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In Jupiter's Shadow

by Gregory Gerard (Goodreads Author)

3.94 · rating details · 16 ratings · 14 reviews

Searching for self-truth, a religious, teenage "detective" confronts Heaven and Hell as he struggles to solve the mysteries of sexuality and faith within a family full of secrets.

Paperback, 263 pages

Published August 7th 2009 by Infinity Publishing (first published 2009)

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Feb 07, 2010

Jen Knox rated it

In Jupiter's Shadow is a memoir that interweaves stories from childhood and young adulthood as Greg Gerard searches to understand his own desires and develop a clear sense of identity.
The scenes recaptured from Gerard's coming-of-age tale are vivid and well-written. The reader is introduced to an imaginative young boy, who craves adventures like those he reads about in mystery stories and feels a sort of disconnect from a dynamic cast of family members. Gerard recounts his desire to belon...moreIn Jupiter's Shadow is a memoir that interweaves stories from childhood and young adulthood as Greg Gerard searches to understand his own desires and develop a clear sense of identity.
The scenes recaptured from Gerard's coming-of-age tale are vivid and well-written. The reader is introduced to an imaginative young boy, who craves adventures like those he reads about in mystery stories and feels a sort of disconnect from a dynamic cast of family members. Gerard recounts his desire to belong and yet he feels a sort of wanderlust and longing that he can't quite pinpoint at a young age. "Everybody seemed to know who they were. And how to belong. Everybody except me."
Meanwhile, the exposition in these scenes is subtle, and instead of being told what Gerard thinks, the reader is given beautiful and heartrending portrayals of a young boy's grasping at meaning. Grappling with his family's devout Catholic beliefs, he sets out to prove at a young age that he too is good and wholesome, that he belongs. He reads "Our Lady of Fatima" and is so moved to emulate the sacrifice of the children in this story that he attempts to sleep on boards, secretly, in order to redeem the souls of sinners. Such scenes are heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time, and they paint the portrait of a boy who merely wants to do what he's been taught is right. Meanwhile, it seems that the tug of something else, something mysterious, is tempting Greg toward a different truth from that of his parents' beliefs and toward an identity that does not fit that which he feels he has to live up to. There is a sense of mystery to the world of this little boy that, at first, seems ominous and worrisome, but ends up being the very thing that will give him the answers he desires and teach him to define, for himself, a path that isn't so much rebellious as it is necessary.
This is a story about religion and sexuality; it is a story about family and wanting to fit in; but mostly, this is a story about the human experience, and what it means to be and feel whole, to develop a clear sense of identity, and to demystify patterns of behavior that, when kept secret, can truly act as a destructive force to a person's psyche. This is a brave and beautiful book about self-acceptance, and just how tough it is to achieve. Moreover, it's a fine piece of writing.
I can't recommend it highly enough.(less)

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Aug 24, 2009

Grady rated it

'I couldn't solve the mystery of my sexuality.'

One of the literary pleasures of this year is the discovery of a gifted new writer by the name of Gregory Gerard. Though IN JUPITER'S SHADOW is his first venture into the world of the novel, Gerard gives notice of a writer of great skill and a mind capable of understanding and relating the manner of thinking and coping with the world that faces the developing young people of today. This is a story rich in content, in conveying the parame...more'I couldn't solve the mystery of my sexuality.'

One of the literary pleasures of this year is the discovery of a gifted new writer by the name of Gregory Gerard. Though IN JUPITER'S SHADOW is his first venture into the world of the novel, Gerard gives notice of a writer of great skill and a mind capable of understanding and relating the manner of thinking and coping with the world that faces the developing young people of today. This is a story rich in content, in conveying the parameters of life in a family surrounded by the tradition of the Roman Catholic view of life yet sharing the many methods of hiding inconsistencies from the Confessional on the part of both parents and children, of the influence of the times between the years 1979 and 1984 on the maturing of teenagers, and of the struggle and turmoil of coping with sexuality that faces so many of the youngsters (and adults) paralyzed by the expectations of society. Yes, this is a coming of age story but it is so much more. With this book Gregory Gerard enters the arena of the best of authors who deal with the struggles of boys becoming men in Middle America (and throughout the country).

The main character, Greg, is a young lad who has always preferred living in the world of make believe, patterning his world view after the character detective Jupiter, a chubby but oh so wise and clever fictional boy who leads the pack in a series of books called `The Three Investigators.' Gerard opens his book with some family background in 1973 where we meet his family - Drinking Dar the alcoholic father, The Booker his coping organized mother, his five older siblings including a delicate portrayal of a brain injured brother Paul, Greg's sobriquet as `The Caboose' (suggesting his place in line of a family that could have easily done without him), his funky Gram who has terms for everything, and the various priests whose influence is felt at every turn. From this starting point Gerard allows us to grow along with and accompany Greg through his adventures as a detective, as a boy who longs to be `normal' but who prefers boys as his night dream stimulators for his forbidden acts of release.

Bouncing back and forth between the years 1979 and 1984 (a very clever and well devised method of introducing and explaining a child's progress) Gerard comfortable takes us through Greg's steps towards finding his identity: as Greg chronicles his life he writes in his journals `Gram's death. Longing to be a priest. The Bathtub. Adam. Building Headquarters, Saint Mike's graduation. Going to McQuaid. Robberies at Gerard's Grocery. Prayers for normalcy. Backrubs with Bob. Roy's death.' Each of these notations represents featured incidents in the boy's progress to find himself and become the man he is despite the stumbles in the way of his journey. This is a story of the rigors of accepting self, especially when that self happens to be at odds with society. Gerard has the sensitivity to allow the quasi-dysfunctional family to still bear the fond memories even the worst of families retain in each of our minds. He also is kind to the influences of the variety of priests from the Catholic Church who influence the various steps in Greg's development. And he allows us to witness and experience the delicacy and trauma of falling in love, even when falling in love imports the same sex variety.

IN JUPITER'S SHADOW is one of those books the reader wishes would never end, so welcome and treasureable is the journey with Greg - a young man we all grow to love and admire. Filled to the brim with brilliant writing, with page after page of hilarious storyline, and equally suffused with sensitivity for issues of living and dying we all learn to face, IN JUPITER"S SHADOW is a little dream of a book. Very Highly Recommended for all readers.

Grady Harp(less)

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Jul 17, 2010

Suzanne rated it

This is a well written memoir of a young boy becoming a young man and learning about his sexuality in a world hostile to that view. I learned a great deal about the personal struggle of this young man who recognized that his feelings were not the norm in his family or his world. There is nothing brave or significant that draws the story out. The significance is that this is a truth for this young man and in his world that truth is not welcome.
Overall a lesson about the difficult decision ...more

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Oct 19, 2010

Rose rated it

Recommended to Rose by: Greg Gerard

Shelves: memoirs, coming-of-age, arc-or-galley

Gregory Gerard's memoir "In Jupiter's Shadow" is a coming of age story that pulls no punches in its portrayal. Told in a series of entries spanning across the years from his boyhood up until his years in college, it creates an interesting dynamic with the author's fascination with heroes in the mystery genre, including the title's namesake, taken from Detective Jupiter Jones from "The Three Investigators."

I received this as an offer to read electronically from the ...moreGregory Gerard's memoir "In Jupiter's Shadow" is a coming of age story that pulls no punches in its portrayal. Told in a series of entries spanning across the years from his boyhood up until his years in college, it creates an interesting dynamic with the author's fascination with heroes in the mystery genre, including the title's namesake, taken from Detective Jupiter Jones from "The Three Investigators."

I received this as an offer to read electronically from the author himself (Thanks Greg), and I have to say in the aftermath that this was an eye opening read for me. I usually like to read any books that allow me to have a different perspective on issues and portrayals, especially where it comes from a level of intimacy. This was a very different book for me to read because of the parallels made with the subject matter. To be able to not only paint such a vivid portrait of his experiences growing up in a close-knit family with their share of tough experiences and ideals, and give such an intimate account of the issue of sexuality is a feat that's challenging in and of itself. For what the work promises upon, it delivers quite well. Gerard's prose is smooth and easy to follow, and radiates a combination of humor, heartbreak, awkwardness, and frankness that I respected in areas of the work.

I did have a few qualms in the aftermath of reading "In Jupiter's Shadow", and some of these may be more nitpicks than anything else. I think the work could've had tighter and more even presentation of the themes revolving in the work, even to where the mystery parallels could've been played up a bit. One of the lines that Gerard mentions - "I couldn't solve the mystery of my sexuality" - is a powerful idea standing in itself, especially when he comes to terms with this realization where it hits in the latter part of the book. However, I think this idea could've been presented more evenly in a way where it retains its tone throughout, rather than in places where the ideas aren't as seriously conveyed. I realize that this might've been intentional because the book shows the transition from where certain ideas radiated from one point in the account to the next, but the way it read in spurts wasn't as smooth as it could've been.

Nonetheless, I did find the memoir well worth the time and the read.

Overall score: 3/5(less)

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Sep 23, 2010

Tamara rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to read In Jupiter's Shadow by Greg Gerard the author of the book. He kindly sent me a copy to download onto my iPad and read it I did. I really enjoyed the way the book was written as I really enjoy true stories and stories that are from the heart. This story was so interesting to read. Full of excellent content about his life. Topics included in the book are his family life and how it was to grow up in a family surrounded by the tradition of the ...more

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Dec 08, 2009

Sonja Livingston rated it

I blurbed this book--here's what I had to say: "Greg Gerard delights and entertains as he energetically and systematically tackles the mysteries of God, family, and later, sexuality. Making use of all the clues (in pop culture, relationships, and religion), Greg takes readers along on a colorful quest to solve the ultimate mystery; to discover a sense of self."

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Apr 18, 2010

Stephanie rated it

Shelves: firstreads-books-won, memoir, non-fiction

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This book is written as a "memoir/mystery" of the author's life. It is the story of a boy growing up in a devout Catholic family, trying to understand himself.

I found the book very readable, but especially, very real. Gerard obviously has a good memory for the thoughts and feelings he had as a boy, and the whole novel rang very true. The mystery aspect dovetailed nicely with the memoir aspect, and I ...more

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Jul 09, 2010

Tracy added it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: yes

Recommended to Tracy by: won

This was a book that I got from goodreads as a free giveaway. It was a pretty good book. I read it in one weekend and found it to be very thought provoking and honest. I am giving this book to a friend and hope she will find it as good as I did. It is a book about finding yourself. It is a memoir and it is one mans jounrey to find his own truth. Very good book.

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Oct 31, 2010

Rochelle rated it

I received this book through Goodreads.

This was such an extremely well written book that it left me wanting to read the "rest" of the story about what happened after.
A boy's coming of age story and of struggling with his sexual orientation, mixed with his devotion to his church and God made this struggle and final acceptance seem very real.
His large family was so well delineated that I felt I would know some of them if I met them. I especially found his father a fas...more

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Mar 29, 2010

Carrie Spurrell rated it

This is a great book. It is interesting to see a young boy become a detective while experiencing the changes of life.
I have to say I would have not picked this book up to read it if I saw it sitting on a shelf. I am so thrilled I had a chance to read it. It is the coming of age and the trials that we have to endure and sort through in life. The feelings of a young boy coming to terms with who he is.......WONDERFUL!!! Thank you Greagory Gerard you did a fantastic job. Thank you for the opp...more

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Jun 04, 2010

Vika rated it

I couldnt read the book, sorry. :( This is only the 2nd book i haven't been able to finish. I only read part one, i'm not into homosexuality, and i certainly wouldn't want to read about it.
I think the author should include that in the description, that this book is about growing up as a gay catholic, or whatever (i skimmed through the book, so i know he had at least one relationship with a guy..)Just an opinion.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

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Sep 26, 2010

Shannon rated it

I really enjoyed this book. I know at the base this book was about a guy coming to terms with being gay but really I think deep down it is just about being true to yourself an doing what is right for you. I liked that normal childhood events happened and slowly the realization took place not some big drama. Also this book was funny all the other "characters" the family and friends and even the Opes were funny! Wonderful book and so glad I read it!

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Apr 17, 2010

Brenda rated it

Great premise for a book, a topic that is hard to talk about but important. Needs refining. Details felt forced and juvenile (like middle school locker room talk),many could have been left out without compromising the core message. Would feel much better to sense the feelings, the struggle, the desires without the graphics. Would love to see it written less like a young teens diary and more of a process of growing and self-acceptance.

· see review

Apr 05, 2010

Belay_on rated it

I won this book on goodreads (yeah!), and even though I don't really relate to the story, I still enjoyed reading it.

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Markus rated it

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Nov 29, 2010

J. King marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, fiction-memoir

Aug 24, 2010

Beth NC rated it

Shelves: z2010-fall-seasonal-challenge, drama, fiction, zread-2010

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About Gregory Gerard

Gregory Gerard's work has been published by Tiny Lights, The Stone Table Review, and World Voice. He teaches writing part-time at Writers & Books, Rochesters adult literary center, and has been a guest instructor at the University of Rochester's Scholars Creative Writing Program.

His memoir, In Jupiter's Shadow, chronicles a religious boy's struggle with forbidden attraction.

Gerard lives in Roches

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