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What Binds Us
Family secrets, old money, 2 boys in love, a fairy tale wedding.When 17 year old Thomas-Edward falls in love with the mega wealthy Dondi Whyte and finds his love returned, he thinks they will be together forever. When their relationship fails, he learns that sometimes it is in an ending that we find our beginning.“…captures the heart and imagination…” Kirkus ReviewsSpanning a decade from the late 70s to the late 80s, set in Philadelphia and Long Island, What Binds Us combines themes of family, love, race, sexuality--all the things that can pull us apart and bind us together.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Larry Benjamin
11 books127 followersWriter. Wordsmith. Author.
Words, You See, are the Thing
Bronx-born wordsmith, Larry Benjamin is the author of Excellent Sons: A Love Story in Three Acts, a 2022 Lambda Literary Award winner in the Gay Romance category and a 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist; Unbroken, a 2014 Lambda Literary Award finalist and a 2014 IPPY (Independent Publishers Book Award) Gold medalist; The Sun, The Earth & The Moon; In His Eyes; Damaged Angels, a collection of short stories [out of print]; and Vampire Rising, an allegorical novella. His latest novel, He, will be published in October 2025.
His work has been published by Carina Press, a Harlequin imprint, Bold Strokes Books, and Beaten Track Publishing.
He lives in Philadelphia with his husband Stanley and their two rescue dogs, Atticus and Gatsby. He is at work on his next novel.
Words, You See, are the Thing
Bronx-born wordsmith, Larry Benjamin is the author of Excellent Sons: A Love Story in Three Acts, a 2022 Lambda Literary Award winner in the Gay Romance category and a 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist; Unbroken, a 2014 Lambda Literary Award finalist and a 2014 IPPY (Independent Publishers Book Award) Gold medalist; The Sun, The Earth & The Moon; In His Eyes; Damaged Angels, a collection of short stories [out of print]; and Vampire Rising, an allegorical novella. His latest novel, He, will be published in October 2025.
His work has been published by Carina Press, a Harlequin imprint, Bold Strokes Books, and Beaten Track Publishing.
He lives in Philadelphia with his husband Stanley and their two rescue dogs, Atticus and Gatsby. He is at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 23, 2018
This is the story that had to be told,the story of the Sun,the Earth and the Moon.
I'm left feeling exactly the same way I felt after readingUnbroken by this Author.I have no idea how to put into words how much I loved this book.One thing is for certain,Larry Benjamin is an extremely talented Author.His writing is beautiful,almost poetic at times and I was swept along in a sea of emotions reading this.
The story is narrated by Thomas-Edward,but it's not just his story that's told.....it's Dondi's as well....an amazing,touching friendship between two very different men.
Starting in the late 1970's,Thomas and Dondi meet at college where they are roommates.Coming from quite a conservative family Thomas is swept away by the larger than life,Dondi.
Dondi is like a whirlwind.He's beautiful,flamboyant,extravagant -he rocks into Thomas's world and changes it forever.
Dondi was an inferno, all right. Like the sun, he provided light and warmth. And like the sun, he could burn you to a crisp if you got too close.
They become lovers,then friends.Dondi is unable to commit to just one person so they end up with something that is special.....a truly touching friendship....not always perfect but they are a constant in each others lives.Dondi might move from one lover to another but he wants Thomas close to him,always.
"Being able to think about you,knowing where you are and that you're safe comforts me.I know it's crazy but it's true.You're my best friend."
-Dondi to Thomas.
During one long summer Thomas meets Matthew,one of Dondi's brother....and the love story begins.And,it's a beautiful,powerful love these two men have for each other.
However the love story isn't the main focus of this story.It's about family and friendship and the deep bonds that are unbreakable.
It's a powerful,emotional story that I'm so glad I read.
I've tried to keep this spoiler free about events in the book and I would recommend not reading any reviews as some have touched on what happens and while the outcome becomes inevitable for the reader,I would advise going into it relatively blind.
Highly Recommended.
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
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July 15, 2022A coming of age story which centres around romance, but really is about all kinds of love. Thomas-Edward is a young Black man who falls hopelessly for his college roommate, the super-wealthy and privileged Dondi, and then for Dondi's brother Matthew. Those relationships, and those of the mostly gay men around them, in terms of friendship, romantic love, sexual love, family love, are the heart of the book, especially when Dondi contracts AIDS (it's 1980s setting) and we go through the agonies of his slow loss. Beautifully written, emotional, and intense.
April 24, 2019
Whoa...This story had me simultaneously smiling and weeping. Moments of joy and laughter interspersed with gut-wrenching tragedy and heartbreak. There were times when it hurt to be a part of this world, but I could not put the book down; I read it in one sitting. Just as real life careens wildly from times of sadness to times of happiness, often messily mixing up all the emotions, this story skillfully captures those moments in a beautiful and messy mélange.
Recommend!
Recommend!
March 27, 2012
What Binds Us is more a gay historical drama than an m/m romance. There is a certain degree of romance but it isn't what drives the narrative. At least it didn't feel like that to me. So, to that extend, the blurb isn't very indicative of the plot.
This is essentially Dondi's story as told by his ex-lover and best friend Thomas-Edward. I dare say it's the story as Thomas experienced it. The first person POV adds to that effect.
The book is divided into three parts: Sunrise, Eclipse, and Sunset and, as early as in the Prologue, we learn that this is a collection of "Memories of a love lost and a love found. Memories of a life shared and a life lost" and that there's tragedy ahead: "I must write it all down—quickly, before it leaves me. Like he did. Gone too soon."
So. It's the late seventies, and the two meet in college (they're roommates), Thomas a quiet middle class black guy from New Jersey, Dondi a loud and theatrical bon viveur, who uses his wealth to enjoy life to the fullest. Here's Thomas' first impression of Dondi: "He seemed about my age, but while I felt barely begun, he seemed complete, an epilogue to a fantastic story." Dondi shows Thomas how life should be lived, clubbing, shopping, drinking, smoking pot. "Dondi became my guide, my Virgil, on my personal odyssey of self-discovery. (It was Homer, by the way; the one who wrote the Odyssey. Virgil wrote the Aeneid.)
At a certain point they become lovers, Thomas having almost instantly fallen in love with Dondi. But it doesn't last, because Dondi doesn't believe in love, he isn't the "forever-and-always, you-for-me and me-for-you-only" kind of guy. They remain roommates though and their relationship keeps evolving. Dondi keeps falling in love (his version of it, anyway) moving from one guy to the other, from an unnamed lad with sun-bleached hair to the son of his Latin professor to the next random guy in the endless line of his conquests. But Thomas remains the person Dondi considers his only true friend, the only constant in his extravagant lifestyle.
Then Dondi asks Thomas to spend the summer with him and his family at their summer house in Long Island and Thomas meets Matthew, Dondi's younger brother. They first become inseparable, and then they fall madly in love. And they're the real thing. If Dondi was an epilogue, Matthew was a prologue, a promise waiting to be kept. He seemed about to begin. He seemed to be waiting for something. I asked him once, years later, what he’d been waiting for. He surprised me by answering simply, “You.” and "Matthew was like the afterimage from staring at the sun too long. If Dondi was the sun, Matthew was cool water or the dark side of the moon." Thomas and Matthew remain together and, over the years, the reader sees how their lives span around Dondi.
In the very first paragraph of the book, the author informs us of his main character's love for F. Scott Fitzgerald. And there were quite a few elements that reminded me of The Great Gatsby, apart from the writing itself in the first half of the book, especially the parts describing the hot summers spent in Aurora, Dondi's family's summer house. The East and the West Claw reminded me of Gatsby's East and West Eggs. The colours gold, green, white, blue. The green light that represents the Aurora, the old established money, as seen from across the bay, from Dondi's modern million-dollar mansion. The car, symbolising material wealth, and at the same time becoming an instrument of death and destruction. The presence (or absence) of God in the novel. It's been some time since I last enjoyed The Great Gatsby so I'm sure there are other things I didn't notice. Also, I can't really judge whether Mr Benjamin's Fitzgeraldisms are successful, I noticed them though and that should say something.
I want to particularly highlight the contribution of the secondary characters in the novel. I usually have trouble remembering them but here I can name each and every one of them. The ones I found the most intriguing were Mrs Whyte, the "laminated beauty with the steel-gray eyes", Silent Eddie, the college friend who loved walking around with nothing but a towel on, and Portia, housekeeper extraordinaire.
Also, despite the feeling of impending doom I had while reading this, there were parts that made me smile or even laugh out loud.
Dondi's reply to Thomas when the latter asks him if he's had gonorrhea before: "Darling, I've had the clap so many times, it's now applause."
Or Portia's deadpan comments: "Leonardo arrived unexpectedly one day for a visit. Portia answered the door. He wore an oversized trench coat of black plastic and a matching fedora, also of black plastic. Black wraparound sunglasses completed the blackout of his person. "Excuse me," Portia inquired huskily, after he'd introduced himself, "but is it raining toxic waste outside?"
There are various evocative references, capturing the popular culture of the era, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show or the movies Alien, Rocky 2 and The Empire Strikes Back or TV shows like Dynasty or artists like Billy Joel, Randy Crawford, The Village People, Gloria Gaynor and Wham.
Regarding the author's writing style. Mr Benjamin calls himself a wordsmith and he certainly is one. Passages like this one "He shed his old life as easily as a favorite shirt grown too small, stretching his arms and tugging at the sleeves of his new life, admiring the fit" speak volumes of his ability with the English language. But it was that same ability that tired me somewhat and made the story feel unnecessarily "heavy". I found that there were too many similes and analogies in the book; so many that the author could have used them to embellish three stories instead of just this one.
…like a plague of locusts, like an avenging angel, like foul perfume, like butter in a microwave, like the moon hiding behind a cloud, like salt, like a midnight sun, like desire steeped in ice, like an unchecked malignancy, like a swift current that kept washing him out to sea, like the parting of clouds, yawned like a wound, like a footnote on the pages of our life, as an old winter coat, as if in the grasp of rigor mortis, as fragile as a dream, black as a raven’s wing…
The detailed descriptions of people and places, especially the Aurora and its furniture, curtains, art, china, carpets, etc., also challenged my determination not to skim. But the pace was pretty fast so they weren't very tiring.
The last one third of the book is both its strongest and its weakest part. The strongest because the feelings, emotions and reactions of the characters came across quite vividly and the weakest because at certain points I felt I was being emotionally manipulated through particular triggers commonly used in tearjerkers to evoke emotion. What saved the day for me were particular images, especially of Dondi, skillfully built in the story and restoring balance.
All in all this was definitely an interesting read, a well set-up story by an author who has much to tell. I will keep an eye out for Mr Benjamin's future work.
Carina Press kindly provided me with an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review
This is essentially Dondi's story as told by his ex-lover and best friend Thomas-Edward. I dare say it's the story as Thomas experienced it. The first person POV adds to that effect.
The book is divided into three parts: Sunrise, Eclipse, and Sunset and, as early as in the Prologue, we learn that this is a collection of "Memories of a love lost and a love found. Memories of a life shared and a life lost" and that there's tragedy ahead: "I must write it all down—quickly, before it leaves me. Like he did. Gone too soon."
So. It's the late seventies, and the two meet in college (they're roommates), Thomas a quiet middle class black guy from New Jersey, Dondi a loud and theatrical bon viveur, who uses his wealth to enjoy life to the fullest. Here's Thomas' first impression of Dondi: "He seemed about my age, but while I felt barely begun, he seemed complete, an epilogue to a fantastic story." Dondi shows Thomas how life should be lived, clubbing, shopping, drinking, smoking pot. "Dondi became my guide, my Virgil, on my personal odyssey of self-discovery. (It was Homer, by the way; the one who wrote the Odyssey. Virgil wrote the Aeneid.)
At a certain point they become lovers, Thomas having almost instantly fallen in love with Dondi. But it doesn't last, because Dondi doesn't believe in love, he isn't the "forever-and-always, you-for-me and me-for-you-only" kind of guy. They remain roommates though and their relationship keeps evolving. Dondi keeps falling in love (his version of it, anyway) moving from one guy to the other, from an unnamed lad with sun-bleached hair to the son of his Latin professor to the next random guy in the endless line of his conquests. But Thomas remains the person Dondi considers his only true friend, the only constant in his extravagant lifestyle.
Then Dondi asks Thomas to spend the summer with him and his family at their summer house in Long Island and Thomas meets Matthew, Dondi's younger brother. They first become inseparable, and then they fall madly in love. And they're the real thing. If Dondi was an epilogue, Matthew was a prologue, a promise waiting to be kept. He seemed about to begin. He seemed to be waiting for something. I asked him once, years later, what he’d been waiting for. He surprised me by answering simply, “You.” and "Matthew was like the afterimage from staring at the sun too long. If Dondi was the sun, Matthew was cool water or the dark side of the moon." Thomas and Matthew remain together and, over the years, the reader sees how their lives span around Dondi.
In the very first paragraph of the book, the author informs us of his main character's love for F. Scott Fitzgerald. And there were quite a few elements that reminded me of The Great Gatsby, apart from the writing itself in the first half of the book, especially the parts describing the hot summers spent in Aurora, Dondi's family's summer house. The East and the West Claw reminded me of Gatsby's East and West Eggs. The colours gold, green, white, blue. The green light that represents the Aurora, the old established money, as seen from across the bay, from Dondi's modern million-dollar mansion. The car, symbolising material wealth, and at the same time becoming an instrument of death and destruction. The presence (or absence) of God in the novel. It's been some time since I last enjoyed The Great Gatsby so I'm sure there are other things I didn't notice. Also, I can't really judge whether Mr Benjamin's Fitzgeraldisms are successful, I noticed them though and that should say something.
I want to particularly highlight the contribution of the secondary characters in the novel. I usually have trouble remembering them but here I can name each and every one of them. The ones I found the most intriguing were Mrs Whyte, the "laminated beauty with the steel-gray eyes", Silent Eddie, the college friend who loved walking around with nothing but a towel on, and Portia, housekeeper extraordinaire.
Also, despite the feeling of impending doom I had while reading this, there were parts that made me smile or even laugh out loud.
Dondi's reply to Thomas when the latter asks him if he's had gonorrhea before: "Darling, I've had the clap so many times, it's now applause."
Or Portia's deadpan comments: "Leonardo arrived unexpectedly one day for a visit. Portia answered the door. He wore an oversized trench coat of black plastic and a matching fedora, also of black plastic. Black wraparound sunglasses completed the blackout of his person. "Excuse me," Portia inquired huskily, after he'd introduced himself, "but is it raining toxic waste outside?"
There are various evocative references, capturing the popular culture of the era, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show or the movies Alien, Rocky 2 and The Empire Strikes Back or TV shows like Dynasty or artists like Billy Joel, Randy Crawford, The Village People, Gloria Gaynor and Wham.
Regarding the author's writing style. Mr Benjamin calls himself a wordsmith and he certainly is one. Passages like this one "He shed his old life as easily as a favorite shirt grown too small, stretching his arms and tugging at the sleeves of his new life, admiring the fit" speak volumes of his ability with the English language. But it was that same ability that tired me somewhat and made the story feel unnecessarily "heavy". I found that there were too many similes and analogies in the book; so many that the author could have used them to embellish three stories instead of just this one.
…like a plague of locusts, like an avenging angel, like foul perfume, like butter in a microwave, like the moon hiding behind a cloud, like salt, like a midnight sun, like desire steeped in ice, like an unchecked malignancy, like a swift current that kept washing him out to sea, like the parting of clouds, yawned like a wound, like a footnote on the pages of our life, as an old winter coat, as if in the grasp of rigor mortis, as fragile as a dream, black as a raven’s wing…
The detailed descriptions of people and places, especially the Aurora and its furniture, curtains, art, china, carpets, etc., also challenged my determination not to skim. But the pace was pretty fast so they weren't very tiring.
The last one third of the book is both its strongest and its weakest part. The strongest because the feelings, emotions and reactions of the characters came across quite vividly and the weakest because at certain points I felt I was being emotionally manipulated through particular triggers commonly used in tearjerkers to evoke emotion. What saved the day for me were particular images, especially of Dondi, skillfully built in the story and restoring balance.
All in all this was definitely an interesting read, a well set-up story by an author who has much to tell. I will keep an eye out for Mr Benjamin's future work.
Carina Press kindly provided me with an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review
September 7, 2016
I had read and loved What Binds Us some time ago and when I saw the audio book was really cheap on Audible I bought it right away.
Reading Unbroken by Larry Benjamin, which is another gay fiction by the same author, had formerly blown my mind and I couldn’t wait to read more books by him. Larry Benjamin knows how to beautifully tell a story.
In this case, the story of three men whose lives are forever bound together.
When I finished the book for the first time, I was sitting there amidst a ton of used tissues, eyes hurting, still shaken from the last third of the book.
Reviewing often is like finding closure for me, and after reading What Binds Us it was thoroughly needed.
Closure from grief, death, AIDS.
Also closure from having met wonderful characters, from witnessing an epic and true love story.
I want to share a tiny bit of their story with you, so you might pick up the book or audio and get the full experience.
What Binds Us is told by one of the three protagonists, Thomas-Edward. He’s telling us how his life was and always will be bound to Dondi and Matthew. This is, however, no classical love triangle nor a ménage à trois. Thomas first falls in love with Dondi during their time together at university but their relationship doesn’t work out. They remain very close friends and Thomas later on falls in love with Dondi’s brother Matthew.
It actually cannot really be considered a spoiler, since this is pretty clear from the first pages of the book, that Dondi dies at the end of the story. He has AIDS and at that time, there simply wasn’t anything to be done to heal him.
Dondi was a great character from beginning to end. Never once did I get annoyed or frustrated with him, despite everything he did or did not, how he treated Thomas and couldn’t commit to him, how he was so flighty and reckless. I think this is because he is so very human with all his loveliness and flaws.
I really, really appreciate that, concerning AIDS and Dondi’s death, there are no easy answers given here. There are questions, yes, even accusations, but no condemnation, no right or wrong. Sometimes life just is.
I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to lose so many to AIDS in the 90th. I was a kid then. It was not my time.
I am so sorry for your loss.
On the other hand, Matthew and Thomas are one of those couples—and I believe they do exist. They are eternal.
It takes these two quite the time to get together. You’ve got to be patient. It seems everyone knew they were in love with each other but themselves. Well, they knew they loved the other one, but thought their love was unrequited. The waiting is sweet, though.
I love to see such devoted couples in my books. Couples who live together for many, many years, who go through ups and downs and come out stronger. I feel it’s such an important part of romance, one that we hardly ever are shown. It gives us hope and sets examples.
I think you’ve seen that What Binds Us is not particularly an easy book. Dondi’s sickness and death only make out the last 30% of the book, though, and even then not all is sad. I think it’s well balanced out with happy and even funny moments.
I have to say that I’m relatively new to listening to audio books, so I don’t have that many references and can’t compare the narration to many other books I’ve listened to. I think the narrator basically did a great job and I recommend the audio book as well. I sometimes thought the narration was a bit peculiar and not entirely satisfying, but that’s probably very subjective ;-)
So, if you like gay fiction that spans over a lot of years and like to read or hear about love that comes in different shapes, and don’t mind a book that is not all fluff and sunshine, then please go check this out.
_____________________
Genre: gay fiction, romance
Tags: AIDS, family (brothers)
Rating: book 5 stars, audio 3.5 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance
You'll find my old and first review here...
Reading Unbroken by Larry Benjamin, which is another gay fiction by the same author, had formerly blown my mind and I couldn’t wait to read more books by him. Larry Benjamin knows how to beautifully tell a story.
In this case, the story of three men whose lives are forever bound together.
When I finished the book for the first time, I was sitting there amidst a ton of used tissues, eyes hurting, still shaken from the last third of the book.
Reviewing often is like finding closure for me, and after reading What Binds Us it was thoroughly needed.
Closure from grief, death, AIDS.
Also closure from having met wonderful characters, from witnessing an epic and true love story.
I want to share a tiny bit of their story with you, so you might pick up the book or audio and get the full experience.
What Binds Us is told by one of the three protagonists, Thomas-Edward. He’s telling us how his life was and always will be bound to Dondi and Matthew. This is, however, no classical love triangle nor a ménage à trois. Thomas first falls in love with Dondi during their time together at university but their relationship doesn’t work out. They remain very close friends and Thomas later on falls in love with Dondi’s brother Matthew.
It actually cannot really be considered a spoiler, since this is pretty clear from the first pages of the book, that Dondi dies at the end of the story. He has AIDS and at that time, there simply wasn’t anything to be done to heal him.
Dondi was a great character from beginning to end. Never once did I get annoyed or frustrated with him, despite everything he did or did not, how he treated Thomas and couldn’t commit to him, how he was so flighty and reckless. I think this is because he is so very human with all his loveliness and flaws.
Everyone always said Dondi was like the sun, dazzling, brilliant, but it seems to me he was more like a comet. He arrived unexpectedly straight out of heaven and lit up the skies of our lives. And we knew, on meeting him, that we would never see his like again. And like a comet he was gone all too soon. With his passing the world seems colder. But if we look inside ourselves we will see that he left a little light with each of us.
I really, really appreciate that, concerning AIDS and Dondi’s death, there are no easy answers given here. There are questions, yes, even accusations, but no condemnation, no right or wrong. Sometimes life just is.
”You know, your father once told me life was a gift from our Creator. A gift, he said, to do with as we pleased. He said we didn’t have to do anything with our lives but live it and enjoy it. You did that.”
I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to lose so many to AIDS in the 90th. I was a kid then. It was not my time.
Grief-stricken eyes seemed to ask: How many more times? How many more will we have to bury before this is over.
I am so sorry for your loss.
On the other hand, Matthew and Thomas are one of those couples—and I believe they do exist. They are eternal.
It takes these two quite the time to get together. You’ve got to be patient. It seems everyone knew they were in love with each other but themselves. Well, they knew they loved the other one, but thought their love was unrequited. The waiting is sweet, though.
I love to see such devoted couples in my books. Couples who live together for many, many years, who go through ups and downs and come out stronger. I feel it’s such an important part of romance, one that we hardly ever are shown. It gives us hope and sets examples.
I think you’ve seen that What Binds Us is not particularly an easy book. Dondi’s sickness and death only make out the last 30% of the book, though, and even then not all is sad. I think it’s well balanced out with happy and even funny moments.
I have to say that I’m relatively new to listening to audio books, so I don’t have that many references and can’t compare the narration to many other books I’ve listened to. I think the narrator basically did a great job and I recommend the audio book as well. I sometimes thought the narration was a bit peculiar and not entirely satisfying, but that’s probably very subjective ;-)
So, if you like gay fiction that spans over a lot of years and like to read or hear about love that comes in different shapes, and don’t mind a book that is not all fluff and sunshine, then please go check this out.
_____________________
Genre: gay fiction, romance
Tags: AIDS, family (brothers)
Rating: book 5 stars, audio 3.5 stars
Blog: Review for Just Love Romance
You'll find my old and first review here...
September 13, 2014
Story and Audiobook Reviewage on Prism Book Alliance
When I started listening to this story, I didn’t know where I was headed. Then it became clear. I was made to wait, just like they were made to wait, for the end, and the beginning…
~ ~ ~ The Earth, the Moon and the Sun ~ ~ ~
Make no mistake about it, this is plainly a love letter to this book, these characters, and to love itself. This is my life. My friends’ lives, those of my family. It’s the story of all of us. This is a personal review. I thank you ahead of time for indulging this love.
No one has an easy time of it in this group of characters, widely ranging in many ways in terms of identity. Each time I thought the author would maybe take the easy, typical way out in explanation of an action or word, he quietly and not so gently told me otherwise. Rough roads are traveled by all, with stretches of sunshine here and there. Life can be good, very good, between the heartaches and devastation.
Paired with Benjamin’s words is the voice of Richard Magnus. He was meant to present this story, to bring us inflections and accents and whispers and screams. He brings Dondi’s complexity right to the edge, never spilling over into ridiculous or overindulgent interpretation. Matthew is probably the most straight forward character in that he speaks his mind and reads people well. His voice is clear and unwavering. Thomas, every time he speaks from the here and now, it sounds so innocuous but with a hint of sadness and a touch of contentment. It’s a powerful and talented thing to be able to convey these layers with just words, written and verbalized.
Each character gets their own interpretation, their own level of rasp or layer of squeak. Emotion and volume and attitude were all brought forth.
There were a couple of times during either a long monologue or exposition that the tone didn't change, sounding a little hypnotic. It broke through as a distraction for only a moment, the story overriding any momentary lapse.
I would definitely listen to his narration again, no doubt.
“What,” I asked him, “do you see when you look at me?”
“I see everything I ever hoped for.”
Suddenly self-conscious, I pulled the covers up over me and turned to him, this amazing man in whose heart and bed I’d landed.
There are themes that wind and continue all throughout this book. Not just the search for love but the ability to allow it inside once found. The struggle to find one’s own way, to not fall into the trapped footsteps of parents, of history. Friendship as the foundation for just about everything, chosen connections. Being true to yourself and the consequences we may suffer for not doing so. We know it’s not always easy, that it feels almost insurmountable a task, but we have to try. That’s when friendship and love step in, if we let them.
Thomas is whose perspective from which this story is shared with us. He’s intelligent, humble, demanding, honest, a family guy, and won’t settle when it comes to just about everything in his life. The thing that struck me the most was how quietly he does all of this. He manages to take care of everyone in some way or another, whether for a moment or forever.
Matthew wants everything he thinks Dondi has refused to make a part of his life: love, family, Thomas. He’s determined, connected to the people he loves, understanding them, not underestimating them. He wants everything for Thomas and wants to work for the rest of his life to not just give it to him but share it with him. He has more than enough love for everyone who decides to accept and respect it. His brothers Dondi and Colin are worthy. I so enjoy reading about relationships between brothers, being both complicated and yet so simple.
Dondi is brash, intelligent, intent on living on the edge even if it’s not truly where he wants to be. It’s all that society will allow him to have, especially if he wants to protect those he does love from him, from his self-imposed perception of dangerous emotion, an inability to surrender his love to someone else in all ways. He’s the flame to which all moths find themselves drawn, even if that light is false and short-lived. It takes someone with the ability to recognize the truth hidden within that light, someone who sees him and wants to stay. Thomas and Matthew are the earth and the moon to Dondi’s sun. He’s insightful, frustrating and careening through life. Mostly.
No one belongs to themselves alone. We also belong to those who love us.
The language is lush and deep and I felt like I could dive in and snuggle up and sink down into every word. The style is different but Benjamin’s clear love of language and using language reminds me of Harper Fox or Edmond Manning. Enthralled is the word I would use, so I will.
The dialogue is natural and consistent within each character. No one said anything that gave me pause, trying to decide if they would really express themselves in that way. It does wander into dreamland sometimes, the perfection and highly romantic, but again, it fit the characters and the tone of the overall story.
The supporting cast: Patricia Pat, Mrs. Whyte, Geo, Portia, the three furies, Thomas’ parents, everyone is like all of us. Weird and funny, actions informed by fears and hopes, words said in anger, tenderness and support.
I was staring up at the sky. The first star had just appeared when Mr. Whyte stepped out onto the terrace. He handed me a snifter. I knew it contained rum.
“What did you wish for?”
“I wished I was handsome. I wished I was special,” I answered, bringing the goblet to my lips and taking a long swallow, not ashamed to have admitted so much.
“You are special.”
“No, I’m not. I’m ordinary as dirt.”
He reached into the planter beside him and extracted a handful of dark soil. “This is ordinary dirt. Yet it’s of the earth itself. From this dirt springs all life. And to it all life must eventually return. You are the earth. You are the beginning and the end.”
“I am the earth,” I repeated.
There are serious subjects that are parts of the lives of these characters. This author’s writing style lays out the detail in a way that feels like that warm blanket of memories. That blanket will have holes bored through by sadness, missed opportunities, death and pain. Yet, those threads maintain their connections, giving the strength that allows all of those memories to come, to remind us, to comfort us.
… he seemed as fragile as a dream and just as impossible to hold.
Even through the horror, there is love. Even when our eyes fall upon death, there is understanding. In life, there is but love and death. We all struggle to get one before the other comes to take our hand.
In all honesty, no blurb, review, discussion notes or coffee convo could accurately convey the emotions I experienced while listening to this story. Nothing I say will fully tell you how it makes me feel. Still. Makes, not made. This is one that will stay with me, in my memory, with all of those of my own, for a very long time.
If you trust my word even a little, you’ll read or experience audibly this beautiful, devastating, affirming, desperate and loving book. Words, memories and tears. I haven’t been changed, as this was already a part of me. Mr. Benjamin has expressed it for me, for many.
When I started listening to this story, I didn’t know where I was headed. Then it became clear. I was made to wait, just like they were made to wait, for the end, and the beginning…
~ ~ ~ The Earth, the Moon and the Sun ~ ~ ~
Make no mistake about it, this is plainly a love letter to this book, these characters, and to love itself. This is my life. My friends’ lives, those of my family. It’s the story of all of us. This is a personal review. I thank you ahead of time for indulging this love.
No one has an easy time of it in this group of characters, widely ranging in many ways in terms of identity. Each time I thought the author would maybe take the easy, typical way out in explanation of an action or word, he quietly and not so gently told me otherwise. Rough roads are traveled by all, with stretches of sunshine here and there. Life can be good, very good, between the heartaches and devastation.
Paired with Benjamin’s words is the voice of Richard Magnus. He was meant to present this story, to bring us inflections and accents and whispers and screams. He brings Dondi’s complexity right to the edge, never spilling over into ridiculous or overindulgent interpretation. Matthew is probably the most straight forward character in that he speaks his mind and reads people well. His voice is clear and unwavering. Thomas, every time he speaks from the here and now, it sounds so innocuous but with a hint of sadness and a touch of contentment. It’s a powerful and talented thing to be able to convey these layers with just words, written and verbalized.
Each character gets their own interpretation, their own level of rasp or layer of squeak. Emotion and volume and attitude were all brought forth.
There were a couple of times during either a long monologue or exposition that the tone didn't change, sounding a little hypnotic. It broke through as a distraction for only a moment, the story overriding any momentary lapse.
I would definitely listen to his narration again, no doubt.
“What,” I asked him, “do you see when you look at me?”
“I see everything I ever hoped for.”
Suddenly self-conscious, I pulled the covers up over me and turned to him, this amazing man in whose heart and bed I’d landed.
There are themes that wind and continue all throughout this book. Not just the search for love but the ability to allow it inside once found. The struggle to find one’s own way, to not fall into the trapped footsteps of parents, of history. Friendship as the foundation for just about everything, chosen connections. Being true to yourself and the consequences we may suffer for not doing so. We know it’s not always easy, that it feels almost insurmountable a task, but we have to try. That’s when friendship and love step in, if we let them.
Thomas is whose perspective from which this story is shared with us. He’s intelligent, humble, demanding, honest, a family guy, and won’t settle when it comes to just about everything in his life. The thing that struck me the most was how quietly he does all of this. He manages to take care of everyone in some way or another, whether for a moment or forever.
Matthew wants everything he thinks Dondi has refused to make a part of his life: love, family, Thomas. He’s determined, connected to the people he loves, understanding them, not underestimating them. He wants everything for Thomas and wants to work for the rest of his life to not just give it to him but share it with him. He has more than enough love for everyone who decides to accept and respect it. His brothers Dondi and Colin are worthy. I so enjoy reading about relationships between brothers, being both complicated and yet so simple.
Dondi is brash, intelligent, intent on living on the edge even if it’s not truly where he wants to be. It’s all that society will allow him to have, especially if he wants to protect those he does love from him, from his self-imposed perception of dangerous emotion, an inability to surrender his love to someone else in all ways. He’s the flame to which all moths find themselves drawn, even if that light is false and short-lived. It takes someone with the ability to recognize the truth hidden within that light, someone who sees him and wants to stay. Thomas and Matthew are the earth and the moon to Dondi’s sun. He’s insightful, frustrating and careening through life. Mostly.
No one belongs to themselves alone. We also belong to those who love us.
The language is lush and deep and I felt like I could dive in and snuggle up and sink down into every word. The style is different but Benjamin’s clear love of language and using language reminds me of Harper Fox or Edmond Manning. Enthralled is the word I would use, so I will.
The dialogue is natural and consistent within each character. No one said anything that gave me pause, trying to decide if they would really express themselves in that way. It does wander into dreamland sometimes, the perfection and highly romantic, but again, it fit the characters and the tone of the overall story.
The supporting cast: Patricia Pat, Mrs. Whyte, Geo, Portia, the three furies, Thomas’ parents, everyone is like all of us. Weird and funny, actions informed by fears and hopes, words said in anger, tenderness and support.
I was staring up at the sky. The first star had just appeared when Mr. Whyte stepped out onto the terrace. He handed me a snifter. I knew it contained rum.
“What did you wish for?”
“I wished I was handsome. I wished I was special,” I answered, bringing the goblet to my lips and taking a long swallow, not ashamed to have admitted so much.
“You are special.”
“No, I’m not. I’m ordinary as dirt.”
He reached into the planter beside him and extracted a handful of dark soil. “This is ordinary dirt. Yet it’s of the earth itself. From this dirt springs all life. And to it all life must eventually return. You are the earth. You are the beginning and the end.”
“I am the earth,” I repeated.
There are serious subjects that are parts of the lives of these characters. This author’s writing style lays out the detail in a way that feels like that warm blanket of memories. That blanket will have holes bored through by sadness, missed opportunities, death and pain. Yet, those threads maintain their connections, giving the strength that allows all of those memories to come, to remind us, to comfort us.
… he seemed as fragile as a dream and just as impossible to hold.
Even through the horror, there is love. Even when our eyes fall upon death, there is understanding. In life, there is but love and death. We all struggle to get one before the other comes to take our hand.
In all honesty, no blurb, review, discussion notes or coffee convo could accurately convey the emotions I experienced while listening to this story. Nothing I say will fully tell you how it makes me feel. Still. Makes, not made. This is one that will stay with me, in my memory, with all of those of my own, for a very long time.
If you trust my word even a little, you’ll read or experience audibly this beautiful, devastating, affirming, desperate and loving book. Words, memories and tears. I haven’t been changed, as this was already a part of me. Mr. Benjamin has expressed it for me, for many.
May 23, 2015
I read What Binds Us in September and I can’t believe I missed to post a review of this wonderful book. Looking back now, I have highlighted so many paragraphs of beautiful writing that it's difficult to pick which to quote. Here is one of my favourite:
“What did you wish for?”
“I wished I was handsome. I wished I was special,” I answered …
“You are special.”
“No, I’m not. I’m ordinary as dirt.”
He reached into the planter beside him and extracted a handful of dark soil. “This is ordinary dirt. Yet it’s of the earth itself. From this dirt springs all life. And to it all life must eventually return. You are the earth. You are the beginning and the end.”
“I am the earth,” I repeated.
The romance is one of the main subjects in the book but themes like love between friends and love in the family are equally concerned. So I’d say, for me, What Binds Us is a book about love in all its forms.
Written entirely in the PoV of Thomas, it tells the story of Dondi, Thomas and Matthew – ”the Sun, the Earth and the Moon.” - three young gay men in the late 1970s, the relations between them and their families.
It is not a fairytale but I often felt like reading one. The Whytes – a mad king (Geo), an evil queen (Mrs Whyte), and their three sons (Colin, Dondi and Matthew) have all the riches in the world. But there’s no love and happiness in this family. And then Thomas – a middle class, ordinary, black young man shows up and changes everything for all of them. There are even three fairies (the three furies) in the story.
The prologue sets a sense of doom by saying “… Memories of a love lost and a love found. Memories of a life shared and a life lost.” but also a sense of hope: ”Matthew leans over my shoulder, reading. I am grateful for his presence…”. However, that didn’t prepare me for how emotional and heartbreaking the last third of the book was.
Similar to Unbroken, my only issue with this book is that at times it got too sentimental, and even though it worked for the characters, it’s just something I’m not a fan of.
What Binds Us has fantastic lead and supporting characters and I loved following their stories.
April 17, 2017
If I have to pick a thing that really resonated with me, a thing that drew me to the story, it will be the WRITING! I must write it all down—quickly, before it leaves me. Like he did. Gone too soon. 'Memories of a love lost and a love found. Memories of a life shared and a life lost.' YES, it was the writing that kept me turning the pages. Thomas-Edward, the narrator, a young black guy, tells TWO stories- his and Matthew's and above all Dondi's. How DONDI lived, loved and dealt with the devastation of the AIDS crisis, covering a decade from the late 70s to the late 80s. They have always been—almost from the beginning—THREE—Thomas thinks he’s in love with his roommate, the ultra rich, hyper sexy, Dondi, UNTIL he meet Matthew, Dondi’s younger brother— and.......they always will be THREE.
“This is the book, the story that had to be told, the story of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon.”
Told in first-person, a memoir-like,'What Binds Us', captures the impetuosity of youth and first love and examines the sense of loss and grief. It's also rich in of supporting characters- Mr. and Mrs. Whyte – Dondi and Matthew’s parents; the three furies; Panther; Patrick; Phipps.
My only little issue was that somehow it gave me a sense for a bit more telling instead of showing by the narrative, BUT overall it's captivating,emotional and WISE in prose and message: 'The only thing between birth and death is love, that love is life.'
“This is the book, the story that had to be told, the story of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon.”
Told in first-person, a memoir-like,'What Binds Us', captures the impetuosity of youth and first love and examines the sense of loss and grief. It's also rich in of supporting characters- Mr. and Mrs. Whyte – Dondi and Matthew’s parents; the three furies; Panther; Patrick; Phipps.
My only little issue was that somehow it gave me a sense for a bit more telling instead of showing by the narrative, BUT overall it's captivating,emotional and WISE in prose and message: 'The only thing between birth and death is love, that love is life.'
Want to read
February 22, 2018Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US, 2/22/18
September 19, 2018
So I've avoided the reviews for this one for ages and when I saw that it was on audio...I decided it was time. Apparently what I've avoided was finding out that I was going to be thoroughly and utterly gutted...so I'll write a full review soonish...right now I seem to have developed some really bad allergies that require tissues...lots and lots of tissues...
Well this one needed to come with a warning...
maybe something along the lines of...
'Warning...before reading this book the reader should ensure that they have tissues, a warm and snuggly teddy bear (because teddy bears fix things...all the things) and copious amounts of alcohol may also be beneficial.'
I've had this one on my radar for quite a while now. But to be honest between the blurb and what I've seen and read in other reviews...well, I was nervous...I've read 'A Little Life', 'Let's Hear It for the Boy' and a few others that basically left me feeling more than a little brokenhearted...so I had to ask myself am I read to do this again, to let read a book that's not all goodness and light or filled with action and adventure. When I saw the book on audible.com...I thought...'Audio, I can do this on audio' and I clicked the button and added the book to my library...and there it sat for weeks...and more weeks...because every time I looked at it...I said 'nope, not yet. can't do it.' and this went on and on until I finally pulled on my big girl panties and clicked the play button and then I sat and I listened...I laughed and I cried...oh did I cry...tissues were sacrificed in an effort not short out my laptop with the tears...my poor little furbaby was frantic with worry and paced the floor because his people don't cry and if they do there's something wrong.
'What Binds Us' is by no means a simple romance novel...It's the story of Thomas-Edward, Donovan (Dondi) Whyte and his brother Matthew. It starts with Thomas and Dondi when they first meet in college as roommates. Things progress between them to friendship and then something more and this is where things also start to get complicated.
Dondi's a bit of a bigger than life person, who also happens to be a bit self absorbed. But ultimately he's one of those people who others are just drawn too and he's a creature of excesses.
As Dondi and Thomas-Edward's relationship progresses and grows it also changes and they move back into the realm of being friends...enter Dondi's brother, Matthew.
Like his brother, Matthew and Thomas-Edward start out as friends as well. As things progress the lives of these three men become inextricably tangled.
As Dondi and Thomas-Edward go from friends to lovers and back to friends while Thomas-Edward and Matthew explore their own friendship that ultimately sees them become lovers and partners and Dondi remains a permanent fixture in their lives as Thomas-Edward's best friend and Matthew's brother.
What follows is a story of not just Matthew and Thomas-Edward but a story of love, friendship and partings...of having someone in your life and loosing them, of heartbreak and courage, of being a friend even when the other person pushes you away...a story of love and not just being in love, it's about growing up gay when having Aids was a death sentence and friends and lovers came into lives and left to soon.
There's not a lot of steam and sexy times in this one but this is about the relationships... the connections, how people grow and change, fit into each others lives sometimes forever and sometimes just for a while.
'What Binds Us' is about love and what it brings into our lives and how that shapes us and our relationships. It's love between friends, family and lovers. It's sweet and gently and beautiful and sometimes it's ugly and cruel but always it's a driving force in our lives.
Richard Magnus narrated this story and I loved his narration from start to finish especially for Dondi...his interpretation of how Dondi would sound was so perfectly in sync with what I imagined. This was actually my first time listening to a book narrated by this narrator and I'm looking forward to hearing more as well as re-listening to this story...as soon as I restock my supply of tissues.
The ending of this one was good, really good it was happiness tinged with heartache...it was real. it was about the people we love and how they come and go from our lives but remain forever in our hearts.
Well this one needed to come with a warning...
maybe something along the lines of...
'Warning...before reading this book the reader should ensure that they have tissues, a warm and snuggly teddy bear (because teddy bears fix things...all the things) and copious amounts of alcohol may also be beneficial.'
I've had this one on my radar for quite a while now. But to be honest between the blurb and what I've seen and read in other reviews...well, I was nervous...I've read 'A Little Life', 'Let's Hear It for the Boy' and a few others that basically left me feeling more than a little brokenhearted...so I had to ask myself am I read to do this again, to let read a book that's not all goodness and light or filled with action and adventure. When I saw the book on audible.com...I thought...'Audio, I can do this on audio' and I clicked the button and added the book to my library...and there it sat for weeks...and more weeks...because every time I looked at it...I said 'nope, not yet. can't do it.' and this went on and on until I finally pulled on my big girl panties and clicked the play button and then I sat and I listened...I laughed and I cried...oh did I cry...tissues were sacrificed in an effort not short out my laptop with the tears...my poor little furbaby was frantic with worry and paced the floor because his people don't cry and if they do there's something wrong.
'What Binds Us' is by no means a simple romance novel...It's the story of Thomas-Edward, Donovan (Dondi) Whyte and his brother Matthew. It starts with Thomas and Dondi when they first meet in college as roommates. Things progress between them to friendship and then something more and this is where things also start to get complicated.
Dondi's a bit of a bigger than life person, who also happens to be a bit self absorbed. But ultimately he's one of those people who others are just drawn too and he's a creature of excesses.
As Dondi and Thomas-Edward's relationship progresses and grows it also changes and they move back into the realm of being friends...enter Dondi's brother, Matthew.
Like his brother, Matthew and Thomas-Edward start out as friends as well. As things progress the lives of these three men become inextricably tangled.
As Dondi and Thomas-Edward go from friends to lovers and back to friends while Thomas-Edward and Matthew explore their own friendship that ultimately sees them become lovers and partners and Dondi remains a permanent fixture in their lives as Thomas-Edward's best friend and Matthew's brother.
What follows is a story of not just Matthew and Thomas-Edward but a story of love, friendship and partings...of having someone in your life and loosing them, of heartbreak and courage, of being a friend even when the other person pushes you away...a story of love and not just being in love, it's about growing up gay when having Aids was a death sentence and friends and lovers came into lives and left to soon.
There's not a lot of steam and sexy times in this one but this is about the relationships... the connections, how people grow and change, fit into each others lives sometimes forever and sometimes just for a while.
'What Binds Us' is about love and what it brings into our lives and how that shapes us and our relationships. It's love between friends, family and lovers. It's sweet and gently and beautiful and sometimes it's ugly and cruel but always it's a driving force in our lives.
Richard Magnus narrated this story and I loved his narration from start to finish especially for Dondi...his interpretation of how Dondi would sound was so perfectly in sync with what I imagined. This was actually my first time listening to a book narrated by this narrator and I'm looking forward to hearing more as well as re-listening to this story...as soon as I restock my supply of tissues.
The ending of this one was good, really good it was happiness tinged with heartache...it was real. it was about the people we love and how they come and go from our lives but remain forever in our hearts.
May 4, 2021
I'm not sure how to review this book without touching on broader spoilers. So I'll just say it was my first from this author, and I will definitely be reading more, and then put the rest behind spoiler tags, even though I will keep it as general as possible. This is just for the sake of the purists:
This story begins in 1977, and
And I loved the characters. Every single one of them. Matthew and Dondi are filthy rich, and it wasn't annoying for even one moment, which is also impressive.
There is both an awesome Romance (with a capital R) and a story that has nothing to do with romance. This is Dondi's story and it feels powerful even though there's no overarching message that's trying to be delivered here. Really, I think that's *why* it feels so powerful to me. But for the majority of the book it was just interesting and entertaining and even beautiful at times, while also feeling very realistic. It completely lived up to my high hopes. Highly recommended.
Note: I knew there was a revised edition with a new title (The Sun, the Earth & the Moon), but I didn't realize I had access to both through Scribd. They only had the original the first time I checked, and I didn't even think to look again before I started reading. Oh well! The publisher says "The revisions expand and tidy up the original text, but the story remains essentially the same." The official GR kindle page count shows a six-page difference, and I can't imagine they've changed much since there's not a whole lot of room for improvement.
This story begins in 1977, and
And I loved the characters. Every single one of them. Matthew and Dondi are filthy rich, and it wasn't annoying for even one moment, which is also impressive.
There is both an awesome Romance (with a capital R) and a story that has nothing to do with romance. This is Dondi's story and it feels powerful even though there's no overarching message that's trying to be delivered here. Really, I think that's *why* it feels so powerful to me. But for the majority of the book it was just interesting and entertaining and even beautiful at times, while also feeling very realistic. It completely lived up to my high hopes. Highly recommended.
Note: I knew there was a revised edition with a new title (The Sun, the Earth & the Moon), but I didn't realize I had access to both through Scribd. They only had the original the first time I checked, and I didn't even think to look again before I started reading. Oh well! The publisher says "The revisions expand and tidy up the original text, but the story remains essentially the same." The official GR kindle page count shows a six-page difference, and I can't imagine they've changed much since there's not a whole lot of room for improvement.
May 17, 2019
***** A top pic of mine !***** As I read, I knew this was going to be special, but it was so much more...
Magnificent, timely, historical, fascinating, romantic, emotional, enlightening, heart-wrenching, glorious, unforgettable.
In 1977, Thomas-Edward entered the University of Pennsylvania. It is the beginning of everything for him and roommate, Dondi. Thomas-Edward, a beautiful black man who hopes to be a writer, and wealthy, snarky, Dondi, became inseperable. With a brief sexual exploration, the two remained friends.
Our author, Larry Benjamin, writes a grand masterpiece about two men, their friendship through life, as we see Dondi go his way, and Thomas-Edward, who is more anchored. This saga includes families and friends; plus it shows the ups that life gives us and the downs where life takes from us.
Thomas-Edward knows what he wants from his life, and he's grounded, dedicated. Dondi is more of a force of nature, but Dondi shares his family with Thomas-Edward and their privilege that includes a mansion. Here, Dondi's brother Matthew meets Thomas and they become fast friends.
We watch what happens in the span of time.
I laughed, cried huge tears, sighed at the intense love, and I was angry at the tribulations, yet enlightened.
Thank you Larry Benjamin for your fabulous writing, and how you wrenched deep emotion from my soul. My feelings as I read their tale were bone deep, and I was wrung out. Yet, I am joyful and felt I was given a gift to have read your work.
Very highly recommended.
ENJOY !
======
========
Magnificent, timely, historical, fascinating, romantic, emotional, enlightening, heart-wrenching, glorious, unforgettable.
In 1977, Thomas-Edward entered the University of Pennsylvania. It is the beginning of everything for him and roommate, Dondi. Thomas-Edward, a beautiful black man who hopes to be a writer, and wealthy, snarky, Dondi, became inseperable. With a brief sexual exploration, the two remained friends.
Our author, Larry Benjamin, writes a grand masterpiece about two men, their friendship through life, as we see Dondi go his way, and Thomas-Edward, who is more anchored. This saga includes families and friends; plus it shows the ups that life gives us and the downs where life takes from us.
Thomas-Edward knows what he wants from his life, and he's grounded, dedicated. Dondi is more of a force of nature, but Dondi shares his family with Thomas-Edward and their privilege that includes a mansion. Here, Dondi's brother Matthew meets Thomas and they become fast friends.
We watch what happens in the span of time.
I laughed, cried huge tears, sighed at the intense love, and I was angry at the tribulations, yet enlightened.
Thank you Larry Benjamin for your fabulous writing, and how you wrenched deep emotion from my soul. My feelings as I read their tale were bone deep, and I was wrung out. Yet, I am joyful and felt I was given a gift to have read your work.
Very highly recommended.
ENJOY !
======
========
March 19, 2014
This was another book I listened to by audio version and I really enjoyed it. The narrator, Richard Magnus, together with an engrossing story, kept me riveted for the whole 7 hour duration.
This story was a journey. It is the story of Thomas Edward who is swept up into the world of Dondi and his brother Matthew. Dondi and Matthew's upbringing is a world away from Thomas Edward's own background and the character's themselves are unique.
The story begins with Thomas Edward having a relationship with Dondi. But Dondi isn't the sort of man to be tied down in a relationship. However his friendship with Thomas Edward maintains steadfast and he flits in and out of his life. Importantly, he introduces Thomas Edward to his unusual family including his brother, Matthew.
This is a story of love and family and craziness. It's interesting and unique. It's emotional and it's sad. Somewhat into the story I began to expect what the outcome might be but it made it no less emotional.
Visit my blog if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place! Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
This story was a journey. It is the story of Thomas Edward who is swept up into the world of Dondi and his brother Matthew. Dondi and Matthew's upbringing is a world away from Thomas Edward's own background and the character's themselves are unique.
The story begins with Thomas Edward having a relationship with Dondi. But Dondi isn't the sort of man to be tied down in a relationship. However his friendship with Thomas Edward maintains steadfast and he flits in and out of his life. Importantly, he introduces Thomas Edward to his unusual family including his brother, Matthew.
This is a story of love and family and craziness. It's interesting and unique. It's emotional and it's sad. Somewhat into the story I began to expect what the outcome might be but it made it no less emotional.
Visit my blog if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place! Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
March 25, 2014
It's a Sunday night. I am trying to write 2 reviews but the words have got stuck so I browse my TBR shelf and come across this book. That is a decision I won't regret.
This book is beautiful. I love the authors prose and ended up awake until the early hours unable to put it down.
Thomas and Dondi meet at College and form a deep friendship. For a while it is sexual but Dondi is like a whirlwind that can't stay still and shies away from love and commitment. When Thomas spends the summer with Dondi and his family he meets his brother Matthew and falls in love.
When Matthew and Thomas finally get together it leaves a very strange relationship between the 3 men. There is fierce love and friendship but the 3 men work it out before bigotry drives them from their home.
This is the time of HIV and Dondi doesnt escape this terrible disease with his promiscuity. They have seen the disease ravage their friends but suddenly the 3 men are living with this very real nightmare and no matter what they throw at it they cannot win.
This is a beautiful story of love and friendship which stays strong and true even through the most difficult and heart breaking circumstances. Have your tissues ready. I am so glad the words didnt come and I found this book!
This book is beautiful. I love the authors prose and ended up awake until the early hours unable to put it down.
Thomas and Dondi meet at College and form a deep friendship. For a while it is sexual but Dondi is like a whirlwind that can't stay still and shies away from love and commitment. When Thomas spends the summer with Dondi and his family he meets his brother Matthew and falls in love.
When Matthew and Thomas finally get together it leaves a very strange relationship between the 3 men. There is fierce love and friendship but the 3 men work it out before bigotry drives them from their home.
This is the time of HIV and Dondi doesnt escape this terrible disease with his promiscuity. They have seen the disease ravage their friends but suddenly the 3 men are living with this very real nightmare and no matter what they throw at it they cannot win.
This is a beautiful story of love and friendship which stays strong and true even through the most difficult and heart breaking circumstances. Have your tissues ready. I am so glad the words didnt come and I found this book!
May 20, 2012
a beautiful and moving book. DOES IT HAVE SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU? Absolutely. I don't think I can articulate how wonderful this book is without sounding corny. I cried. From happiness and melancholy and a deep, yet satisfying sadness. This is an amazing story. Beyond amazing. No review is going to do this book justice so just read it.
The story has three parts : Sunrise, Eclipse and Sunset. And each part ha story for 3 main characters.
Iam goin to leave you with my favorite line from the book:
“It’s taken me my whole life to understand that the only thing between birth and death is love, that love is life.”
The story has three parts : Sunrise, Eclipse and Sunset. And each part ha story for 3 main characters.
Iam goin to leave you with my favorite line from the book:
“It’s taken me my whole life to understand that the only thing between birth and death is love, that love is life.”
May 22, 2014
Some books transport you, this was one of those books.
February 9, 2016
This is not a typical romance winding its way through the garden of tropes to an expected HEA. But it's definitely a love story. It's a powerful love story that spans about ten years from the 70s and into the 80s and encompasses an enormous amount of growth.
My little issues, quick-like, before moving on--I want them out of the way because this story is so much bigger. And I'm me...so I've gotta lay out the honesty. I found the writing to be almost...overly narrative at times. There was some beautiful imagery wrapped up in eloquent phrasing, but I felt it got overshadowed by a goodly amount of telling instead of showing. And, unfortunately, the most beautiful phrases I came across sometimes felt disjointed, separate from the greater whole, as they felt randomly planted amidst ordinary prose. This is told in first-person, almost in the style of a memoir, recounting events, moving forward chronologically in small blocks of time. There were small bits of dialogue interspersed, that, unfortunately at times, also felt disjointed and didn't always help propel the story forward.
But , the story itself was enough to keep me engaged. Honestly, the gripeage above is minor for me in that was mostly eclipsed by the absolute beauty I found in the overall tale.
This story really takes off in 1977 with Thomas-Edward's freshman year in college where he rooms with the filthy-stinking-incomprehensibly-rich, Dondi.
Dondi shines brighter than the sun and has the sort of personality that everyone he meets gets sucked into his orbit. Thomas-Edward is often shocked and surprised by Dondi's antics--as was I in this sometimes fantastical Gatsby-esque tale.
It's Dondi's brother, Matthew, who ends up stealing T's heart--and theirs is a love that is epic. It's kind, it's patient, it's respectful, it's sensual and lovely...it is the kind of love we should all have, and yet most of us only dream of.
This story progresses into the 1980s as these three men (mostly) mature into adulthood and are slotting themselves into life and companionship--forging their way with Thomas-Edward firmly a member of this family as a lover and a best friend to two brothers.
Then...
Let's take a pause.
Do me a favor and think about this time before cell phones, personal computers, and social media, when books didn't have a power button.
The 70's was a stew of upheaval and cultural significance clad in polyester bell-bottoms and earth shoes, mini skirts and go-go boots. This was the Vietnam era, the Nixon/Ford/Carter administrations in the US. There was the energy crisis, economic recession, and lots of unrest around the world. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s began to unravel in the 70s. But, the gay movement took a few huge steps forward with some big names coming out of the closet. It was also "The 'Me' Decade," and I can't help but mention that we also had Disco Fever and the Atari 2600.
Then came the 80s with all its big aqua-net hair, acid-washed, shoulder-padded fluorescence. The economy mostly took a turn for the better, technology advanced, and the Berlin Wall came down. We had boomboxes, the Walkman, and the Commodore 64 for all our personal 8-bit/64 kB RAM computing needs. Unfortunately, advancement in Civil Rights was at a crawl while rights for disabled, homosexuals, and Native Americans were broadened...some.
And HIV and AIDS became a thing--a pandemic that has since taken the lives of nearly 40 million people worldwide.
This. This is where I reached a part of the book were my own vivid memories sidled right up to the story in my hands and proceeded to slice my heart wide open.
It reached in and gutted me.
This book tells the story of love from beginning to an end that never ends, just strengthens, reshapes, and moves forward. It's the story of holding on while letting go and embracing the now while looking ahead but never forgetting the past.
And I umm...
It's taken me some time to still my heart after reading this. Tears keep coming because I'm thinking of the smiles of loved ones lost and whose memories have never left my heart.
I'm a better person for reading it.
{{In memory of R., who made Broadway show tunes sound like hymns; and for J., W., and N., who I'm certain have joined his celestial choir even though none of 'em could carry a tune in a bucket.}}
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
My little issues, quick-like, before moving on--I want them out of the way because this story is so much bigger. And I'm me...so I've gotta lay out the honesty. I found the writing to be almost...overly narrative at times. There was some beautiful imagery wrapped up in eloquent phrasing, but I felt it got overshadowed by a goodly amount of telling instead of showing. And, unfortunately, the most beautiful phrases I came across sometimes felt disjointed, separate from the greater whole, as they felt randomly planted amidst ordinary prose. This is told in first-person, almost in the style of a memoir, recounting events, moving forward chronologically in small blocks of time. There were small bits of dialogue interspersed, that, unfortunately at times, also felt disjointed and didn't always help propel the story forward.
But , the story itself was enough to keep me engaged. Honestly, the gripeage above is minor for me in that was mostly eclipsed by the absolute beauty I found in the overall tale.
This story really takes off in 1977 with Thomas-Edward's freshman year in college where he rooms with the filthy-stinking-incomprehensibly-rich, Dondi.
Dondi shines brighter than the sun and has the sort of personality that everyone he meets gets sucked into his orbit. Thomas-Edward is often shocked and surprised by Dondi's antics--as was I in this sometimes fantastical Gatsby-esque tale.
It's Dondi's brother, Matthew, who ends up stealing T's heart--and theirs is a love that is epic. It's kind, it's patient, it's respectful, it's sensual and lovely...it is the kind of love we should all have, and yet most of us only dream of.
This story progresses into the 1980s as these three men (mostly) mature into adulthood and are slotting themselves into life and companionship--forging their way with Thomas-Edward firmly a member of this family as a lover and a best friend to two brothers.
Then...
Let's take a pause.
Do me a favor and think about this time before cell phones, personal computers, and social media, when books didn't have a power button.
The 70's was a stew of upheaval and cultural significance clad in polyester bell-bottoms and earth shoes, mini skirts and go-go boots. This was the Vietnam era, the Nixon/Ford/Carter administrations in the US. There was the energy crisis, economic recession, and lots of unrest around the world. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s began to unravel in the 70s. But, the gay movement took a few huge steps forward with some big names coming out of the closet. It was also "The 'Me' Decade," and I can't help but mention that we also had Disco Fever and the Atari 2600.
Then came the 80s with all its big aqua-net hair, acid-washed, shoulder-padded fluorescence. The economy mostly took a turn for the better, technology advanced, and the Berlin Wall came down. We had boomboxes, the Walkman, and the Commodore 64 for all our personal 8-bit/64 kB RAM computing needs. Unfortunately, advancement in Civil Rights was at a crawl while rights for disabled, homosexuals, and Native Americans were broadened...some.
And HIV and AIDS became a thing--a pandemic that has since taken the lives of nearly 40 million people worldwide.
This. This is where I reached a part of the book were my own vivid memories sidled right up to the story in my hands and proceeded to slice my heart wide open.
It reached in and gutted me.
This book tells the story of love from beginning to an end that never ends, just strengthens, reshapes, and moves forward. It's the story of holding on while letting go and embracing the now while looking ahead but never forgetting the past.
And I umm...
It's taken me some time to still my heart after reading this. Tears keep coming because I'm thinking of the smiles of loved ones lost and whose memories have never left my heart.
I'm a better person for reading it.
{{In memory of R., who made Broadway show tunes sound like hymns; and for J., W., and N., who I'm certain have joined his celestial choir even though none of 'em could carry a tune in a bucket.}}
Also posted on BackPorchReader.com.
November 14, 2019
My god, I don’t even know where to begin. There aren’t words that can capture the depth of my feelings when reading this book.
I first read it a few years ago because someone had recommended it. Somehow, I always seem to read Larry Benjamin’s books while I’m on vacation up in the mountains. For the second year in a row, I was grateful to have picked up one of his when I could have fresh air and space to process it afterward. In this case, I spent most of an afternoon crying (for different reasons) and then trying to explain to my family that my emotional output was over a book.
This time around, I knew what to expect. I also had the exceptional privilege to work behind the scenes, proofreading for the second edition. Nothing I can say here will ever touch the awe I felt at having my fingers on it, even for just a moment.
This is hands down one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, and uplifting books I’ve ever read. It cracked me open, pulled out my heart, and then miraculously pieced me back together.
Like with previous books I’ve read from the author, it’s not necessarily in the story as a whole (though I do love this one) nor in the beautiful, flowing sentences (I love those too). It’s in certain small details, things that resonate for one reason or another.
For example, there’s a point in the narrative when a seemingly everyday action leads to a virtual avalanche, like pulling one brick out of a wall and having it collapse. A loved one of mine was in a very similar precarious position, with a very similar outcome. The first time I read that part, I sat up and gasped because how in the world could someone miles away and in vastly different circumstances know so exactly how I felt?
My life looks very little like the characters in the story. But I don’t believe we need to experience every last thing down to the bone in order to be seen and understood. And that is how I felt when reading this book. It wasn’t in the specifics of the situations but in the emotions and the interactions between the characters.
In my opinion, this book specifically should be read and analyzed by literature students. Not only is it a good lesson in recent history, a microcosm of a particular era, it’s also incredibly well-written. It deserves to be studied in depth.
There isn’t much more I can say because this is a story that needs to be read with fresh eyes and heart. I highly recommend taking an afternoon to do nothing else but read. And make sure to have a box of tissues handy.
For gorgeous prose, emotional catharsis, and hope shining through, I give this 5 stars. (I honestly wish I could give it more...this one definitely was even better the second time around.)
I first read it a few years ago because someone had recommended it. Somehow, I always seem to read Larry Benjamin’s books while I’m on vacation up in the mountains. For the second year in a row, I was grateful to have picked up one of his when I could have fresh air and space to process it afterward. In this case, I spent most of an afternoon crying (for different reasons) and then trying to explain to my family that my emotional output was over a book.
This time around, I knew what to expect. I also had the exceptional privilege to work behind the scenes, proofreading for the second edition. Nothing I can say here will ever touch the awe I felt at having my fingers on it, even for just a moment.
This is hands down one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, and uplifting books I’ve ever read. It cracked me open, pulled out my heart, and then miraculously pieced me back together.
Like with previous books I’ve read from the author, it’s not necessarily in the story as a whole (though I do love this one) nor in the beautiful, flowing sentences (I love those too). It’s in certain small details, things that resonate for one reason or another.
For example, there’s a point in the narrative when a seemingly everyday action leads to a virtual avalanche, like pulling one brick out of a wall and having it collapse. A loved one of mine was in a very similar precarious position, with a very similar outcome. The first time I read that part, I sat up and gasped because how in the world could someone miles away and in vastly different circumstances know so exactly how I felt?
My life looks very little like the characters in the story. But I don’t believe we need to experience every last thing down to the bone in order to be seen and understood. And that is how I felt when reading this book. It wasn’t in the specifics of the situations but in the emotions and the interactions between the characters.
In my opinion, this book specifically should be read and analyzed by literature students. Not only is it a good lesson in recent history, a microcosm of a particular era, it’s also incredibly well-written. It deserves to be studied in depth.
There isn’t much more I can say because this is a story that needs to be read with fresh eyes and heart. I highly recommend taking an afternoon to do nothing else but read. And make sure to have a box of tissues handy.
For gorgeous prose, emotional catharsis, and hope shining through, I give this 5 stars. (I honestly wish I could give it more...this one definitely was even better the second time around.)
August 3, 2022
This tale is about a boy, who meets a boy, and then another boy. It's about fate and the emotional/'gravitational' forces that pull these three lives in circulation together. It's about giving love and being able to receive love. It's about family, friendship, loyalty and 'stickability'. It's about living life to the fullest and being true to oneself. It's about all the above and yet much more.
I loved it - I was moved to tears several times. The three endearing MCs were surrounded by a 'planetary host' of memorable secondary characters - Portia, Phipps, Panther, Pat-Patricia, Leonardo, Lot's Wife ... definitely one of my favorite reads for this year. 5 worthy stars.
I loved it - I was moved to tears several times. The three endearing MCs were surrounded by a 'planetary host' of memorable secondary characters - Portia, Phipps, Panther, Pat-Patricia, Leonardo, Lot's Wife ... definitely one of my favorite reads for this year. 5 worthy stars.
May 24, 2016
For starters, I have to admit I wasn't that keen on the narrator, his bored nasally drawl for Dondi in particular seemed so affected, and there wasn't much variation in his characterisations so that one voice seemed to bleed into another sometimes. Having said that and to be perfectly fair, I would venture a guess that this story was quite difficult to narrate with so many male characters to distinguish between, so Mr Magnus’ narration gets a 3.5/4 from me.
The story however is a different matter – it’s a must read story. I didn't fall ‘in love’ with any of the characters as I normally do. Having lived through that particularly awful period in history, when what seemed to be an entire generation of young gay men were brought to their knees (absolutely no pun intended) by that ruthless killer known as AIDS - well, it’s not something you forget quickly.
I found the writing itself to be theatrical, flamboyant, amazingly descriptive and thoroughly ‘of the moment’, and yes, I do consider Mr Benjamin to be something of a word-smith. I did shed tears at the end. It’s a shame that Dondi seemed to live up to the stereotype that exists when heterosexual people usually think of gay guys…that they’ll f**k anything that moves and has a pulse but I'm here to tell you I knew straight guys like that, so no, it’s just plain old human behaviour. I don’t condone Dondi’s behaviour, but I can understand why he was as he was, and why people were drawn to him. Thomas Edward, black and working class, who was the narrator and principal character of the story, was there for all of them.
As far as the filthy rich Whyte family is concerned, I could honestly only gasp in wonder (read... was gobsmacked, it just boggled the imagination) at the wealth that Dondi and his brothers were surrounded by and took for granted as they grew up, and to discover that each of them – Colin, Matthew and Donovan (Dondi) – was gifted $25 million by their ‘father’ on their 18th birthdays, well it beggars belief that only Dondi went off the rails. I found Colin and Matthew to be pretty level headed all things considered, and you’ll notice I put father in inverted commas….you’ll have to read/listen to the story to get the background details on both Gio and the boys mother, Mrs Whyte (I don’t excuse her viciousness towards Dondi, but I can sort of understand it in a way, given what went on before and the fact that she was duped)…and of course, I did pick up on the line ‘the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree’ when it was uttered. I'm not going into the details of the story any further; you must read it for yourselves…oh, and watch the film ‘The Normal Heart’ , which is also set at the onset of that dreaded plague. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED . This story gets all the stars from me.
[As far as the AIDS conspiracy theories are concerned that are quoted in the story?? Well, I for one certainly believe that they could be true. It makes perfect sense to me that the US government and those higher up the chain of command at the time, reeling as they were from unexpected defeat in the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal with Tricky Dicky and terrified of other truths getting out into the open, would want a scapegoat to blame for their inadequacies, and who better to torment and torture than those ‘damned faggots’?? The African-American population had already had their fair share of bigoted rubbish, and couldn't seriously be expected to put up with any more, so who was next in line – the gay population of course. Right, that’s my rant for today over with.]
April 23, 2012
I don't often review books. They have to be fabulous or moving in some way. I usually let the stars I give them speak for themselves. I have to say something about this book, and yet have no words to give What Binds Us justice.
This book was an afterthought purchase. I bought it on a whim while buying a book I couldn't wait to read. When I opened my Kindle and saw What Binds Us, I opened it just to see the first chapter. I didn't get to the book I couldn't wait to read. Instead, I was drawn into this book and couldn't put it down!
It is told in first person and the narrator of the story, Thomas-Edward has such a vivid and distinct voice. This isn't an M/M romance with it's typical love story and HEA. It is poignant and moving and yet it isn't filled with angst and grit. There is a love story here and it is beautifully told. I knew after a few chapters, and seeing the date this story takes place, what would happen...I knew and yet wasn't prepared for it at all.
The story is great, but the writing is what kept me riveted! Larry Benjamin has such a way with words! Amazing! This is his debut novel and I cannot wait for more!
So, I went to buy a book I couldn't wait to read and found a book I had to read! Now, Larry Benjamin is added to the authors I cannot wait to read!
5++ Stars! Highly recommend!!
This book was an afterthought purchase. I bought it on a whim while buying a book I couldn't wait to read. When I opened my Kindle and saw What Binds Us, I opened it just to see the first chapter. I didn't get to the book I couldn't wait to read. Instead, I was drawn into this book and couldn't put it down!
It is told in first person and the narrator of the story, Thomas-Edward has such a vivid and distinct voice. This isn't an M/M romance with it's typical love story and HEA. It is poignant and moving and yet it isn't filled with angst and grit. There is a love story here and it is beautifully told. I knew after a few chapters, and seeing the date this story takes place, what would happen...I knew and yet wasn't prepared for it at all.
The story is great, but the writing is what kept me riveted! Larry Benjamin has such a way with words! Amazing! This is his debut novel and I cannot wait for more!
So, I went to buy a book I couldn't wait to read and found a book I had to read! Now, Larry Benjamin is added to the authors I cannot wait to read!
5++ Stars! Highly recommend!!
Read
August 20, 2017What a beautiful and unforgettable story of friendship, love and loss. I was left speechless and profoundly moved at the end of this amazing book. As your reading you can kind of predict the outcome but it still caught me off guard and left me sobbing. Usually I won't read a book if I know the ending will be sad but this is something you really need to read to fully understand the depth of love these men have for each other and I'm so glad I did!!!
August 27, 2018
RTF. It would be too easy to see how heartbreaking it is. This is real life with the depths of both its pain and beauty. This author’s books are so powerful. He deserves to be recognized as one of THE best, most talented, most compelling writers of our time. History will look to his books for the truest documentation of the times and pure literature.
August 30, 2012
A wonderfully written book that will stay with me for a very long time, if not for as long as my memory will still serve me.
March 25, 2017
This review will contain mild spoilers. I don't think its too much of a spoiler, because the blurb does hint at it. Such a wonderful book. And so out of character for me to say so, because I usually avoid any book with sadness, and/or death of a loved character. And there is that in this book. This book has all kinds of love, romantic love, family love and love of friends. It is about Dondi Whyte, his brother Matthew, and the man they both love, Thomas Edward. The story spans several years. Told by Thomas Edward who is a writer.
I'm not good at writing reviews, but I want to just recommend this lovely story. Mr Benjamin writes in such a lovely lovely way.
I'm not good at writing reviews, but I want to just recommend this lovely story. Mr Benjamin writes in such a lovely lovely way.
April 4, 2021
Es una historia muy bonita pero contada de una manera tan extraña , totalmente diferente a lo que estamos acostumbrados, que no acabas de saber si te está gustando o no.
La segunda parte es mucho mejor que la primera pero a lo mejor es porque no es tan precipitada y ya conoces a todos los personajes. 3.5*
La segunda parte es mucho mejor que la primera pero a lo mejor es porque no es tan precipitada y ya conoces a todos los personajes. 3.5*
April 14, 2012
This review was originally published on my blog Joyfully Jay
Thomas-Edward and Dondi first meet as roommates when they begin college in 1977. Thomas is encountering the world for the first time outside the loving but somewhat smothering embrace of his family. And he meets Dondi who is in many ways larger than life - gorgeous, sophisticated, dramatic, and wonderful. Dondi is wealthy beyond imagining and lives in a totally different world. Yet the two men become close friends, and over the course of the year, lovers as well.
Thomas loves Dondi fiercely, but when the men return to school after summer vacation, Dondi ends their relationship. Although he loves Thomas, Dondi knows he can never give Thomas the commitment that he deserves. Yet the two remain the best of friends and when summer comes again, Thomas joins Dondi at his family's magnificent summer home on Long Island.
It is there that Thomas meets Dondi's brother Matthew. They are drawn to each other instantly, becoming incredibly close and spending nearly all their time together, especially as Dondi continues his restless wandering and constant whoring. Matthew and Thomas become inseparable, each falling in love with the other but not realizing he is loved in return. When they finally find each other, their love is intense and wonderful. They are so sweet and lovely together, and it is clear that each has met the person for whom they are truly meant. At first Dondi is angry, threatened by their relationship, especially since his feelings for Thomas never really died. But he grows to not only accept, but to fully support the couple when he sees how right they are for one another.
The story follows the three men and their intertwining lives for over a decade. Thomas and Matthew's relationship blossoms and they are deeply and beautifully in love. They move towards domesticity while Dondi continues his life of activity and ever changing men. And yet Dondi is always an integral part of their lives, the three men so close and all loving one another. Their story continues through the happy times, and ultimately through the very sad ones, but the bonds of love between them remain strong, holding them together.
Oh, you guys, this story was so good. Beautiful, emotional, and so lovely. Benjamin writes so beautifully and the story is moving and engaging. I honestly could not put it down and read the entire book in a day. Although it is a nice length novel, the pacing of the story is so quick and lively, moving things along in a way that follows the men through the years without ever feeling slow. It is so lushly romantic and sweet as we see the world through Thomas' eyes. So much of the book revolves around the Whyte family and their world, and he gives us that outside perspective to see them from a distance, while also being such an integral part of their lives.
Benjamin does an amazing job of making the story feel so rooted in the time period. The book takes place in the 70s and 80s and the signs of that era are rooted in everything from the music they listen to, to the way they dress, to where they shop. The book also integrates social and political issues, and the transition from the more free 70s to the harsher realities of the 80s can be felt throughout the book. It is done really wonderfully and enhances the story so nicely.
One of the things I loved about the book is the way it plays with the themes of the sun, the moon, and the earth. Each interconnected, revolving around one another, never being able to exist fully separately. Dondi is the sun, burning brightly, gathering all the attention. He is the heat that others are so attracted to, yet all that energy becomes hard to sustain and if you get too close you are sure to burn. And Thomas sees Matthew as the moon, luminous and glowing and steady. To many the moon is a reflection of the sun, yet to Thomas, Matthew is the center of the world. And Thomas is the earth, more grounded and solid. Each of the three men is caught up in orbit together, each with their different roles and strengths. This idea is introduced in the very start of the book, and Benjamin does a great job of carrying this theme throughout.
Just to be clear (because I think the book blurb is a bit vague), this is not a menage story in any way. Thomas' sexual relationship with Dondi is over before he falls in love with Matthew. And once Matthew and Thomas meet, neither one will ever have eyes for anyone else. Although the three men are incredibly close and emotionally bonded, the true romantic relationship takes place between Thomas and Matthew alone.
So I really loved this story. It felt so sweeping and epic, lush and romantic, and I was totally caught up in the drama of it all. Despite the often poignant story, it never felt weighed down and heavy, and things move along with enough speed to keep it lively even through the more serious parts. This book was such a wonderful surprise and I am so glad I took a chance on it. I really loved this What Binds Us and would highly recommend it.
Thomas-Edward and Dondi first meet as roommates when they begin college in 1977. Thomas is encountering the world for the first time outside the loving but somewhat smothering embrace of his family. And he meets Dondi who is in many ways larger than life - gorgeous, sophisticated, dramatic, and wonderful. Dondi is wealthy beyond imagining and lives in a totally different world. Yet the two men become close friends, and over the course of the year, lovers as well.
Thomas loves Dondi fiercely, but when the men return to school after summer vacation, Dondi ends their relationship. Although he loves Thomas, Dondi knows he can never give Thomas the commitment that he deserves. Yet the two remain the best of friends and when summer comes again, Thomas joins Dondi at his family's magnificent summer home on Long Island.
It is there that Thomas meets Dondi's brother Matthew. They are drawn to each other instantly, becoming incredibly close and spending nearly all their time together, especially as Dondi continues his restless wandering and constant whoring. Matthew and Thomas become inseparable, each falling in love with the other but not realizing he is loved in return. When they finally find each other, their love is intense and wonderful. They are so sweet and lovely together, and it is clear that each has met the person for whom they are truly meant. At first Dondi is angry, threatened by their relationship, especially since his feelings for Thomas never really died. But he grows to not only accept, but to fully support the couple when he sees how right they are for one another.
The story follows the three men and their intertwining lives for over a decade. Thomas and Matthew's relationship blossoms and they are deeply and beautifully in love. They move towards domesticity while Dondi continues his life of activity and ever changing men. And yet Dondi is always an integral part of their lives, the three men so close and all loving one another. Their story continues through the happy times, and ultimately through the very sad ones, but the bonds of love between them remain strong, holding them together.
Oh, you guys, this story was so good. Beautiful, emotional, and so lovely. Benjamin writes so beautifully and the story is moving and engaging. I honestly could not put it down and read the entire book in a day. Although it is a nice length novel, the pacing of the story is so quick and lively, moving things along in a way that follows the men through the years without ever feeling slow. It is so lushly romantic and sweet as we see the world through Thomas' eyes. So much of the book revolves around the Whyte family and their world, and he gives us that outside perspective to see them from a distance, while also being such an integral part of their lives.
Benjamin does an amazing job of making the story feel so rooted in the time period. The book takes place in the 70s and 80s and the signs of that era are rooted in everything from the music they listen to, to the way they dress, to where they shop. The book also integrates social and political issues, and the transition from the more free 70s to the harsher realities of the 80s can be felt throughout the book. It is done really wonderfully and enhances the story so nicely.
One of the things I loved about the book is the way it plays with the themes of the sun, the moon, and the earth. Each interconnected, revolving around one another, never being able to exist fully separately. Dondi is the sun, burning brightly, gathering all the attention. He is the heat that others are so attracted to, yet all that energy becomes hard to sustain and if you get too close you are sure to burn. And Thomas sees Matthew as the moon, luminous and glowing and steady. To many the moon is a reflection of the sun, yet to Thomas, Matthew is the center of the world. And Thomas is the earth, more grounded and solid. Each of the three men is caught up in orbit together, each with their different roles and strengths. This idea is introduced in the very start of the book, and Benjamin does a great job of carrying this theme throughout.
Just to be clear (because I think the book blurb is a bit vague), this is not a menage story in any way. Thomas' sexual relationship with Dondi is over before he falls in love with Matthew. And once Matthew and Thomas meet, neither one will ever have eyes for anyone else. Although the three men are incredibly close and emotionally bonded, the true romantic relationship takes place between Thomas and Matthew alone.
So I really loved this story. It felt so sweeping and epic, lush and romantic, and I was totally caught up in the drama of it all. Despite the often poignant story, it never felt weighed down and heavy, and things move along with enough speed to keep it lively even through the more serious parts. This book was such a wonderful surprise and I am so glad I took a chance on it. I really loved this What Binds Us and would highly recommend it.
March 12, 2016
Carina Press describes this as a "Contemporary Romance," but I actually view it as Literary Fiction that has a love story element. Whatever it is, I do know this is one of the best written novels I've read in a long time. The author has a definite, deft hand with the English language and treats us to such things as "My anger, like the Hindenberg, fell to the ground and burst into flame" and sharp dialogue like, "He always looks so clean" / "It's not that he's clean. I don't think dirt sticks to him."
I'm actually not all that great with typical literary fiction--sometime it's too slow moving for me, which is probably why I tend to prefer mysteries: there's always a driving force keeping the story going. I don't mind a good character study, but sometimes they feel as if they're just meandering and that's when they lose me. I guess I just don't have the temperament to enjoy that sort of writing for pleasure.
Just past the 50% mark of this novel, I was afraid that was going to happen. I found myself wondering what the hell was going on and why I should keep going, even though I liked the characters. It seemed a little unfocused--that's when I had the literary fiction epiphany. Even in a typical romance, all of the angst and will-they-won't-they drama drives the story, but this was very different. In the book, the narrator says, "Often that summer, I would feel as if I'd stumbled into an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel," which is very amusing and self-aware because the whole book reminded me of The Great Gatsby. There was the obvious similarity (which the narrator was referring to) that much of the book took place on a very well-to-do part of Long Island that was incredibly similar to the East and West Eggs of Gatsby. Also, two of the three protagonists were filthy rich and not afraid to spend their money. There were lavish, ridiculous parties and everyone had a personal driver. In addition to that (and it's been a long time since I read Gatsby), the tone felt very Fitzgeraldian to me. I was thinking that even before Thomas made the Fitzgerald comment.
But I kept going past that little lull, and really, in the last third of the book, I didn't at all question whether or not I would finish. The writing is just so good, the characters compelling, and I wanted to see where they'd go. An additional dramatic element is introduced in the final third that really drives the rest of the book, and that helped, I think. I am amazed this is the author's first novel-length work. I'm going to see if I can dig up some of his shorter works. I wonder if they're all as beautifully written.
This is probably a five-star novel, but because literary fic just isn't my thing, I think I have to give it the four. Maybe even a 4.25. If we had a 10-star system, I'd give it a 9. I'll definitely read whatever Larry Benjamin writes next.
I'm actually not all that great with typical literary fiction--sometime it's too slow moving for me, which is probably why I tend to prefer mysteries: there's always a driving force keeping the story going. I don't mind a good character study, but sometimes they feel as if they're just meandering and that's when they lose me. I guess I just don't have the temperament to enjoy that sort of writing for pleasure.
Just past the 50% mark of this novel, I was afraid that was going to happen. I found myself wondering what the hell was going on and why I should keep going, even though I liked the characters. It seemed a little unfocused--that's when I had the literary fiction epiphany. Even in a typical romance, all of the angst and will-they-won't-they drama drives the story, but this was very different. In the book, the narrator says, "Often that summer, I would feel as if I'd stumbled into an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel," which is very amusing and self-aware because the whole book reminded me of The Great Gatsby. There was the obvious similarity (which the narrator was referring to) that much of the book took place on a very well-to-do part of Long Island that was incredibly similar to the East and West Eggs of Gatsby. Also, two of the three protagonists were filthy rich and not afraid to spend their money. There were lavish, ridiculous parties and everyone had a personal driver. In addition to that (and it's been a long time since I read Gatsby), the tone felt very Fitzgeraldian to me. I was thinking that even before Thomas made the Fitzgerald comment.
But I kept going past that little lull, and really, in the last third of the book, I didn't at all question whether or not I would finish. The writing is just so good, the characters compelling, and I wanted to see where they'd go. An additional dramatic element is introduced in the final third that really drives the rest of the book, and that helped, I think. I am amazed this is the author's first novel-length work. I'm going to see if I can dig up some of his shorter works. I wonder if they're all as beautifully written.
This is probably a five-star novel, but because literary fic just isn't my thing, I think I have to give it the four. Maybe even a 4.25. If we had a 10-star system, I'd give it a 9. I'll definitely read whatever Larry Benjamin writes next.
November 10, 2016
This is an epic story of the kind that doesn't come along very often, but stays with you for a long, long time. But what to say that hasn't already been said?
For me, being in the same age-group as the main characters, there was a lot that really resonated, including some very dark memories of the years when, not long after coming out, I used to visit a gay club in the weekends, and would constantly be told stories about so-and-so who was diagnosed with AIDS that week, or someone else who had died of an AIDS-related illness.
It was a horrible time in which it felt like all gay men were doomed. It also formed my attitude to sex in a not so very helpful way, even if it did keep me alive.
But this book is definitely not all doom and gloom; it's about love and relationships and about how people deal in different ways with the things life throws at them. It's also quite funny on occasion: ''Darling, I've had the clap so many times, it's now applause!''
As for the writing, I just love how the language flows, like a little rocky stream, sometimes quietly flowing, sometimes whirling, sometimes racing or moving in unexpected directions or making funny sounds, but always moving on.
It was my first book by Larry Benjamin, but definitely not my last!
For me, being in the same age-group as the main characters, there was a lot that really resonated, including some very dark memories of the years when, not long after coming out, I used to visit a gay club in the weekends, and would constantly be told stories about so-and-so who was diagnosed with AIDS that week, or someone else who had died of an AIDS-related illness.
It was a horrible time in which it felt like all gay men were doomed. It also formed my attitude to sex in a not so very helpful way, even if it did keep me alive.
But this book is definitely not all doom and gloom; it's about love and relationships and about how people deal in different ways with the things life throws at them. It's also quite funny on occasion: ''Darling, I've had the clap so many times, it's now applause!''
As for the writing, I just love how the language flows, like a little rocky stream, sometimes quietly flowing, sometimes whirling, sometimes racing or moving in unexpected directions or making funny sounds, but always moving on.
It was my first book by Larry Benjamin, but definitely not my last!
June 9, 2012
This is an incredibly touching book, with such in-depth characterisation that you will live with this story for a good while after you've finished reading it. The story follows the main character's move away to college, his relationship with his wealthy room-mate and brother and the extraordinary love they share. I can't say much more than this without spoiling the plot, but this is a beautifully told story of love, with all the highs and lows that go with it.
I absolutely loved What Binds Us. It might seem contradictory to say that there were times when I desperately wanted to stop reading it, when I needed to be getting on with all the other things I had to do. However, it was because the more I read, the closer I was to the end and I didn't want it to end. And I'd always thought the phrase 'couldn't put it down' was an overused, vacuous cliche!
I absolutely loved What Binds Us. It might seem contradictory to say that there were times when I desperately wanted to stop reading it, when I needed to be getting on with all the other things I had to do. However, it was because the more I read, the closer I was to the end and I didn't want it to end. And I'd always thought the phrase 'couldn't put it down' was an overused, vacuous cliche!
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