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'Message of Love' a novel by Jim Provenzano - Reviews 6/19/2014 9:46:25 AM
Published reviews and acclaim for the sequel to the Lambda Literary Award winner 'Every Time I Think of You' PUBLISHED REVIEW EXCERPTS for MESSAGE OF LOVE
"The sequel to the Lambda Literary Award-winning Every Time I Think of You reintroduces readers to Everett and Reid as they traverse the next phases of their relationship.
It is 1980 Philadelphia, and the couple has settled into their first year at Temple University, together exploring the city and campus and adjusting to dormitory domesticity. Everett’s wheelchair, the result of a traumatic injury that left him partially paralyzed, is a ubiquitous presence in their physical and emotional relationship, as they learn how to be intimate despite physical limitations and how to balance independence with assistance.
"In addition to grappling with late-teen relationship ups and downs, they also deal with family dynamics, especially Everett’s pedigreed mother who has ambitious aspirations for her son apart from Reid. And looming like a specter is a defining aspect of 1980s gay community, the HIV/AIDS crisis, subtly foreshadowed from the beginning until it becomes a focal point of the story later on.
Locals will love the Philly references, from Everett and Reid’s visit to Forbidden Drive to taking in Rocky Horror shows at TLA, and how the city shapes their relationship. 'Message of Love' is a brilliant retelling of young love and the transformations it undergoes as lovers grow from adolescence to adulthood."
— Jen Colletta, Philadelphia Gay News
http://epgn.com/view/full_story/25148483/article-Book-Reviews-Summer-2014?instance=main_page
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"The compelling tale of Reid and Everett reminds one of the age old saying that love conquers all and perhaps most importantly, that relationships are about compromise. While their initial story presented Everett’s paralysis as the life-changing event that turns the worlds of both young men upside-down, this sequel has its share of drama, but more of the everyday trials and tribulations and complications that hold true for any two individuals who share each other’s lives--and an unconditional love.
"'Message of Love' is an earnest, heartfelt and refreshing continuation of a young couple’s adventures that leaves the reader excited, amused and inspired."
– Edge Media
www.edgesanfrancisco.com/entertainment////158098
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"I loved the way they interacted and wove themselves so completely into each other’s lives. The way it was written was pure genius on Provenzano’s part. I’ll say it again: his writing is gorgeous and sweeping and strong."
"If you looked at it as less a total romance and more of a journey of two young men coming of age and growing together into adulthood and a loving commitment, then the richness of its details and the complexities of its characters will make this a story to remember.
"If you are new to Reid and Everett’s story, then begin with 'Every Time I Think of You.' If you are familiar with that novel, then 'Message of Love' is a story not to be missed. No matter, this is a wonderfully satisfying and uplifting novel, certainly one of Scattered Thoughts Best of 2014."
"Provenzano shows us that love can survive even the darkest of experiences—it just takes the desire to want to make it do so. I think that sometimes we forget that we have to work at love—it is just not handed to us. By having a disabled main character, He shows us that the possibility of love also depends upon the people involved. If you doubt the concept of romance, read this and watch it come back into your life."
“Instantly compelling and richly textured, 'Message of Love' is more than a sequel; it’s a highly readable novel of two young men trying to learn to love amid the manifold distractions of college, family, and even an epidemic.”
– Felice Picano, author of 'Like People in History' and many other bestsellers
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“With lively, electric prose, Provenzano conjures an epic love story. He reminds the reader that there’s always something after the murkiest of fates and will make the doubtful believe in romance again. Message of Love makes a significant contribution to disability and queer literature while touching the heart of the general reader.”
– Belo Miguel Cipriani, author of 'Blind: A Memoir'
