The Distance Between Us

Any classical music lover should find pure enjoyment in this book. I found Yates to be exquisitely talented at creating a sense of character, place, time -- this book reaches so many senses. 'The Distance Between Us' offers every emotion ranging from funny/witty [Hester's acerbic tongue is a 'stand alone performance!'], poignant, moments of outright sobbing, wisdom, insight -- you name it, it's here! I found several parts especially touching. When Hester fully realizes & expresses the depth of her feelings towards Arthur, I was was so moved that I kept reading these passages over & over. Fragile Jeremy steals the heart. Then, of course, there is this glorious music pulsating from almost every page. [What a quartet/quintet these characters are!!] I could picture, as well as hear Hester at her piano, Arthur playing the violin, Paul on the cello, etc. Then, there is, what I refer to as, the 'joy in life' moment -- I trust that any 'baby-boomer plus' will totally relate to this. I must admit that the Boccherini/Manilow connection, this had me reeling, 'hooked' me! Yes, indeed, gratitude, humility, forgiveness & more -- are a must! Pity Caitlin, at least, for the time being... Moms & Dads out there should heed some advice on the potential damage we may [hopefully, not] inflict. Beware of your expectations! Highly recommended reading.

I have maybe 25 pages left and I just don't want this book to end! I have read, and fallen in love with, his other two novels, and this one just the same. The book is told from the first person point of view of a 70+ year old Hester. How would a 26 year old (me) be able to connect with her? Brilliant storytelling and witty insights and dialogue that make this a real page-turner. I first read Bart Yates' other books because they were gay fiction and I had no idea what to expect with this book. But I think I like this one even more than his first two. Maybe I just love dysfunctional family type books, because that is definitely what this family is. Poor Hester. She messes up so much, despite trying to be good. I dread finishing this book. It will be like saying goodbye to these characters that I have grown to love over the past few weeks (yes, despite being a page-turner, I have been forcing myself to slowly turn those pages). I can only say that I can't want to see what this guy comes up with next!

OK, I get all the haters who are pissed that Bart didn't "deliver" another over-the-top gay book. You're right. No arguments. What we get instead is an author stretching his wings. Sure, the content is different... sure it's not stereotypical or predictable... but, for crissakes, this is Yates we're talking about. He's never given his readers an easy book, mostly 'cuz he knows you're all smarter than that. Yeah, TDBWU is a different direction, a different story, but ultimately, it's all Yates. And Lord, the man can still rock a story. This is a guy stretching his wings, don't clip them. Read this book. The writing is top notch, the characters--despite their awful and too human tendencies--are real. Yates doesn't sugarcoat, but we're a a better reading public for it.

I just finished this book, and as a warning, I should start off by saying that the first person narative is a bit off-putting at first. However, once you get into the book, it is hard to put down. I started it several hours ago, and just finished it now. In between I cried more times than I can recall (granted, I have been prone to crying lately, but I cannot imagine reading this book without falling pray to such emotions). Read this book with caution, it tugs at many emotions you didn't know you were grappling with at the time, but read it. It is well worth the investment.

Alex, a shy, gay college student, answered an ad for an apartment to rent in a stately old house near school in the small river town of Bolton, Illinois. Alex thinks his potential landlady, frail-looking but feisty 70-something Hester Donovan, a former concert pianist now separated from her violinist husband, estranged from her two living adult children, and living alone in that big three story house, is a bit of a hoot, with her sarcastic, dry sense of humor and habit of saying exactly what is on her mind. He decides to take the apartment, and the two of them gradually become familiar with each others' past life, although both have secrets they don't wish the other to know, quite yet. He learns that one of her sons committed suicide, and that her other children, Caitlan (who happens to be his writing professor at the college) and Paul (a musician, like his parents), somehow blame her for the death. Meanwhile, her husband Arthur, who left her for a younger woman with whom they had both worked at the music school adjacent to the college, is threatening to take the house away from her. Her son, Paul, seems to have a particular problem with Alex living there, as evidenced by the scene he made when he came to the house in an alcoholic rage, demanding that Hester evict him. In his previous works, "Leave Myself Behind" and "The Brothers Bishop," Yates has established himself as a master of telling a story carried by unique but realistic, strong characters, and that is even more evident in this totally engrossing novel about how stunted communication and petty jealousies can turn a loving family into a highly dysfunctional one. With most of the story told in flashbacks (a strategy I usually don't favor, but it works remarkably well in Yates' skilled hands here), we become privy to the loving relationship the family once had with each other, and exactly how this evolved to the point where none of the four survivors wanted anything to do with each other. It's an amazing, emotional journey for Hester and her family, as well as for Alex, and much recommended. Five bold stars out of five!