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
It's probably one of the best pieces of advice ever given not just for Greg, but for any of us. In order to change anything, we need to be running toward, not away from something. It's much easier to stay in our familiar shell, but if we want something bad enough, we will find the courage to run toward what we want and not let our fears, or the attitudes of others stop us.
Greg and Faron are very much alike in their approach to life and how they deal with people. They have a great sense of honor, decency, humility, and compassion. Both men are devout Christians, raised by strict, religious families. They're both gay and struggle with church views concerning their homosexuality. After much deliberation and prayer, they decide to reject what the church says about it being a sin. Greg and Faron believe that their God doesn't make mistakes and since he created them as they are, they can't be evil.
Faron loves his family and they are very close. A confession from Faron would devastate his family and destroy their lives. Greg, on the other hand, isn't close to his family and a confession from him, although difficult, would not have been as tragic; the choice of whether or not to tell anyone was up to him.
The biggest difference between the two men is their sexual expression. Faron embraces being gay wholeheartedly from the beginning. Greg, on the other hand, decides to repress his needs and remain celibate. When they meet, they've both reached a point in their lives where they feel lonely and empty and desire a committed, loving relationship.
This story is wonderfully complex and well though out; the lyrical prose and vivid descriptions make the book shine with a glow which is so typical of K.Z.'s writing. Greg and Faron are two of the most appealing characters I've ever encountered which makes it easy to fall in love and want only the best for these two charming men. Understandably, telling this story involved somewhat detailed explanations of certain religious views and is done so without proselytizing. Without them, the reader would not feel the full impact of the dilemma in which Greg and Faron find themselves. I highly recommend this story for anyone who wants a deeper reading experience while reminding us that God doesn't make mistakes. Thanks K.Z., for the inspiration.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 5, 2012
This is a very, very good book. I can't imagine why it doesn't have at LEAST a 4 star average rating.
The setup is a little ridiculous. An Amish ex-rentboy and a Catholic ex-monk meeting in a bar? Really? Ridiculous, but for sure not something you'll read every day. And KZ carefully weaves this ridiculous beginning into a gentle, thoughtful book. There are no Evil Homophobic Villains here. Yes, there's a homophobe, but he's more ignorant than evil; yes, the Amish shun known homosexuals, but they are also loving and devoted to family and friends. KZ doesn't whitewash the problems, but she gives us a rounded look at the people involved. We get a better understanding of both the MCs because we are shown both what pulled them away from their former lives, and what also continues to pull them back towards those lives. There is ongoing tension between those lives for both of the characters, and it involves much more than simple guilt or condemnation.
Also, it was nice that KZ didn't take easy/cliched ways out to throw her characters back together when they got separated. There was no Evil Homophobic Violence, no Robbery Gone Wrong, no Critical Illness, no Nearly Fatal Car Accident. Actually, KZ made a point out of one character crashing his car and NOT getting injured, which cracked me up. ;-) There wasn't any over-the-top drama or over-hyped angst, just conflicted people feeling honestly and deeply.
There's some really nice writing here. I especially loved this paragraph:
"Dear God, those eyes.... All the sunlight Greg had ever craved on gloomy days was there, and every harvest moon he’d wished would magically appear on moonless nights. All the stars he couldn’t see were there, and, behind them, the faces of angels and gods."
And this one made me laugh -- this is after the ex-monk, Greg, has sex for the first time ever:
"The Church really needs to rethink its policy on celibacy, because I’m pretty sure I felt the fist of God around my balls."
At the end the two are able to find peace and acceptance within their own hearts, without rejecting their religions.
On the downside: it's a constant refrain for me, but I wish this book had been longer. I wanted to get more character development, more scenes with Greg and Faron together, and a more relaxed and logical timeline (it didn't make a lot of sense to me in some places). Also, a side plot about Faron and his ex-sugar-Daddy needed more resolution. Faron made a big deal about it being a point of honor to pay back the sugar Daddy from a prior agreement, but then that issue was completely dropped without the payback ever being completed or even figuring out how it was going to be done.
All in all, though, a really nice read. 4.5 stars.
The setup is a little ridiculous. An Amish ex-rentboy and a Catholic ex-monk meeting in a bar? Really? Ridiculous, but for sure not something you'll read every day. And KZ carefully weaves this ridiculous beginning into a gentle, thoughtful book. There are no Evil Homophobic Villains here. Yes, there's a homophobe, but he's more ignorant than evil; yes, the Amish shun known homosexuals, but they are also loving and devoted to family and friends. KZ doesn't whitewash the problems, but she gives us a rounded look at the people involved. We get a better understanding of both the MCs because we are shown both what pulled them away from their former lives, and what also continues to pull them back towards those lives. There is ongoing tension between those lives for both of the characters, and it involves much more than simple guilt or condemnation.
Also, it was nice that KZ didn't take easy/cliched ways out to throw her characters back together when they got separated. There was no Evil Homophobic Violence, no Robbery Gone Wrong, no Critical Illness, no Nearly Fatal Car Accident. Actually, KZ made a point out of one character crashing his car and NOT getting injured, which cracked me up. ;-) There wasn't any over-the-top drama or over-hyped angst, just conflicted people feeling honestly and deeply.
There's some really nice writing here. I especially loved this paragraph:
"Dear God, those eyes.... All the sunlight Greg had ever craved on gloomy days was there, and every harvest moon he’d wished would magically appear on moonless nights. All the stars he couldn’t see were there, and, behind them, the faces of angels and gods."
And this one made me laugh -- this is after the ex-monk, Greg, has sex for the first time ever:
"The Church really needs to rethink its policy on celibacy, because I’m pretty sure I felt the fist of God around my balls."
At the end the two are able to find peace and acceptance within their own hearts, without rejecting their religions.
On the downside: it's a constant refrain for me, but I wish this book had been longer. I wanted to get more character development, more scenes with Greg and Faron together, and a more relaxed and logical timeline (it didn't make a lot of sense to me in some places). Also, a side plot about Faron and his ex-sugar-Daddy needed more resolution. Faron made a big deal about it being a point of honor to pay back the sugar Daddy from a prior agreement, but then that issue was completely dropped without the payback ever being completed or even figuring out how it was going to be done.
All in all, though, a really nice read. 4.5 stars.
June 3, 2012
Another great read from KZ Snow and what a wonderful, evocative title! Snow weaves the story of two men, Faron and Greg, so different in their backgrounds and upbringing and yet so fundamentally alike in their spirituality. A tricky undertaking bringing an Amish player/sexual wild boy together with a Catholic, virginal ex-monk-in-training. And yet Snow makes it work in this gently unfolding tale of self-discovery. Many of my favorite M/M books seem to be based on this theme and here the writing is (as always with Snow) so strong and the visual imagery so delicious. Faron alludes to the book’s title at the end when he describes to Greg his feelings on being gay as... falling from God’s pocket onto muddy soil... Faron sees himself in this way, as ‘soiled’ somehow. Until he meets Greg. And they fill in for each other what is missing in their lives.
It was so fun discovering the beautiful phrases Snow uses throughout the story that link to the title...
...a crow cawed...Faron watched its beating wings tear black holes in the sky...
...still even after seeing all these holes in believers’ logic Faron had remained trouble about being gay...
...”Have you thought about going back?...Not too much anymore...the center was hollow...something was missing for me...”
...funny how he could feel Faron’s presence, as if an empty slot in the house’s atmosphere had just been filled...
It was so fun discovering the beautiful phrases Snow uses throughout the story that link to the title...
...a crow cawed...Faron watched its beating wings tear black holes in the sky...
...still even after seeing all these holes in believers’ logic Faron had remained trouble about being gay...
...”Have you thought about going back?...Not too much anymore...the center was hollow...something was missing for me...”
...funny how he could feel Faron’s presence, as if an empty slot in the house’s atmosphere had just been filled...
May 24, 2012
This was one really considerate and loving story. The author treated (to me at least) each of their traditions and relationships with God very respectfully. I just wish the story had been longer! But the fact they were able to fill that void within themselves and come to terms with the fact that they were both okay, and that the God they knew did not make mistakes, that helped me come to terms with the ending of the story.
Also, I enjoyed the 'glimpses' of the outdoors, and the peace they each received in their respective traditions, and love of either nature, fields, trees, walls of the abbey, sunlight through windows, and routines. They found comfort in doing what they felt they needed to in quiet contemplation. To find someone who allowed you to do this and still be you, well, that was just right for me, and my idea of a beautiful, unconditional, loving relationship.
The idea that Faron felt dirty, and carried that feeling that he fell through a hole in God's pocket since the incident on the side of the road with his little sister, well, that made me feel very meloncholy and sad for him. I thought the resolution of his emotion, even though not addressing his relationship with his family, and possibilty of losing it, was kind to be able to share with someone else who understood, in part at least, what he was going through, even if for different reasons.
Left me wishing for more, and I would love to see a story for Mose.Thank you, dear author.
Also, I enjoyed the 'glimpses' of the outdoors, and the peace they each received in their respective traditions, and love of either nature, fields, trees, walls of the abbey, sunlight through windows, and routines. They found comfort in doing what they felt they needed to in quiet contemplation. To find someone who allowed you to do this and still be you, well, that was just right for me, and my idea of a beautiful, unconditional, loving relationship.
The idea that Faron felt dirty, and carried that feeling that he fell through a hole in God's pocket since the incident on the side of the road with his little sister, well, that made me feel very meloncholy and sad for him. I thought the resolution of his emotion, even though not addressing his relationship with his family, and possibilty of losing it, was kind to be able to share with someone else who understood, in part at least, what he was going through, even if for different reasons.
Left me wishing for more, and I would love to see a story for Mose.Thank you, dear author.
April 22, 2012
Short and very sweet romance between an Amish man on his way out of the faith and a former monk. There's some really lovely prose in this novel, the most memorable being the descriptions of the places where Faron grew up. I also liked how the book handled religion—both characters have to reconcile their faith and what they know to be true about themselves, but religion and the religious are never painted as the villains, more an internal plot conflict, and I thought the way the author handled and described the faiths of the two characters was very well done.
September 6, 2014
I loved this so much. It has lovely writing, characters that grab your heart, and a setting and plot that seem almost cinematic (in that quietly-riveting-indie-drama sort of way). I'm always appreciative of stories that thoughtfully deal with faith and religion (which is funny, because I'm an atheist); there's nothing about this book that screams "Christian romance." It is, at its core, a story of two lost, broken souls finding each other, and it is so very beautiful.
July 25, 2016
An oft recommended book to me (I like the religious theme) here I just didn't feel the characters connection at all. As individuals I felt for them - but together there was no spark to me. Greg was so blah. At least Faron had more of a personality - though his seemed completely at odds with his background. The prose is lyrical and beautiful and it was very well written but I wasn't feeling the boys.
August 16, 2014
Great Book! Not very many writers could have made this work, but Ms. Snow hit it out of the park. This will be a re-read for me. And she avoided the soap box!!! (This is a tosser for me. No soap box in my Fiction!) I highly recommend this book.
September 1, 2015
This is beautiful.
The ideas evoked are amazing and well-thought out.
And the symbolism of the title is just amazing.
It was so adorable...
Baby hedgehogs are adorable.
The ideas evoked are amazing and well-thought out.
And the symbolism of the title is just amazing.
It was so adorable...
Baby hedgehogs are adorable.
March 4, 2013
3.5
Another smart, beautiful, read.
Another smart, beautiful, read.
January 4, 2020
***4 stars***
This story is about Greg and Faron, both struggling to reconcile their strict religious beliefs and being gay.
**Their sexuality had jostled them both out of blind servitude to dogma.**
It's a sweet story, but not perfect. There were reasons for decisions that were never really given. There wasn't a lot of drama and no action, but I think that's what gave this story its charm. If you're looking for erotica, you won't find it here. The falling in love arc wasn't smooth, but it was sweet.
Greg referring to Faron: **Dear God, those eyes…. All the sunlight Greg had ever craved on gloomy days was there, and every harvest moon he’d wished would magically appear on moonless nights. All the stars he couldn’t see were there, and, behind them, the faces of angels and gods.**
Recommended for those who love religious conflict, inexperienced main character, and a charming love story.
This story is about Greg and Faron, both struggling to reconcile their strict religious beliefs and being gay.
**Their sexuality had jostled them both out of blind servitude to dogma.**
It's a sweet story, but not perfect. There were reasons for decisions that were never really given. There wasn't a lot of drama and no action, but I think that's what gave this story its charm. If you're looking for erotica, you won't find it here. The falling in love arc wasn't smooth, but it was sweet.
Greg referring to Faron: **Dear God, those eyes…. All the sunlight Greg had ever craved on gloomy days was there, and every harvest moon he’d wished would magically appear on moonless nights. All the stars he couldn’t see were there, and, behind them, the faces of angels and gods.**
Recommended for those who love religious conflict, inexperienced main character, and a charming love story.
September 13, 2023
Another terrific story that has been languishing on my TBR for ten years. I'm so glad I've been doing this challenge so I can take a bite out of those older books. This one was well worth the wait, though it started slow.
Greg is a former monk novice who left the monastery because he couldn't get past his impure thoughts. A 25 yo virgin, he's still not acted on his desires. Faron is in his early twenties with a similar situation-- he's left his Amish family, extending his Rumspringa for longer than usual because he can't accept the religion fully due to his need to be true to himself.
There's no immediate jumping into bed together. Instead, there's a parallel course of discovery, each man in his own way. The full story, including their admitted attraction to each other, doesn't culminate until the last two chapters.
It's really very good, and interesting, with rich characterizations, and, of course, a lovely HEA.
Greg is a former monk novice who left the monastery because he couldn't get past his impure thoughts. A 25 yo virgin, he's still not acted on his desires. Faron is in his early twenties with a similar situation-- he's left his Amish family, extending his Rumspringa for longer than usual because he can't accept the religion fully due to his need to be true to himself.
There's no immediate jumping into bed together. Instead, there's a parallel course of discovery, each man in his own way. The full story, including their admitted attraction to each other, doesn't culminate until the last two chapters.
It's really very good, and interesting, with rich characterizations, and, of course, a lovely HEA.
March 26, 2021
Finding the right pocket is sometimes difficult. Greg and Faron finally find that pocket together when they admit and permit the attraction they have for each other. Both raised in very conservative backgrounds they strike a bargain as friends and housemates all the while getting to know each other and repressing their mutual attraction. Greg recently left the monastery because he didn't feel he could master his desires for intimate contact with a man. Feron is still running from the ties to his Amish past and the marriage that's expected of him. Neither seem to be able to find a way forward but going back tears them apart until they realize that their future is right before them. Definitely a great read and very hard to put down.
February 15, 2018
Wow. Being raised in a Christian atmosphere I can understand where they are coming from in this book. You are raised to think a certain way but you feel differently. Its a hard road to journey. This was a good book and I'm glad that it brought these subjects up. Being gay is hard in the society we live in as it is, but being raised in holy beliefs is even harder. Way to address that. :)
October 15, 2013
When I came across A Hole in God's Pocket, the title struck me immediately. I knew I wanted to read this. And, I was not disappointed. The first few sentences had me head over heels already. It was fucking very well-written (I'm sorry for the curse word, but it was that good).
A Hole in God's Pocket is about Greg Aubuchon, an ex-Catholic monk, and Faron Weaver, an Amish man, who both struggle between religion and their sexuality. Estrangement from faith and family fills them with guilt. They confide and commiserate and consider solutions, but nothing seems to be enough. Greg and Faron have a longing to belong that could send them back to the places they came from... unless they accept the blessing that's right under their noses.
Especially when there is no one who understands. And, of course, the feeling of...
... disappointment and disgrace to family and church.
Now, some passages I loved:
Greg: I think the word of God is written on the hearts of decent people, where its meaning is pretty clear.
Faron: What is its meaning? In your heart, anyway.
Greg: The Golden Rule pretty much sums it up. I believe if God has a philosophy, it's probably along the lines of Keep it simple, stupid. And maybe Don't sweat the small stuff.
The next passage contains spoiler, so read at your own risk. But it's really beautiful.
This book climbed up my favorite shelf like a rocket would fly into outer space. It's definitely up for a reread, for comfort or when feeling lost. Finally, what I've learned through this book (I've never realized how truer this phrase was until now):
A Hole in God's Pocket is about Greg Aubuchon, an ex-Catholic monk, and Faron Weaver, an Amish man, who both struggle between religion and their sexuality. Estrangement from faith and family fills them with guilt. They confide and commiserate and consider solutions, but nothing seems to be enough. Greg and Faron have a longing to belong that could send them back to the places they came from... unless they accept the blessing that's right under their noses.
Especially when there is no one who understands. And, of course, the feeling of...
... disappointment and disgrace to family and church.
Now, some passages I loved:
Greg: I think the word of God is written on the hearts of decent people, where its meaning is pretty clear.
Faron: What is its meaning? In your heart, anyway.
Greg: The Golden Rule pretty much sums it up. I believe if God has a philosophy, it's probably along the lines of Keep it simple, stupid. And maybe Don't sweat the small stuff.
The next passage contains spoiler, so read at your own risk. But it's really beautiful.
This book climbed up my favorite shelf like a rocket would fly into outer space. It's definitely up for a reread, for comfort or when feeling lost. Finally, what I've learned through this book (I've never realized how truer this phrase was until now):
When I don't fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere. When I don’t measure up to much in this life. Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ. -- Sanctus Real, Forgiven.
July 24, 2013
My heart wept while I read this book. I recalled my own best friend and his being kicked out of our church when he declared he was gay. I watched these two men, hide their burgeoning love for each other—both feeling less than adequate to ask the other for that love, and I simply shook with anger at a church, a religion that would make men feel this way—think this way.
There was lengthy passages where the author remarked upon how religion uses the bible to justify it’s own narrow views—picking and choosing vague passages while overlooking vast references to sins that, as an educated society, we dismiss as dogma and dead doctrine. Unlike some, I never felt these moments self-indulgent or “preachy” in the least. Rather I think K.Z. Snow used them to reveal the inner workings of her two main characters, to show us how they tick, how they thought, why they had arrive at this point in their lives.
And those two characters…oh god…how lovely they were. I wanted to wrap them up and hold them close and tell them how wonderful they were—how they were so much better than anything they had ever been told…and yes, how the God that I believed in surely loved them without hesitation.
This story was stunning--simple, beautifully written—stunning. 5 stars. It deserves so much more---it deserves a place on your shelf, a respectful place next to your favorite books, your honored classics. This was so much more than a love story…this, well this, was a tribute to gay men and women everywhere who have ever felt condemned because of how they choose to love. Thank you, K. Z. Snow—for this beautiful story, A Hole in God’s Pocket.
There was lengthy passages where the author remarked upon how religion uses the bible to justify it’s own narrow views—picking and choosing vague passages while overlooking vast references to sins that, as an educated society, we dismiss as dogma and dead doctrine. Unlike some, I never felt these moments self-indulgent or “preachy” in the least. Rather I think K.Z. Snow used them to reveal the inner workings of her two main characters, to show us how they tick, how they thought, why they had arrive at this point in their lives.
And those two characters…oh god…how lovely they were. I wanted to wrap them up and hold them close and tell them how wonderful they were—how they were so much better than anything they had ever been told…and yes, how the God that I believed in surely loved them without hesitation.
This story was stunning--simple, beautifully written—stunning. 5 stars. It deserves so much more---it deserves a place on your shelf, a respectful place next to your favorite books, your honored classics. This was so much more than a love story…this, well this, was a tribute to gay men and women everywhere who have ever felt condemned because of how they choose to love. Thank you, K. Z. Snow—for this beautiful story, A Hole in God’s Pocket.
January 31, 2016
There's just something special re: every book written by author K.Z. Snow. I have no idea how I stumbled upon her work however each book is precious and wonderful.
This book - which has the best title ever - is about two guys - Faron (who was raised Amish) and Greg (who recently left his calling - catholic monk).
What I loved about this book:
* Loved both characters for completely different reasons. They were well-written and unique without standing out like a freak of nature/sore thumb.
* Bith characters struggled with Religion - what they were and were not supposed to be. I loved how the author didn't pit one religion against another. Instead, we had two characters who struggled with their cognitive dissonance and the outcome was a transformation of their faith. That was huge for me on a personal level. So many people get bogged down into the nuts and bolts of following the black/white rule sets that govern how we/they should behave (rules vary according to each religion).
* There was no insta-love. There was a general and logical build up of a friendship between two people who on the surface, didn't seem to have anything in common. Dig a little - there's a ton there.
* There was angst but not to the point where I felt like I was watching some high school soap opera.
* The dialog was brilliant. It was honest. It was frank. It was so much more than what I consume in other books.
Thank you K.Z. for writing yet another story that rocked my world.
This book - which has the best title ever - is about two guys - Faron (who was raised Amish) and Greg (who recently left his calling - catholic monk).
What I loved about this book:
* Loved both characters for completely different reasons. They were well-written and unique without standing out like a freak of nature/sore thumb.
* Bith characters struggled with Religion - what they were and were not supposed to be. I loved how the author didn't pit one religion against another. Instead, we had two characters who struggled with their cognitive dissonance and the outcome was a transformation of their faith. That was huge for me on a personal level. So many people get bogged down into the nuts and bolts of following the black/white rule sets that govern how we/they should behave (rules vary according to each religion).
* There was no insta-love. There was a general and logical build up of a friendship between two people who on the surface, didn't seem to have anything in common. Dig a little - there's a ton there.
* There was angst but not to the point where I felt like I was watching some high school soap opera.
* The dialog was brilliant. It was honest. It was frank. It was so much more than what I consume in other books.
Thank you K.Z. for writing yet another story that rocked my world.
July 15, 2012
I liked this both more and less than I thought I would--which is a new and unusual feeling for me.
What I liked more than I'd expected to: not once did the story ever come across and preachy or strident or soap-box-y. Another reviewer described it as being "a quiet story" and that's a beautifully apt description. Both Faron and Greg have to come to terms with their relationship with God and with religion, but it's handled in the most gentle and introspective way. Neither ever becomes angry or bitter about his situation, but instead they both strive to reconcile who they are and what they feel to be true with what they've been taught.
What I liked less than I'd expected to: neither character felt fully-fleshed-out to me for some reason. And the relationship, even the friendship phase of it, developed so much off-page that I couldn't connect to it.
So, I guess, I definitely felt their struggles to come to terms with being Christian and being gay, but I didn't feel how those struggles led to an emotional or romantic connection between them.
This was still a beautiful, peaceful, and beautifully-written story, and was very enjoyable to read.
What I liked more than I'd expected to: not once did the story ever come across and preachy or strident or soap-box-y. Another reviewer described it as being "a quiet story" and that's a beautifully apt description. Both Faron and Greg have to come to terms with their relationship with God and with religion, but it's handled in the most gentle and introspective way. Neither ever becomes angry or bitter about his situation, but instead they both strive to reconcile who they are and what they feel to be true with what they've been taught.
What I liked less than I'd expected to: neither character felt fully-fleshed-out to me for some reason. And the relationship, even the friendship phase of it, developed so much off-page that I couldn't connect to it.
So, I guess, I definitely felt their struggles to come to terms with being Christian and being gay, but I didn't feel how those struggles led to an emotional or romantic connection between them.
This was still a beautiful, peaceful, and beautifully-written story, and was very enjoyable to read.
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