Kris’ New Year’s Readolution 3! To try a different author and/or genre once a month.
Almost Like Being In Love by Steve Kluger
The Blurb:
A high school jock and nerd fall in love senior year, only to part after an amazing summer of discovery to attend their respective colleges. They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.
Flash forward twenty years.
Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But something is missing …. Travis is the first to figure it out. He’s still in love with Craig, and come what may, he’s going after the boy who captured his heart, even if it means forsaking his job, making a fool of himself, and entering the great unknown. Told in narrative, letters, checklists, and more, this is the must-read novel for anyone who’s wondered what ever happened to that first great love.
Why I bought it:
Merwan recommended it when we were talking about the jock and the geek pairing in m/m romance. So, I bought it, loved it and am now gushing about it. You have been warned.
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ Or more of a warning~ The book is basically an epistolary novel in the form of letters, emails, memos, journal entries, checklists, conversations, exam questions and answers, etc. I was a bit hesitant about this given my mixed feelings about The Letter (or italicised text) in a work; however, I was thoroughly engrossed and, in all honesty, enthralled by the way the story was played out in these documents and media. It was fabulous.
Like~ If you don’t fall in love with the characters of this book there is something seriously wrong with you! They aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but, by God, are they human and all the more appealing for it. Travis in particular is such a unique, lovable, dorky character – how you can not love someone who gives his students extra credit for helping him with his love life?? – that I predict you’ll just want to yell at him, give him cuddles and then take him where ever he wants to go. He, and his friends’ reactions to him, is what makes this ‘great love’ story convincing.
Dislike~ This is a technical issue, which seems to be a recurring problem for me at the moment so it could be that I just suck at technology. *shrugs* Regardless, my ebook version did loose some of the formatting therefore I was not able to fully appreciate the affect of the epistolary (love this word – it’s my ‘word of the day’) form of the book. For eg, the checklists were just a complete mess. It was poo. Something to think about if you’re dithering between getting it in print or as an ebook.
Like~ This is a story about relationships as much as it is about the ‘one great love’ romance. It is about the friendships we make and the families we create ourselves. If you are anything like me you will gigglesnort your way through Almost Like Being In Love almost as much as you will sigh at the poignancy of it, and, once you’ve finished, you’ll want to open it up and do it all over again. 🙂
So, what I think: Awesome. Loved it. Go get it. It’s a keeper.
Well, what’re you waiting for?? Go on. Scat!
*sigh* Would you just get lost. You’re annoying me and I’ve got a book I want to re-read.
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‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to. Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Hmmm. Are you using that new e-reader you got? Maybe you have issues? Sounds interesting.
I read this book a couple of years ago and absolutely LOVED it. Too bad about the weirdness on the ebook version. I originally read the print version, but liked it so much, I bought it on Kindle too. Haven't read the Kindle version yet, but I bet the formatting issues are the same. Bummer.
After seeing your update about it on GR, it reminded me of his book Last Days of Summer, so I had to go re-read that and now I'm crying again. Seriously, you should read that one too. It's done in the letters, articles format etc like Almost Like Being in Love, though, so you may want to get the print book version.
“…The book is basically an epistolary novel in the form of letters, emails, memos, journal entries, checklists, conversations, exam questions and answers, etc. “
This sounds unusual! I like to see writers try new things. I mean, exam questions? How cool is that?
Sounds like an adorable read. 😀
Tam: Two different ereaders. The only common denominator is me. *sigh*
It IS interesting. 🙂
Richelle: I'm going to go to The Book Depository and buy this one in print as well as get the one you rec and “My Most Excellent Summer”. It's all about the glom. LOL.
Val, it is unusual and simply fabulous. It won the 2005 Lambada Award if that's any indication. 😉
The questions and answers were very cool, LOL funny and totally unexpected. I had a boy kitten on my lap who was most unhappy with being jostled around so much by my laughter.
Katiebabs chook: It was adorable and all the more so because Travis was such a lovable fruit loop. You gotta love a guy who not only teaches his students history by comparing it to baseball, but drops everything and does crazy things to find his first love. Terrific stuff.
Sounds interesting, I'll have to add it to my TBB. Thanks 🙂
“The questions and answers were very cool, LOL funny and totally unexpected. I had a boy kitten on my lap who was most unhappy with being jostled around so much by my laughter.”
Ha, ha! Comedy is so worthwhile!
Lily: An absolute pleasure to help you spend your money. 🙂
Val: Yes! And good comedy can be hard to find.
From some time now I'm planning a mini shopping spree at Book Depository… I think I'll add this one. You're a convincing seller, Kris!
… or maybe I'm a book slut too 😉
Book sluts have no need for pimps, do we, Sara. 😉
Let me know what you think if you do get it, Sara. I'll be interested to know.
“Someone in Italy bought Almost like Being in Love xx minutes ago”
That's me! I'll let you know as soon as I read it, Kris 🙂
I read that book at the beginning of the year. Totally fabulous. It was a keeper for me too :).
I'm so glad you liked it! I got it in print two years ago to read during a plane trip and absolutely loved it. I'll have to check out Last Days of Summer too.
Oh yeah, another new-to-me author and great-sounding book!
You reviewer-type guys have really been adding to my TBB list lately. Don't know if I should thank you or cuss you out. 😉
Sara: Cool!! I'm the one in Australia who buys all the yaoi. LOL.
Looking forward to hearing what you think of it, Sara.
Mary: Hey you! 🙂 Yep, it sure was terrific. I can't believe it's taking me this long before hearing about it, especially since everyone seems to like it so much. 🙂
Merwan: It's an awesome rec. Thank YOU! I've got the print copies of this and his other two novels winging their way to me from London as we speak.
KZ: I seem to recall someone bitching about review/readers blogs focusing on newbies?? Just giving my public what it wants, babe. 😉
On a more serious note, I reckon you will love this one. The humour is absolutely up your alley… *sigh* and not THAT alley.
I don't know whether to love u or hate u… And u don't wanna know what my hubby thinks of u..
I'm off to Amazon since I cannot resist.
Suzi.
Are you wishing that I had changed the name of the blog to 'Kris 'n' Gay Books', Suzi? LOL. Oh, and tell your hubby that I welcome fans of all persuasions. 😉
BTW, did you see what Wave got me for my b'day?? M L guest posting… just for me… SQUEEEEEE…
ok ok, no need to threaten…
Yeah I saw about the interview and I thought of you. My offer still stands for a birthday gift.
Suzi.
Ok, how can I not read this after that glowing taste??? You've sold me!
What version did you buy it in to put on your ereader? What kind of ereader do you have?
Suzi: Aww, yanno you don't have to get me a present. *I told you I'll email you. ;)*
Tracy: And how big is your tbr at the moment?? LOL.
I bought the Adobe PDF, which is actually an ePub version of it, directly from the publisher.
Oh honey you don't even want to know how many books are in the BS's TBR! lol
Actually I checked the LA County library and they had it! I almost fell out of my chair I was so shocked. I of course placed a hold on it so it should be here within 7 days – woohoo!
Sorry hit publish before I was done. Does your ereader take pdf's directly or do you have to convert them? With my ereader I have to convert them and the formatted gets completely FUBAR.
Cool. Let me know what you think of it after you've finished reading it. 🙂
My Sony eReader actually takes ePub or the Adobe Digital Editions or whatever the fuck it's called so the formatting should have been a-ok. Grrrr!
Kris,
I read about this book some time ago and put it in my Amazon cart bc the story and how it is written intrigued me, but since u gave it such a glowing review, Im going to have to get it pronto..
Ozakie
Ozakie, it's bloody good and the format makes it such a fun and unique read. Just don't blame me if you don't like it, ok. 😉
Kris the Pimp