Full Circle

Full Circle
by Michael Thomas Ford

Full Circle
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Book Summary Information

Author: Michael Thomas Ford
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-08-01
ISBN: 0758210582
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Kensington

Book Reviews of Full Circle

Book Review: serious, if flawed
Summary: 3 Stars

"Full Circle" is a serious attempt to write a historic gay novel that covers the last half of the 20th century. In this it reminds me of, but is not as successful as, Felice Picano's "Like People in History." Ford's book reads too much like a timeline, going from major event to major event, with a liberal dose of unnecessary detail along the way. At times it seems like the author is simply lecturing, almost forgetting that these are the words of Ned, his narrator. The book's story, the relationship among three long-time friends, is too slight to carry the weight of the intended epic sweep, and they are moved around like chess pieces to make sure they are present at all the landmark occasions. The trivia that gets thrown in -- the co-librettists of "La Boheme," the man who introduced eucalyptus trees to California, the statistical makeup of Vietnam soldiers -- is a distraction.

That said, the book is still absorbing when it centers on the main characters, whose relationships are well-depicted. Jack and Andy are convincingly drawn, though Ned is little more than a foil for his more colorful friends. At times his behavior isn't exemplary, but the author wants to portray an attitude that was prevalent at the time, so Ned must step up. And while I'm sure that somewhere in America a gay boy dropped out of college to enlist in the Army and fight in Vietnam, as a college student at the time, I find it hard to believe.

(Ford is hardly alone among current writers who no longer make the correct distinction among I/me/myself, but because this is a first-person narrative, the constant errors are an irritant to anyone sensitive to this usage.) "Full Circle" would have been more successful had it been shortened and condensed, as the central story was compelling. It is my first exposure to this author, and I will seek out his other books.

Summary of Full Circle

In novels such as Last Summer and Looking For It, Michael Thomas Ford has honestly and lovingly explored the intimate details of gay men's lives, from hot sex and lasting relationships to friendship and the search for family. Now he's crafted his most extraordinary novel yet, a powerful saga of three friends and lovers whose story spans decades and whose bonds have finally come Full Circle.

History professor Ned Brummel is living happily with his partner of twelve years in small-town Maine when he receives a phone call from his estranged friend-Jack-telling him that another friend-Andy-is very ill and possibly near death. It is news that shatters the peace of his world for many reasons. And as Ned boards a plane to Chicago on his way to his friend's bedside, he embarks on another journey into memory, examining the major events and small moments that have shaped his world and his relationships with these two very different, very important men.

Growing up together through the restrictive 1950's and confusing '60's, Jackson "Jack" Grace and Ned Brummel took solace in their love for each other. But once they arrive at college in 1969 and meet handsome farm boy Andy Kowalski, everything changes. Despite Andy's apparent heterosexuality, both Jack and Ned fall hard for him, straining their close friendship. Soon, the three men will become involved in a series of intense liaisons and bitter betrayals, coming together and flying apart, as they alternately hurt, love, shape, and heal one another over the course of years. From the heady, drug- and sex-fueled days of San Francisco in the wild seventies to the haunting spectre of AIDS in the eighties and the righteous activism of the nineties, their relationship transforms and grows, reflecting the changes going on around them. Now, together again in the most crucial and intimate of settings, Ned, Jack, and Andy have another chance to confront the damage of the past and embrace the bonds of friendship and love that have stood the test of time.

Full Circle is a wonderfully moving chronicle of three friends that is also an unflinching, triumphant celebration of the power of gay friendships, of the deep bonds forged despite strong obstacles, and of the love that is ultimately the most important thing we can ever share.

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