Customer Reviews

One for the Gods: A Novel (Peter & Charlie Trilogy)

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

 

 

After reading the first book of the Peter and Charlie trilogy I thought - finally a book about a gay long term relationship. However, One for the Gods is a major dissapointment in two areas. One - the sexuality of Peter and Charlie - are they gay or just confused? Two - Why must they be unfaithful to each other. Can't there be a book about a gay long term relationship where the couple is faithful and happy with each other?

Believe it or not, the other two books in this trilogy actually have strong supporting plots. This one I found lacking in plot, but you know what? I'm picky. Most people don't read Merrick for the plot. I do because it provides a nice build-up to the [love] scenes, which makes them pay off more. But if you want, skip ahead to the [love] because Merrick is in fine form as usual. Highlights include when Charlie and Peter "switch roles." The plot may be lacking but the [love] souped up so it's still worth the money.

I'm going to break one of my rules. Generally, if I like a book, I'll give it a good review to try and help create good buzz for the writer. But if I don't like a book, I will pass on doing a review. After all, who am I to try and railroad some poor struggling writer with my poison pen? Well, "One for the Gods" is long out of print and Gordon Merrick has been resting in his grave for 19 years. A negative review from me isn't going to hamper anyone's livelihood. The first installment of the Peter and Charlie trilogy, "The Lord Won't Mind," was enthralling fiction. The second installment, "One for the Gods," sadly misses the mark. After ten years of married life, Charlie and Peter are spending several months on the French Riviera on business ventures when Peter falls off the fidelity wagon and has an affair with a young Frenchman. When Charlie finds out, he goes a little berserk and their marriage is put to the test. He decides they should accept the offer of an American couple to join them on their yacht for a tour of the Greek Isles. Their romance is rekindled, but Charlie wants to change the nature of their relationship by opening it up to include liaisons with outside partners of both sexes. Peter makes this sacrifice to keep from losing Charlie, but that eventually backfires as well. Unfortunately Merrick has allowed his storytelling to sink to tawdriness. While the explicit sex in "The Lord Won't Mind" was essential to taking us into the world of discovery of young Peter and Charlie, in "One for the Gods" it serves no purpose but to transform the novel into cheap erotica. I hoped for the richness of the earlier installment, but was sadly disappointed.

Published in 1971, this novel is the second in a trilogy and was considered very racey for its time. On the front cover, Charles Busch describes it as "Outrageous, addictive, perversely sexual .... the closest thing gay people have to the fat juicy romance novels that housewives have been devouring for years." Two Americans, Charlie, an artist and Peter an art dealer, are both about 30 and very much in a stable rlationship. The story follows them over one summer where they initially are holidaying in the south of France before joining Jack and Martha on a 60 foot yact to sale to Greece. In its favour Merrick has two very macho men portayed in a very healthy positive relationship which is not without its dramas and interesting side issues. Fatherhood, fidelity and jealousy figuring prominently as well as a number of vivid descriptions of sexual encounters. An interesting novel for its time of publication as gay people were starting to become more public about their sexuality.

I've finished the lord won't mind 2 months ago so it took me 2 months to finish this one. It's quite good at the begining but during in the middle of the book it was quite boring but great fun again at the end.

But in total, I like it anyway. It gave me smiles and also stress :-P. The story is well written and I couldn't wait to start the next one. It's worth reading anyway. Have fun fellas.

Merrick's 2nd book in his Charlie and Peter trilogy is a fine centerpiece. It is transitional, bringing forward elements of the first book and introducing us to aspects that will be resolved in the final book (or chapter, if you will). We get introductions to new characters and begin to realize a new depth to Charlie and Peter's romance.

Interestingly, One for the Gods also acts as a bit of psychotherapy for the Charlie character. We learn a great deal more about this beloved character and the layers are great and deep, and like an onion we get to peel them away.

No, there is no clear resolution in this book as it is a transitional piece. However, and I mean a big "however"...a new development takes place in this book that got my blood boiling and made me angry as $#^% at Charlie. However I did tear immediately into the final book in the trilogy to discover how Merrick resolves the situation.

I know that a story of two men in love with each other cannot be happy all the time, but !@#$%, I sure would love to see it happen a bit more easily than Merrick portrays it.... but then, I did read faster and faster to find out what happens next. So, grudgingly, I'll admit that rather than being critical, I have to say that the book delivers just what its author intended.

Read and read some more. You'll love it. The story delivers and heaven knows that the love scenes read in context will more than have you happy while you turn the pages. I think I took a couple of cold showers reading this one!

It was a novel that helped me to feel that I might be an ok person, even if I was gay. The thought of someone actually writing a novel on the subject was thrilling. The love scenes gave me a lot to look forward to.

Back in print after years of being unavailable to generations of Merrick fans comes the follow-up to the national best-seller The Lord Won't Mind. The saga concludes with Forth Into Light.