Customer Reviews

None So Blind

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

L.J. Maas has written a captivating and touching romance of unrequited love and survival against difficult odds in None So Blind.

Torrey Gray and Taylor Kent -- who bear a striking resemblance to the actors Renee O'Connor and Lucy Lawless -- first meet at the Tau Alpha Zeta sorority house when Torrey is a college freshman and Taylor a senior. It is August 1981. The two legacy sisters make an unlikely duo but become fast friends. The openly lesbian and rebellious, art student, Taylor, does have a tendency to lead the younger Torrey into trouble. Yet the genuinely kind, caring and responsible Torrey has a stabilizing effect on her friend.

These talented, intelligent and likable women live together for almost four years during their late adolescence. Both women finish college. Torrey writes her first book while Taylor begins her art career. The best friends support one another as they struggle in those vulnerable, challenging years of early adulthood. They also carefully, and perhaps unconsciously, intentionally misunderstand one another. Taylor assumes the younger Torrey isn't gay and Torrey assumes Taylor isn't attracted to her. Or to paraphrase Torrey, "sometimes love isn't blind, she's just plain stupid." (p364)

Although they've never lost touch with one another, the two women went their separate ways when the strain of their miscommunication hurt too much to continue to live together. Some 15 years later, Torrey asks for Taylor's help and, as promised, Taylor will do her best to help.

Maas does a wonderful job weaving the past and present together as the women find themselves meeting again after so many years. Unrequited love can be very bittersweet as achingly depicted in Torrey's first interaction with Kat in New York in 1991. Both women realize that almost two decades of maturity has increased their understanding of themselves and each other; as well as their potential for happiness together and the capacity for love. Maas deals sensitively with issues of coming out and substance abuse over the course of the story. She provides an erotic denouement that is romantic, loving and electric.

The practice of Tai-Chi and particularly the Tai-Chi symbol -- more popularly known as the "yin yang" symbol -- is a leitmotif that Maas threads through None So Blind. Perhaps my favorite example of this theme is the image of Torrey and Taylor on the night they go to Chancey's.

In addition to the lead characters' appearance, there are enough winking references to Xena for fans to recognize this as "Uber fiction." However, these references strike this reader as a pleasant inside joke more than any real connection with the show. Certainly, Torrey and Taylor are Maas' creation and a reader with no particular affinity for the show, can enjoy None So Blind, completely.

Other readers may not identify as strongly with this novel as this reviewer, who was in college during the same years as Torrey. Still, one might consider this warning should you treat yourself to this novel: Be sure you have the time to read None So Blind's 373 pages, because you won't want to put it down.

This story captivated me from beginning to end. It takes us through two women's lives from their days as college roommates, and into their late 30's. LJ Maas weaves a beautiful tale of friendship and love. I highly recommend this one.

My favorite of LJ's works! This was the first story from LJ Maas that I found on the internet, and I read it at least twice in that first weekend. I was thrilled when I realized it was in print, and received my own copy - what a gift! - and it is now dog-eared and very well-loved. The characters are amazing and so easy to connect with, the writing it excellent, and this is just one of her books.

The friendship that sparks between Taylor and Torrey comes right off the page. You'll find yourself smiling at their banter, tearing up at the hard times, and wanting to shake some sense into them more than once. Through flashbacks that show the development of these characters, LJ takes you along for the ride as they grow - both individually and together, and you are left feeling as though you've known them for years. It is a sign of a great author when you get to the end, close the book, and sigh with a smile.

You will not be disappointed... this is the type of wonderful reading to keep you up late at night, wanting to read just one more page, and before you know it, it's two o'clock in the morning and you've finished it! So what do you do? You start over and read it again.

None So Blind is worth a read or two... all right, so at least four or five.

This is one of the best lesbian fiction books I have ever had the priviledge to read. The characters are compelling keeping you reading from the very start. Unlike most romances, although I was sure of a happy ending, I spent the entire time wondering what was going to happen next. I read this book yesterday in 5 hours and I'm already re-reading it again today. Definately worth the wait.

LJ Maas has created a wonderful story that was well worth the box of Kleenex it took to get through it. The characters are so real, as are the fears, that it's hard to put the book down. I loved the book with one major exception. I don't know who decided that lesbian fiction should ignore names and instead lean heavily on such worn out descriptions such as "the tall dark haired woman said," or "she kissed the short blonde." The characters have names, for gosh sakes! After wading through multiple, physically descriptive euphemisms for names on page after page, it really, for me, detracted from the story. LJ Maas, like Radclyffe, tells a great story, but this one flaw is why I'll probably never buy another book from either author. A 5 story with a 3 writing convention. Recommendation: Conditional Buy (4).

This was a great book. It grasped the real meaning of friendship, family and love. I was hooked from the first
page to the last, I never really wanted the story to end.

We all hope to find a love and friendship as rare as Torrey and Taylor's. A bind that was so great neither one of them wanted to give in to the real thing that held them together love.

L. J. Maas's formula of using the strong bond of friendship, combined with unconditional love, strength of character, yin/yang personalities, compassion, and the significance of family, creates a romantic story that stirs the heart and mind.

From the beginning this book held me captive, it was difficult to put it down at bedtime...believe me when I say there were a couple of "very tired," "bloodshot eyes" mornings.
The practice of Tai-Chi and the yin/yang symbolism enhances the strength of the narrative and adds stability to the characters of Taylor, Torrey, and Jessica.

I was extremely impressed by the authors sensitive and realistic treatment of "coming out", substance abuse, 12 Step Meetings, and "what it takes" to stay clean & sober.

Passionate, Loving, Erotic, Hot, Sexy, Talented, Intelligent, and Warm, is the only way I can adequately describe the main characters Taylor and Torrey. Oh, and I just couldn't help adoring Taylor's mother, being frustrated by and deeply caring for Jessica, and feeling ambivalent towards Kat.

When a book can take me on an emotional roller-coaster ride and leave me wanting more...then I say BRAVO to the author, and I HIGHLY recommend you read this book!!!!!!!

You simply must, buy this book...read it...recommend it...and then write a review.

I love this book, although at times I was frustrated by the characters behavior. I understand that these things happen.
I could not put the book down,read it in a span of hours, while
shedding some tears. I LOVED THIS BOOK and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT - EXCELLENT 5 stars plus - My favorite in my
collection

A found myself frustrated at times--wanting to shake both of the
main characters. I laughed out loud and cried. This book held my interest from page one to the very end. It is one that I would
highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good romance novel--I found myself riding the roller coaster with them :-) Buy it...you'll like it!

This is without a doubt my favorite LJ Maas story, although Rebecca's Cove is a close second. The author deals with the reality of addiction and its affects on family. Throughout the story you can feel the deep loving bond between the two main characters, Taylor and Torrie, even if it takes them forever to figure it out.

My recommendation? Buy it. Read it. Read it again. I still love the story after multiple reads. A must have lesbian romance.