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The Dove Keeper #1
The Dove Keeper
Thomas is a seventeen-year-old who doesn't want to grow up and has little aspirations for anything beyond standing outside the local liquor store and getting drunk. But when he meets Bernard, the old, aging, and well known fag artist, he is offered something he cannot turn down.
626 pages, ebook
First published June 10, 2008
56 people are currently reading
2474 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Deshane
29 books46 followersEvelyn Deshane aka Evelyn Francis aka Emily James Ray.
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I’m Evelyn Deshane, although the first book was published under the name emily james ray. I’m a twenty-four year old graduate student working on a Master Thesis in Public Texts with a focus on transgender narratives. I wrote The Dove Keeper when I was eighteen, then tried to forget about it, only to come back later on and realize it was still being read. Though my work now mostly focuses on my thesis research and then obtaining PhD, I still love these characters immensely and wrote the sequel The Rainbow in the winter of 2012. I’m neurotic and overly sentimental. (from http://thedovekeeper.com/about)
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I’m Evelyn Deshane, although the first book was published under the name emily james ray. I’m a twenty-four year old graduate student working on a Master Thesis in Public Texts with a focus on transgender narratives. I wrote The Dove Keeper when I was eighteen, then tried to forget about it, only to come back later on and realize it was still being read. Though my work now mostly focuses on my thesis research and then obtaining PhD, I still love these characters immensely and wrote the sequel The Rainbow in the winter of 2012. I’m neurotic and overly sentimental. (from http://thedovekeeper.com/about)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Want to read
September 15, 2015free version with Frank & Gerard
June 27, 2016
To summarize what I'm about to say in one short sentence: This book is life-changing.
I had already read the first few chapters of this book on the internet with Gerard and Frank so I could decide whether it was going to be worth buying or not. I bought it.
The thing about this book is that a lot of people don't like the idea of it because of Thomas and Bernard's age difference. This book will change your view on that. It changes your views on a lot of things. It makes you think differently, feel differently and it will make your life better. I wrote all of Bernard's lessons down on a bit of paper and I now follow his teachings. I don't watch TV now or spend more than half an hour on my laptop at a time. I study properly for school because I want to get out of it quickly so I can leave and do what makes me happy. I appreciate the smaller things in life and am starting not to take things for granted. I'm always trying to do creative things and it makes me so happy that I could cry.
This book, as well as helping you in life, is generally a really heart-wrenching story. I literally did not want to put it down ever and when I finished it, my god, tears were cascading down my face likes waterfalls of emotion. It is funny, witty as hell, sad, frustrating and so wonderful.
Bernard is the only fictional character I have come across that I don't really think I can stand not being a real person. I feel empty when I think that he's not painting in Paris, waiting for Thomas to come and see him. I want to find a Bernard in this world. Just one. Then I'll be happy.
This has become my favorite book of all time. My old one used to be The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and that one is quite close but nothing will beat this one. Ever.
If you think that your life needs more meaning, or you want to feel better about most things in general, read this book. I owe my happiness mostly to Bernard and Thomas, two fictional characters who I'm never going to meet and that breaks my heart. The closest person I have to thank is Evelyn. Thank you, with all my being. Thank you.
I had already read the first few chapters of this book on the internet with Gerard and Frank so I could decide whether it was going to be worth buying or not. I bought it.
The thing about this book is that a lot of people don't like the idea of it because of Thomas and Bernard's age difference. This book will change your view on that. It changes your views on a lot of things. It makes you think differently, feel differently and it will make your life better. I wrote all of Bernard's lessons down on a bit of paper and I now follow his teachings. I don't watch TV now or spend more than half an hour on my laptop at a time. I study properly for school because I want to get out of it quickly so I can leave and do what makes me happy. I appreciate the smaller things in life and am starting not to take things for granted. I'm always trying to do creative things and it makes me so happy that I could cry.
This book, as well as helping you in life, is generally a really heart-wrenching story. I literally did not want to put it down ever and when I finished it, my god, tears were cascading down my face likes waterfalls of emotion. It is funny, witty as hell, sad, frustrating and so wonderful.
Bernard is the only fictional character I have come across that I don't really think I can stand not being a real person. I feel empty when I think that he's not painting in Paris, waiting for Thomas to come and see him. I want to find a Bernard in this world. Just one. Then I'll be happy.
This has become my favorite book of all time. My old one used to be The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and that one is quite close but nothing will beat this one. Ever.
If you think that your life needs more meaning, or you want to feel better about most things in general, read this book. I owe my happiness mostly to Bernard and Thomas, two fictional characters who I'm never going to meet and that breaks my heart. The closest person I have to thank is Evelyn. Thank you, with all my being. Thank you.
Want to read
July 7, 2012This was originally an intensely beautiful fanfiction. I read it first on LiveJournal and was disappointed when it was taken down. I'm shocked to see it here, under the same title and description, but with different character names. My congratulations to the author for getting it published.
Read
February 6, 2023THIS IS THE WORST BOOK IVE EVER READ !!! LOTS OF GROOMING AND UNDERAGE S*X!!!! DO NOT READ! IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOU LIKE GERARD AND FRANK!!! go read something like a splitting of the mind on wattpad!!!!! bye
Read
March 9, 2025Oh come on, it's obvious we've read it because of Frerard. Anyway, that book is a piece of art.
June 26, 2018
I read the fan fiction version of this– barely got half-way through it then the website said it had gotten taken down. It upset me. Then I managed to find it again on a different website and was able to finish it. I fell in love with this author's writing style. It was amazing and took my breath away. I absolutely adored it.
Read
February 19, 2013It was such a wonderful book. It made me have so many emotions all at once, but I definitely taught me life lessons
May 15, 2020
I am absolutely in love with this book, even though I had to read the fan fiction version because I could not locate the original book anywhere. It is a beautiful and life changing story that taught me so much about art and dreams. This is during coronavirus times and I'm under quarantine just like everyone else, but this book gave me the best escape I can ask for. Does anyone know where to download a PDF version of this book or where to purchase a paperback version? I would really appreciate it.
August 25, 2012
I read the Frank/Gerard version and it was an amazing read. I thought this piece was perfect. This story has definitely left me in tears and inspired to me to get back into art. One of my favorites!
Want to read
November 2, 2014.
October 12, 2024
The Dove Keeper is the story based on Josephus's historical record of a group of Jews in AD 70 who are driven from Palestine, who wander through the Judaean desert, and seize a remote fortress which history calls the Masada - a palace built by King Herod. It is the story of four strong women, each with their own resilient, but tragic journeys. It is a tale told in Biblical parlance, full of great evil, sorrow, wisdom, and compassion. Hoffman gives a detailed picture of life of the difficulties for women at this place in history. And though I had to put it down for a while, I eventually saw it to its conclusion. Hoffman is a master storyteller, and I wonder at the writer who could sit with this story for years on end - what it must have taken out of her. It is long and difficult story, though worthy of the read. As in all of Hoffman’s writing, I was amazed at the depth of its tragic beauty.
March 17, 2025
Fue una buena lectura, Gerard es alguien inteligente que sabe sobre la vida y lo demuestra, pero tal vez las edades no te agraden cuando lo leas, ¡Sólo es un aviso!
Aún así, si pudiera cambiar ese hecho, estaría mucho mejor y realmente es una buena historia. Aún así, si estás leyendo esto, prepara los pañuelos porque vas a llorar ríos y vas a amar los capítulos.
Aún así, si pudiera cambiar ese hecho, estaría mucho mejor y realmente es una buena historia. Aún así, si estás leyendo esto, prepara los pañuelos porque vas a llorar ríos y vas a amar los capítulos.
July 13, 2017
Takes a while to get into the story, but when I read the first discussion question, I became more focused on the stories of the 4 women.
The historical background throughout the novel was a wonderful learning lesson.
The historical background throughout the novel was a wonderful learning lesson.
March 17, 2019
Ok, then lost interest
Want to read
October 9, 2019Does anyone know where to get a copy of this book? Please help, I really want a copy
May 18, 2021
The blueprint for a dark academia romance
Read
April 20, 2022long but interesting - i enjoyed and would recommend
Read
December 8, 2025Altro grande fantasma del mio passato.
March 16, 2017
I listened to this book on tape. The narrators were excellent ( something you don't always find on a CD!). The story moves slowly but does not drag. As I listened to their stories unfold I was drawn to the 4 main characters and their story. It was a very compelling look into that part of our world during that time frame. I would definitely recommend.
December 28, 2012
I enjoyed this book very much. I thought it was a bit slow at the beginning, but really picked up when Frank started visiting Gerald's apartment on a regular basis. The author did a fantastic job of evoking the feelings of a seventeen year old youth. I didn't think I would be so taken with the sexual and emotional relationship between a 47 year old man and a 17 year old boy. The author actually made it quite believable. In general the whole story was quite lovely. A couple of the chapters near the end of the story were pretty long and I think could have been shortened without adversely affecting the story. But that is my only complaint...that at times the author got a bit bogged down with all the philosophical stuff that Frank was learning and thinking about. This story made me cry in several places. This doesn't happen to me too often. I recommend this book and look forward to reading about what happens to Frank and I hope to read about Gerard too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2016
This truly was a work of art. The writing was so mesmerizing that I could feel the emotions practically pouring out of pages. I also believe that this work needs to especially be read by people who normally don’t read about homosexuality because it captures the kind of passion that society deems unworthy of normalcy from these kinds of relationships, but more importantly it illustrates the kinds of superficial bigotry than many people still have in our society.
This was just so so beautiful, although a little too long and slow in places, but definitely worth the read because I felt like I had become a better person after reading it.
This was just so so beautiful, although a little too long and slow in places, but definitely worth the read because I felt like I had become a better person after reading it.
April 22, 2013
Most definitely one of the best stories I have ever read and arguably the most inspiring. The authors analogies of art in relation to life captures feelings and thoughts I had never been able to find words to describe before. This book has blown me away. I will keep this story with me forever. To the author I say thank you a thousand times.
May 9, 2015
I still cry when I think about this story. I of course read the Frank/Gerard version and am begging my parents to get me the physical copy. The morals of the story is so beautiful and heart-breaking, and it really puts what love and art is in a different perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I'd buy everyone a copy if I could.
February 29, 2012
what an intense book with many twists and turns......the character's where well developed you could not help but get absorbed in there lives and time in which they lived.....I highly recommend this book!
March 14, 2012
best book I have read in a long time
March 28, 2012
favorite book ever! <3
April 23, 2012
An amazing read. The strength of womanhood is celebrated in this novel.
May 31, 2012
Very interesting to go so far back in time. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 10, 2012
Loved the book until the end! It could have ended more powerful than it did. But I love old/history fiction stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews