Review of Love All the Way
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Review of Love All the Way
[Following is a volunteer review of "Love All the Way" by Aurora Carafa.]
Think of a hand-woven quilt with intricate designs and colors coming together to make one beautiful, comforting and unique blanket. That is what comes to mind when reading this book. The affections, relationships, and unconditional love are woven together with loyalty and companionship. Love All the Way is probably one of the saddest, most emotional books I've ever read.
Melanie Foster saves Allen Shandi one night from getting beaten by a stranger because he is gay. It was 1972 when gay men were always a target of hate crimes. Very quickly, they develop a bond of friendship and love that runs deeper than any of them could imagine. She moves into Allen's penthouse and designs women's fashion with him. Melanie falls unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Allen, knowing he will never reciprocate her feelings. When Allen gets diagnosed with an illness, their bond grows deeper. She learns what it means to love all the way and unconditionally. Allen has the most beautiful soul, soft and kind. It is a true reminder that sickness doesn't choose according to personality. The characters in the book make sacrifices and learn what it means to be completely selfless.
Aurora Carafa makes me wish I had a friend like Allen. His soft nature, zest for life, and positivity come through in dialogues. He makes the reader feel motivated to strive for such qualities. A speech therapist shows up and openly criticizes their unconventional way of living. Melanie loses her temper. Allen's reaction is a stark reminder that there is always a different way to handle or treat biased people, maybe even to the extent that you can use it as an opportunity to change their minds. The characters in the book talk to each other with love, affection, and respect, something we can all learn to do. I also absolutely loved the humorous bits in the book, right down to the intimacy between Allan and Mel. His lack of knowledge of being with a female was quite funny and enjoyable.
Another teachable aspect was the ways all the characters created for Allen to remember and cherish the good times. The photo album and letters from everyone that knows him are excellent tools for anyone to use when losing loved ones through a long illness. I wish I had had this clever idea when my brother-in-law died from colon cancer. Another positive aspect of this book is that the author gives legitimate, newsworthy bits regarding homosexuality throughout the book. My favorite is that the American Psychiatric Association decided that homosexuality was not a mental illness.
This book is so intertwined with goodness, kindness, love, companionship, loyalty, selfless devotion, unconditional love, sacrifice, and consideration, that one can honestly not pick up on anything negative about or in this book. I recommend this book to anyone from 18 years that does not have prejudices regarding sexuality and loves a heart-warming romance. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because of the beautiful story of love and lots of teachable moments. The story left me with a bittersweet smile.
******
Love All the Way
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Think of a hand-woven quilt with intricate designs and colors coming together to make one beautiful, comforting and unique blanket. That is what comes to mind when reading this book. The affections, relationships, and unconditional love are woven together with loyalty and companionship. Love All the Way is probably one of the saddest, most emotional books I've ever read.
Melanie Foster saves Allen Shandi one night from getting beaten by a stranger because he is gay. It was 1972 when gay men were always a target of hate crimes. Very quickly, they develop a bond of friendship and love that runs deeper than any of them could imagine. She moves into Allen's penthouse and designs women's fashion with him. Melanie falls unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Allen, knowing he will never reciprocate her feelings. When Allen gets diagnosed with an illness, their bond grows deeper. She learns what it means to love all the way and unconditionally. Allen has the most beautiful soul, soft and kind. It is a true reminder that sickness doesn't choose according to personality. The characters in the book make sacrifices and learn what it means to be completely selfless.
Aurora Carafa makes me wish I had a friend like Allen. His soft nature, zest for life, and positivity come through in dialogues. He makes the reader feel motivated to strive for such qualities. A speech therapist shows up and openly criticizes their unconventional way of living. Melanie loses her temper. Allen's reaction is a stark reminder that there is always a different way to handle or treat biased people, maybe even to the extent that you can use it as an opportunity to change their minds. The characters in the book talk to each other with love, affection, and respect, something we can all learn to do. I also absolutely loved the humorous bits in the book, right down to the intimacy between Allan and Mel. His lack of knowledge of being with a female was quite funny and enjoyable.
Another teachable aspect was the ways all the characters created for Allen to remember and cherish the good times. The photo album and letters from everyone that knows him are excellent tools for anyone to use when losing loved ones through a long illness. I wish I had had this clever idea when my brother-in-law died from colon cancer. Another positive aspect of this book is that the author gives legitimate, newsworthy bits regarding homosexuality throughout the book. My favorite is that the American Psychiatric Association decided that homosexuality was not a mental illness.
This book is so intertwined with goodness, kindness, love, companionship, loyalty, selfless devotion, unconditional love, sacrifice, and consideration, that one can honestly not pick up on anything negative about or in this book. I recommend this book to anyone from 18 years that does not have prejudices regarding sexuality and loves a heart-warming romance. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because of the beautiful story of love and lots of teachable moments. The story left me with a bittersweet smile.
******
Love All the Way
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Easter Make Believers by Finn Bell
