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The Cool Part of His Pillow
An embittered old man’s Christmas Eve trip to the veterinarian with his late son’s cat Otis yields an unexpected lesson. As the snowfall mounts and city streets become impassable, is it too late for redemption?
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2012
5 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Rodney Ross
17 books48 followersAuthor Rodney Ross lives, writes and sweats in Southern California.
'Things To Aim For', a collection of five short fictions, was published by JMS Books in May, 2024.
His novel 'Diversionary Fires' was a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) competition, in the Literary Fiction category.
His novel 'The Cool Part Of His Pillow', now in its 2nd edition from JMS Books, was the 1st Place Winner in the GLBT Fiction category from both the NIEA and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; Silver Medalist in the 2013 Global EBook Awards; and Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rainbow Book Awards.
Also from JMS Books: 'O, Christmas T(h)ree'; The Old Man At My Door'; 'Smoking With Didi' ; 'Otis' ; 'Bended Knee'; and a non-fiction essay in the 'The Other Man: Twenty-One Top Writers Speak Candidly About Sex, Love, Infidelity, Heartbreak and Moving On'.
Other works include 'Signing Off' in the short story collection' Impact', from Other World Ink.
Past achievements include an optioned screenplay and play, both unproduced. Other screenplays earned Honorable Mentions or runners-up citations in the Monterey County Film Commission, FADE-IN and the LGBT One-In-Ten Screenwriting Competitions. Ross was also cited as 'Most Creative' in the Key West Mystery Fest Writing Competition.
Follow him on Facebook.
'Things To Aim For', a collection of five short fictions, was published by JMS Books in May, 2024.
His novel 'Diversionary Fires' was a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) competition, in the Literary Fiction category.
His novel 'The Cool Part Of His Pillow', now in its 2nd edition from JMS Books, was the 1st Place Winner in the GLBT Fiction category from both the NIEA and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; Silver Medalist in the 2013 Global EBook Awards; and Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rainbow Book Awards.
Also from JMS Books: 'O, Christmas T(h)ree'; The Old Man At My Door'; 'Smoking With Didi' ; 'Otis' ; 'Bended Knee'; and a non-fiction essay in the 'The Other Man: Twenty-One Top Writers Speak Candidly About Sex, Love, Infidelity, Heartbreak and Moving On'.
Other works include 'Signing Off' in the short story collection' Impact', from Other World Ink.
Past achievements include an optioned screenplay and play, both unproduced. Other screenplays earned Honorable Mentions or runners-up citations in the Monterey County Film Commission, FADE-IN and the LGBT One-In-Ten Screenwriting Competitions. Ross was also cited as 'Most Creative' in the Key West Mystery Fest Writing Competition.
Follow him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 10, 2017
Cross-posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted
This story is one painful year in the life of Barry Grooms. He is celebrating his 45th birthday with Andy Morgan, his partner of 23 years, and a group of their close friends. Both men are successful in their careers, live comfortable lives, and are still deeply in love. Barry’s life is shattered when he learns that Andy and their pugs, Gertie and Noel, are killed instantly when a crane and empty 10-story building collapsed on his parked car while they were inside. Barry’s not even sure why Andy was there in the first place.
Now Barry has to deal with the sudden emptiness in his life and while reading his first-person perspective, I suffered right along with him. It took me four days to get through Barry’s story, not because it failed to hold my interest, but because it was so painful to me. Barry was like the close friend I didn’t know how to comfort. Spending too much time with him was emotionally draining, and I felt completely helpless in the face of his grief. I was thankful for his colorful friends and his supportive mom who were there to ease his grief when it became too much for me.
Andy’s very public accident hasn’t managed to stay out of the paper, and Barry is not in the mood for Christmas, so he takes off to their house in Key West, Florida. More friends, more reminders of Andy, and Barry sells his home and his business, and is off to New York City.
I loved Barry’s reminiscing that showed some of the problems he and Andy had as well as their deep love for each other:
It’s not all sad. There were wonderfully humorous moments too, like the one that nearly had me flying off the treadmill at the gym when Barry and his sister, Olivia, were working a summer job at Winky’s and Barry had to help her find her missing wart. Yes, you read that right.
Barry’s empty life fills up again as he starts dating and takes a management job at Theatrilicious, a shop specializing in rare and unusual theatre collectibles. He eventually meets a young man who makes him feel desirable, but this is not a romance story. Barry has work to do to move past his grief. There is more loss and heartbreak before Barry does find some healing and closure.
Though this story was sad and painful at times, it was also thoughtful and humorous. If my husband should suddenly die, I have a feeling I will be looking for Barry’s story to comfort me.
*ARC received from Dreamspinner Press through NetGalley.
This story is one painful year in the life of Barry Grooms. He is celebrating his 45th birthday with Andy Morgan, his partner of 23 years, and a group of their close friends. Both men are successful in their careers, live comfortable lives, and are still deeply in love. Barry’s life is shattered when he learns that Andy and their pugs, Gertie and Noel, are killed instantly when a crane and empty 10-story building collapsed on his parked car while they were inside. Barry’s not even sure why Andy was there in the first place.
Now Barry has to deal with the sudden emptiness in his life and while reading his first-person perspective, I suffered right along with him. It took me four days to get through Barry’s story, not because it failed to hold my interest, but because it was so painful to me. Barry was like the close friend I didn’t know how to comfort. Spending too much time with him was emotionally draining, and I felt completely helpless in the face of his grief. I was thankful for his colorful friends and his supportive mom who were there to ease his grief when it became too much for me.
Andy’s very public accident hasn’t managed to stay out of the paper, and Barry is not in the mood for Christmas, so he takes off to their house in Key West, Florida. More friends, more reminders of Andy, and Barry sells his home and his business, and is off to New York City.
I loved Barry’s reminiscing that showed some of the problems he and Andy had as well as their deep love for each other:
“If only I’d known. I would have been the first to apologize, not just then, but every time we battled. Early in our relationship, my suitcase had been packed by me and, a couple of times, for me, once being told, “Go home to mother!” I scurried for the front door, screaming, “At least I have one!” This made him cry. Over time, the luggage got nicer and the arguments remained petty, but we were careful they left no permanent nicks.”
“Andy and I carried a kindergarten school photo of the other in our wallets, behind our driver’s license, a reminder of who we were before we knew the other existed.”
It’s not all sad. There were wonderfully humorous moments too, like the one that nearly had me flying off the treadmill at the gym when Barry and his sister, Olivia, were working a summer job at Winky’s and Barry had to help her find her missing wart. Yes, you read that right.
Barry’s empty life fills up again as he starts dating and takes a management job at Theatrilicious, a shop specializing in rare and unusual theatre collectibles. He eventually meets a young man who makes him feel desirable, but this is not a romance story. Barry has work to do to move past his grief. There is more loss and heartbreak before Barry does find some healing and closure.
Though this story was sad and painful at times, it was also thoughtful and humorous. If my husband should suddenly die, I have a feeling I will be looking for Barry’s story to comfort me.
*ARC received from Dreamspinner Press through NetGalley.
May 24, 2012
I tend not to like books written in first-person. For some reason, most of the time, this feels too close, and unless I can identify with the narrator, I have a hard time enjoying the story. For whatever reason, this was NOT the case for me with The Cool Part of His Pillow. Although my life is very unlike Barry's, I found myself slipping into his skin and very much enjoying my stay.
Rodney Ross has an unparalleled voice. It is unique and fresh. I don't believe I've ever read anything quite like it. The way Barry thinks is both charming and amusing. I loved the absolute absurdity of his observations and his unflinching realness--even irreverence. He became a person--not just a character--by the time I'd turned the last page. That kind of authenticity is difficult for a writer to achieve.
Perhaps what I loved most about this story is its daring. It dares to be unique. You won't find tropes in here, nor the same recycled sex that comes up again and again. Instead, you'll walk away having taken a journey into the life of a singular man with a singular perspective.
Final verdict: M/M as a category is evolving and The Cool Part of His Pillow is the proof. Whether or not it becomes a commercial success is irrelevant in my mind. It succeeds at pushing the envelope and daring to be unique. As a writer myself, I would be proud of such an accomplishment. Delightful and entertaining from the first page to the last. Bravo!
Rodney Ross has an unparalleled voice. It is unique and fresh. I don't believe I've ever read anything quite like it. The way Barry thinks is both charming and amusing. I loved the absolute absurdity of his observations and his unflinching realness--even irreverence. He became a person--not just a character--by the time I'd turned the last page. That kind of authenticity is difficult for a writer to achieve.
Perhaps what I loved most about this story is its daring. It dares to be unique. You won't find tropes in here, nor the same recycled sex that comes up again and again. Instead, you'll walk away having taken a journey into the life of a singular man with a singular perspective.
Final verdict: M/M as a category is evolving and The Cool Part of His Pillow is the proof. Whether or not it becomes a commercial success is irrelevant in my mind. It succeeds at pushing the envelope and daring to be unique. As a writer myself, I would be proud of such an accomplishment. Delightful and entertaining from the first page to the last. Bravo!
February 19, 2013
Book #10 on Favourites of 2012 at On Top Down Under Book Reviews
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
I went into Dreamspinner, saw the title, and the trailer (which I never usually look at), and I bought this book. I thought it sounded interesting, intense. I wasn’t wrong on both counts. I don’t know how to categorise it, it’s not my usual read. I also don’t quite know its demographic, other than people who love a good piece of writing, and, by the same token, aren’t afraid of (this is code for offended by) LGBT books. Yes, I suppose it does come under LGBT literature, but first and foremost, it’s a story about a person (like you, like me) dealing with life, particularly the aftermath of the death of a partner; it just happens to have a gay male at the centre of the storytelling. Don’t shy away from this book because of that, give it a go, as this book is written by a talented writer - it is clever, gut wrenchingly sad, laugh out loud funny, real and deserves as big a market as it can get.
How does one review this book? Not very well I suspect, so I’ll just ramble.
Basically, this is Barry Grooms’ story. The POV is Barry’s. He is a businessman who owns and runs an upmarket, yet accessible marketplace style business called Great Rooms! He and his partner, Andy, a bank executive are 23 years happily in love. They’re faithful, successful, have good friends and family that either love them, Barry’s side, or tolerate them, Andy’s side. Barry has just turned 45, it is literally his birthday when disaster strikes – losing his partner, Andy, and their beloved dogs, Gertie and Noel, in one fell swoop. From here the book focuses on Barry’s journey through grief and the idea of beyond from this birthday to his next.
The Cool Part of His Pillow had me locked and loaded on two emotions sad/happy, seriously I had close to constant tears in my eyes, even when laughing. So, the book evoked two powerful emotions from me at the same time. Not easy to do, I’m not sappy, but I was this time. This book has a constant ‘blue’ undertone but it does not wallow in misery, because Barry does not wallow, he is definitely able to look ahead, after initial, understandable withdrawal. You can’t move ahead though without sometimes looking back, and he has his WWAD (what would Andy do) moments. It's so hard at 45 to lose someone you've loved for a long time. Andy is actually very much a part of this book, particularly when Barry goes to Key West. Here he looks at how Andy embraced the local culture, wildlife, characters and it was nice to hear about him. Barry goes there to get a breather from all the questions that come someone’s way when a loved one dies and people either don’t know they’ve died or just want to see how you’re doing. Barry doesn’t want to get bogged down describing Andy’s death over and over and over, it’s like constantly re-opening a wound. At Key West Barry discovers that their friends also ask, they don’t know what has happened, and expect Barry and Andy to be together; as they usually are when there. So, Barry decides he needs a fresh start and it's to be New York. There, he knows no-one.
This review could easily span 10 pages if I put everything down I felt was important, so I’ll skim. Barry is an interesting character, at times I see him as superficial and on other occasions he is just so caring – “I would pile high every one of my material comforts for just one hour with Andy! I would surrender every cent I will ever have to bury my face into the neck of one of my dogs! I also know my wishes can’t come true.” I fell in love with Andy at the caterpillar story (read the book). Their friends are quirky, funny, delightful, interesting and make this book so much better. The best parts are in the dialogue between Barry and his mother - “Your charm came from your mom, not your dad. Where your sister got her outlook, who knows? The collected works of Edgar Allan Poe, maybe”- his aunt, sister and (interestingly named) good friends – LezbyAnn, Potsy, Dee, Gregsquared (two Greg’s in a relationship). I want to give a shout out to au naturel, laid back, Captain Reg and his Wessie – think penis, named after the Loch Ness Monster/Key West combo.
Things to note
This is not a sexfest M/M book. There is no actual sex in this book, it is implied, that is it. It is romantic in a wistful, and, at times, almost Shakesperean way. There are some short glimpses of Barry and Andy at the very beginning, then through the eyes of a lover dealing with grief looking back at lost love. There is a loose relationship during the 12 month period after Andy’s death. There is no HEA or HFN in the traditional sense. If you are primarily looking for those things be warned.
I would also like to note that this book is very American – geopolitically - ‘Rod Blagojevich had nothing on the literal skulduggery of Key West politics’- notoriety, celebrity and product wise. Obviously you don’t need to be an American to enjoy it, but if you live in America, particularly New York or Key West it should resonate easier. It also helps if you have a love of books, theatre, movies, musicals and television, with an emphasis on retro. And, of course, some pop-culture is universally understood - Youtube and other people’s tragedies, internet dating disasters.
There is no doubt this book is a labour of love, Rodney Ross infuses his characters with plenty of chutzpah, depth and emotions. Each chapter had headings and they always reflected the words held within, even the books’ title was addressed, nothing was ambiguous. I have very little to say that would be negative, probably the movie references and analogies could have been toned down and more dialogue with others could have ramped up, maybe it was too American, the lack of decent therapy, but who cares, the writing was beautiful.
So, bottom line? I loved it and look forward to more of Rodney Ross’s writing and recommend it to people who want an intelligent, witty and real feel to a book.
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
I went into Dreamspinner, saw the title, and the trailer (which I never usually look at), and I bought this book. I thought it sounded interesting, intense. I wasn’t wrong on both counts. I don’t know how to categorise it, it’s not my usual read. I also don’t quite know its demographic, other than people who love a good piece of writing, and, by the same token, aren’t afraid of (this is code for offended by) LGBT books. Yes, I suppose it does come under LGBT literature, but first and foremost, it’s a story about a person (like you, like me) dealing with life, particularly the aftermath of the death of a partner; it just happens to have a gay male at the centre of the storytelling. Don’t shy away from this book because of that, give it a go, as this book is written by a talented writer - it is clever, gut wrenchingly sad, laugh out loud funny, real and deserves as big a market as it can get.
How does one review this book? Not very well I suspect, so I’ll just ramble.
Basically, this is Barry Grooms’ story. The POV is Barry’s. He is a businessman who owns and runs an upmarket, yet accessible marketplace style business called Great Rooms! He and his partner, Andy, a bank executive are 23 years happily in love. They’re faithful, successful, have good friends and family that either love them, Barry’s side, or tolerate them, Andy’s side. Barry has just turned 45, it is literally his birthday when disaster strikes – losing his partner, Andy, and their beloved dogs, Gertie and Noel, in one fell swoop. From here the book focuses on Barry’s journey through grief and the idea of beyond from this birthday to his next.
The Cool Part of His Pillow had me locked and loaded on two emotions sad/happy, seriously I had close to constant tears in my eyes, even when laughing. So, the book evoked two powerful emotions from me at the same time. Not easy to do, I’m not sappy, but I was this time. This book has a constant ‘blue’ undertone but it does not wallow in misery, because Barry does not wallow, he is definitely able to look ahead, after initial, understandable withdrawal. You can’t move ahead though without sometimes looking back, and he has his WWAD (what would Andy do) moments. It's so hard at 45 to lose someone you've loved for a long time. Andy is actually very much a part of this book, particularly when Barry goes to Key West. Here he looks at how Andy embraced the local culture, wildlife, characters and it was nice to hear about him. Barry goes there to get a breather from all the questions that come someone’s way when a loved one dies and people either don’t know they’ve died or just want to see how you’re doing. Barry doesn’t want to get bogged down describing Andy’s death over and over and over, it’s like constantly re-opening a wound. At Key West Barry discovers that their friends also ask, they don’t know what has happened, and expect Barry and Andy to be together; as they usually are when there. So, Barry decides he needs a fresh start and it's to be New York. There, he knows no-one.
This review could easily span 10 pages if I put everything down I felt was important, so I’ll skim. Barry is an interesting character, at times I see him as superficial and on other occasions he is just so caring – “I would pile high every one of my material comforts for just one hour with Andy! I would surrender every cent I will ever have to bury my face into the neck of one of my dogs! I also know my wishes can’t come true.” I fell in love with Andy at the caterpillar story (read the book). Their friends are quirky, funny, delightful, interesting and make this book so much better. The best parts are in the dialogue between Barry and his mother - “Your charm came from your mom, not your dad. Where your sister got her outlook, who knows? The collected works of Edgar Allan Poe, maybe”- his aunt, sister and (interestingly named) good friends – LezbyAnn, Potsy, Dee, Gregsquared (two Greg’s in a relationship). I want to give a shout out to au naturel, laid back, Captain Reg and his Wessie – think penis, named after the Loch Ness Monster/Key West combo.
Things to note
This is not a sexfest M/M book. There is no actual sex in this book, it is implied, that is it. It is romantic in a wistful, and, at times, almost Shakesperean way. There are some short glimpses of Barry and Andy at the very beginning, then through the eyes of a lover dealing with grief looking back at lost love. There is a loose relationship during the 12 month period after Andy’s death. There is no HEA or HFN in the traditional sense. If you are primarily looking for those things be warned.
I would also like to note that this book is very American – geopolitically - ‘Rod Blagojevich had nothing on the literal skulduggery of Key West politics’- notoriety, celebrity and product wise. Obviously you don’t need to be an American to enjoy it, but if you live in America, particularly New York or Key West it should resonate easier. It also helps if you have a love of books, theatre, movies, musicals and television, with an emphasis on retro. And, of course, some pop-culture is universally understood - Youtube and other people’s tragedies, internet dating disasters.
There is no doubt this book is a labour of love, Rodney Ross infuses his characters with plenty of chutzpah, depth and emotions. Each chapter had headings and they always reflected the words held within, even the books’ title was addressed, nothing was ambiguous. I have very little to say that would be negative, probably the movie references and analogies could have been toned down and more dialogue with others could have ramped up, maybe it was too American, the lack of decent therapy, but who cares, the writing was beautiful.
So, bottom line? I loved it and look forward to more of Rodney Ross’s writing and recommend it to people who want an intelligent, witty and real feel to a book.
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
March 3, 2017
I thought it a lovely, amusing, beautifully written book. I have to admit that I found it somewhat difficult in places. Some truth can be difficult and there is much in this book that feels true. When that happens one brings one's own grief to help color the margins of the story. Still, there are many wickedly funny passages. This may be a book about a year in grief, but it is never gloomy.
But, really, I think the interesting way to look at The Cool Part of His Pillow, is not as the main character's encounter with loss, but in a more general way: What happens when a character's world is blown apart? How will this character reconstruct his world? When nothing but rubble remains, the question of what things mean really does have to be considered piecemeal, nothing can be taken for granted. What a way to learn about what makes a character tick. Fictional characters can do this in a crucible, but this fictional character, Barry, does what all of us, sooner or later must do: pick up the pieces, examine them for meaning, and reconstruct a life from them.
But, really, I think the interesting way to look at The Cool Part of His Pillow, is not as the main character's encounter with loss, but in a more general way: What happens when a character's world is blown apart? How will this character reconstruct his world? When nothing but rubble remains, the question of what things mean really does have to be considered piecemeal, nothing can be taken for granted. What a way to learn about what makes a character tick. Fictional characters can do this in a crucible, but this fictional character, Barry, does what all of us, sooner or later must do: pick up the pieces, examine them for meaning, and reconstruct a life from them.
February 27, 2014
I loved this book. It is one of those novels that transcend their subject matter to become a universal statement, in this case about death and loss. But it is about so much more: regret, the inexorable march of age, the power of memory.
There is a wonderful scene towards the end where Barry Grooms undresses before a mirror for a merciless (re)appraisal of his mid-forties physiognomy. At this stage he is involved in a rather torrid but sexually satisfying (and, needless to say, short-lived) affair with a 24-year-old. “I stare at the beauty that comes automatically bundled and unappreciated with youth. I can’t be this anymore.”
What a brave and beautiful thing to say. It is probably a revelation as fraught with self-discovery as coming-out is in the first place. Sadly, it is also an epiphany that a lot of older gay men fail to experience.
There is another evocative scene towards the end when Barry discovers that his older friend Shorty is gay, from a generation where “men couldn’t always live openly together”. By the time the gay 90s arrives to sprinkle everyone liberally with fairy dust, people like Barry are already in their 60s. “An old man who likes other old men just makes people nervous.”
The book begins with Barry’s long-term partner being crushed to death in his parked car when a crane collapses at a nearby construction site. At the time he has their two pugs with him in the car. It is a macabre touch that allows Rodney Ross to explore the random, often baroque ordinariness of lived experience.
It is also the lead-in to a key scene at the end – just why was his partner parked there at that particular time? The (older gay) reader automatically thinks he was there for some kind of lurid pet-friendly assignation, and Ross certainly plays on this stereotypical perception. The truth, however, is far more prosaic and shattering. It is a delicate, pitch-perfect scene that had me crying like a baby.
You have to be careful when you write about sadness and loss: too much, and it quickly becomes maudlin; if the author is too flippant, it can become equally grating. Ross strikes a perfect balance, detailing Barry’s painful journey towards acceptance of his irrevocably altered life. There is one particular event that shapes this journey: when his mother becomes ill, and Barry realises she was already sick when he himself was grieving, but had wanted to spare him this additional worry.
Tender and painful at times, but always heartfelt and brimming over with the sheer unalloyed joy of being alive, this is a truly special book.
There is a wonderful scene towards the end where Barry Grooms undresses before a mirror for a merciless (re)appraisal of his mid-forties physiognomy. At this stage he is involved in a rather torrid but sexually satisfying (and, needless to say, short-lived) affair with a 24-year-old. “I stare at the beauty that comes automatically bundled and unappreciated with youth. I can’t be this anymore.”
What a brave and beautiful thing to say. It is probably a revelation as fraught with self-discovery as coming-out is in the first place. Sadly, it is also an epiphany that a lot of older gay men fail to experience.
There is another evocative scene towards the end when Barry discovers that his older friend Shorty is gay, from a generation where “men couldn’t always live openly together”. By the time the gay 90s arrives to sprinkle everyone liberally with fairy dust, people like Barry are already in their 60s. “An old man who likes other old men just makes people nervous.”
The book begins with Barry’s long-term partner being crushed to death in his parked car when a crane collapses at a nearby construction site. At the time he has their two pugs with him in the car. It is a macabre touch that allows Rodney Ross to explore the random, often baroque ordinariness of lived experience.
It is also the lead-in to a key scene at the end – just why was his partner parked there at that particular time? The (older gay) reader automatically thinks he was there for some kind of lurid pet-friendly assignation, and Ross certainly plays on this stereotypical perception. The truth, however, is far more prosaic and shattering. It is a delicate, pitch-perfect scene that had me crying like a baby.
You have to be careful when you write about sadness and loss: too much, and it quickly becomes maudlin; if the author is too flippant, it can become equally grating. Ross strikes a perfect balance, detailing Barry’s painful journey towards acceptance of his irrevocably altered life. There is one particular event that shapes this journey: when his mother becomes ill, and Barry realises she was already sick when he himself was grieving, but had wanted to spare him this additional worry.
Tender and painful at times, but always heartfelt and brimming over with the sheer unalloyed joy of being alive, this is a truly special book.
June 11, 2020
Well, shucks, I wrote it, so I'm kinda inclined to have enjoyed it.
January 10, 2013
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book. I knew it wasn't going to be a romance but I didn't know what it was going to be about. The story follows Barry over the course of a year in his life. The year begins with the death of his husbanc, Andy and what follows is not easy at all. It took me a little while to warm up to Barry; he's far from perfect but he's an amazingly intricate character. I don't pretend to understand all the cultural references in the story but in the end that didn't really detract from my enjoyment of it. One of my favourite parts was when Barry tried internet dating and I loved the reality of it. This book may not be for everyone but I think that it was interesting and witty and enlightening and that was more than enough for me.
partially-read-stalled
March 16, 2013Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me...everything is written in terms of comparison to movies, books, TV shows or Americanisms that I don't know...because of this I have no frame of reference & I have no frickin' idea what is going on! If you're an American movie buff who reads the classics & enjoys their erotica wrapped in wordy descriptions, then this is the book for you! If you're an Australian whose parents tuned the B&W TV to ABC News & then removed the knob with pliers, you're fucked!
August 26, 2012
3.5 stars
Review Summary: This is a story of grief and healing, NOT a romance. Once I accepted that and started to care about the character, I enjoyed it.
Review: I was anticipating this story as one of metamorphosis, that we’d experience Rodney bursting from the cocoon of grief and learning how to live Happily Ever After as a butterfly. Instead, most of the story takes place within the cocoon. A few chapters into it, I found myself rememberingBillionaire’s Row (reviewed here by Aunt Lynn), wondering if this might be another non-romance from Dreamspinner. Indeed, like Billionaire’s Row, The Cool Part of His Pillow is ultimately a good story – though it took me a while to warm up to it – but it is NOT a romance. There are romantic elements, as Barry and Andy were together for 23 years before Andy’s death, and Barry’s memories of Andy and their relationship are woven throughout the story. But because Andy died, those romantic elements all have a bittersweet tinge.
Barry comes across as a sort of Sex-in-the-Cityish bitchy type, and although I liked Sex in the City I had trouble liking him until I was more than halfway done the first time I read it. The second read, I wondered why I had disliked him so, even as I could still sort of see it. I can easily imagine his humor working for a lot of people, and they will probably love him. I just don’t tend to find it entertaining to make fun of other people as a primary source of humor, nor do I tend to like people who do so. The story is told in first-person POV, so we’re in Barry’s head, seeing the world through his eyes. Disliking him made it difficult to get into the story, and I trudged through the first 3/4 or so of the book on the first read. By the last 1/4 I had begun to care about him, and I finally became engaged in the story and read eagerly.
Despite not liking him, I cried for Barry’s pain when Andy died. And I looked forward to how he would be changed by the grief, hopefully into someone I could like. And then there was chapter after chapter about his pain and grieving process. It was well done and believable, but not particularly enjoyable. I love angst; Keeping Promise Rock is one of my favorite books, and I flat-out bawled a few times reading it. But I love Deacon and Crick and their crazy, wonderful family of choice. Perhaps if I liked Barry I would have been sympathetic to his ongoing grief, but because I was really looking forward to his (presumed) transformation, it was just tiresome. Or, more likely given how much more I liked him the second read, if I had known to expect the detailed processing of grief going in, I might have been able to appreciate it for the true-to-life depiction that it was.
The book is also full of cultural references, which I’m sure will delight many readers. Maybe if I got all of them I’d have enjoyed it more, but as it was it left me feeling like I was missing the joke a lot of the time. Which is perhaps a good analogy for what I suspect being Barry’s friend might feel like, though with the added suspicion that the joke is on you.
When Barry jumps back into the dating pool again, his adventures are entertaining, though I felt as sorry for the dates who had to put up with him as I did for him having to put up with the dates he described. Then Barry settles briefly into a May-December relationship with a man nearly half his age. Given a few more years to mature, I could see the potential for Jarod to become appealing. However, at that stage of his life I mostly found him to be an obnoxious brat. As far as I could see the only appeal was getting laid (and a hot young body; not to be underestimated ). Then again, I’m not sure what Jarod saw in Barry, either. I still didn’t like Barry at this point, though by then I was beginning to mind him a little less.
I finally started getting into it around Chapter Nineteen, and from Chapter Twenty on I had trouble putting it down. By then I really cared about Barry, and I got very teary several times. I loved the epilogue and how it completed the circle with the prologue. Barry is still single (again, this is NOT a romance!), but he’s moved through the grief to a place in himself where that butterfly can finally begin to emerge. He hasn’t found his “one true love” at the end of the book (that is still pretty clearly Andy) but he has begun to find himself. He is finally at a place where he could potentially fall in love with someone new and live Happily Ever After, if there’s a sequel. Even if there’s not, there’s a hopefulness about ending the story at this beginning place.
Psychology studies have found that two of the most lasting effects in any experience are the first and last (Primacy and Recency Effects). Because the prologue and epilogue were so well done, and so beautifully tied together, I finished the book with a feeling of satisfaction (and not just because I no longer had to be in Barry’s head!). It was also very well written, though with the occasional odd word choice (like ‘iterated’ when I suspect he meant ‘intimated’).
I really struggled with how to rate this one. I think the writing quality merits 4 stars, at least. But considering how much effort it took to get through the first 250+ pages the first time, I’d lean toward 2 stars. So I’m compromising on 3.5, because I liked it more on a reread. This is well worth reading if you’re looking for a realistic depiction of the grief process, and want a book that ends where life begins again. I think it’s probably easily a 4+ star read if you go into it with that expectation. Do not, however, pick it up when you’re in the mood for a romance!
This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Review Summary: This is a story of grief and healing, NOT a romance. Once I accepted that and started to care about the character, I enjoyed it.
Review: I was anticipating this story as one of metamorphosis, that we’d experience Rodney bursting from the cocoon of grief and learning how to live Happily Ever After as a butterfly. Instead, most of the story takes place within the cocoon. A few chapters into it, I found myself rememberingBillionaire’s Row (reviewed here by Aunt Lynn), wondering if this might be another non-romance from Dreamspinner. Indeed, like Billionaire’s Row, The Cool Part of His Pillow is ultimately a good story – though it took me a while to warm up to it – but it is NOT a romance. There are romantic elements, as Barry and Andy were together for 23 years before Andy’s death, and Barry’s memories of Andy and their relationship are woven throughout the story. But because Andy died, those romantic elements all have a bittersweet tinge.
Barry comes across as a sort of Sex-in-the-Cityish bitchy type, and although I liked Sex in the City I had trouble liking him until I was more than halfway done the first time I read it. The second read, I wondered why I had disliked him so, even as I could still sort of see it. I can easily imagine his humor working for a lot of people, and they will probably love him. I just don’t tend to find it entertaining to make fun of other people as a primary source of humor, nor do I tend to like people who do so. The story is told in first-person POV, so we’re in Barry’s head, seeing the world through his eyes. Disliking him made it difficult to get into the story, and I trudged through the first 3/4 or so of the book on the first read. By the last 1/4 I had begun to care about him, and I finally became engaged in the story and read eagerly.
Despite not liking him, I cried for Barry’s pain when Andy died. And I looked forward to how he would be changed by the grief, hopefully into someone I could like. And then there was chapter after chapter about his pain and grieving process. It was well done and believable, but not particularly enjoyable. I love angst; Keeping Promise Rock is one of my favorite books, and I flat-out bawled a few times reading it. But I love Deacon and Crick and their crazy, wonderful family of choice. Perhaps if I liked Barry I would have been sympathetic to his ongoing grief, but because I was really looking forward to his (presumed) transformation, it was just tiresome. Or, more likely given how much more I liked him the second read, if I had known to expect the detailed processing of grief going in, I might have been able to appreciate it for the true-to-life depiction that it was.
The book is also full of cultural references, which I’m sure will delight many readers. Maybe if I got all of them I’d have enjoyed it more, but as it was it left me feeling like I was missing the joke a lot of the time. Which is perhaps a good analogy for what I suspect being Barry’s friend might feel like, though with the added suspicion that the joke is on you.
When Barry jumps back into the dating pool again, his adventures are entertaining, though I felt as sorry for the dates who had to put up with him as I did for him having to put up with the dates he described. Then Barry settles briefly into a May-December relationship with a man nearly half his age. Given a few more years to mature, I could see the potential for Jarod to become appealing. However, at that stage of his life I mostly found him to be an obnoxious brat. As far as I could see the only appeal was getting laid (and a hot young body; not to be underestimated ). Then again, I’m not sure what Jarod saw in Barry, either. I still didn’t like Barry at this point, though by then I was beginning to mind him a little less.
I finally started getting into it around Chapter Nineteen, and from Chapter Twenty on I had trouble putting it down. By then I really cared about Barry, and I got very teary several times. I loved the epilogue and how it completed the circle with the prologue. Barry is still single (again, this is NOT a romance!), but he’s moved through the grief to a place in himself where that butterfly can finally begin to emerge. He hasn’t found his “one true love” at the end of the book (that is still pretty clearly Andy) but he has begun to find himself. He is finally at a place where he could potentially fall in love with someone new and live Happily Ever After, if there’s a sequel. Even if there’s not, there’s a hopefulness about ending the story at this beginning place.
Psychology studies have found that two of the most lasting effects in any experience are the first and last (Primacy and Recency Effects). Because the prologue and epilogue were so well done, and so beautifully tied together, I finished the book with a feeling of satisfaction (and not just because I no longer had to be in Barry’s head!). It was also very well written, though with the occasional odd word choice (like ‘iterated’ when I suspect he meant ‘intimated’).
I really struggled with how to rate this one. I think the writing quality merits 4 stars, at least. But considering how much effort it took to get through the first 250+ pages the first time, I’d lean toward 2 stars. So I’m compromising on 3.5, because I liked it more on a reread. This is well worth reading if you’re looking for a realistic depiction of the grief process, and want a book that ends where life begins again. I think it’s probably easily a 4+ star read if you go into it with that expectation. Do not, however, pick it up when you’re in the mood for a romance!
This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2012
Rating: A List
This is not what I’d call an easy book to read. The sentences are rich and full and deep, and you don’t want to race through them to find out what happens. You want to savor each word, because they’re all quite tasty. Mr Ross, I am very happy to say, can write, my darlings.
This is a book to savor, like that very expensive bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Told in first person by Barry Grooms, it begins with happiness. He and his partner of twenty-three years, Andy, are celebrating Barry’s 45th birthday. They are comfortable with one another, they know each other’s secrets, and they are still in love. They have wonderful friends with names like LezbyAnn and Potsy. They have a beautiful house and enviable jobs.
And then the unthinkable happens: Andy and their two pugs, Gertie and Noel, are killed in a freak accident and somehow, Barry has to figure out how to deal with the sudden gaping hole in his heart and in his life.
There is sadness, sweeties, both harsh and soft, but there is also joy and humor and unexpected fun. The author describes Key West and New York with such intimacy, I know he’s been there and is letting me in on things only residents would know; I just love that, don’t you? Chickens and iguanas in Key West and ghost bikes in NYC: who could have imagined?
Two of my favorite lines (and believe me, there were many): His stride has quiet dignity but his aura is only an essential oil.
What I see is a tranny who refers to her penis as a vagina with a neck…
Parts of this novel had me hooting aloud with laughter, and honeys, I don’t do that often! Watch for and enjoy the multitude of pop culture references. I am proud to say I got every one of them, and now you will all know just how ancient I am while I teeter about on my red spike heels.
Filled with wit and brimming with beauty, this is a novel to treasure. I heartily recommend it! It will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page.
Reviewed by: Red Licorice
This is not what I’d call an easy book to read. The sentences are rich and full and deep, and you don’t want to race through them to find out what happens. You want to savor each word, because they’re all quite tasty. Mr Ross, I am very happy to say, can write, my darlings.
This is a book to savor, like that very expensive bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Told in first person by Barry Grooms, it begins with happiness. He and his partner of twenty-three years, Andy, are celebrating Barry’s 45th birthday. They are comfortable with one another, they know each other’s secrets, and they are still in love. They have wonderful friends with names like LezbyAnn and Potsy. They have a beautiful house and enviable jobs.
And then the unthinkable happens: Andy and their two pugs, Gertie and Noel, are killed in a freak accident and somehow, Barry has to figure out how to deal with the sudden gaping hole in his heart and in his life.
There is sadness, sweeties, both harsh and soft, but there is also joy and humor and unexpected fun. The author describes Key West and New York with such intimacy, I know he’s been there and is letting me in on things only residents would know; I just love that, don’t you? Chickens and iguanas in Key West and ghost bikes in NYC: who could have imagined?
Two of my favorite lines (and believe me, there were many): His stride has quiet dignity but his aura is only an essential oil.
What I see is a tranny who refers to her penis as a vagina with a neck…
Parts of this novel had me hooting aloud with laughter, and honeys, I don’t do that often! Watch for and enjoy the multitude of pop culture references. I am proud to say I got every one of them, and now you will all know just how ancient I am while I teeter about on my red spike heels.
Filled with wit and brimming with beauty, this is a novel to treasure. I heartily recommend it! It will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page.
Reviewed by: Red Licorice
May 21, 2012
4 1/2 Hearts
Slight romance. Covers a year of Barry's life following the loss of his partner.
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Barry and Andy have been together for 23 years. It is Barry’s 45th birthday and tragedy strikes. As Barry struggles with the minefield of life, his friends and family look on helplessly, as he tries to find his path as just Barry.
This is a touching story of love, loss, anger, grief, new beginnings and trudging on with your life in the face of a terrible tragedy. It isn’t so much of a romance, it has romance, but it is not the focus, and there will be no dancing off under the moonlight with a new love. In this story we come across Barry the night before his birthday as he celebrates with his husband Andy. We stay with him through the next year as we see his loss, his new beginning, further loss and where he begins to heal.
This is not a book that you can put down easily once you get into it. As a matter of fact. I couldn’t even tell you where or how I became ensnared in Barry’s life. The characters that are described in this book start to become real to you. Their characteristics come to life and you begin to feel like you get to know Andy, Barry and all their friends. When tragedy strikes you can feel their horror and pain. You understand their reactions to everything and the need for levity at the funeral. And. you also understand that life still moves on, as their lives start to pull them back to reality.
We join Barry on his journey as he tries to find his life without Andy; dealing with avoidance, both physically, emotionally and mentally, with friends and with acquaintances who don’t know of Andy’s death, on the pitfalls of far-flung friends as having to explain again and again of his loss. Of beginning anew, making new friends and taking a new lover. This is about a man who has been set adrift from his rock and is trying to find a raft to stabilize him… so please don’t expect him to be having loads of sex and finding new love. Although Barry does have a new brief relationship we don’t get to see the sex, it is inferred.
I really wasn’t sure about this book when I first cracked it open, as the prologue seemed a little spacey to me. But then, I got into the first chapter and somewhere along the way I became enthralled with all the characters and their lives, their interactions and their friendships. There are some humorous parts and some tear making parts, some regretful parts and some angry parts. And watch as he steps into the dating pool again and fights a quagmire of online profiles.
I really do have to recommend that everyone give this one a try, it might not be dripping in sex and happy ever afters into the sunset but it is a great book and a touching read.
Slight romance. Covers a year of Barry's life following the loss of his partner.
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Barry and Andy have been together for 23 years. It is Barry’s 45th birthday and tragedy strikes. As Barry struggles with the minefield of life, his friends and family look on helplessly, as he tries to find his path as just Barry.
This is a touching story of love, loss, anger, grief, new beginnings and trudging on with your life in the face of a terrible tragedy. It isn’t so much of a romance, it has romance, but it is not the focus, and there will be no dancing off under the moonlight with a new love. In this story we come across Barry the night before his birthday as he celebrates with his husband Andy. We stay with him through the next year as we see his loss, his new beginning, further loss and where he begins to heal.
This is not a book that you can put down easily once you get into it. As a matter of fact. I couldn’t even tell you where or how I became ensnared in Barry’s life. The characters that are described in this book start to become real to you. Their characteristics come to life and you begin to feel like you get to know Andy, Barry and all their friends. When tragedy strikes you can feel their horror and pain. You understand their reactions to everything and the need for levity at the funeral. And. you also understand that life still moves on, as their lives start to pull them back to reality.
We join Barry on his journey as he tries to find his life without Andy; dealing with avoidance, both physically, emotionally and mentally, with friends and with acquaintances who don’t know of Andy’s death, on the pitfalls of far-flung friends as having to explain again and again of his loss. Of beginning anew, making new friends and taking a new lover. This is about a man who has been set adrift from his rock and is trying to find a raft to stabilize him… so please don’t expect him to be having loads of sex and finding new love. Although Barry does have a new brief relationship we don’t get to see the sex, it is inferred.
I really wasn’t sure about this book when I first cracked it open, as the prologue seemed a little spacey to me. But then, I got into the first chapter and somewhere along the way I became enthralled with all the characters and their lives, their interactions and their friendships. There are some humorous parts and some tear making parts, some regretful parts and some angry parts. And watch as he steps into the dating pool again and fights a quagmire of online profiles.
I really do have to recommend that everyone give this one a try, it might not be dripping in sex and happy ever afters into the sunset but it is a great book and a touching read.
July 5, 2012
I had a rough time reading this book. Maybe it hit too close to home since I just turned 44 this year, ended a 10 year relationship around this time last year and thought I would stay single forever. Of course that didn't happen and my ex-partner didn't die although there were moments when I thought that might have been easier. But here I am now in a new relationship and the thought of something horrific happening to her makes me cringe. Maybe it was because this book was so honest, and felt so real. I've experienced some of those feelings just during a break-up I can't imagine how hard it would be to all of a sudden be a widow. Gay or straight I'm sure people who experience this loss find it hard to function.
Through Barry's snarky comments and self imposed exile we watch as he spends the year after his partner dies searching for something to hang onto, something that will make him whole again. Its heartbreaking to read yet also amusing. Barry's take on life is often entertaining even when its sad. Despite some editing issues this book is a very solid read, and not your ordinary male love story, and yes it is a love story despite some of the sadness.
Through Barry's snarky comments and self imposed exile we watch as he spends the year after his partner dies searching for something to hang onto, something that will make him whole again. Its heartbreaking to read yet also amusing. Barry's take on life is often entertaining even when its sad. Despite some editing issues this book is a very solid read, and not your ordinary male love story, and yes it is a love story despite some of the sadness.
December 5, 2012
It would be easier to tell you what Rodney Ross’s THE COOL PART OF HIS PILLOW is not, rather than what it is. It is not a romance, it is not a sexy story, and while it is about grief, it is not depressing. There is no HEA and not even an HFN, but neither is needed in telling the story of what happens after a beloved partner dies.
There are many wonderful secondary characters, but the one who claimed my attention and heart was Barry’s mom. The dialog in this book is witty, melancholy, delightful, and wistful, all at the same time. This is one of the great character-driven stories, and I fell in love with all of them. There is no villain here.
I loved this book. Even though I joined Barry in his grief, it is still such a beautifully written book I will probably read it again. In fact, I will recommend it to friends who have suffered a loss as an example of the fact that whatever they are feeling, it is normal, acceptable, and right. I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys a beautifully written book with amazing dialog and incredible characters who seemingly breathe and have heartbeats.
Please see my complete review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
There are many wonderful secondary characters, but the one who claimed my attention and heart was Barry’s mom. The dialog in this book is witty, melancholy, delightful, and wistful, all at the same time. This is one of the great character-driven stories, and I fell in love with all of them. There is no villain here.
I loved this book. Even though I joined Barry in his grief, it is still such a beautifully written book I will probably read it again. In fact, I will recommend it to friends who have suffered a loss as an example of the fact that whatever they are feeling, it is normal, acceptable, and right. I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys a beautifully written book with amazing dialog and incredible characters who seemingly breathe and have heartbeats.
Please see my complete review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
February 4, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
The Cool Part of His Pillow was a fascinating read. From the blurb, I knew the story was about a widower in his midlife and would cover some of the things people at these stages of their lives try: support groups, exercise groups, moving, dating, and more. What I didn’t expect was to meet the soon-to-be-departed and fall in love with the characters as a couple. In the book, Barry describes his relationship with Andy with a pot-and-its-lid metaphor and the opening chapter shows just how well these two fit together. In hindsight, I think the introduction of Barry and Andy as a couple makes a stark contrast to the bulk of the book, which features Barry alone and, by turns, adrift or aground.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
The Cool Part of His Pillow was a fascinating read. From the blurb, I knew the story was about a widower in his midlife and would cover some of the things people at these stages of their lives try: support groups, exercise groups, moving, dating, and more. What I didn’t expect was to meet the soon-to-be-departed and fall in love with the characters as a couple. In the book, Barry describes his relationship with Andy with a pot-and-its-lid metaphor and the opening chapter shows just how well these two fit together. In hindsight, I think the introduction of Barry and Andy as a couple makes a stark contrast to the bulk of the book, which features Barry alone and, by turns, adrift or aground.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
December 9, 2019
He’s just trying to get over his grief and there are some interesting moments that had me smiling. The romance is very sweet, thought I do wish it had more heat. This book really plays with all the readers emotions. From sadness to hope to depression to comedy to acceptance.
Full Review - http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
Full Review - http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
June 8, 2012
2.5 stars. When I browse NetGalley, I search by genre - specifically, romance. So I thought this book was a romance about a guy whose husband has died. But it wasn't a romance. The book tracks a year in the life of Barry Grooms, from the day before his 45th birthday, to his 45th birthday (the day on which his husband Andy dies) to his 46th birthday. This book is a book about Barry's journey in grief and him getting to a place where he feels he can move on, at least, when the book ended, I thought that's where he was supposed to be. I wasn't 100% sure he was quite there yet. He has other difficulties and tragedies in the year of the book and it brought me to tears a couple of times. But, I'm a romance reader and the reason I persisted with the book was that I thought there would be a romance. Then, after 300 pages of the 330 odd page book, I thought maybe he'd just meet someone at the end and it could be a vaguely hopeful happy ending. But alas. So, I've graded it as a romance reader. I would not have chosen to read the book had I known it wasn't a romance. That's my reading preference talking and not really a reflection of the book. There are many great non-romance books out there I choose not to read every day, for the same reason. In terms of this book, there were parts of it that were very moving and well written and parts of it that I found confusing, with references I didn't understand and which were inadequately explained - like I was not in on the joke. The first part of the book, where Barry is snippily describing all his friends and his horrible nicknames for them predisposed me to think he was a bit of a dick actually. I did believe that he and Andy had a strong connection, but truthfully, in the book itself there weren't many flashbacks which showed me this - mostly the kind of things Barry shares are neutral or negative. But, the real and pervasive grief that Barry suffers shows me that there was more to that relationship and I would have liked to have seen a couple of scenes of very happy times to balance out the other. I'm not sure what I would have graded this had I gone in with only a "gay fiction" tag. Possibly around the same. But, be warned, this is not a romance. There is no HEA, there is no relationship - this is a stroy about Barry getting over the death of his spouse and moving on. But, it did make me cry, so there is that.
April 25, 2014
Death of a partner is a very uncomfortable subject. I'm glad the author chose to write a novel about this, and I think Ross did a great job. It's a subject most of us find hard to think about. He jumps right in and doesn't shy away from showing us the emotions of the partner left behind.
Barry and Andy are made so real I felt as though I knew them both. In fact, all of the characters are well developed. The sadness, while definitely there, takes a back seat to other emotions: disbelief, anger, yearning, acceptance. The humor is brutal and biting. I laughed a lot (besides crying). Still, with all the bitchiness in those lines, at times it made me think just a little less of the characters. I get how many people use biting humor to cover their own insecurities and hurt. But doing that also can expose a person more than cover those things up, which I felt happened to some of them.
Barry is an interesting man. I cared for him, cheered for him, and at times wanted to give him a good kick in the ass. Which, of course, means his humanity was clearly shown to me. I would have liked him to be a little kinder in his assessments of others just every once in awhile, but in general his critical humor was something that made the book witty.
Big M was also interesting and I was glad to see behind the facade.
I would tell others to read this book. It is worth your time.
Barry and Andy are made so real I felt as though I knew them both. In fact, all of the characters are well developed. The sadness, while definitely there, takes a back seat to other emotions: disbelief, anger, yearning, acceptance. The humor is brutal and biting. I laughed a lot (besides crying). Still, with all the bitchiness in those lines, at times it made me think just a little less of the characters. I get how many people use biting humor to cover their own insecurities and hurt. But doing that also can expose a person more than cover those things up, which I felt happened to some of them.
Barry is an interesting man. I cared for him, cheered for him, and at times wanted to give him a good kick in the ass. Which, of course, means his humanity was clearly shown to me. I would have liked him to be a little kinder in his assessments of others just every once in awhile, but in general his critical humor was something that made the book witty.
Big M was also interesting and I was glad to see behind the facade.
I would tell others to read this book. It is worth your time.
November 7, 2012
One of the best books I've read in the past decade… beyond a doubt, this book is dazzlingly inspirational. I cherished so many aspects of the book… the characters’ rich & in-depth personalities, the meticulous connections with various cities, and most prominently, the wonderful & extraordinary view through the eyes of Barry Grooms.
The writing is overflowing with sharp-wit & matchless humor... and although at times heart-breaking, the book is truly heart-warming as well.
Engaging, daring, and beautifully written... well done!
The writing is overflowing with sharp-wit & matchless humor... and although at times heart-breaking, the book is truly heart-warming as well.
Engaging, daring, and beautifully written... well done!
January 7, 2013
Title: THE COOL PART OF HIS PILLOW
Author: RODNEY ROSS
Genre: ROMANCE/GENERAL FICTION
Publisher: DREAMSPINNER PRESS
Novel
5 Stars Highly Recommended!Don't miss out.
Reviewed by: Maven
I wasn’t real sure I wanted to read this book when I read the blurb and found out Barry’s partner of twenty years was killed, but I pushed past that, sat down, and read. Let me say, this isn’t a book filled with romance, but a book more about healing, yet it was an amazing story. The author does an excellent job of taking the reader into the unfairness that life throws at us by the loss of a soul mate, and done through the “voice” of Barry, who is written so well he becomes real as you read.
For More go to: http://thetalentcavereviews.weebly.com
Author: RODNEY ROSS
Genre: ROMANCE/GENERAL FICTION
Publisher: DREAMSPINNER PRESS
Novel
5 Stars Highly Recommended!Don't miss out.
Reviewed by: Maven
I wasn’t real sure I wanted to read this book when I read the blurb and found out Barry’s partner of twenty years was killed, but I pushed past that, sat down, and read. Let me say, this isn’t a book filled with romance, but a book more about healing, yet it was an amazing story. The author does an excellent job of taking the reader into the unfairness that life throws at us by the loss of a soul mate, and done through the “voice” of Barry, who is written so well he becomes real as you read.
For More go to: http://thetalentcavereviews.weebly.com
August 13, 2013
I found this book difficult to get into a first, and then after a while it all simply fell into place, but it was not what I expected. It's almost impossible to say what I loved about the story, the level of sadness and loneliness is too much to bear at times, but there is an honesty and depth to the writing that made me forget I was reading a novel and made me 'live' the story. The writing veers from delightfully commonplace to utterly exquisite. I would reach out, pat, find that unoccupied part, the cool part of his pillow. I would slowly pull the pillow towards me until his bare shoulders grazed my breastbone, nestle my head behind his, look into his hair and go to sleep. Beautiful.
April 21, 2014
This book is stunning. The writing is beautiful, poetic and the story is heartbreaking.
I'm going to have to come back to this as I am having a hard time pulling my ideas together. My only critique is this: Oscar? You bastard! Just kick me while I am down...sheesh!
I'm going to have to come back to this as I am having a hard time pulling my ideas together. My only critique is this: Oscar? You bastard! Just kick me while I am down...sheesh!
September 1, 2012
One of the best books I have read this year.
Read my review at http:scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com on 9/1/2012
Read my review at http:scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com on 9/1/2012
July 15, 2013
Well this is a little tear-jerker! Thanks for that, Rodney Ross!
Part of me hardly knows what to say to really do this one justice. Barry Grooms has it all going for him for a guy who’s at “settling down” age – hell, at any age: a great business, awesome houses (one in Key West? Fuck yeah!), two doggies he adores, and, most of all, a wonderful partner, Andy. Only Andy and the dogs are killed in an accident, on Barry’s birthday. Damn....
Barry goes into meltdown for a while, completely understandable. He ends up transferring the business and giving his Key West place to a drag family in need. Then Barry decides to move to NYC, where he takes a job running a theatre souvenir shop with a whack-job owner. Barry then pushes himself to move on to a series of worst-than-the-last dates. Holy unresolved grief, Batman!
Ok, that sounds like a “read,” but you know what? It’s also totally realistic. Barry frustrated me a bit at times, but his grieving experience was his own, and if you don’t occasionally get frustrated with your friends' decisions you might want to evaluate the depth of your friendship. The frustration probably peaked with Barry’s “relationship” with a vigilante/artist/protester/against-everything hipster kid who might have reminded me rather a lot of my members of my own family. But hey, that kid made Barry look sensible in comparison, most of the time.
And while I said it’s a tear-jerker (oh, it is), it’s also packed with chuckles and guffaws (are there no prettier words for laughter? Really?) Ross’s writing at times put me in mind of Chuck Palahniuk, only more theatre references and less hallucinogenic what-the-fuckery.
Speaking of theatre (and other cultural) references, I, for one, genuinely appreciate Ross’s not talking down to readers and not over-explaining allusions.
Also, I keep wanting to call him Robbie Ross, but it is in fact Rodney….
Thanks again, Rodney!
Part of me hardly knows what to say to really do this one justice. Barry Grooms has it all going for him for a guy who’s at “settling down” age – hell, at any age: a great business, awesome houses (one in Key West? Fuck yeah!), two doggies he adores, and, most of all, a wonderful partner, Andy. Only Andy and the dogs are killed in an accident, on Barry’s birthday. Damn....
Barry goes into meltdown for a while, completely understandable. He ends up transferring the business and giving his Key West place to a drag family in need. Then Barry decides to move to NYC, where he takes a job running a theatre souvenir shop with a whack-job owner. Barry then pushes himself to move on to a series of worst-than-the-last dates. Holy unresolved grief, Batman!
Ok, that sounds like a “read,” but you know what? It’s also totally realistic. Barry frustrated me a bit at times, but his grieving experience was his own, and if you don’t occasionally get frustrated with your friends' decisions you might want to evaluate the depth of your friendship. The frustration probably peaked with Barry’s “relationship” with a vigilante/artist/protester/against-everything hipster kid who might have reminded me rather a lot of my members of my own family. But hey, that kid made Barry look sensible in comparison, most of the time.
And while I said it’s a tear-jerker (oh, it is), it’s also packed with chuckles and guffaws (are there no prettier words for laughter? Really?) Ross’s writing at times put me in mind of Chuck Palahniuk, only more theatre references and less hallucinogenic what-the-fuckery.
Speaking of theatre (and other cultural) references, I, for one, genuinely appreciate Ross’s not talking down to readers and not over-explaining allusions.
Also, I keep wanting to call him Robbie Ross, but it is in fact Rodney….
Thanks again, Rodney!
August 13, 2016
A journey of a book that I enjoyed and would put at 3.5 but went for 4* as I enjoyed it a lot. It is a story of the despair left after a sudden, traumatic death - but a story told with dark humour about starting out again in a whole new world, so dont let subject matter put you off.
A rich array of cultural comments and interesting characters. Barry is mid forties and for all of us over a certain age, regardless of if male, female, gay, straight, left or widowed can relate to the traumas he faces going back into the single pool after such a long time as a couple.
Loved the little vignettes of Barry's dating escapades - cant decide if they were funnily sad or sadly funny.
As with most books, there were a few places where I skim read (Jarod's rants and some of Margery) .
A poignant story of refinding yourself that I enjoyed
A rich array of cultural comments and interesting characters. Barry is mid forties and for all of us over a certain age, regardless of if male, female, gay, straight, left or widowed can relate to the traumas he faces going back into the single pool after such a long time as a couple.
Loved the little vignettes of Barry's dating escapades - cant decide if they were funnily sad or sadly funny.
As with most books, there were a few places where I skim read (Jarod's rants and some of Margery) .
A poignant story of refinding yourself that I enjoyed
June 12, 2012
I loved so many things about this book!! The writing is thoughtful and witty... engaging us into the lives of the characters and hoping the best for them. Many moments had me laughing deliriously, while others brought tears to my eyes. I admit that I am friends with author, Mr. Ross, and likely some of his writing may touch me in a more personal way (no pun intended!) than for other readers. I would recommend this book, not just because Mr. Ross and I have a history, but rather because as an avid, voracious reader, his talented writing will speak to many in different ways.
August 2, 2012
This one really made me work hard to understand the cultural references. Some pages took me longer to Google then to read, I'm afraid I still missed most of them ;) LOL funny and crying out loud sad at the same time. In the end it left me with a hopeful and positive feeling.
October 18, 2012
I started this book expecting to love it. And I did love parts of it, it had some nice insightful thoughts and it provided a few unexpected moments of pure laughter... buuuut regretfully I found the narrative almost unbearably rambling. 2.5 stars
September 20, 2013
No, not M/M, but an incredibly touching story about a gay man dealing with major loss & grief. Every sentence is filled with so much wit & emotion that I laughed & cried & will re-read to make sure I take it all in.
June 21, 2012
Just finished this today. I need to take some time write the review. Suffice to say, I really liked it and I will give you the reasons why tomorrow.
June 2, 2012
I laughed and I cried-sometimes at the same time. An absolutely fabulous story that I hated to see end. Definitely a recommended read.
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