Review of Stolid

[Kinjal V Shah]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Stolid" by Aaron D Key.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Stolid. The author, Aaron D Key, has rightfully named the title of the book and the protagonist. The nature of the protagonist stands true to his name. All his life, he has been on the constant quest of staying true to his name. This is his story. Set in the background of beautiful countryside, the protagonist narrates his story to a mysterious young man. The story is narrated in flashbacks as well as in the present time of the narrator.

The story starts with Stolid meeting a young man on a rainy day and they reminisce over Stolid’s life. The flashbacks are that of his past relationships with men older in age than his. His relationship with his partners, Joseph and Johnathan, taught him many virtues and lessons, that shaped him to be the best version of himself he is. Joseph himself was struggling with his identity and his father’s unacceptance. Jonathan, on the other hand, came at a later stage in his life. Jonathan’s life centered more on his work and his friends.

The best part about the book for me was the musings of the protagonist. That helped me relate more with the protagonist and understand him better. He never aimed for “perfection”. He is comfortable in his skin. There have been times when things did not go according to his will, but he never let that affect his relationship and was always empathetic. The best quality about the protagonist that is of virtue is his self-respect and his integrity. He never let himself down or his partner for that matter. Nature was explicitly described which gave a feeling of a sense of calmness and tranquility, as if one was present there, at that place, physically. All the other characters had a vital or minimal role to play in the development of Stolid’s character.

I would rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. It is very well edited with exceptionally described scenarios. The language is simple and understandable without very complex vocabulary. Also, the protagonist has a very strong character. He never hesitated about what he felt. Such clarity of heart and mind had me hooked, and the eagerness to find out the mysterious young man was the bonus.

This book is a good and mellow read and would appease more avid fictional readers. It can be considered a romance genre, but not a traditional romantic read. That is what makes it different.

******
Stolid
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon