The Dove in the Belly, by Jim Grimsley
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The Dove in the Belly by Jim Grimsley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ronny and Ben are unlikely lovers. They met their junior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the mid-1970s. By happenstance, they are living in the same dorm, Ehringhaus, the dorm that houses a good many Carolina athletes. Ben is at Carolina on a football scholarship, and he is big and solid and confident. He walks with an "easy jock swagger," and "has a steady stream of girlfriends" (front cover). He has been redshirted and needs to get his grades up, and finish incompletes. Ronny, also on a scholarship, is small and slight, an English major, and he works for the campus paper, The Daily Tar Heel. Ronny is keeping a secret: he's gay.
Nicknamed "Brainhead" and "Egghead" by the jock bros, Ronny becomes Ben's "pet tutor." So their relationship begins. They connect in their own bubble, which is "as surprising to Ronny as it is to Ben. Within in [the bubble] their connection ignites physically and emotionally" (front cover).
They are tested. Ronny's mother has found her latest husband and moved to Las Vegas, leaving him homeless. Ben's mother is struggling with cancer. Ben lives in a world that assumes he is straight. Is their bubble strong enough? Their connection? Are they strong enough, brave enough?
Beautifully written by one of my favorite authors, this love story moved me a great deal, with its truthful and honest portrayal of love tested by grief, tested by the world.
Recommended.
View all my reviews
The Dove in the Belly by Jim GrimsleyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ronny and Ben are unlikely lovers. They met their junior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the mid-1970s. By happenstance, they are living in the same dorm, Ehringhaus, the dorm that houses a good many Carolina athletes. Ben is at Carolina on a football scholarship, and he is big and solid and confident. He walks with an "easy jock swagger," and "has a steady stream of girlfriends" (front cover). He has been redshirted and needs to get his grades up, and finish incompletes. Ronny, also on a scholarship, is small and slight, an English major, and he works for the campus paper, The Daily Tar Heel. Ronny is keeping a secret: he's gay.
Nicknamed "Brainhead" and "Egghead" by the jock bros, Ronny becomes Ben's "pet tutor." So their relationship begins. They connect in their own bubble, which is "as surprising to Ronny as it is to Ben. Within in [the bubble] their connection ignites physically and emotionally" (front cover).
They are tested. Ronny's mother has found her latest husband and moved to Las Vegas, leaving him homeless. Ben's mother is struggling with cancer. Ben lives in a world that assumes he is straight. Is their bubble strong enough? Their connection? Are they strong enough, brave enough?
Beautifully written by one of my favorite authors, this love story moved me a great deal, with its truthful and honest portrayal of love tested by grief, tested by the world.
Recommended.
View all my reviews
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