Customer Reviews

Common Sons

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book will upset people whose childhood included rejection by their parents or their classmates. It will upset people who think everyone should look, think, and act alike. It will even upset people who know the satisfaction of treating everyone with dignity and respect. In other words, this book will disturb countless readers. Why? Because Ronald Donaghe offers such an honest and detailed look at two boys who fall in love with each other in a staunchly anti-gay New Mexico town.

Despite the novel's many portrayals of negative and even violent responses to the love between Tom and Joel, Donaghe delivers an ultimately inspiring tale of how two people can overcome the obstacles that could deter their happiness and honesty. This book can give hope to the many gays who still fear being themselves, and it can give hope to the many older gays who worry that their young counterparts will always face nothing but hatred and violence. But its appeal isn't limited to gays; nongays might read it to understand people who are different from themselves, or just because they like reading a well-written and exciting novel.

A hundred people will find 100 different things when they read the same book, and that's the case with "Common Sons." Some see it as a coming-out book. That's true, but it features a mature relationship. Some say this book's a love story; that's true too, but it's also a humane and affecting commentary on the often negative role of religion in people's lives. Joel, the protagonist, has developed his own set of values and beliefs that go beyond a narrow code. Most people find this book well-written; at times it is, but it drags badly in the middle, as I lost all patience with Tom. When he gets his act together, the book takes off again and soars higher than before, with a reflective scene at a funeral that's plain writerly art. To me, what makes this book a must-have is the character of Joel, one of the most original and charismatic figures ever to appear in Gay literature. This young man is sturdy, physical, masculine (though he cries easily), determined, responsible, self-confident and full of love. Where else can you find such a quiet hero, but on a farm near the mountains in New Mexico, in "Common Sons"? He's unforgettable, a whole new kind of desert star.

This story was simple, yet the issue was quite complex. It focused on two young men, Joel and Tom, who fall in love. Naturally, two males falling in love is never simple, and the complexity stemmed from one's refusal to accept his sexuality. Plus, there was parental disapproval. And frowns from a close-minded, gossipy community.

The story unfolds in the town of Common, and Common is as much a character as its inhabitants. Writer Ronald Donaghe took readers to Common, giving them a tour of the city, and its beautiful scenery and fresh air, and introducing the narrow-minded citizens who would never accept two men loving each other.

Donaghe also does a delightfully fabulous job of torturing the reader, by keeping Tom and Joel apart for quite a stretch. There were missed phone calls and disapproving parents. And when the two guys finally came together, it took my breath away.

They deserved it. They suffered for it. And I rooted for them. The common sons were not characters, but they were people who became caught up in a situation that is far more common than some people realize or are even prepared to admit.

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Common Sons by Ronald Donaghe is an awesome novel that allows you to look back in your life when you could identify with the characters. Joel Reece is a star boxer at the high school, he gets along well with his parents and is a farmer. Tom Allen, a son of a minister, is the epitome of obedience to his father and God, and quite the scholar. What do these two young men have in common? They are both gay and in love - with each other. The way Mr. Donaghe weaves the plot between the two boys and the people of Common is magical. You will laugh, you will cry and you will get angry. This is how life is, the author pulls no punches in this novel. The best news yet is the fact that there is a sequel! Thank you for an awesome book, Ronald L. Donaghe!

Common Sons is the first novel in the remarkable Common Threads in the Life series by accomplished author Ronald L. Donaghe. It takes place on the Reece farm in the middle of a New Mexican desert, near the Florida Mountains in a small town called Common. Joel Reece is a courageous seventeen year old who is not afraid to fight for what he believes. Joel discovers the name for what he is and learns first hand about hatred and discrimination. Homosexuality was believed to be "a neurotic distortion of the total personality..." by ignorant psychiatrists at that time. Rather than deny his true nature and try to make it disappear, the admirable young man stands proud in 1965 when the social climate for gays was far less tolerant.

Joel, far from being neurotic and certainly not fitting any of the stereotypical characteristics of the "gay" male, is a farmer's son aspiring to follow in his father's footsteps. He falls in love with Tom Allen, a preacher's boy, after the unlikely pair became close friends and share an unplanned public kiss. Rumors that Joel and Tom are queer begin to destroy the boys' reputations.

All we know about Joel at the beginning of Common Sons is, "Joel woke up disturbed." Donaghe captures the reader's attention immediately with the four-word paragraph, and holds the reader's interest for 376 pages. It doesn't take long to find out what makes Joel tick. The calm and steadfast young man is not only smart beyond his years, but he knows exactly what he wants; he wants Tom in his life-forever.

Tom, a year ahead of Joel in school, has just graduated. His father has already picked out a college for him to attend, since the strict preacher doesn't allow his son to participate in any decision making-not even concerning his own future. Tom and Joel meet after Mr. Allen takes the job as preacher for the fundamentalist Church of Christ in Common. Tom, believing in his church's teachings, lives in fear of his father's wrath. Tom is aware of his homosexuality. "...drumming in his head were passages from the Bible he knew by heart," ""Sins of the flesh," "reprobate mind," "unnatural lusts."" He fights long and hard to change, but after he meets and falls in love with Joel, he begins to question his father, the Bible, and his own self-loathing. Joel teaches him the true meaning of love, self-respect, and friendship.

Once the boys decide that they want to be together, they have to fight Mr. and Mrs. Allen, who cannot accept Tom's homosexuality. They refuse to have any further dealings with him unless he repents for his "hideous" sins. Luckily, Joel's parents are nothing like Tom's parents. Even though the Reeces are not that happy about the situation, they have an open mind and wouldn't consider disowning their son.

Douglas Reece, Joel's father, is one of my favorite characters. He is a strong man with high standards, morals, and through his fine example, he teaches Joel to respect himself. Douglas does not allow the church's unyielding doctrines to guide his beliefs. One memorable lesson that Douglas teaches Joel is, "Never show disrespect to people, son, and you won't do anything to be ashamed of. If you want something from somebody, and they aren't willing to part with it, that's their decision and your tough luck." Douglas is respected in his community and does not allow prejudice to stand in the way of how he feels about his son. Unlike the Allens, the Reeces hold their heads high in the face of adversity.

Joel and Tom are also up against Kenneth Stroud (notice how his name rhymes with shroud) the town's bad boy who has had it in for Joel since they were kids. Kenneth comes from a poor family with an alcoholic, wife-beating father, who feels the world ought to pay for his bad luck. He and another villain, Paul Romaine, one of the church's disciples, set out to publicly humiliate and destroy Joel and Tom.

Ronald L. Donaghe develops his characters so well that you either want to be Joel or you
want to meet him. Joel and Tom are excellent role models of a committed, faithful, and loving couple who should be envied, not despised. What I love most about Common Sons, and the sequels The Blind Season and The Salvation Mongers, is the author's ability to get inside the characters' heads so completely. Donaghe even humanizes the villains, which makes their evil deeds all the more horrible. Along with character development, picturesque descriptions of the New Mexican landscape, and depictions of the rampant homophobia that existed at the time, Donaghe also manages to teach many lessons of tolerance. Common Sons is a wonderful journey of two boys' lives, and the reader feels privileged to share it with them. Donaghe's style, honesty, and wit make his books, both fiction and non-fiction, very hard to put down. Common Sons is a five plus star novel that you will want to keep, recommend to others, and read again.

This book is an excellent read from cover to cover. Finally, there is a book that captures the true side of being an average homosexual teenager. The main subject characters, from strikingly different backgrounds, are not portrayed as the "typical image" homosexual teen. The author manages to fill the book with realistic conflict that is faced by any teen coming of age and coming out. Tom and Joel make you want to be in love. They also show you how to bond together to face the hypocracy and bigotry of society, even when it's found in your own home. I just finished the book, and will read it again soon. Buy it because you'll love it.

I love this book, in fact I just finished reading it like 5 seconds ago and knew I had to share how great it is right away. It's a wonderful love story, with excellent writing, interesting sideline plots and a wonderful cast of characters. You will love Tom and Joel by the end of this book and feel very close to them aswell. Lots has already been said about the books plot so I won't add much more, but yes, I have to say, it does end happily. It's just such a great book, I have to gush about it. You will NOT regret buying this book if you are in fact able to do so. And theres the rub. It's quite hard to find, especially in Canada. But if you can, buy it, cause it's a book you'll want to read over and over and treasure.

Read this book! Some how, you will not be sorry you did!

Ron Donaghe's first installment in the Common Threads in the Life series is a sweet and moving story of two boys coming out in 1960s New Mexico. His descriptions of the New Mexican landscape and lifestyle give the reader an indelible feel of the place in which the story is set, yet don't in any way overshadow the story itself. Out in Common, New Mexico, "the middle of nowhere," Joel and Tom find themselves irresistably drawn to each other, and yet divided by the bigotry and predjudice of the town in which they live. Making it even more difficult, Tom's father is the town's preacher, and his rigid and restrictive religious dogma and his expectations for Tom present a major obstacle, keeping Tom and Joel apart. A more easy-going and self-accepting young man, Joel has no doubts about his love for Tom, yet isn't really sure how to help him, and in so doing, help them both to realize their dream of sharing a life together. Tom himself does his share of soul-searching about the rights and wrongs of being and living a homosexual life. Pulling Tom along and compelling him to search for the answers is his love for Joel, and Joel's for him. Their feelings for one another are a source of inner conflict for Tom but one that will ultimately bring him to the point of choosing; the life his parents want for him or the life he must follow to be true to himself.
Donaghe has written a gripping and absorbing story of love shared by two boys. It's sweet and poingnant, and the reader early on develops a deep affection for them both and a real sense of caring about what becomes of them and the love they share.
This reader highly recommends this book for those looking for a
moving and loving coming out story, one that sets the reader up for the next installment in Donaghe's Common Life in the Thread series, that's continued in his next book, The Blind Season.

This was the first book I read by Ron - but it wasn't the last! I really enjoyed this one, and was fascinated by Joel. He's one hell of a guy. I loved watching his character develop, as his love for Tom became stronger. I love happy endings, and I don't want to ruin this for anyone, but you won't be disappointed. After you read this one, check out Ron's other books, "Blind Season", "Salvation Mongers" (both in this same series), "My Year of Living Heterosexually", and "Letters in Search of Love". They're all good.

I found the book to be very engaging on all levels (emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually). I enjoyed the realness of the characters. Having grown up in a very religious household, Tom's story brought back so many memories. It was rather cathartic. Thank You