Parallels That Cross

by Gary Graham

Parallels That Cross is a delightfully creative novel that will take you down literary paths like those you have explored with Barbara Kingsolver's books. Gary Graham interweaves stories of his two equally important main characters and presents their stories with diverse sentence and paragraph structure in a literary manner that may remind readers of Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See . Perfect for book clubs seeking an enjoyable alternative to dystopian or fantasy novels.

Parallels That Cross launches us into the worlds of ancient cultures, never before seen wildlife, parental and sex-based relationship anxieties, and the fundamentals of love - all wrapped around a man and woman presented as equals and given equal page time.

This novel pivots on Mica, an archaeologist, and Clay, an ornithologist, who are independently and simultaneously resolving their anxieties while searching in 1982 for extraordinary treasures hidden deep in the Peruvian wilderness. Mica is exploring for an ancient city she theorizes was founded by women led by a princess daughter of Peru's last reigning Inca ruler. Clay, working on his doctoral research on another side of the same mountain, is testing his new biodiversity model that predicts discovery of new avian species. Mica suffers from a lifelong self-doubt that she will turn out like her lesbian mother. Clay is tormented by his own nightmare that he has become his philandering dad. Ultimately, they must confront whether their lives are controlled by destiny or free will.

Rich with humor, poetry, music, imagery and using a creative story-telling format Parallels That Cross and 2019 William Faulkner - William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition Semifinalist Gary Graham deliver a novel unlike any you have experienced.

What Makes Parallels That Cross Unique
Mica and Clay
   - Their love of life, discoveries, music and humor coupled with childhood traumas.
   - Female and male main characters are given parallel and equal page time.
   - Characters portrayed realistically without the sanitizing constraints of mainstream media.
 Settings   - Experience the beauty and mysteries of Elfin forests and puna grasslands in Peru.
   - Quirky campus fun at Berkeley, Louisiana State University, University of Wisconsin and University of New Mexico.
   - A Peruvian culture rich with wonderfully gentle people you will want as friends.How the story is told
   - Genre bending - shifting easily among literary, thriller, romance and adventure fiction.
   - Side-by-side chapters to reveal Mica's and Clay's lives simultaneously.Discoveries
   - Explorations in nature and archeology that make you want to become a scientist.
   - Original poetry and humor that make you want to become a writer or comedian or both.

Book Excerpts
   - "I choose, navigating by grace and with gratitude. I choose, being queen of my inner kingdom."
   - Where Ewoks escape from Return of the Jedi to find a secret home on earth--one that no human has ever beheld.
   - "Free will, her strength undeniable, if you believe Destiny is merely in the eyes of the beholder."

312 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2020

About the author

Gary conducted research on bats and birds in Peru for his PhD at the University of New Mexico. He camped in cloud forests, caves, and next to a wonderful Quechua family while conducting his research. That research, camping and visiting unexcavated ruins all inspired parts of Parallels That Cross.

One of his earliest memories as a child is of his father telling him scary stories about nighttime creatures living in the Louisiana backwoods. Gary continued the tradition by telling similar stories to his children and to cub scouts around campfires. In doing so, he discovered the joys of a story well told and of an active imagination.

Gary's career path took him to Austin, Texas where he worked for Bat Conservation International and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as Director of the Wildlife Division until 2002. He then became Executive Director of Audubon Colorado until 2009 when he moved to Western Resource Advocates also in Boulder. While in Colorado Gary climbed twenty-two 14,000 ft mountains (14ers).

Gary retired early to tell more stories. He has published two nonfiction books, Bats of the World and the Texas Wildlife Viewing Guide, plus numerous scientific and popular articles. He now enjoys life, especially the ocean, in Massachusetts where he is married to Dr. Lauren Sullivan, an archaeologist that has worked in Belize for over 30 years. Gary has two adventurous adult sons who help keep him on his toes

Reviews

[Eugenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was originally drawn to read this book because it involved two academics - an archeologist and an ornithologist - who are both doing research in Peru. I thought that the descriptions of living and working in a beautiful, natural environment and ancient culture were well done. What didn't work for me was the first person point of view of both the main characters. These seemed a bit stilted and forced.

[D.J. Herda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first things you notice about Parallels That Cross is the juxtaposition of points-of-view right from Chapter One. Initially, we encounter Mica, the female character. And then we get an alternate but parallel take on things from the male character’s POV--Clay. Initially surprising, you soon enough get the hang of it as your mind adjusts to the task of deciphering who’s doing and feeling what and when, creating a stimulating mental challenge. By the time you’ve gotten through the first several chapters, the back-and-forth viewpoints seem natural and, in fact, welcomed.

So, fortunately, does the author’s descriptive prose, which at times waxes poetic. His use of pointed words takes us into the jungles on a journey most of us will never experience outside of books--and from alternative protagonists.

As you might expect, both main characters share some common bonds that keep their interwoven stories connected. Yet, they both differ enough so that you never feel as though the stories are repeated as we’re launched into the worlds of ancient cultures, exotic wildlife, social traumas, sexual enlightenment, terrorists, militias, internal strife, and physical demands skirting the edges of catastrophe. By the book’s finale, Mica, an archaeologist, and Clay, an ornithologist--both caught up in discovering their own science-bending realities--are as comfortable as any two characters trapped in a far more mundane lifestyle.

From hidden treasures and exotic wildlife to shattering earthquakes, roaring rivers, and fading dreams, in the end, both Clay and Mica are forced to face the reality that exists beyond the adventurous and scientific and embedded deep within themselves. It’s a journey I enjoyed taking along with them, and one I think you will, too. Highly recommended.

[Nina Avergun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy books where fiction weaves a story around captivating realities. Parallels That Cross does an excellent job with that and with the emotional connections we have with nature and within relationships. This novel is not bound by the artificial literary categories to which we are accustomed . . . it easily crosses genres. Parallels That Cross is literary fiction blended with accurate details and with big doses of adventure and contemporary romance fiction woven within. Gary Graham seamlessly fleshes out Mica and Clay, the main characters.

We get caught up with Mica and Clay as they encounter each other and make discoveries in their specialties of archaeology and ornithology, respectively. The author’s command of language has you feeling the enthusiasm and excitement of the moment - discovering new bird species and finding thru scientific analysis the site of what had been rumored to be an Inca city populated by women warriors. This is also a real behind the scenes look at the complexities of fieldwork; developing relationships with and working with the local Peruvians; living the terror of rebel captivity as they experience the day-to-day stress and fear that the local Peruvians live with.
This is a great read – a page turner, budding romance, suspenseful, fact mixed with fiction. Dr. Graham’s descriptions put the reader in the novel. I feel I have experienced an elfin forest, visualized never before seen bird species, felt the oppressive humidity of a tropical forest and the tingle of a new relationship. Enjoy!

[Lauren Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parallels that Cross is a book that grabs and holds your attention the minute you start reading. Gary Graham successfully weaves together travel, scientific discovery, with the eb and flow of a relationship over many years. The author’s in-depth descriptions bring the diversity of the elfin forest of Peru to life in a way that can only be done by someone who has spent considerable time in that environment. The novel focuses on the lives of Mica (an archaeologist) and Clay (an ornithologist) as they meet and travel between university life in the United States and research adventures in the jungles of Peru. Mica and Clay are both troubled by the behaviors of their parents and this impacts their view of themselves, each other, and how they approach relationships. Like many people, they both look at the decisions they have made and wonder how much they are really in control of life. Can they do things differently than their parents did or are they resigned to the same inevitable fates? Graham alternates between Mica and Clay’s perspectives as they navigate personal and professional choices throughout their lives. The characters are well developed, and as unrealistic as this is, I would love to be able to pop back into their lives ten years after the book ends to see how things turned out. The book is the perfect combination of action, adventure, and romance and is well worth the read!

[Laurence Hardy]

Review of “Parallels that Cross” a novel by Gary Graham; Outskirts Press, 302 p., 2020.

This story is about Mica and Clay, two research scientists on individual quests, and the turns of fate that bring them together, in very dangerous situations which force them to shift from an academic adventure into a survival mode.

Clay is a graduate student on a research trip to the Peruvian Andes in search of new species of birds and their ecological relationships. Mica is an archaeological graduate student in search of new discoveries about the impact of women on the Inca civilization in Peru.

This love story combines with the adventures that Clay and Mica experience in the wilds of the Peruvian highlands. They jointly experience two traumas that include surviving an earthquake and the horrors of being kidnapped by murderous guerrillas. Even though this is a fictional account, the story parallels some of the true-life adventures that are often encountered during real research in the neotropics. The customs and living conditions of rural Peru are fairly portrayed and reflect the vast knowledge, based on real research experience in the Peruvian tropics, that Dr. Graham brings to this adventure tale.

Laurence M. Hardy

[Bill Eley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, while a work of fiction, this book will take you closer to a scientific expedition in the New World tropics than you can get without participating in one yourself. There are many parallels in this book. Scientists from different disciplines conducting field work in similar ways, but also the perspectives of Mica and Clay, one after the other. Weaving the perspectives of these two together gives a fascinating look at the scientific method, at love, and at how our lives can intertwine and separate. The writing is personal, putting you there in camp in the mountains of Peru, at a scientific convention in San Francisco, or in the museum at LSU. The book in interlaced with interesting short poems that succinctly tie into the feelings of the characters as they move through their adventures. Dr. Graham has lived this - there's no other way to provide such an accurate portrayal of scientific fieldwork in the tropics, along with the dangers sometimes lurking under the surface of a foreign country. Fascinating science, deeply complicated relationships, how we make life decisions. It's all there.

[Naomi Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel that treats its characters like real people, flaws and all.
So many novels sanitize their characters, make them palatable for mainstream audiences. Not this one. Mica and Clay are allowed to be messy, uncertain, sometimes frustrating, and deeply human. Mica's self-doubt and Clay's anxieties aren't just backstory, they're woven into every decision they make, every step they take toward or away from each other. What I appreciated most is how the book explores complex themes, parental trauma, sexuality, destiny, love, without ever feeling preachy. It trusts the reader to sit with the ambiguity. The Spanish phrases scattered throughout made me feel like I was part of the world rather than just observing it from a distance. And the poetry? Mica's poetic lines are genuinely moving. One that stuck with me: "Free will, her strength undeniable, if you believe Destiny is merely in the eyes of the beholder".

I finished this book feeling like I'd lost friends and I mean that as the highest compliment

[Marie B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I laughed, I cried, and I now want to visit Peru."
Okay, where do I even start? First of all, Gary, your bio says you grew up off-the-grid in Louisiana and now you live near your grandkids? That alone made me love you before I even opened the book. But then I actually read it, and wow. Mica became a friend to me. I was rooting for her the entire time. And Clay? He frustrated me sometimes, but in that way where you know he's just trying to figure it out like the rest of us. The parallel structure of their stories was so clever, it felt like I was watching two rivers flow side by side, waiting for them to finally meet.
The emotional depth here is no joke. I had to put the book down a few times just to breathe and let things sink in. But I also laughed out loud at certain moments because Gary has this subtle wit that sneaks up on you. A beautifully human book. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.

[Michael F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm still searching for Chapter Zero and that's okay."

Alright Gary, I'll admit it: I was one of the people convinced there was a secret Chapter Zero. I scoured my Kindle, I flipped back and forth, I even asked my book club if they had a different version. You had us all fooled! But honestly, that little mystery made the reading experience so much more fun.
And the book itself? Incredible. The way you built Mica and Clay's parallel lives before they crossed paths was genius, it felt like watching two shooting stars travel across the sky, knowing they would eventually collide. And when they did? I was holding my breath. The "Mother" and "Who Can It Be Now" chapters gave me all the backstory I needed, even though I was initially greedy for more. I get it now. You trusted your readers to stay with you, and we did. This book is a journey I didn't want to end. Also, the grandkids mention in your bio made me smile, I have a feeling you're the coolest grandpa in California.

[Reta M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone with a background in science myself, I was curious about how Gary would balance the "hard facts" of nature with the emotional vulnerability of his characters. And honestly? He nails it. There's no artificial line here. The science feels organic, and the emotion feels grounded in something real. I read some of Gary's scientific publications after finishing the book, and it all clicked, this is someone who has lived in both worlds. Who has knelt in the dirt collecting data AND sat with his own heart, asking the big questions. That authenticity radiates from every page. The ending left me with so much to think about, especially around the theme of "creative tension" that Gary mentioned in his discussion responses. That tension between loving people and loving wild places, between running away and finding home, between logic and emotion... it's all here, and it's all beautiful. This book made me want to write again.

[Flavia · Rating 2 out of 5]

As of my writing this, there are seven other reviews on this book, all but one of which are made by very obvious puppet accounts who have only read this book. It's not even subtle that their reviews are all written by the same person, either. For that reason alone I'm tempted to give this one star.

The writing is also, to put it plainly, very poor. Perhaps with some very serious editing, something readable could be salvaged from it, but at this point it's more of a checklist of literary sins: the overblown language of a highschooler trying to impress someone, character thoughts and dialogue that rocket between bland and borderline nonsensical, and a first-draft-like lack of focus, just to name a few.

Two stars for the setting and subject matter, which could have been very interesting if better executed.

[Marie Švecová · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Parallels That Cross some hours ago and I still can't stop thinking about it. The way Gary writes about the Andean forest, it's not just a setting, it's like a living, breathing character that holds secrets and silence and ancient wisdom. I grew up around nature but I've never felt it the way I felt it in these pages. What struck me most was how real Mica and Clay felt. They weren't just characters on a page, they were people I wanted to sit with and ask, "Are you okay? Really?" Their fears, their hesitations, their quiet hopes... I saw myself in both of them. And the way love is explored here not as a fairy tale, but as something messy and complicated and worth fighting for, that hit me right in the chest.

Also, can we talk about the ending? I won't spoil it, but I sat staring at the last page for a long time. Just... wow. This one stays with you.

[Steve K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm the one who asked about coincidence vs. destiny in the discussion thread, so I was thrilled when I saw Gary's thoughtful response. And let me tell you, by the end of the book, I got my answer. The way he explores these big questions through Mica and Clay's relationship is so subtle and masterful. It doesn't preach. It just... shows you. What I loved most is that this isn't a book about perfect people finding perfect love. It's about flawed, scared, beautiful humans who are trying their best, often failing, but still showing up. The tension between wanting to run away and needing to find your place, that hit me hard. I'm still unpacking it.
The Andean setting is breathtaking, but honestly, the landscape of the characters' inner lives is what will stay with me. This is the kind of book that makes you a better person just by reading it. Thank you, Gary.

[Carolyn C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science and soul, side by side.

As someone with a background in biology, I was skeptical about how a novel would handle scientific themes without either dumbing them down or getting bogged down in jargon. Gary Graham nails it. The way he balances Clay's ornithological research with Mica's archaeological theories, both equally compelling, both given equal weight, is masterful. There's a scene where Clay is testing his biodiversity model, predicting new avian species on the mountain, and I found myself genuinely invested in whether he'd find what he was looking for. But the science never overshadows the humanity. The question at the heart of this book, are we controlled by destiny or free will? is one I'm still wrestling with. This is the kind of novel that makes you want to read it again just to catch what you missed the first time.

[Patricia D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poetry caught me off guard, in the best way.

I wasn't expecting poetry in a novel about archaeologists and ornithologists in Peru, but wow, did it work. Mica's poetic interludes are woven into the narrative so naturally that they feel like breath. My favorite was the one about intimacy and disconnection: "Talking leads to touching; Leads usually to smooching; Leads to intimacy I have to fake; Leads to love that I cannot make". That hit me like a punch to the chest. It's raw and honest and painfully beautiful. The way Gary switches between Spanish and English throughout the book added another layer of richness. It made me feel like I was actually there, surrounded by the culture, trying to piece together meaning from context. This book is a full sensory experience, sight, sound, smell, emotion. I haven't read anything quite like it.

[Kathryn M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book club's dream, so much to talk about.

My book club picked this up on a whim and we ended up talking about it for three hours. There's so much here: the parental anxieties, the question of destiny versus free will, the tension between running away from your past and finding your place in the world, the way love for people and love for nature can coexist or compete.
One of our members connected deeply with Mica's fear of becoming her lesbian mother not because of any judgment, but because of the universal terror of repeating family patterns. Another was fascinated by Clay's nightmare of turning into his philandering dad. We talked about whether they were running away or simply trying to become different versions of themselves. The book doesn't give easy answers, and that's what makes it so good. Perfect for book clubs seeking something beyond dystopian or fantasy.

[Harry Thornber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humor, heart, and hidden treasures.

I picked this up thinking it would be a straightforward adventure novel, archaeologist and ornithologist searching for treasures in Peru, how could it not be? but it's so much more than that. The adventure is there, don't get me wrong. The suspense had me holding my breath more than once. But the emotional depth is what kept me hooked. What surprised me most was the humor. Gary Graham has this dry, subtle wit that sneaks up on you in the middle of tense moments. There's a section about "Ewoks escaping from Return of the Jedi to find a secret home on earth" that made me laugh out loud. And the original poetry sprinkled throughout is genuinely good. This book is genre-bending in the best way, literary fiction, thriller, romance, adventure, all folded into one. I've already recommended it to three friends.

[Tyson Corbeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt the oppressive humidity. I felt the tingle of a new relationship.

This is one of those rare books where the setting becomes a character in its own right. Dr. Graham's descriptions are so vivid that I felt like I was walking through the elfin forests, feeling the oppressive humidity of the tropical forest, hearing the calls of birds that might not even exist yet. His background as a scientist shines through in the precision of the details but it never feels like a lecture. It feels like being invited into a world he genuinely loves. And the relationship between Mica and Clay? It unfolds so slowly, so tentatively, so realistically that I found myself whispering "just talk to each other" at the page more than once. The "tingle of a new relationship" is captured perfectly, that mix of excitement and terror and hope. I haven't been this invested in fictional characters in years.

[Florence J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually someone who reads literary fiction, but this book found me at the right time. Gary's writing is so vivid that I could practically smell the damp earth of the Andes and hear the wind moving through the trees. And the way he weaves science and emotion together? I didn't know that was possible. I had to pace myself because every chapter made me want to stop and reflect on my own life. There's a line somewhere about how "the journey is full of beginnings and endings" and that's stuck with me ever since. I've been thinking a lot about my own relationships and where I'm running toward or away from. This book held up a mirror, and honestly, I needed that.

Thank you for writing this, Gary. It made me want to be more present in my own life.

[Melody S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parallels That Cross by Gary Graham is two reads in one! It is about the life of Mica, an archaeologist, and Clay, an ornithologist, who meet while on student research journeys in the jungles of Peru. The adventures and discoveries these two take the reader through - before they meet, when they meet, and after they meet - are full of fun, torture, death, and love. I particularly loved the imagery and poetry used to bring the story alive to the reader. For someone who has never been on a journey to Peru looking for lost cities or trying to discover new species of birds, I actually got to travel and experience what it is like through Graham's Mica and Clay. I highly recommend this read!

[Amelie Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I've traveled through time and space.
Gary, I don't even know where to begin. This book transported me. I've never been to Peru, but I felt like I was walking through those forests right alongside the characters. The details were so vivid, the light, the sounds, the smells. I could tell you've lived this. It's too real to be imagined. But what surprised me the most was how much I connected with the characters' inner worlds. The fear of becoming like your parents? The weight of making choices that define your whole future? I felt that in my bones. I cried at parts I didn't expect to cry at.
And the poetry later in the book, just beautiful. I won't say more so I don't spoil it, but if you're reading this review and haven't picked up this book yet, do yourself a favor and start tonight. You'll emerge different on the other side. Thank you for this gift, Gary. Truly.

[Shirley LaFleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parallels That Cross reminds us that there are still real-life adventures to be had and new discoveries to be made. And, also, life lessons about ourselves to be learned. Gary Graham offers a view into the fascinating work being done today by scientists: helping to discover and protect the rich evidence of our past, increase our knowledge of our ever-changing world today and, hopefully, make this world a better place for all life forms in the future. It held my attention from the first page to the last.

[Nancy Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parallels that Cross brings the reader into one of the most remote and amazing places left on the planet. The beautifully descriptive language depicting the heart of Peru's cloud forest, and the suspenseful portrayal of real discovery (biological and archeological) made this a page-turner. There are some difficult and harrowing parts of the story as well, and the characters are developed using their individual points of view as the story unfolds. Their connection to each other is palpable throughout the story. Worth the read!

[Noah Sneddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to become a writer. I don't say this lightly, but Parallels That Cross inspired me to start writing again. There's something about the way Gary Graham structures his sentences and paragraphs that feels both literary and accessible, it reminded me of Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See in the best way. The side-by-side chapters revealing Mica's and Clay's lives simultaneously is such a clever narrative device, and it kept me turning pages because I needed to know what was happening to both of them at the same time.

I also loved learning about the inspiration behind the novel, that it was spurred by an actual research expedition in Peru and that a chance encounter decades ago inspired the meeting of Mica and Clay. Knowing that this story has roots in real life made it even more meaningful. This is the kind of book that reminds you why reading and writing, matters.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Louie Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rooted for both of them equally and that never happens.

Usually when I read a book with dual protagonists, I end up favoring one over the other. Not here. Gary Graham gives Mica and Clay equal page time, equal depth, equal emotional weight, and I found myself genuinely torn between whose story I was more invested in. Mica's search for a lost Inca city founded by women? Fascinating. Clay's quest to discover new bird species in the same mountain range? Equally compelling. The way their parallel lives eventually cross and the "horrific circumstances" they face together, had me turning pages well past midnight. And the title itself is explained so beautifully when Dr. Elize tells them that "the exceptional thing with the two of them was how parallel their lives have been and their parallels crossed in that mountain". That line gave me chills.

[Ginger Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story that actually feels real, messy, complicated, and worth it.

I finished this book two days ago and I'm still carrying Mica and Clay with me. What struck me most is how unromanticized the romance is, not in a bad way, but in a way that feels like actual human beings fumbling toward each other. The parallel structure of the chapters was brilliant because you get to see both of them wrestling with their own demons before they even meet. Mica's fear of becoming her mother and Clay's terror of repeating his father's mistakes? I felt that in my bones. The way Gary weaves their childhood traumas into their adult choices is so subtle but so real.

And the setting! I've never been to Peru but I feel like I have now. The elfin forests, the puna grasslands, the humidity, I was there. This book made me want to become an archaeologist or an ornithologist or both. What a gift.