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The Time of the Singing
Raised by devout parents, Israfel Vacek is a teenager before he realizes he may be turning into someone his parents would shun. When he confesses his fears to his brother, Michael suggests Raf might be able to save himself if he joins the clergy.
Though Raf is well-suited to the clerical life, enjoying the piety of his parishioners, his homosexual desires don't go away. Still, Raf is able to repress them, until one young churchman decides he wants Raf for himself. Nate Mulligan is a bundle of contradictions, a devout believer who insists their love can't be wrong, and Raf finds himself powerless to resist.
At first, Raf puts his guilt out of his mind, but when a misunderstanding brings his relationship with Nate to Michael's attention, Raf realizes he has to make a give up Nate to serve the Church and save his relationship with his family� or find his own path to grace and save himself.
Though Raf is well-suited to the clerical life, enjoying the piety of his parishioners, his homosexual desires don't go away. Still, Raf is able to repress them, until one young churchman decides he wants Raf for himself. Nate Mulligan is a bundle of contradictions, a devout believer who insists their love can't be wrong, and Raf finds himself powerless to resist.
At first, Raf puts his guilt out of his mind, but when a misunderstanding brings his relationship with Nate to Michael's attention, Raf realizes he has to make a give up Nate to serve the Church and save his relationship with his family� or find his own path to grace and save himself.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2011
161 people want to read
About the author
Louise Blaydon
23Ìýbooks32ÌýfollowersLouise Blaydon is a writer, specialising primarily in the m/m romance genre. Her interests are esoteric and changeable, and range from linguistic archaeology to modernist poetry; long walks in the cold to lazy drunken evenings; kicking up leaves to sleeping curled up around the cat. Louise has been writing for as long as she can remember, and penned her first half-formed m/m story at the age of eight. Now in her late twenties, she has meandered somewhat, geographically, from her point of origin, and consequently nurses a love of stories of exile, and of landscapes described like lovers.
Louise has written journalistically in the past, but now writes mainly prose fiction. If the occasional poem threatens the calm of her existence, she refuses to be blamed for it.
Louise has written journalistically in the past, but now writes mainly prose fiction. If the occasional poem threatens the calm of her existence, she refuses to be blamed for it.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 17, 2011
4.5 stars
I have to give Ms. Blaydon credit for writing about a priest and having the book so heavily placed inside the religious community. There are a lot of readers out there who won't even touch a book with religion in it because of their own preferences. Me, I'm not religious at all and because of that I don't read a lot of m/m books with religion. I gave this book a chance because I liked the cover. Yes, I am shallow like that. ;-P
I was actually shocked at how much I enjoyed the story. The beginning was rocky. I wasn't sure which direction it was going to go in and a few times I was even uncomfortable with Father Israfel's line of thinking. But there was just something about either the writing or the storyline that had me so captivated I didn't want to put it down. I stayed up late to finish it because it turned from sad to angsty to happy to down right sweet. I was glad I stayed up to finish it because it left me with a smile and good thoughts when I went to sleep.
The story is told solely from Father Israfel's POV. He is a complicated character who, while a devout Catholic, was basically pushed into the clergy by his twin brother when he was a teen and got caught with another boy. Raf has spent the last eleven years dedicated to the priesthood in a life of celibacy to stay away from his 'unnatural' urges. He's a good man and he's helped a lot of people. It's not until he meets Nate that Raf's desires start to become uncontrollable. There's something about Nate that Raf can't deny and when Nate sets his sights on Raf, Raf doesn't stand a chance. He folds like a house of cards and the short time they have together is blissful. However, it's not until Raf's twin brother, Michael shows up that chaos reins again. Michael pushes Raf to make the hardest decision of his life which could hurt both Raf and Nate.
I loved these characters, I truly did. Raf was hard to like at first because of how meek he seems. Nate, however, is intense which I enjoyed a lot. It was nice to see Nate go after Raf and showed that while Nate might still be young, he's determined and stubborn enough to know what he wants and goes for it. The internal angst Raf has was chaotic and extreme. I loved being able to see him fighting with himself and struggling with being a man of the cloth. It takes almost the whole book for him to realize he doesn't need to hate himself for loving who he does. In the end, he comes to love himself for who he is while still being able to have his religion without self-hatred involved. One thing I really loved about this book was how close Nate and his brother, Tom, were even though they are four years apart. They both were home-schooled so they only had each other but they were really close and told each other almost everything which made their teasing and interactions together quite nice.
I enjoyed the book a lot but at first I was extremely confused with all the Church talk. I haven't gone to Church since I was a small child so I had no idea what any of the Church speak was about. This started the book off rocky and rough for me. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not for a good portion of the beginning but then it quickly became a page turner for me. I think this book could have used a little more dialogue, however. More talking between Raf and Nate as well as secondary characters. There was also the fact that Raf is never described, at least not that I can remember, so I was never able to actually visualize what he looked like. Even his twin was never described outside his body build.
In the end, this is one of the best books I've read this year. While it didn't grab me in the beginning, it wasn't long before I lost myself in the pages of the story. I loved the characters, their story and their angst. I loved the fact that while it's sad, it's not too heartbreaking because there are sweet, lighthearted moments that even out the intense parts. It was a struggle for Raf to get to where he goes but I was very satisfied with how it ends and what they both sacrifice for the love they have together. It was an amazing book and while I know some people won't read it no matter what, I do encourage everyone to at least give it a try.
One of my favorite quotes that sums up Raf nicely:
I have to give Ms. Blaydon credit for writing about a priest and having the book so heavily placed inside the religious community. There are a lot of readers out there who won't even touch a book with religion in it because of their own preferences. Me, I'm not religious at all and because of that I don't read a lot of m/m books with religion. I gave this book a chance because I liked the cover. Yes, I am shallow like that. ;-P
I was actually shocked at how much I enjoyed the story. The beginning was rocky. I wasn't sure which direction it was going to go in and a few times I was even uncomfortable with Father Israfel's line of thinking. But there was just something about either the writing or the storyline that had me so captivated I didn't want to put it down. I stayed up late to finish it because it turned from sad to angsty to happy to down right sweet. I was glad I stayed up to finish it because it left me with a smile and good thoughts when I went to sleep.
The story is told solely from Father Israfel's POV. He is a complicated character who, while a devout Catholic, was basically pushed into the clergy by his twin brother when he was a teen and got caught with another boy. Raf has spent the last eleven years dedicated to the priesthood in a life of celibacy to stay away from his 'unnatural' urges. He's a good man and he's helped a lot of people. It's not until he meets Nate that Raf's desires start to become uncontrollable. There's something about Nate that Raf can't deny and when Nate sets his sights on Raf, Raf doesn't stand a chance. He folds like a house of cards and the short time they have together is blissful. However, it's not until Raf's twin brother, Michael shows up that chaos reins again. Michael pushes Raf to make the hardest decision of his life which could hurt both Raf and Nate.
I loved these characters, I truly did. Raf was hard to like at first because of how meek he seems. Nate, however, is intense which I enjoyed a lot. It was nice to see Nate go after Raf and showed that while Nate might still be young, he's determined and stubborn enough to know what he wants and goes for it. The internal angst Raf has was chaotic and extreme. I loved being able to see him fighting with himself and struggling with being a man of the cloth. It takes almost the whole book for him to realize he doesn't need to hate himself for loving who he does. In the end, he comes to love himself for who he is while still being able to have his religion without self-hatred involved. One thing I really loved about this book was how close Nate and his brother, Tom, were even though they are four years apart. They both were home-schooled so they only had each other but they were really close and told each other almost everything which made their teasing and interactions together quite nice.
I enjoyed the book a lot but at first I was extremely confused with all the Church talk. I haven't gone to Church since I was a small child so I had no idea what any of the Church speak was about. This started the book off rocky and rough for me. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not for a good portion of the beginning but then it quickly became a page turner for me. I think this book could have used a little more dialogue, however. More talking between Raf and Nate as well as secondary characters. There was also the fact that Raf is never described, at least not that I can remember, so I was never able to actually visualize what he looked like. Even his twin was never described outside his body build.
In the end, this is one of the best books I've read this year. While it didn't grab me in the beginning, it wasn't long before I lost myself in the pages of the story. I loved the characters, their story and their angst. I loved the fact that while it's sad, it's not too heartbreaking because there are sweet, lighthearted moments that even out the intense parts. It was a struggle for Raf to get to where he goes but I was very satisfied with how it ends and what they both sacrifice for the love they have together. It was an amazing book and while I know some people won't read it no matter what, I do encourage everyone to at least give it a try.
One of my favorite quotes that sums up Raf nicely:
"Israfel has long been a house of cards, and he has been disturbed. He can feel his supports collapsing, day by day."
December 4, 2011
I'm surprised at how much I liked this story about Raf and Nate it was confronting and somewhat uncomfortable but it challenged me to rethink some of my beliefs and opinions about what's wrong and right, not everything is black and white. I am so glad I gave it a chance it really was a very interesting and thought provoking read.
I actually thought the age gap would bother me more but it didn't, Nate came across as mature and cocky he knew what he wanted and that was Raf and nothing was going to stand in his way not even Raf. Their relationship was lovely they had something special, I wanted them to be a happy couple with a brand new life where they could for once be themselves. I never felt that Raf abused his position as a priest he really was a sweetie who didn't know what hit him when Nate set out to seduce him. Raf was only human and he had feelings and desires like the rest of us.
Thankfully Raf finally realizes that being gay is not wrong, bad or sick, the Church and the Priesthood is not going to save him and his family's misguided attempt to "cure him" is cruel and pathetic. Poor sweet gentle Raf so easily convinced that he is ill and "therapy" is the only option for him. I felt deeply for him so many conflicting emotions he was scared, confused and only wanted Micheal's acceptance and love. Michael was a condescending jerk who had a lot to answer for he knew exactly how to manipulate his brother Raf I hated him and that old "I am only doing this for your own good bull pissed me off". He was a gutless know it all who never, ever really bothered to listen to what Raf had to say or needed. What a lonely soul destroying existence he led before Nate came along with his love and friendship.
A worthwhile read even if the subject matter is touchy and a no no for some, all I can say is give it a chance and make up your own mind.
I actually thought the age gap would bother me more but it didn't, Nate came across as mature and cocky he knew what he wanted and that was Raf and nothing was going to stand in his way not even Raf. Their relationship was lovely they had something special, I wanted them to be a happy couple with a brand new life where they could for once be themselves. I never felt that Raf abused his position as a priest he really was a sweetie who didn't know what hit him when Nate set out to seduce him. Raf was only human and he had feelings and desires like the rest of us.
Thankfully Raf finally realizes that being gay is not wrong, bad or sick, the Church and the Priesthood is not going to save him and his family's misguided attempt to "cure him" is cruel and pathetic. Poor sweet gentle Raf so easily convinced that he is ill and "therapy" is the only option for him. I felt deeply for him so many conflicting emotions he was scared, confused and only wanted Micheal's acceptance and love. Michael was a condescending jerk who had a lot to answer for he knew exactly how to manipulate his brother Raf I hated him and that old "I am only doing this for your own good bull pissed me off". He was a gutless know it all who never, ever really bothered to listen to what Raf had to say or needed. What a lonely soul destroying existence he led before Nate came along with his love and friendship.
A worthwhile read even if the subject matter is touchy and a no no for some, all I can say is give it a chance and make up your own mind.
November 22, 2011
Israfel Vacek, at an early age, learned he was different. Reserved even as a kid, with a love of learning and books and dead languages. Introspective. Attracted to other boys. His twin brother Micheal, athletic and outgoing, straight, the perfect son. When Michael discovers his twin's "perversion", worried for his soul, he sets in motion a series of events that leads to Israfel's joining the priesthood. After all, it's not a sin to be gay, just to act on it, so Rafe will be safe there, learning the self control to fight his demons.
His posting at a church in a smaller town seems like just the place to minister to his flock. Peaceful and quiet. Until he spies Nate Mulligan.
Nate, teenage son of pious parents, and his younger brother Tom serve as altar boys for the Padre. He is cocky yet devout. A believer who also is a sinner in the eyes of the church. A beautiful young man, full of life and hope and spirit, he looks at Israfel first as a man, not a priest.
And God, how Israfel wants him.
When Nate notices the interest and returns it, Israfel's buried desires surface and threaten to explode. Will his devotion be enough, or will he sin with this beautiful young man?
What follows is a startlingly well developed, well thought out and beautifully crafted crisis of faith and conscience. The pacing of this gem of a book is slow and steady, but so perfect for the issues being examined here. Not only are Istafel's reasons for becoming a priest in the first place in question, but his attraction, perhaps inappropriate, for a member of his congregation. And a much younger man - 17 years old to his 29.
I found the dynamics of his relationship with his twin to be fascinating, his willingness to defer to Michael's supposed wisdom a response to his discomfort with his homosexuality, and to how the Catholic Church views it. Israfel's innate goodness is at war with a faith that demands that he not act on his feelings - I can understand his brother's need to protect but still have a little bitterness towards him for pushing his brother into a vocation that hides his feelings rather than deals with them in any constructive way. By protecting him, he stifles him and condemns him to a future bereft of love.
The last quarter of the book really soars. The slow build to Israfel's realizations about himself, his orientation, the guilt and pain and self denial, and then the dawning of his realization that God's desire and plan for him doesn't preclude love was so lovingly laid out. His spiritual growth mirrored his growth in his personal power and confidence, and was a wonderful sight.
The last chapter, as we see his future laid out, warmed my heart. How can one not love a man like Israfel? I certainly came to love him, and his Nate. I do wish he had had one last scene with his brother Michael, but it in no way detracted from the story.
Ms. Blaydon has told a deep and rich story of love, growth and destiny while being true to oneself spiritually and emotionally. Difficult and touchy subjects, but handled oh so very well.
Nicely done. Worth the read - do not be worried by the seemingly slow start. This book build and then flies like a dove.
Tom
His posting at a church in a smaller town seems like just the place to minister to his flock. Peaceful and quiet. Until he spies Nate Mulligan.
Nate, teenage son of pious parents, and his younger brother Tom serve as altar boys for the Padre. He is cocky yet devout. A believer who also is a sinner in the eyes of the church. A beautiful young man, full of life and hope and spirit, he looks at Israfel first as a man, not a priest.
And God, how Israfel wants him.
When Nate notices the interest and returns it, Israfel's buried desires surface and threaten to explode. Will his devotion be enough, or will he sin with this beautiful young man?
What follows is a startlingly well developed, well thought out and beautifully crafted crisis of faith and conscience. The pacing of this gem of a book is slow and steady, but so perfect for the issues being examined here. Not only are Istafel's reasons for becoming a priest in the first place in question, but his attraction, perhaps inappropriate, for a member of his congregation. And a much younger man - 17 years old to his 29.
I found the dynamics of his relationship with his twin to be fascinating, his willingness to defer to Michael's supposed wisdom a response to his discomfort with his homosexuality, and to how the Catholic Church views it. Israfel's innate goodness is at war with a faith that demands that he not act on his feelings - I can understand his brother's need to protect but still have a little bitterness towards him for pushing his brother into a vocation that hides his feelings rather than deals with them in any constructive way. By protecting him, he stifles him and condemns him to a future bereft of love.
The last quarter of the book really soars. The slow build to Israfel's realizations about himself, his orientation, the guilt and pain and self denial, and then the dawning of his realization that God's desire and plan for him doesn't preclude love was so lovingly laid out. His spiritual growth mirrored his growth in his personal power and confidence, and was a wonderful sight.
The last chapter, as we see his future laid out, warmed my heart. How can one not love a man like Israfel? I certainly came to love him, and his Nate. I do wish he had had one last scene with his brother Michael, but it in no way detracted from the story.
Ms. Blaydon has told a deep and rich story of love, growth and destiny while being true to oneself spiritually and emotionally. Difficult and touchy subjects, but handled oh so very well.
Nicely done. Worth the read - do not be worried by the seemingly slow start. This book build and then flies like a dove.
Tom
December 6, 2011
4.75 rounded up to 5. An intense read; a full 4-courses menu rather than a snack.
First of all, a warning: this book features a twenty-nine-year old character having on-page sex with a seventeen-year-old. It’s totally consensual and tastefully done but it’s also graphic and detailed. Readers who are adverse to this kind of thing might want to stop here and avoid this book altogether.
Israfel grew up in a conservative, very religious Catholic family. Unlike his outgoing, athletic brother Michael, Israfel has always been more a scholarly type. After he came out to them, and after all the Christian counseling and all the praying from his family and Israfel himself couldn’t help his homosexuality, the celibacy that comes with priesthood seemed to be the only way Israfel could reconcile his sinful desires with his faith.
Israfel found that he liked being a priest. The rituals gave his life structure, his position lent him status, and he used to wear his cassock like a suit of armor that would at once hide him and keep him safe from the temptations of the world. It worked for him. Actually, it worked so well that Israfel had almost convinced himself that being a priest was his true calling and not his last resort. It worked, that is, until the day Israfel first met Nate Mulligan.
The oldest son of a family as conservative and as Catholic as Israfel’s own, seventeen-year-old Nate nevertheless is Israfels polar opposite in many ways. Nate has been aware that he is gay for five years now, but unlike Raf, Nate came to terms with this fact all on his own without telling anyone. Where Israfel let himself be paralyzed by the Old Testament, Church dogma and the diatribes of St.Paul, Nate chose to only listen to Jesus, who placed love above everything and never spoke a word against homosexuals. Raf’s suit of armor is nothing before Nate’s determination to win his handsome priest over.
The writing style, third person present tense, took a little getting used to, and I’m still not really certain about it. In places, it worked just fine to lend the story more intensity. On other occasions the tense kept me from really going with the flow as it made the writing more noticeable to me than the story itself. In my opinion, it’s mostly a matter of taste, and I generally like past tense better.
Generally, the characterization was equally perfect for both Israfel and Nate.
Some of Nate’s persuasion methods had me cringe inwardly. Then again, keeping in mind how young Nate actually is, he acted in character, and given the prize he was aiming at, I could forgive him the sometimes rather dubious methods he resorted to. Even though he managed to retain the puppy charm of a troubled teenager who’s in love for the very first time, Nate was very, very mature for his age; in fact, he was almost too good to be true. At times, Raf even appeared the younger and more insecure of the pair, especially when it came to Raf’s interactions with his brother Michael. Which made sense, given that at the beginning of the book, Raf had still a long way to go until he arrived where Nate already is: comfortable in his own skin. There’s a vast, and beautifully worked-out difference between Raf the priest and Raf the man that emphasizes Raf’s inner disunity and totally won me over. The path he had to walk towards his personal epiphany was rough, and all the more realistic for that. I totally bought him. I can picture a man in Raf’s place acting like he did, making the choices he made, going through the struggles he did.
What amazed me most about this book, though, was the way it dealt with religious matters.
If you leave the religion out, you still got a well-done, character-driven story about a man coming to terms with his sexuality and finding his place in life with the help of a much younger man who loves him. It’s both characters being devout religious men what makes this book stand out. The religion is an intricate part of the plot - the lovers’s struggles are all the more painful, and all the more realistic, for the fact that a lot of what they stand in opposition to is part of who they are. Also, it would’ve been so easy to paint the Catholic church and her followers as bigots or caricatures like I’ve found it done in so many other books, but no � even their families honestly had their best interests in mind. Yet their families mostly remained caught in the tangles of dogma and yes, religious superstition if there’s such a thing, while Nate and Raf managed to wrestle free of those ties.
With all the philosophics about religion and the mountain of angst in here this sounds like a dark or even dull book. However it was not, there was a lot of humor right from the beginning, and in the end, the romance between Nate and Raf even scraped along just this side of sugary sweet. A beautiful, heartwarming and intense read I can only warmly recommend.
Originally written for
First of all, a warning: this book features a twenty-nine-year old character having on-page sex with a seventeen-year-old. It’s totally consensual and tastefully done but it’s also graphic and detailed. Readers who are adverse to this kind of thing might want to stop here and avoid this book altogether.
Israfel grew up in a conservative, very religious Catholic family. Unlike his outgoing, athletic brother Michael, Israfel has always been more a scholarly type. After he came out to them, and after all the Christian counseling and all the praying from his family and Israfel himself couldn’t help his homosexuality, the celibacy that comes with priesthood seemed to be the only way Israfel could reconcile his sinful desires with his faith.
Israfel found that he liked being a priest. The rituals gave his life structure, his position lent him status, and he used to wear his cassock like a suit of armor that would at once hide him and keep him safe from the temptations of the world. It worked for him. Actually, it worked so well that Israfel had almost convinced himself that being a priest was his true calling and not his last resort. It worked, that is, until the day Israfel first met Nate Mulligan.
The oldest son of a family as conservative and as Catholic as Israfel’s own, seventeen-year-old Nate nevertheless is Israfels polar opposite in many ways. Nate has been aware that he is gay for five years now, but unlike Raf, Nate came to terms with this fact all on his own without telling anyone. Where Israfel let himself be paralyzed by the Old Testament, Church dogma and the diatribes of St.Paul, Nate chose to only listen to Jesus, who placed love above everything and never spoke a word against homosexuals. Raf’s suit of armor is nothing before Nate’s determination to win his handsome priest over.
The writing style, third person present tense, took a little getting used to, and I’m still not really certain about it. In places, it worked just fine to lend the story more intensity. On other occasions the tense kept me from really going with the flow as it made the writing more noticeable to me than the story itself. In my opinion, it’s mostly a matter of taste, and I generally like past tense better.
Generally, the characterization was equally perfect for both Israfel and Nate.
Some of Nate’s persuasion methods had me cringe inwardly. Then again, keeping in mind how young Nate actually is, he acted in character, and given the prize he was aiming at, I could forgive him the sometimes rather dubious methods he resorted to. Even though he managed to retain the puppy charm of a troubled teenager who’s in love for the very first time, Nate was very, very mature for his age; in fact, he was almost too good to be true. At times, Raf even appeared the younger and more insecure of the pair, especially when it came to Raf’s interactions with his brother Michael. Which made sense, given that at the beginning of the book, Raf had still a long way to go until he arrived where Nate already is: comfortable in his own skin. There’s a vast, and beautifully worked-out difference between Raf the priest and Raf the man that emphasizes Raf’s inner disunity and totally won me over. The path he had to walk towards his personal epiphany was rough, and all the more realistic for that. I totally bought him. I can picture a man in Raf’s place acting like he did, making the choices he made, going through the struggles he did.
What amazed me most about this book, though, was the way it dealt with religious matters.
If you leave the religion out, you still got a well-done, character-driven story about a man coming to terms with his sexuality and finding his place in life with the help of a much younger man who loves him. It’s both characters being devout religious men what makes this book stand out. The religion is an intricate part of the plot - the lovers’s struggles are all the more painful, and all the more realistic, for the fact that a lot of what they stand in opposition to is part of who they are. Also, it would’ve been so easy to paint the Catholic church and her followers as bigots or caricatures like I’ve found it done in so many other books, but no � even their families honestly had their best interests in mind. Yet their families mostly remained caught in the tangles of dogma and yes, religious superstition if there’s such a thing, while Nate and Raf managed to wrestle free of those ties.
With all the philosophics about religion and the mountain of angst in here this sounds like a dark or even dull book. However it was not, there was a lot of humor right from the beginning, and in the end, the romance between Nate and Raf even scraped along just this side of sugary sweet. A beautiful, heartwarming and intense read I can only warmly recommend.
Originally written for
January 6, 2012
This book hits several of my major kinks: underage sex, sex with a priest - I understand that it's not for everyone, but I'm not gonna lie, I picked this book up because of it. And I was pleasantly surprised to see it's such a great read. I'd really recommend for those who find these themes objectionable still give this story a chance, since it's not 'kinky' in the slightest and both controversial issues - priesthood and underage - were handled with amazing tact and skill.
Great story!
Great story!
December 23, 2011
Penny’s Rating: C+
Even as I start this review, I am still conflicted about this book. There were parts of it that made me uncomfortable. I really liked it, and one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much is because it wasn’t easy to like. It pushed my boundaries, and really made me re-examine some of my own opinions, especially my opinions regarding what I do and do not consider to be consensual sex.
Israfel (Raf) is a 29 year old Catholic priest. He knows he is attracted to men, but he considers his homosexuality a disease and an affliction, in fact he chose to become a priest so he could lead a celibate lifestyle. Enter Nate Mulligan, a 17 year old, that’s right he’s a minor, who is an altar boy at Israfel’s new parish in a conservative small town in New England.
In summary: Israfel and Nate are insanely attracted to each other, to the point where Nate won’t leave Israfel alone about it. Israfel struggles against his own urges, but gives into an falls for Nate. For obvious reasons, they keep their relationship a secret. They are found out by Michael, Israfel’s twin brother, who threatens to expose their affair to the Bishop. It’s only when Israfel thinks he’s lost Nate’s love that he finally begins to come to terms with who he is, and what will truly make him happy.
Issues/ Comments:
1. Sexual relations with a minor. O.K., let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Nate is 17, and Israfel is 29. Blaydon goes out of her way to make sex with a minor work as a plot device, and Nate is only a few months shy of 18 at the start of the novel. Nate is the initiator of their sexual encounters, and he is clearly not a victim, but I am still not completely ok with it, and I don’t think I have to be. It would bother me just as much if this were a hetero relationship, it’s simply my instinctive reaction to the premise of a 17 year old getting involved with a much, much older person. It works on paper for Nate and Israfel, but should probably be avoided in real life situations. It is made clear towards the end of the book, that the age of consent in the state that the story takes place is in-fact, age 17, so what’s happening in the book is not statutory rape. It would have been nice to know that for sure earlier in the story. I found a site: which raises awareness about HIV/AIDS. The link lists the ages of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex in different countries and in U.S. States. There are a few states in the U.S. where you have to be 18 to consent to sex, but in most states, the age of consent is 17 or 16. I could go on and on about this one, but I think in spite of my own reservations, Blaydon justified and defended Nate’s age as best she could.
2. Nate Mulligan. Nate is a strong, sexually charged, astonishingly confident character. Never in my life have I met a 17 year old who was so clear on what he/she wanted as Nate is, much less a 17 year old who was home-schooled and educated by his super-conservative, super-Catholic mother, like Nate was. While Nate is clearly not a victim, and is very much a willing and active participant in his love affair with Israfel, I was left wishing he was real, and knowing he is not. The world would probably be a much better place, if all of us could be as awesome as Nate Mulligan.
For example, towards the end of an argument he has with Israfel, Nate declares, “…you know what else I realized, Israfel? I don’t want to be like you , okay? I am not going to toe your fucking party line and lie about what I do, what I am. There is nothing f***ing wrong with it and I ‘m not going to spend a single second with someone who thinks there is, someone who’s ashamed of me.. I am nothing,� he raps out, “to be ashamed of, I am fucking worth being with, and I am not going to spend another second with someone who thinks otherwise�.� (page 119)
Let’s just say, I know few adults who would be able to so clearly articulate their own self worth.
3. The plot meanders, especially in the beginning. Israfel’s own inner monologue of self-loathing is all over the place, and it’s really not clear where the story is going. I almost stopped reading around the 20 page mark. It isn’t till you get to page 31, where Nate confesses his attraction to Israfel,(in a big way), that the plot really starts to move. It’s enough of a jolt to make you wonder if the first 30 pages were written after the rest of the book was already finished.
4. The relationship that develops between Nate and Israfel is intense. Their sexual encounters are racy, arousing, and sweet, Israfel is a complete innocent, having only ever kissed a boy a few times as a teenager himself. Israfel’s growth and transformation as he comes to terms with his own sexuality was complete and very believable.
5. Religion plays a role in Israfel’s initial beliefs, and in his transformation. Blaydon avoided directly addressing religious arguments for or against homosexuality, but did point out some biblical discrepancies, and raised several questions, but ultimately Israfel’s answers come to him in a rather unexpected and humorous way. I don’t want to spoil the plot, so I will say no more.
6. I can’t help but feel that there was a scene missing from this book where Israfel confronts his twin brother Michael a second time. Though it is clear that Michael would never accept Israfel as a gay man, It seems in the story that this was an issue left unaddressed for the rest of Israfel’s life.
For all of its flaws, this was an incredible book, and well worth reading. C+.
Even as I start this review, I am still conflicted about this book. There were parts of it that made me uncomfortable. I really liked it, and one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much is because it wasn’t easy to like. It pushed my boundaries, and really made me re-examine some of my own opinions, especially my opinions regarding what I do and do not consider to be consensual sex.
Israfel (Raf) is a 29 year old Catholic priest. He knows he is attracted to men, but he considers his homosexuality a disease and an affliction, in fact he chose to become a priest so he could lead a celibate lifestyle. Enter Nate Mulligan, a 17 year old, that’s right he’s a minor, who is an altar boy at Israfel’s new parish in a conservative small town in New England.
In summary: Israfel and Nate are insanely attracted to each other, to the point where Nate won’t leave Israfel alone about it. Israfel struggles against his own urges, but gives into an falls for Nate. For obvious reasons, they keep their relationship a secret. They are found out by Michael, Israfel’s twin brother, who threatens to expose their affair to the Bishop. It’s only when Israfel thinks he’s lost Nate’s love that he finally begins to come to terms with who he is, and what will truly make him happy.
Issues/ Comments:
1. Sexual relations with a minor. O.K., let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Nate is 17, and Israfel is 29. Blaydon goes out of her way to make sex with a minor work as a plot device, and Nate is only a few months shy of 18 at the start of the novel. Nate is the initiator of their sexual encounters, and he is clearly not a victim, but I am still not completely ok with it, and I don’t think I have to be. It would bother me just as much if this were a hetero relationship, it’s simply my instinctive reaction to the premise of a 17 year old getting involved with a much, much older person. It works on paper for Nate and Israfel, but should probably be avoided in real life situations. It is made clear towards the end of the book, that the age of consent in the state that the story takes place is in-fact, age 17, so what’s happening in the book is not statutory rape. It would have been nice to know that for sure earlier in the story. I found a site: which raises awareness about HIV/AIDS. The link lists the ages of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex in different countries and in U.S. States. There are a few states in the U.S. where you have to be 18 to consent to sex, but in most states, the age of consent is 17 or 16. I could go on and on about this one, but I think in spite of my own reservations, Blaydon justified and defended Nate’s age as best she could.
2. Nate Mulligan. Nate is a strong, sexually charged, astonishingly confident character. Never in my life have I met a 17 year old who was so clear on what he/she wanted as Nate is, much less a 17 year old who was home-schooled and educated by his super-conservative, super-Catholic mother, like Nate was. While Nate is clearly not a victim, and is very much a willing and active participant in his love affair with Israfel, I was left wishing he was real, and knowing he is not. The world would probably be a much better place, if all of us could be as awesome as Nate Mulligan.
For example, towards the end of an argument he has with Israfel, Nate declares, “…you know what else I realized, Israfel? I don’t want to be like you , okay? I am not going to toe your fucking party line and lie about what I do, what I am. There is nothing f***ing wrong with it and I ‘m not going to spend a single second with someone who thinks there is, someone who’s ashamed of me.. I am nothing,� he raps out, “to be ashamed of, I am fucking worth being with, and I am not going to spend another second with someone who thinks otherwise�.� (page 119)
Let’s just say, I know few adults who would be able to so clearly articulate their own self worth.
3. The plot meanders, especially in the beginning. Israfel’s own inner monologue of self-loathing is all over the place, and it’s really not clear where the story is going. I almost stopped reading around the 20 page mark. It isn’t till you get to page 31, where Nate confesses his attraction to Israfel,(in a big way), that the plot really starts to move. It’s enough of a jolt to make you wonder if the first 30 pages were written after the rest of the book was already finished.
4. The relationship that develops between Nate and Israfel is intense. Their sexual encounters are racy, arousing, and sweet, Israfel is a complete innocent, having only ever kissed a boy a few times as a teenager himself. Israfel’s growth and transformation as he comes to terms with his own sexuality was complete and very believable.
5. Religion plays a role in Israfel’s initial beliefs, and in his transformation. Blaydon avoided directly addressing religious arguments for or against homosexuality, but did point out some biblical discrepancies, and raised several questions, but ultimately Israfel’s answers come to him in a rather unexpected and humorous way. I don’t want to spoil the plot, so I will say no more.
6. I can’t help but feel that there was a scene missing from this book where Israfel confronts his twin brother Michael a second time. Though it is clear that Michael would never accept Israfel as a gay man, It seems in the story that this was an issue left unaddressed for the rest of Israfel’s life.
For all of its flaws, this was an incredible book, and well worth reading. C+.
January 6, 2012
Overall
For people who get squimish about age differences in stories, be aware that the leading males are 17 and 29. Seventeen is the age of consent in the state where the story takes place, so nothing illegal is going on.
This is a very different novel and a very different romance. While it is indeed a romance, the religious themes and Raf's struggles are almost more central to the story. Of course, if it weren't for the romance in the novel, Raf's struggles wouldn't be revealed, so the two go hand in hand. For people looking for a light, modern romance, this isn't going to be the story for you. The religion in this novel definitely gives the story more weight, and steals some of the show as Raf anguishes over anything that would make him happy—but disappoint his family and church. I still felt it was enjoyable, and those who like religion with their romance will be pleased with how this story unfolds.
The writing is in third person present tense, which may distract some readers, but after a while, I didn't notice, though each time I picked up the book, I was like “Oh hey, it's in present tense!� (Yes, almost every time. Which was probably thrice.) The writing was strong and artistic, providing details about the actions and surroundings that may not be necessary to the events but paint a lovely image. However, keeping this in mind, the writing style and tense may not suit everyone's personal tastes.
Strengths
Blaydon either researched this novel thoroughly or has expansive experience with the Roman Catholic Church and the priesthood. Everything was extremely realistic, and although I'm not an expert, I was raised Catholic and it felt believable. What I also liked was that the author didn't villain-ize the RCC either. While the church wasn't shown accepting homosexuality (which would have been misleading), it was portrayed as “homosexuality cannot always be 'fixed' and if so then the person should just live a celibate life,� which is what the main character is doing.
Religion obviously plays an important role throughout the novel and both main characters are extremely religious, although Nate is more liberal in some of his philosophies about religion and the Church. I felt the balance between representing “old thoughts� (mainly through Michael, Raf's brother) and “new thoughts� (via Nate) was well handled and although it sides with the new (wouldn't be much of a romance novel if it didn't), the more traditional mindset wasn't degraded, just disagreed with.
The feel of the novel, whether it is Raf's faith, the everyday church activities, or the affair with Nate, really worked to build this into the story it ultimately is. While the events evolve slowly to culminate in the climax, the story isn't so much in what is happening, but everything that's going on as it is happening. How Raf faces truths and confrontation is really the focus of the novel, making it more a study of people and humanity―and faith―than just a character study.
Weaknesses
Some of the ending felt a little too happily-ever-after, and it could have ended earlier. However, this is personal preference, as some may have equal complaints if it ended otherwise. I didn't mind the extended ending, but things worked out too neatly, I felt, even if it required some broken relationships. In addition, Michael, who plays such a major role in Raf's life, is never given a complete resolution. While this is realistic, I felt like some type of confrontation between them would have been warranted.
One point that I'm not sure is a weakness, but I've seen mentioned elsewhere is that Raf falls into bed with Nate very quickly. I felt it represented how unfit Raf was for celibacy, so it didn't bother me, although to some degree it was unnerving that he was willing to break his sacred vows so quickly.
Nate as a whole is difficult to read, since we never see inside his head. From the beginning he is cocksure, confident, and a bit of a player. When he and Raf fall into bed, it is understandable that Raf thinks Nate is just sleeping with him for the novelty, or just because he's “available,� leaving Raf feeling unsure of where he stands. Nate seems to be very religious, but has no qualms with his sexuality or premarital sex (with different partners at different times). He felt like bit of an enigma to me and I imagine to Raf, and I would have liked to have gotten to know him better so he didn't come across as such a hyper-sexual teen. On the other hand, that is how Raf thinks of him, at least in the beginning, so maybe this was intentional.
Despite the number of weaknesses, or potential weaknesses, I found this novel to be intriguing in the choices it makes and the directions it heads. I think the story fits best with readers with an interest in religion/spirituality, but I would not dissuade any reader from picking up this book.
Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews .
For people who get squimish about age differences in stories, be aware that the leading males are 17 and 29. Seventeen is the age of consent in the state where the story takes place, so nothing illegal is going on.
This is a very different novel and a very different romance. While it is indeed a romance, the religious themes and Raf's struggles are almost more central to the story. Of course, if it weren't for the romance in the novel, Raf's struggles wouldn't be revealed, so the two go hand in hand. For people looking for a light, modern romance, this isn't going to be the story for you. The religion in this novel definitely gives the story more weight, and steals some of the show as Raf anguishes over anything that would make him happy—but disappoint his family and church. I still felt it was enjoyable, and those who like religion with their romance will be pleased with how this story unfolds.
The writing is in third person present tense, which may distract some readers, but after a while, I didn't notice, though each time I picked up the book, I was like “Oh hey, it's in present tense!� (Yes, almost every time. Which was probably thrice.) The writing was strong and artistic, providing details about the actions and surroundings that may not be necessary to the events but paint a lovely image. However, keeping this in mind, the writing style and tense may not suit everyone's personal tastes.
Strengths
Blaydon either researched this novel thoroughly or has expansive experience with the Roman Catholic Church and the priesthood. Everything was extremely realistic, and although I'm not an expert, I was raised Catholic and it felt believable. What I also liked was that the author didn't villain-ize the RCC either. While the church wasn't shown accepting homosexuality (which would have been misleading), it was portrayed as “homosexuality cannot always be 'fixed' and if so then the person should just live a celibate life,� which is what the main character is doing.
Religion obviously plays an important role throughout the novel and both main characters are extremely religious, although Nate is more liberal in some of his philosophies about religion and the Church. I felt the balance between representing “old thoughts� (mainly through Michael, Raf's brother) and “new thoughts� (via Nate) was well handled and although it sides with the new (wouldn't be much of a romance novel if it didn't), the more traditional mindset wasn't degraded, just disagreed with.
The feel of the novel, whether it is Raf's faith, the everyday church activities, or the affair with Nate, really worked to build this into the story it ultimately is. While the events evolve slowly to culminate in the climax, the story isn't so much in what is happening, but everything that's going on as it is happening. How Raf faces truths and confrontation is really the focus of the novel, making it more a study of people and humanity―and faith―than just a character study.
Weaknesses
Some of the ending felt a little too happily-ever-after, and it could have ended earlier. However, this is personal preference, as some may have equal complaints if it ended otherwise. I didn't mind the extended ending, but things worked out too neatly, I felt, even if it required some broken relationships. In addition, Michael, who plays such a major role in Raf's life, is never given a complete resolution. While this is realistic, I felt like some type of confrontation between them would have been warranted.
One point that I'm not sure is a weakness, but I've seen mentioned elsewhere is that Raf falls into bed with Nate very quickly. I felt it represented how unfit Raf was for celibacy, so it didn't bother me, although to some degree it was unnerving that he was willing to break his sacred vows so quickly.
Nate as a whole is difficult to read, since we never see inside his head. From the beginning he is cocksure, confident, and a bit of a player. When he and Raf fall into bed, it is understandable that Raf thinks Nate is just sleeping with him for the novelty, or just because he's “available,� leaving Raf feeling unsure of where he stands. Nate seems to be very religious, but has no qualms with his sexuality or premarital sex (with different partners at different times). He felt like bit of an enigma to me and I imagine to Raf, and I would have liked to have gotten to know him better so he didn't come across as such a hyper-sexual teen. On the other hand, that is how Raf thinks of him, at least in the beginning, so maybe this was intentional.
Despite the number of weaknesses, or potential weaknesses, I found this novel to be intriguing in the choices it makes and the directions it heads. I think the story fits best with readers with an interest in religion/spirituality, but I would not dissuade any reader from picking up this book.
Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews .
November 27, 2011
This book is really hard for me to rate. The stars are mostly given for two reasons.
1.)Israfel's struggle to understand and come to terms with himself and his role as a priest was well done. I believed in his anguish and confusion. I could envision him praying desperately for guidence, a sign, some answers, something.
2.) The book is written in third person present tense and that, like Israfel's struggle, was done well. It was interesting to read a whole book in that tense. At no point did I find it annoying or jarring and that is a testament to the author's skill.
Now I come to the reason why this was a difficult read for me. I don't mind May/December romances at all but something about the relationship between Israfel and his 17 year old love interest, Nate, really struck me the wrong way. There was a certain lack of maturity in Nate that kept me from seeing him and Israfel as equals.
I've read one other (that I can remember) M/M romance that featured a priest. is a much lighter book but it did one thing right that The Time of the Singing did not do; it established a friendship between the main characters before there was a sexual relationship. This, to me, is so important when dealing with something like a priest falling in love with anyone, especially a Catholic priest finding love with another man.
For a Catholic priest to come to terms with being homosexual and leaving the church to be with the man he loves has to be an extremely difficult decision. I would think that there should be something more than lust that tempts a man to stray from that kind of devotion to the church. I would think that would be even more true of a relationship that was to be had with a teenager. However, in this book, Israfel and Nate have only lust in the beginning and I was not convinced that Israfel would spend 15 or so years denying himself and then everything would break down simply for lust. It seemed out of character in alot of ways. I needed there to be a deeper connection.
Also, In David and Conner the priest's love interest is aware that he's asking something very difficult of the man who has devoted most of his life to the church. It's not something to be taken lightly. In The Time of the Singing Nate doesn't seem to comprehend Israfel's struggle. He didn't seem to care or know how conflicted Israfel was. This made Nate seem very immature to me.
It was stated a couple of times that Nate was mature beyond his years but I just didn't see it. I don't feel like Nate understood the gravity of Israfel's situation and it just drove home the fact that he was only a teenager.
In the end I was uncomfortable with the relationship between Nate and Israfel. As I said before, they just weren't equals in terms of maturity and I couldn't believe that they were meant for each other at that point in their lives. The author made a valiant attempt to tackle a difficult subject but in the end I don't believe she was successful.
1.)Israfel's struggle to understand and come to terms with himself and his role as a priest was well done. I believed in his anguish and confusion. I could envision him praying desperately for guidence, a sign, some answers, something.
2.) The book is written in third person present tense and that, like Israfel's struggle, was done well. It was interesting to read a whole book in that tense. At no point did I find it annoying or jarring and that is a testament to the author's skill.
Now I come to the reason why this was a difficult read for me. I don't mind May/December romances at all but something about the relationship between Israfel and his 17 year old love interest, Nate, really struck me the wrong way. There was a certain lack of maturity in Nate that kept me from seeing him and Israfel as equals.
I've read one other (that I can remember) M/M romance that featured a priest. is a much lighter book but it did one thing right that The Time of the Singing did not do; it established a friendship between the main characters before there was a sexual relationship. This, to me, is so important when dealing with something like a priest falling in love with anyone, especially a Catholic priest finding love with another man.
For a Catholic priest to come to terms with being homosexual and leaving the church to be with the man he loves has to be an extremely difficult decision. I would think that there should be something more than lust that tempts a man to stray from that kind of devotion to the church. I would think that would be even more true of a relationship that was to be had with a teenager. However, in this book, Israfel and Nate have only lust in the beginning and I was not convinced that Israfel would spend 15 or so years denying himself and then everything would break down simply for lust. It seemed out of character in alot of ways. I needed there to be a deeper connection.
Also, In David and Conner the priest's love interest is aware that he's asking something very difficult of the man who has devoted most of his life to the church. It's not something to be taken lightly. In The Time of the Singing Nate doesn't seem to comprehend Israfel's struggle. He didn't seem to care or know how conflicted Israfel was. This made Nate seem very immature to me.
It was stated a couple of times that Nate was mature beyond his years but I just didn't see it. I don't feel like Nate understood the gravity of Israfel's situation and it just drove home the fact that he was only a teenager.
In the end I was uncomfortable with the relationship between Nate and Israfel. As I said before, they just weren't equals in terms of maturity and I couldn't believe that they were meant for each other at that point in their lives. The author made a valiant attempt to tackle a difficult subject but in the end I don't believe she was successful.
August 14, 2014
It’s strange to know someone who knows the darkness in him, and is not repulsed by it.
I have grown up. When years ago I read where one of main heroines have love affair with priest I was shocked and scandalised. Now I understand that priests are humans too. Life is complex.
This is such beautiful and well told love and acceptance story. I might have crush on Israfel.
Israfel Vacek (29) as young teenager was lead to believe by his twin brother, parents and therapy sessions "that his condition was from God not necessarily a damning thing, but, rather, a clear call to chastity." And since "he was, and had always been, a devout boy, whose interest in dead languages and theological history was as great as his genuine engagement with the catechism.[...] (he) was certainly suited to priesthood [...] And now, of course, he was to be celibate anyway; the priesthood seemed suddenly uplifted like a sign from the heavens as What God Wanted From Israfel"
When he meets an intelligent and cocksure Nate Mulligan (17) Israfel ends for the first time questioning his family's believe does really God wishes him to be lonely and miserable.
Personally, age gap between Nate and Raf didn't bother me. It is mentioned that in state where main characters live legal age is 17. Twelve years is not that much. - 20 year age difference, 10 years.
What did bother me a little was Raf and Nate was once(?) intimate inside and once outside church. As if Raf wearing cassock isn't kinky enough.
One of the best things, IMO, was Israfel and his twin brother relationship portrayal. I would have liked to know how Raf's relatives were affected when he did told them his decision. I can imagine but at least short paragraph would have been nice.
I know that this story was at first titled The Voice of The Turtledove and was a Supernatural Castiel/Dean fanfic and because of that I had no problems whatsoever to visualize main characters but they lacked description in book.
Now I have reason to add some images!
I have grown up. When years ago I read where one of main heroines have love affair with priest I was shocked and scandalised. Now I understand that priests are humans too. Life is complex.
This is such beautiful and well told love and acceptance story. I might have crush on Israfel.
Israfel Vacek (29) as young teenager was lead to believe by his twin brother, parents and therapy sessions "that his condition was from God not necessarily a damning thing, but, rather, a clear call to chastity." And since "he was, and had always been, a devout boy, whose interest in dead languages and theological history was as great as his genuine engagement with the catechism.[...] (he) was certainly suited to priesthood [...] And now, of course, he was to be celibate anyway; the priesthood seemed suddenly uplifted like a sign from the heavens as What God Wanted From Israfel"
When he meets an intelligent and cocksure Nate Mulligan (17) Israfel ends for the first time questioning his family's believe does really God wishes him to be lonely and miserable.
Personally, age gap between Nate and Raf didn't bother me. It is mentioned that in state where main characters live legal age is 17. Twelve years is not that much. - 20 year age difference, 10 years.
What did bother me a little was Raf and Nate was once(?) intimate inside and once outside church. As if Raf wearing cassock isn't kinky enough.
One of the best things, IMO, was Israfel and his twin brother relationship portrayal. I would have liked to know how Raf's relatives were affected when he did told them his decision. I can imagine but at least short paragraph would have been nice.
I know that this story was at first titled The Voice of The Turtledove and was a Supernatural Castiel/Dean fanfic and because of that I had no problems whatsoever to visualize main characters but they lacked description in book.
Now I have reason to add some images!
January 17, 2013
Disclaimer: I feel that I should note, because of the ongoing scandal and corruption in the Catholic church, that this book does NOT feature a situation that is abusive in any way, nor is the relationship depicted here in any way illegal. Oh, in the early stages this romance is ill-advised, certainly! But it's not against the law.
With that out of the way, the first thing that came to mind as I started this book was, wait a moment, this seems terribly familiar... Sure enough, the plot of this novel is pretty much EXACTLY the same as "Me and Mine" by Sarah Goodwin, a book I had read (and enjoyed) last year, and which I reviewed at that time. Each book has its own strengths and weaknesses, but for all intents and purposes they are telling the same story in an extremely similar fashion.
So, which one is better? It's difficult to say, and I don't think either is clearly superior to the other. "The Time of the Singing" is a bit more polished in style, a bit more lyrical in its descriptive prose. And it has a much better sense of place. That is, the church rules and rituals which form a backdrop to the story are much more skilfully described, and depicted in a realistic manner. I'll admit that the sense of a priest's place in the hierarchy of the church was lacking in "Me and Mine." And through a few conversations between the protagonists, this book brings up some theological questions that really do need to be addressed in a story like this---this aspect of the plot was also lacking in the former book.
On the other hand, the characters are a bit more sympathetic in "Me and Mine," and I think character development is greater and more fully explored in that book as well. Plus, while (as noted above) the beginnings of both relationships are extremely ill-advised, the characters in "The Time of the Singing" rush ahead much more quickly in an extremely foolhardy manner, which made me want to shake some sense into them!
My only reservation about this book is I wanted just a bit more information at the end---I wanted to know how Israfel's family (his parents and brother, sister-in-law and niece) reacted to his new life.
I don't know that either "The Time of the Singing" or "Me and Mine" would be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed both of them and will recommend the pair equally. I certainly do plan to look up more of Louise Blaydon's work.
With that out of the way, the first thing that came to mind as I started this book was, wait a moment, this seems terribly familiar... Sure enough, the plot of this novel is pretty much EXACTLY the same as "Me and Mine" by Sarah Goodwin, a book I had read (and enjoyed) last year, and which I reviewed at that time. Each book has its own strengths and weaknesses, but for all intents and purposes they are telling the same story in an extremely similar fashion.
So, which one is better? It's difficult to say, and I don't think either is clearly superior to the other. "The Time of the Singing" is a bit more polished in style, a bit more lyrical in its descriptive prose. And it has a much better sense of place. That is, the church rules and rituals which form a backdrop to the story are much more skilfully described, and depicted in a realistic manner. I'll admit that the sense of a priest's place in the hierarchy of the church was lacking in "Me and Mine." And through a few conversations between the protagonists, this book brings up some theological questions that really do need to be addressed in a story like this---this aspect of the plot was also lacking in the former book.
On the other hand, the characters are a bit more sympathetic in "Me and Mine," and I think character development is greater and more fully explored in that book as well. Plus, while (as noted above) the beginnings of both relationships are extremely ill-advised, the characters in "The Time of the Singing" rush ahead much more quickly in an extremely foolhardy manner, which made me want to shake some sense into them!
My only reservation about this book is I wanted just a bit more information at the end---I wanted to know how Israfel's family (his parents and brother, sister-in-law and niece) reacted to his new life.
I don't know that either "The Time of the Singing" or "Me and Mine" would be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed both of them and will recommend the pair equally. I certainly do plan to look up more of Louise Blaydon's work.
February 14, 2012
4.5 stars.
The Time of the Singing is a deeply complex book, certainly not a m/m version of The Thorn Birds, as I originally thought when reading the blurb. It details the sometimes torturous life of Israfel Vacek, a priest who is also gay. He joined the priesthood in an effort to turn away from his homosexual leanings, and his faith is tested when one Nate Mulligan enters his life. Will he give it all up for love or take the safe path in what he considers his only road to salvation?
I am going to be completely honest here, I had a very hard time rating The Time of the Singing. On one hand, it is an incredibly written and well-plotted novel whose words leap from the page; but on the other hand, it has a protagonist priest (Raf) who sleeps with a seventeen year old boy (Nate) in his parish. While Nate is no blushing innocent, it still felt like an imbalance of power in the beginning of their relationship no matter how many times Raf tried to push Nate away. While some of this was alleviated by the fact it is Nate doing most of the seducing, it still was a controversial storyline to me.
However, in the end I was won over by Raf’s struggles and Nate’s strong determination to be loved, no matter the consequences. Louise Blaydon was able to write an impressive novel on a topic that might be considered risqué and write it amazingly well. Recommended.
Dark Divas Reviews
The Time of the Singing is a deeply complex book, certainly not a m/m version of The Thorn Birds, as I originally thought when reading the blurb. It details the sometimes torturous life of Israfel Vacek, a priest who is also gay. He joined the priesthood in an effort to turn away from his homosexual leanings, and his faith is tested when one Nate Mulligan enters his life. Will he give it all up for love or take the safe path in what he considers his only road to salvation?
I am going to be completely honest here, I had a very hard time rating The Time of the Singing. On one hand, it is an incredibly written and well-plotted novel whose words leap from the page; but on the other hand, it has a protagonist priest (Raf) who sleeps with a seventeen year old boy (Nate) in his parish. While Nate is no blushing innocent, it still felt like an imbalance of power in the beginning of their relationship no matter how many times Raf tried to push Nate away. While some of this was alleviated by the fact it is Nate doing most of the seducing, it still was a controversial storyline to me.
However, in the end I was won over by Raf’s struggles and Nate’s strong determination to be loved, no matter the consequences. Louise Blaydon was able to write an impressive novel on a topic that might be considered risqué and write it amazingly well. Recommended.
Dark Divas Reviews
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2011
4.5 stars. Ms. Blaydon is a new-to-me writer, but this book was definitely a pleasant surprise. It's told in present tense, which is a little weird, but the prose is lovely, and the present tense lends some immediacy to Israfel's crisis of faith. Israfel's faith is also not treated lightly, and he genuinely struggles to reconcile what he believes with what he feels; this part of the story is the most compelling.
What keeps the story from earning all of the fifth star are two things (mild spoilers): 1. Israfel's crisis is resolved via a dream sequence that is kind of a deus ex machina; I found this disappointing mostly because the rest of the novel is so well-constructed. 2. Once Israfel makes his big decision toward the end, everything seems kind of easy, but I kept expecting there to be more fall-out, or something more—time passes quickly in the last quarter of the novel, so it doesn't have quite the same emotional resonance that the earlier parts of the book did.
Still, Israfel is a well-developed and sympathetic character, and I found myself thinking about him even when I wasn't reading the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the story.
What keeps the story from earning all of the fifth star are two things (mild spoilers): 1. Israfel's crisis is resolved via a dream sequence that is kind of a deus ex machina; I found this disappointing mostly because the rest of the novel is so well-constructed. 2. Once Israfel makes his big decision toward the end, everything seems kind of easy, but I kept expecting there to be more fall-out, or something more—time passes quickly in the last quarter of the novel, so it doesn't have quite the same emotional resonance that the earlier parts of the book did.
Still, Israfel is a well-developed and sympathetic character, and I found myself thinking about him even when I wasn't reading the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the story.
no-thanks
May 14, 2013Fanfic turned "Original".
This book was originally written as a Supernatural (Dean/Castiel) fanfic titled "The Voice Of The Turtledove".
Summary: "Castiel was eleven years old when he first felt there was something wrong with him. He’s twenty-nine, a Roman Catholic priest in a small New England village, before Dean Winchester shows him that there isn’t."
This book was originally written as a Supernatural (Dean/Castiel) fanfic titled "The Voice Of The Turtledove".
Summary: "Castiel was eleven years old when he first felt there was something wrong with him. He’s twenty-nine, a Roman Catholic priest in a small New England village, before Dean Winchester shows him that there isn’t."
November 6, 2012
Love love love love love love love love love. Without question my favorite book of the m/m genre EVER. So well written, so beautiful. I've read it twice since the initial reading and love it even more.
September 28, 2018
There are two things to note about this book before I start my review. 1. This was originally Supernatural fanfiction. 2. Many of the details from the fanfiction remain in this version. The reason these things are important is because, had I read this as a fanfiction, I might have forgiven more things from it. However, this is supposed to be an original work of fiction, so I'm going to review it as such.
The story follow Israfel, a twenty-nine year old priest who fancies Nate, a seventeen year old boy from his church. The age gap is very clear in the text. I may have gone into this book a bit biased having seen the movie Spotlight all about the awful things priests have done to underage boys that have been covered up by the Catholic church. But I've been reading a lot of books with taboo subjects, so I decided to give this a try.
I have to say, I had my issues with the relationship between Israfel and Nate. It's stated that the age of consent in the state it's set is seventeen, but it never failed to be weird. Nate acted confidently, and everything that happened between them was consensual, but Israfel's behavior often rubbed me the wrong way. Israfel was quick to blame Nate for everything they did, telling him he'd corrupted him. Israfel tried to argue that even if he'd wanted to, he couldn't have stopped Nate from doing what he did with him. This bothered me so much because this is clear behavior you'd find in cases of molestation. I'm not saying that's what was happening here, but that's why it made me uncomfortable.
Putting that aside, I was really moved by Israfel's revelation. Israfel started off hating himself for being gay, wanting nothing but to remove that part of him. Israfel gave himself over to the priesthood to rid himself of all temptation, until he realized he couldn't stop being gay--obviously. I liked seeing his growth throughout as his thoughts changed on the matter. I was rooting for his growth, but I was still iffy about the relationship.
In the end, I was entertained with this book. I'm not sure I got anything out of it, though. I've had this book on my bookshelf for years and I never felt brave enough to read it, so I'm glad I finally did. I would like to mention trigger warnings for severe homophobia. It was giving me a headache. There were so many bigoted characters. It's definitely not a perfect book. It actually could do with some editing. But I didn't hate it, so there's that.
The story follow Israfel, a twenty-nine year old priest who fancies Nate, a seventeen year old boy from his church. The age gap is very clear in the text. I may have gone into this book a bit biased having seen the movie Spotlight all about the awful things priests have done to underage boys that have been covered up by the Catholic church. But I've been reading a lot of books with taboo subjects, so I decided to give this a try.
I have to say, I had my issues with the relationship between Israfel and Nate. It's stated that the age of consent in the state it's set is seventeen, but it never failed to be weird. Nate acted confidently, and everything that happened between them was consensual, but Israfel's behavior often rubbed me the wrong way. Israfel was quick to blame Nate for everything they did, telling him he'd corrupted him. Israfel tried to argue that even if he'd wanted to, he couldn't have stopped Nate from doing what he did with him. This bothered me so much because this is clear behavior you'd find in cases of molestation. I'm not saying that's what was happening here, but that's why it made me uncomfortable.
Putting that aside, I was really moved by Israfel's revelation. Israfel started off hating himself for being gay, wanting nothing but to remove that part of him. Israfel gave himself over to the priesthood to rid himself of all temptation, until he realized he couldn't stop being gay--obviously. I liked seeing his growth throughout as his thoughts changed on the matter. I was rooting for his growth, but I was still iffy about the relationship.
In the end, I was entertained with this book. I'm not sure I got anything out of it, though. I've had this book on my bookshelf for years and I never felt brave enough to read it, so I'm glad I finally did. I would like to mention trigger warnings for severe homophobia. It was giving me a headache. There were so many bigoted characters. It's definitely not a perfect book. It actually could do with some editing. But I didn't hate it, so there's that.
November 3, 2017
Hmmmm. So I appreciated the religious struggle in this. I grew up in a fairly conservative Christian home, so I GET IT, but I didn't really feel the LOVE. I also don't get why Nate had to be so young. It didn't seem to really add anything to the story.
May 19, 2013
Ever since I as a little girl watched the tv-narration of The Thornbirds in the 80's I've had a thing for romances involving catholic priests, so when I stumbled across this I just had to read it. And I'm glad I took a chance despite that it's told in present tense (something I usually steer clear of, because it's often just plain annoying). It took some time getting used to, but ultimately I think it worked, for me at least, thanks to the story and it's characters.
That this is a love story between a 29 year old man and a 17 year old boy, did not bother me at all, mostly because I'm from a country where age of consent is 15, and secondly because Israfel despite having been a practicing padre for ten years or so, is still stuck emotionally and sexually in the stage where he was when he entered the seminar. It's as if he has been on hold for the last ten years and this makes these two characters more similar than would otherwise have been believable.
All in all beautiful, romantic and quite hot. Nate is the pushing their relationship forward until Israfel is forced to make a decision not for his brother/family as he did en years prior but for himself this time. I was moved by how far Israfel had accepted to hide his true self in order to live accordingly to his brother's wishes, and I would have loved to see (read about)Michael's reaction when he learns about Israfel's decision.
That this is a love story between a 29 year old man and a 17 year old boy, did not bother me at all, mostly because I'm from a country where age of consent is 15, and secondly because Israfel despite having been a practicing padre for ten years or so, is still stuck emotionally and sexually in the stage where he was when he entered the seminar. It's as if he has been on hold for the last ten years and this makes these two characters more similar than would otherwise have been believable.
All in all beautiful, romantic and quite hot. Nate is the pushing their relationship forward until Israfel is forced to make a decision not for his brother/family as he did en years prior but for himself this time. I was moved by how far Israfel had accepted to hide his true self in order to live accordingly to his brother's wishes, and I would have loved to see (read about)Michael's reaction when he learns about Israfel's decision.
October 7, 2012
If you want to read a book with this theme, read by K.Z. Snow or by Alex Whitehall. Both of these stories deal with the subject matter with depth, clarity and maturity.
I had no trouble with the theme- clergy re-evaluates calling to celibacy. What I had a problem with is- Authority figure working out sexual identity with young hormonally charged person- Not wise or appealing to me.
This book tried to make an issue of gay and celibate vs het and celibate. It was foggy and not well described. The identity issues of gay vs straight need to be handled. The idea of remaining celibate and in the church or choosing to give-up the collar is an important decision to explore. Here it was all mashed together.
See the above mentioned books instead.
I had no trouble with the theme- clergy re-evaluates calling to celibacy. What I had a problem with is- Authority figure working out sexual identity with young hormonally charged person- Not wise or appealing to me.
This book tried to make an issue of gay and celibate vs het and celibate. It was foggy and not well described. The identity issues of gay vs straight need to be handled. The idea of remaining celibate and in the church or choosing to give-up the collar is an important decision to explore. Here it was all mashed together.
See the above mentioned books instead.
April 4, 2012
I really liked this book, and no, I don't have a problem with the age difference thing. Nate was 17, almost 18, and it was stated in the book that the state law for consent was 17, so really a non-issue. I felt bad for Raf having his best friend, his TWIN telling him he is sick and twisted and he needed to be "cured". It was a great journey of discovery for Raf. Sometimes he did sound like a whiny brat, but I think me was dealing with emotions and feelings he should have dealt with when he was younger, but couldn't because his family and church convinced him that he just needed to be a priest and all would be fine.Thank you Ms. Blaydon for an entertaining story.
March 8, 2013
This is a sensitive handling of a very tricky subject, and Louise Blaydon manages to bring her MC, Israfel, to peace and happiness at the end. I especially admired that she managed to make him content with his sexuality, through new understandings of the message of Jesus.
Although not a religious person, I really enjoyed the journey the pair, Israfel and Nate, had to undertake.
A thoughtful, yet romantic and hot book.
Although not a religious person, I really enjoyed the journey the pair, Israfel and Nate, had to undertake.
A thoughtful, yet romantic and hot book.
i-dont-think-so
November 17, 2011Priest and underage sex
November 19, 2011
3.5 stars. I kind of like the last chapter so I'm rating it with 4.
August 7, 2013
This book was so sweet and so fascinating. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it was absolutely mine.
January 28, 2012
4.5 stars
October 10, 2014
Close to five stars though ;)
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