Customer Reviews

Where You Belong (None)

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

 

 

I say "taking me by surprise" only because I didn't expect it to be such a good read. I've read a ton of John Irving, and I have to say that this story is definitely on par with his. The kind of stories that you're washed along with and though they have their down (read: sad) moments, they're balanced by all other moments--as it is in real life.

In a way, I'm almost upset that it's as good as it is, as I've just received this book that I've been wanting to read for such a long time (found a good deal), but I can't--and don't want to--put Mr. Dilloway's down. But on the flipside, I am rather glad that it has a nice length to it: gives me an opportunity to savor it a bit. That other book will be there waiting for me; I just hope when I'm done with this one, I won't want more of it. Complete sincerity when I say you will not be disappointed. Well worth the price I see listed.

Where You Belong is the story of Frost Devereaux, a writer, named for the nurse who brought him into the world. From tragic beginnings to his formative years and beyond, we are taken on a journey of love and loss, exploring his relationship with both Frankie, the love of his life, and her brother, Frank, who is there to pick up the pieces when she breaks Frost's heart. But who will Frost choose in the end?

This book made me care about the characters like old friends, and kept me intrigued right to the very end. I will be looking forward to reading Patrick Dilloway's next novel.

Highly recommended.

The Good Stuff:

This book seemed to be heavily influenced by "The World According to Garp" and, more subtly, "Forrest Gump". This is in a good way, as it never felt as though the author was plagiarizing in any way.

The writing was extremely well done (see below for exceptions). The prose was fairly tight with good style.

The first part of this book was so excellent, I didn't want to put it down. Had I been rating just the first third of the book, it would have been five stars; it was that good.

With one exception (explained below), the characters were incredible. Their pasts were explained in detail and all were interesting. Just wonderfully done.

The Bad Stuff:

A simple thing, but annoying: Every time a pronoun followed a preposition, the incorrect pronoun was used. Every single time.

A good 25% of this book should have been edited out. There were parts that just dragged and did not contribute to the story line.

There was a girl that Frost, the main character, goes on a double date with in Junior High named Abby. They double date with Frank. Later, Frost sees her again in college. Even later, he meets up with her with Frank around. But, Frost, Abby and Frank all act as though Abby and Frank have never met. Abby tells Frost that Frank is a <jerk>, and Frost responds that she only talked to him for a few minutes and doesn't know him. They also all act as though Abby doesn't know Frankie, either, even though she did. Even later, Frost runs into Abby again and they talk about old times where she DID know Frank and Frankie. Definite plot inconsistency in this.

All of the characters in this book were wonderful creations, except Frost, the MAIN character. This is where the "Gump" similarities occur. Frost loves a girl he grows up with, but I had trouble believing that Frost could love anyone. He was just so "flat". He didn't have a low IQ, but he seemed to have a lot of 'gump-like' qualities. He never had much of an opinion on anything and pretty much just did what everyone told him. He was not likeable or even memorable.

Overall:

This was a fun read by an author with major writing talent. I truly look forward to his next work.

Length: VERY long novel - 6,620 Locations

Rating: NC-17 - Detailed Sexual Descriptions, both hetero- and homosexual; Language

A smooth read... a bit on the long side, but Dilloway has a knack for pulling the rug out from under the reader's expectations at well-calculated times. His style is clear and polished. I just kept turning the pages and enjoying myself. Frost Deveraux is an interesting and complex character who receives some hard knocks but never descends into self-pity. All of Dilloway's characters are well-rounded, from the mute Mrs. Gallery to the boisterous Guy LeClair. Watch this author.

This book is a rare find.

The author, Mr. Dilloway, has woven a beautiful narrative through the often troubled life of Frost Devereaux. From his mother and father's terrible relationship to how he gets manipulated by the Maguire twins, the events that unfold are at times heart-wrenching yet possess a sober majesty to them that gave me a reason to pause and reflect on Frost's life as if it were my own.

Really, all Frost wants is to be loved and to not have to live a life alone. This yearning causes him to bounce between Frankie, the woman who taught him passion with "A Streetcar Named Desire" to Frank(her twin brother) who engages him in a loving if not gritty homosexual relationship and marriage in a tumultuous climax that recalls the civil rights riots of the 1960's. The events that happen that destroy Frost's marriage are understandable because these tumultuous and fiery characters that dominate his narrative are drawn to the tragedy of their lives. But at the same time, they are so powerfully emotional that their passion burns just as hot. Mr. Dilloway knows what love is and knows how to write it so that when it all comes crashing down, it's like watching some beautiful piece of art being destroyed in front of your eyes and you are helpless to do anything.

The last thing I want to say is that Mr. Dilloway is highly original with his narrative (and completely faithful to his characters and their flaws). Frost never learns and never listens and follows his heart to the very last page which is what makes him so loveable as a character. If you are looking for a book that smacks of the Cider House Rules but addresses the issues of modern times up to and including what happened in 9/11 at Ground Zero and the gay marriage debate, you should check out this book.

Except maybe Frost,the main character. Although the novel is written from Frost's point of view, I found him a little ho-hum. As for the people in his life...WOW! I usually don't like books with too many characters, as I tend to lose track of who is who, but Mr. Dilloway has a gift for creating memorable characters.

Frost's journey to find where he belongs is filled with with some wild twists that kept me turning the page to find out what could possibly come next. This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to reading more from Mr. Dilloway!

WHERE YOU BELONG is a bildungsroman featuring Frost Devereaux, a scarred (literally) protagonist who is orphaned at a young age, slowly evolves personally and professionally, clarifies his sexual identity, and then finally seems to land in an emotionally comfortable zone, where he can build from his difficult past.

A review of WYB on Amazon.com compares this novel to THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP. While I have not read GARP (or any John Irving novel), I did look up Irving on Wikipedia, where the page states that there are recurring themes in his work. These include New England, deadly accidents, wrestling, absent parents, and writing. Further, his books feature adultery, gang rape, homosexuality, and transsexualism. Well, these are all elements (some very minor) in WYB, which some may read as homage to John Irving.

In several respects, WYB must have been a difficult novel to write. In part, this is due to the personality of Frost, who is a passive protagonist and comes alive primarily when he discusses or undertakes a writing project. Otherwise, Frost is an active watcher, much like Nick Carraway in THE GREAT GATSBY, who follows, and tries to comprehend, the lives of more dynamic personalities.

As in GATSBY, this passivity enables the author to explore his themes--in this case, friendship, love, and sexual identity--with insight and sensitivity. But, as in GATSBY, where the narrator Nick is less interesting than Jay Gatsby, Frost is less interesting than the Maguire twins, who lead him forward in life. Anyway, my point is this: Anyone who has tried to write with a passive narrator or protagonist knows how hard this is to do well. IMHO, a crazy narrator is much easier.

Secondly, WYB must have been a challenge because it has wide scope, following Frost from his loveless conception to adulthood, which comes to him in his thirties. In this respect, WYB is Dickensian in both ambition and execution, with Dilloway pulling all his themes and characters (including a bully from Frost's childhood) into a neat and persuasive package in the novel's final chapters. Undeniably, the Dill kept control of his sprawling material, which finally emphasizes Frost's core of decency.

Recommended especially to fans of John Irving, who some consider the American Dickens.

The true mark of an exceptional book is when the reader hates to see it end. Such was the case for me as I read Where You Belong. Following the tumultuous life of Frost Devereaux from birth to middle adulthood left me longing to know him in his old, old age.

Patrick Dilloway weaves an intricate tale of loss and love in all its many forms. Hitting hard on the issue of gay marriage and relationships, it is done in a way that, in a perfect world, should prompt even the most cynical anti-gay marriage activists to look at the issue solely as a matter of the heart.

Each character in the tale is explored to the depths of their souls, and the reader comes away feeling that not only did we know them; we lived them.

I'm not big on sequels, and I usually feel there isn't enough story left in most cases to create one. However, a sequel to Where You Belong would definitely tempt readers to return and follow Frost Devereaux throughout the next chapters of his journey.