Halfway Home

by Paul Monette

Paperback, 2003

Status

Available

Call number

PS3563 .O523 H35 1991

Genres

Collection

LGBTQ Iowa Archives & LIbrary

Publication

Kensington Publishing (2003), Edition: Reprint, 384 pages

Description

Tom tried everything to get away from the world--but it had a way of getting back to him When Tom was diagnosed with AIDS, he thought of it as a death sentence. His life was effectively over. He packed up everything and moved to a beach house in California. There, he could live out what remained of his life in peace. His landlord was kind, understanding--and interested in him romantically. Tom had found the safe haven he sought. That is, until his brother, Brian, reappeared in his life. Brian's shady business connections back home have him and his family on the run. With him are his homophobic wife, Susan, and his son, Daniel, who has never met his uncle. Thrown into an explosive situation, Tom and his family struggle to become closer. But when Brian's dirty dealings follow him to California and threaten the lives of the entire family, the bond between the two brothers is put to the test. Paul Monette displays a keen awareness of family dynamics as he explores coming out, life-threatening illness, and the lifelong consequences of brotherly conflicts. Halfway Home is a novel about anger and reconciliation, love and danger. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Paul Monette including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the Paul Monette papers of the UCLA Library Special Collections.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member whitewavedarling

A perfect balance of humor and drama, this novel is one that proves to be as powerful as it is entertaining. From the first chapter, I was so wrapped up in the characters and the twists of the story that I had difficulty putting it down for even minutes at a time. At moments, you think the subplots

and development are easily predicted, and Monette's flawless storytelling then surprises you again. Admittedly, there are moments in the beginning where it seems like Monette might veer toward a character trait or twist for shock value, or in a turn of didacticism, but those early moments are entirely passed by once the characters begin to become more clear and the plot pick up. Certainly, this book isn't for every reader, but I'd like to think that it should be, and so I recommend it whole-heartedly--it should be read. There's little doubt in my mind that this might end up being my favorite read of the year, and that the engagement and power here make it a book to be reread and remembered at large. Absolutely recommended.

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