In Review BY: JJVEGA “Love Together” by Tim Clausen tells the real life story of 100 same-sex male longtime couples, their relationships, and their experiences with love. In seeking positive role models in male-to-male relationships, author Tim Clausen, embarks on a voyeuristic exploration of how love, relationships, respect, emotional and sexual fulfillment play a role among couples by asking them 26 very personal questions. Through their different journeys, the couples from the U.S., Canada and Costa Rica, share their different points of views of what love means and the person they are sharing life with. It’s an interesting dance to see how the men interviewed have such unique paths, and how their differences, offer an all too similar perspective for the readers. I noticed the cover has pictures of couples and wonder if the pictures had been placed on the individual stories, if that would have made the reader connect more with the couples. At times, I felt the couples’ stories overpowered the impact of the book, but it is most likely due to not being able to visualize and connect with the individuals. I wonder if the original intent of the author was to keep the readers detached so each reader could envision his own relationship while learning from the couples in the book. Love Together showcases same-sex male couples who are in successful long-term relationships and prepares new couples to deal with a wide variety of topics, such as: finances, property, death, legal matters, spiritual/religious beliefs, sexual exploration, and raising children.
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“The Holy Mark, The Tragedy of a Fallen Priest” by Gregory Alexander is a novel that explores the life of Father Tony as he embarks on a path to priesthood, which is not the profession he would have chosen for himself; instead this is the wish of his grandmother. When Tony was born, his grandmother noticed a birthmark on his head and she “realized” this birthmark was God’s way to anoint this newborn on the path to priesthood, which caused jealousy among his Italian family members because of the special place in his grandmother’s heart. Father Tony realizes he can fulfill his life’s purpose by ministering and mentoring young men, while feeding his sexual desires to feel physically close to them and ‘keeping momentums’ of the boys, which are acquired without their permission or knowledge. The psychological journey of Father Tony’s internal battle between his purpose in life to serve his community and his sexual desires, can probably be traced to his male cousin, make this novel a wicked journey that readers, although they may disagree with his actions, might allow themselves to feel pity for him. The church, as a punishment, transfers him to different roles in different locations, but this just helps Father Tony to continue to explore his sexual desires. The personal struggles he endures, their punishments and transfers, actually assist him to continue his personal struggle. Father Tony always seems to finds away to respond to his call no matter how isolated he is from others. The inner struggle is also felt by the reader, who may not know whether to put the book down or keep reading, but the Author asks everyone to keep an open mind.
Connextions Magazine
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Travel Lite
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August 2015