Books You Need In Your Life: Idlewild by Jude Sierra
(From my blog, which has a longer, more detailed review)
It all comes together here, in the restaurant Idlewild:
This cover, which is another glorious bit of work from Interlude Press’s art director, tells you right away that this is an intimate look at these two men–it’s not about the other characters. I feel like a voyeur in the best of ways. The book pulls you in immediately giving you a sense of intimacy, of longing, and of men who don’t know what they want other than for things to change.
[…]
This is a book that handles the issues of classism and racism (Asher, white, comes from privilege; Tyler, black, doesn’t. Their Detroits are vastly different entities, and yet they are both Detroit.).
This is also a massive love letter to both Detroits, which is really the one Detroit. This is a quiet introspection into a young widower’s grief and how he allows himself to love again. This is a powerful look at a young gay black man who believes his family’s future rests on his shoulders, but doesn’t know how to please them to achieve that goal.
But most of all, this is a deeply romantic story of two men who can see the other’s potential. Who love their city fiercely. Who want to love someone passionately and learn how to do so without reservation. (Ha. See what I… Sorry.)
This is a beautiful, masterfully written bit of literary romance. I do hope you’ll take the time to get to know these two men and the better world they’re trying to make in their little bit of Detroit. It’s worth it.
Buy Idlewild at your local bookseller, from the publisher, Amazon, or wherever fine books are sold.
Please support the writers trying to bring excellent literature that features diverse characters to the mainstream world by either buying their books, reblogging to bring attention to their books, or by requesting a copy at your local library. That’s how change happens! <3
Thank you for this lovely, lovely review!
