The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion

The Woodcarver’s Model
By Peter E. Fenton
Pride Publishing 2022
Four stars

Rob Hanson is a man searching the world for adventure, until he stumbles across a magical place more or less in his own back yard. Mitch Carcross is a young woodcarver who found a haven in that same unspoiled place, working with his hands to help him heal from neglect and abuse.

Peter Fenton fills this classic, angsty romance with vivid characters and idiosyncratic situations. While the denizens of Marsh Island play an important role as guardians and allies, they’re not the only colorful characters—particularly Estelle, Rob’s agent, and Karen, his longtime best friend.

Ultimately, Rob the adventure travel writer is running away from happiness because he somehow feels he doesn’t deserve it. By contrast, Marshall is hiding from happiness thinking that his sheltering community is all he has the right to hope for.

For a USA citizen like me, this book also gives a nice overview of a large chunk of Canada, reminding me of that country’s vastness and geographic beauty. I love Toronto, and have had high tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria—but of course, Canada is a great deal more than that. For Rob and Mitch (and like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz), it turns out that “there’s no place like home” is more than just a cliché.