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timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
5.0
This is a family/relationship drama involving characters one might not immediately associate with mainstream versions of this genre. The ways that all of the characters (even the 6 year old) deal with loss, crisis, conflict, and each other are honest, real, and therefore sometimes ugly. Important political issues are woven into the story as integral (but not overshadowing) parts of the personal narratives.
judithdcollins's review
4.0
Judith Frank’s ALL I LOVE AND KNOW, is a riveting account of love and loss, diversity, adoption, and finding your way back from tragedy to something beautiful.
Matthew and Daniel, a gay couple residing in Northampton, MA (before gay marriage is legal), where they are in a comfortable relationship, until their world is turned upside down.
Daniel’s twin brother, Joel and sister-in-law, Ilana, have just been killed by a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, and the gay couple’s life has been totally uprooted, as their wishes for their children’s care is left in their will.
When Matthew and Daniel, find out they will have the responsibility for the care of two young children, they are not prepared for what lies ahead.
Daniel is a little more grounded of the two, (however, he can be controlling), as Matt is younger, and more of the NY club scene, and unsure he is ready for this new lifestyle.
To further complicate matters, the grandparents, devout Holocaust survivors, are not happy with this arrangement, nor the secular, American Rosen’s about their grandchildren being raised by Matt, whom they don't really like.
Daniel is under tremendous stress and is still grieving, as he chooses to bear all the responsibility, and feels he is in the middle. He becomes emotionally distant with Matt, while Gal acts out, due to the tragedy, and the new living conditions. Daniel begins pushing Matt away, and you can imagine what happens next – everything goes downhill.
ALL I LOVE AND KNOW is a novel of flawed characters experiencing raw emotions, in a world and time of not so accepting gay couples, especially those raising children. When the book begins, not a lot of likable characters, and they are dealing with much stress; however, as the story moves along it is a powerful, beautiful, and moving one of complex and rich characters. As they grow in their love, communicate, and embrace their situation, they begin to experience real unconditional love, a true family bond, against all odds.
This was my first book by talented storyteller, Frank and look forward to reading Crybaby Butch, her first novel.
As always, the audiobook narrator, Peter Berkrot was divine, with a stellar performance!
http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.com/#!All-I-Love-and-Know/cmoa/0949CF5E-79AC-4A93-AAE7-7F355D4B4709
Matthew and Daniel, a gay couple residing in Northampton, MA (before gay marriage is legal), where they are in a comfortable relationship, until their world is turned upside down.
Daniel’s twin brother, Joel and sister-in-law, Ilana, have just been killed by a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, and the gay couple’s life has been totally uprooted, as their wishes for their children’s care is left in their will.
When Matthew and Daniel, find out they will have the responsibility for the care of two young children, they are not prepared for what lies ahead.
Daniel is a little more grounded of the two, (however, he can be controlling), as Matt is younger, and more of the NY club scene, and unsure he is ready for this new lifestyle.
To further complicate matters, the grandparents, devout Holocaust survivors, are not happy with this arrangement, nor the secular, American Rosen’s about their grandchildren being raised by Matt, whom they don't really like.
Daniel is under tremendous stress and is still grieving, as he chooses to bear all the responsibility, and feels he is in the middle. He becomes emotionally distant with Matt, while Gal acts out, due to the tragedy, and the new living conditions. Daniel begins pushing Matt away, and you can imagine what happens next – everything goes downhill.
ALL I LOVE AND KNOW is a novel of flawed characters experiencing raw emotions, in a world and time of not so accepting gay couples, especially those raising children. When the book begins, not a lot of likable characters, and they are dealing with much stress; however, as the story moves along it is a powerful, beautiful, and moving one of complex and rich characters. As they grow in their love, communicate, and embrace their situation, they begin to experience real unconditional love, a true family bond, against all odds.
This was my first book by talented storyteller, Frank and look forward to reading Crybaby Butch, her first novel.
As always, the audiobook narrator, Peter Berkrot was divine, with a stellar performance!
http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.com/#!All-I-Love-and-Know/cmoa/0949CF5E-79AC-4A93-AAE7-7F355D4B4709
lisawreading's review
3.0
This is a hard book to rate. If I could have carved out only parts of the story, I probably would have given this book 4 stars, at least. But given my massive frustrations with large chunks of it, 3 stars is perhaps overly generous.
All I Love and Know is the story of Daniel and Matthew, a loving couple (circa 2003) whose lives are completely turned upside down when Daniel's twin brother and his wife are killed in a Jerusalem suicide bombing, leaving behind two small children. Daniel, in shock and grieving, must also deal with the fact that his brother wanted him to take custody of the children and raise them in the US. A custody battle looms, as the maternal grandparents also want the children, and it's uncertain that the Israeli family court will grant custody to a gay couple.
If this book had focused on Daniel and Matthew's relationship and the unexpected challenges they face, on the plight of the orphaned children and their emotional devastation, on the characters' struggle to form a family and create a life... well, I might have loved this book. The characters are very engaging, and Matthew in particularly is sympathetic and lovely. The aching sadness of bereavement is conveyed so well, and I had to keep reading to see how everyone would fare in the end.
And yet... there is a strident, preachy political nature to this book that brought me *this close* to slamming it shut and walking away, over and over again. The author puts her political views into the characters' mouths incessantly, and it's harsh, one-sided, and -- for me, at least -- VERY hard to take. Which is a shame, because the story does not need all this posturing, and would be much better without.
Really, I have a hard time recommending this book. The human element is so good, and yet the political lecturing is so off-putting that it takes a real effort to get past it and focus on the characters and their lives. This was a decidedly mixed reading experience for me, and I'm not sure that the good outweighs the bad.
Want to know more? Check out my longer review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
All I Love and Know is the story of Daniel and Matthew, a loving couple (circa 2003) whose lives are completely turned upside down when Daniel's twin brother and his wife are killed in a Jerusalem suicide bombing, leaving behind two small children. Daniel, in shock and grieving, must also deal with the fact that his brother wanted him to take custody of the children and raise them in the US. A custody battle looms, as the maternal grandparents also want the children, and it's uncertain that the Israeli family court will grant custody to a gay couple.
If this book had focused on Daniel and Matthew's relationship and the unexpected challenges they face, on the plight of the orphaned children and their emotional devastation, on the characters' struggle to form a family and create a life... well, I might have loved this book. The characters are very engaging, and Matthew in particularly is sympathetic and lovely. The aching sadness of bereavement is conveyed so well, and I had to keep reading to see how everyone would fare in the end.
And yet... there is a strident, preachy political nature to this book that brought me *this close* to slamming it shut and walking away, over and over again. The author puts her political views into the characters' mouths incessantly, and it's harsh, one-sided, and -- for me, at least -- VERY hard to take. Which is a shame, because the story does not need all this posturing, and would be much better without.
Really, I have a hard time recommending this book. The human element is so good, and yet the political lecturing is so off-putting that it takes a real effort to get past it and focus on the characters and their lives. This was a decidedly mixed reading experience for me, and I'm not sure that the good outweighs the bad.
Want to know more? Check out my longer review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
More than the typical family drama book. With political, religious and same sex discussions, I loved how all these controversial topics were woven into this one family and their tragic story. Matthew and Daniel are monogamous partners living in Northern United States in a town that is very accepting of the lifestyle they have chosen to live. When one of them loses their brother in a terrorist bombing in a controversial place and time - Israel shortly after 9/11; they are now thrust into the middle of tragedy and drama.
I think no matter where you as a reader fall on the spectrum with each of the issues that are presented in this book, you can appreciate the family in the middle and enjoy how each of them are mourning and moving on with their lives. It is a little on the heftier book side, but that gave the author plenty of pages to delve into how long mourning can take and the ups and downs of a year after a family tragedy occurs. I also loved how none of these characters were perfect, instead they were so real and honest and I almost felt like I was sneaking a glance into someone's home - AND I loved it!
More than the typical family drama book. With political, religious and same sex discussions, I loved how all these controversial topics were woven into this one family and their tragic story. Matthew and Daniel are monogamous partners living in Northern United States in a town that is very accepting of the lifestyle they have chosen to live. When one of them loses their brother in a terrorist bombing in a controversial place and time - Israel shortly after 9/11; they are now thrust into the middle of tragedy and drama.
I think no matter where you as a reader fall on the spectrum with each of the issues that are presented in this book, you can appreciate the family in the middle and enjoy how each of them are mourning and moving on with their lives. It is a little on the heftier book side, but that gave the author plenty of pages to delve into how long mourning can take and the ups and downs of a year after a family tragedy occurs. I also loved how none of these characters were perfect, instead they were so real and honest and I almost felt like I was sneaking a glance into someone's home - AND I loved it!
wendyskeenan's review against another edition
1.0
I got about 2/3 of the way done and the book had yet to spark my interest. I kept hoping it would become more interesting and less stereotypical but it didn't, so I didn't even finish it.
megatsunami's review against another edition
4.0
LOVED this book. It had so many different elements of interest to me (the plot is about a gay couple from Northampton, Daniel and Matt, who adopt Daniel's niece and nephew when Daniel's brother and sister-in-law are killed in a suicide bombing in Jerusalem), but what really drew me in was how the author brought the story to life through so many insightful descriptions of moments from everyday life. I felt a constant experience of recognition of little moments about couplehood, parenthood, or just life in general. The dialogue sounded like real people actually talking. And the depiction of parenthood, as well as how the children respond and react to grief, felt so incisive and accurate. (The two kids in this book are similarly aged to mine right now, so I resonated with a lot of the parenting aspects of the story!)
Also, as someone who used to live in Northampton, I got such a kick out of all the "local color" - references to places, people, and things - which brought back vivid memories. It's clear the author lives in the Happy Valley! I loved moments like this:
"[Daniel] continued insisting that it was just an affair even after Matt moved permanently to Northampton [from New York], even after Daniel's friends began to tease him that his 'affair' had begun wearing Birkenstocks with socks, a virtual guarantee that he'd never be allowed back in the city."
Only criticism: I felt there was too much point-of-view switching between Matt, Daniel, and Gal. It did help to illuminate different pieces of the story, but it felt like a little too much.
Also, as someone who used to live in Northampton, I got such a kick out of all the "local color" - references to places, people, and things - which brought back vivid memories. It's clear the author lives in the Happy Valley! I loved moments like this:
"[Daniel] continued insisting that it was just an affair even after Matt moved permanently to Northampton [from New York], even after Daniel's friends began to tease him that his 'affair' had begun wearing Birkenstocks with socks, a virtual guarantee that he'd never be allowed back in the city."
Only criticism: I felt there was too much point-of-view switching between Matt, Daniel, and Gal. It did help to illuminate different pieces of the story, but it felt like a little too much.
hsimonton's review against another edition
4.0
very thought provoking relationship of a gay couple who end up adopting children
thain's review
4.0
A gay couple find themselves the guardians of a 6-year-old girl and a baby boy after one of the men's brother and sister-in-law are killed in a terrorist bombing in Israel. An emotional exploration of adoption, gay marriage, and the modern American family.