Wonder, Dan Boyle’s second novel about a gay scientist’s attempt to unravel the secrets of the universe while caring for his dementia-suffering, time-warped mother, has been released by Lethe Press.
Part family drama, part gay love story, part science fact/fantasy – Wonder
is a departure from Boyle’s first book, Huddle
, which follows the lives of nine gay men both on the field and off as they vie for the West Los Angeles Flag Football Championship.
is a departure from Boyle’s first book, Huddle, which follows the lives of nine gay men both on the field and off as they vie for the West Los Angeles Flag Football Championship.“I’ve always been fascinated by how scientists seek God by studying the Universe, as if the two are interchangeable,” Boyle said. “I wrote Wonder as a method of self-discovery, and the story led me on a journey about why we are here and whether there could possibly be a common consciousness that we all share, if we know how to look for it.”
as a method of self-discovery, and the story led me on a journey about why we are here and whether there could possibly be a common consciousness that we all share, if we know how to look for it.”Critics and authors are praising Wonder for its inventive story line and strong cast of characters.
for its inventive story line and strong cast of characters.“Boyle brilliantly allows esoteric concepts to be discussed in a way that sounds authentic, yet still resonates with our own existential anxieties and hopes,” writes book critic Jacqueline Houton. “Boyle’s ambition is a marvel to be admired … he attempts to take on the fundamental problems and joys of existence, and in so doing creates a universe composed not only of atoms but memories, held together by both gravity and by abiding love.”
“Dan Boyle has done the impossible; he has written a novel about everything important in the universe,” writes Marshall Moore, author of An Ideal for Living
, The Concrete Sky
and Black Shapes in a Darkened Room
. Moore called Wonder “a joy and a revelation and a discovery, like a tiny, perfect galaxy filled with warmth and hope and light.”
, The Concrete Sky and Black Shapes in a Darkened Room. Moore called Wonder “a joy and a revelation and a discovery, like a tiny, perfect galaxy filled with warmth and hope and light.”In Wonder, Caltech physicist Tom Flaherty’s mother is suffering from dementia that causes her to journey back into earlier periods of her life, especially when she is cleaning her house and finding personal items that trigger her memory. But Maude Flaherty’s travels – from the Scopes Monkey trial in 1925 to the 1936 Berlin Olympics to the Civil Rights March on Washington in 1963 – might be the evidence Tom needs to develop a unified theory of space, time and place, and also to reconnect with a society that he’s lost touch with since the murder of his partner Ken 10 years ago.
, Caltech physicist Tom Flaherty’s mother is suffering from dementia that causes her to journey back into earlier periods of her life, especially when she is cleaning her house and finding personal items that trigger her memory. But Maude Flaherty’s travels – from the Scopes Monkey trial in 1925 to the 1936 Berlin Olympics to the Civil Rights March on Washington in 1963 – might be the evidence Tom needs to develop a unified theory of space, time and place, and also to reconnect with a society that he’s lost touch with since the murder of his partner Ken 10 years ago.As Tom attempts to determine what is happening to Maude, the sense of wonder that disappeared after Ken’s murder returns, and his renewed quest for the meaning of life leads him into the national spotlight.
Dan Boyle lives in Los Angeles and is a native of Washington state. Wonder -- set primarily in Seattle and Spanaway Lake (a suburb of Tacoma) -- also captures the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the sensibility of its people and culture.
-- set primarily in Seattle and Spanaway Lake (a suburb of Tacoma) -- also captures the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the sensibility of its people and culture. Wonder was originally published under the title, “Housecleaning,” by The Haworth Press. The Haworth Press closed two months after the publication of Housecleaning, allowing only 800 original copies.
Lethe Press picked up the rights to the novel under a new title and cover.
For the past decade, Lethe Press has been making a name for itself as a leading LGBT publisher. Lethe Press announced it “is pleased to release Wonder, a book that showcases not only the struggle of a gay man seeking meaning in the chaos of life, but also reveals how vital family, both biological and assumed, play in our world.”
, a book that showcases not only the struggle of a gay man seeking meaning in the chaos of life, but also reveals how vital family, both biological and assumed, play in our world.”. My Take on the Book
This book seems to cover a bit of everything and what was most amazing was the vivid detail that the author uses in his description. The book does an amazing job at building an intricate web between the characters which the reader must deconstruct. Though this is the case, the author does an amazing job at pulling the various characters and concepts together, even though the topics were so vast.
This book seems to cover a bit of everything and what was most amazing was the vivid detail that the author uses in his description. The book does an amazing job at building an intricate web between the characters which the reader must deconstruct. Though this is the case, the author does an amazing job at pulling the various characters and concepts together, even though the topics were so vast.
There were times where I found myself saying, can he really be pulling all of this into one book, but the author did, and he does so without alienating his readers, instead he draws them into the story and leaves them asking for more.
This book will open your mind and make you want to continue reading from the first to very last page!
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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