The Blind Season: Common Threads in the Life [Paperback]

Ronald Donaghe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 2001

"Ronald L. Donaghe continues his series with a novel that excels both as a family and an action drama. Five years after the events of the novel Common Sons, young lovers Tom and Joel decide to start a family. The struggles they face come from unexpected sources, keeping readers guessing at the next obstacles or solutions. Donaghe delivers what should become a classic of gay literature."-Duane Simolke, author of The Acorn StoriesIn The Blind Season, the sequel to the best-selling novel Common Sons, Joel and his husband, Tom, decide to start a family. Knowing that two gay men will never be able to adopt, Joel and Tom decide to find a surrogate mother to carry their child. What they find is a lot more than they bargained for.Sharon Minninger, a beautiful and determined runaway from a Mennonite community near Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico, offers to carry their child. Her influence has more impact on their lives than the couple could ever have imagined.Joel and Tom discover that the backlash of their decision to be fathers is much worse than expected. They are unprepared for the venomous reaction from some of the less open-minded citizens of the small southwestern New Mexico town. Luckily, the two men have powerful allies in the battle over their child.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

THE BLIND SEASON is the second of a four-book series entitled "Common Threads in the Life," by author Ronald L. Donaghe. The entire series is made up of these titles best read in this order: Common Sons, The Blind Season, The Salvation Mongers, and The Gathering (scheduled to be published in 2002).

From the Author

It's my pleasure to finally publish The Blind Season. Fans of best-selling Common Sons have been waiting for this book for a decade.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse Star (June 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595189768
• ISBN-13: 978-0595189762
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,045,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars continuing their story, January 31, 2002

By 

J. Hertwig "Jim Hertwig" (Plano, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Blind Season: Common Threads in the Life (Paperback)

This book continues the love story of Joel and Tom which Ron began in "Common Sons". It's so wonderful to see the two of them in love, strengthening their relationship, and starting a family with their birth daughter(that's pretty interesting!!!) I'm hoping that Ron can continue their lives for those of us fans who need to know more. But he'll have a fantasy series coming out soon, "Twilight of the Gods", beginning with Cinatis, that also looks fantastic. Can't wait.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whatever happened to Tom and Joel?, March 28, 2004

By 

Johnny (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blind Season: Common Threads in the Life (Paperback)

Ron Donaghe's second installment following "Common Sons" in The Common Threads in the Life series, picks up with "The Blind Season." The story continues five years afer we've left Joel and Tom in "Common Sons." Joel, never one to accept other people's ideas of what he should or shouldn't do, or what he can or cannot have as a homosexual man living an openly homosexual life, once agains follows his heart. In the process he upsets a lot of people, shocks many more, and creates a lot of division within the town of Common, New Mexico, where he lives. Donaghe's setting for this story is once again the New Mexican desert. His vivid descriptions of the New Mexican landscape come from the heart, and his love for the the setting is evident, serving only to enhance the story.

Without giving away too many details, suffice it to say that Joel finds a way to fulfill his dream of becoming a father, raising a family, and leading a life no different from anyone else's with the man he loves.
Donaghe's story is a testament to listening to one's own heart, rather than to others' and about following one's dreams and making them reality, no matter how many people tell you "you can't." It's a statement about the rights--regrettably, rights that need to be fought for--of gay men to have what most people take for granted.
For those who first met Tom and Joel in "Common Sons," and want to know what became of them, I highly recommend "The Blind Season." Donaghe's writing style is riveting, easy on the senses, and draws the reader in from the beginning.
This book is a great follow-up to "Common Sons."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Donaghe!, October 10, 2001

By 

Rogue Elf (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blind Season: Common Threads in the Life (Paperback)

We are fortunate to learn more about the characters introduced to us in Common Sons - Tom Allen-Reece and Joel Reece. This time they want to be parents, yes gay parents, and the year is not 2001 but 1970 - a totally different mind set! Ronald Donaghe weaves quite the tale when old characters return and new arrive. Even though the characters are in their 20's, I can identify with what they are going through because unfortunately some people's opinion of gays has not changed since the 70's.
The story picks up five years after Common Sons ends and we witness as we see characters change, Tom and Joel's relationship get even stronger. This novel includes many real life situations that people can identify with whether gay or straight. Just when you think that you know what is going to happen, Donaghe surprises you! I couldn't put it down, as soon as I finished I began the next volume in the series - The Salvation Mongers! Run, do not walk to get a copy of this novel. A message to Mr. Donaghe: Please finish The Gathering ASAP because I want to read it yesterday!