zane-riley:
I’m late to my own party, but I think it’s time for a
refresher course on my main boys...
I’m late to my own party, but I think it’s time for a
refresher course on my main boys in With
or Without You. I’m going to start with Lennox since he called dibs on the
front cover this time around.
When we left Lennox at the end of Go Your Own Way, he was in a rough state. It’s very uncertain what’s
next for him. Or if he’ll stay with Will’s family long-term with Will’s father’s
impending arrival home from the hospital.
Lennox’s story is such an integral part of these novels. His
journey and the depths of love and trust and family he learns to accept into
his life are what the heart of this story is all about. He’s not meant to be a
loveable, endearing character when you first meet him. Overall, Lennox is a
hard sell. Lennox is obnoxious. He’s crude, callus, inappropriate, lewd, and
even cruel. Seeing that is important; understanding how he got to this point is
crucial.
His life started as a lot of fortunate kids lives do: two
parents, grandparents, a decent house, food on the table, people who cared and
taught him life skills, good schools, opportunities. Until he was eight and his
mother killed herself. Lennox was left with a heartbroken father drinking away
the world and an infant sister’s care that fell Lennox’s less than capable hands.
He raised his baby sister, figured out how to deposit his dad’s checks and pay
the bills before his dad blew too much on alcohol and sorrow. He dealt with
daycares and trying to do his own schoolwork and taking care of his sister
instead of being a kid and making friends. By high school, he was a loner, and
his queerness made him a target for bullies.
It was around that time that his grandparents stepped back
in and took custody of them. Yet in many ways, life with homophobic, ableist, and
even racist, grandparents was no better for two biracial kids, one gay and the
other disabled. Lennox had already started to grow cold to the world, and life
with his grandparents solidified that.
He carries all of that with him. It’s the world that
structures his life and inability to trust. By the time he reaches the
beginnings of With or Without You, he’s
begun to trust Will, but it’s clearly still a struggle. Lennox has no plans for
life, no real direction beyond the moment he’s in, and part of his journey
focuses on that for With or Without You.
People’s stories are bigger than what they present to you. With or Without You delves further into
that. It’s time for Lennox to grow beyond himself—to realize he has a future to
look towards, and this Thursday, you get to follow him on the twisted road to
making those choices.
With or Without You is available July 21, 2016 from Interlude Press! Use the discount code WOWY in the IP Web Store to receive a free multi-format eBook edition with the purchase of a print copy of With or Without You.
