BookLife Reviews
12/11/2023
In this entrancing memoir, Faire encapsulates how true love knows no gender. Having heard that Robert contracted an illness that threatens to invade his brain, Faire flies from the U.S. to England to tend to his ex-partner. Sincere in his care, he lets bygones be bygones and refuses to label their relationship as lovers again; instead, they remain steadfast in a friendship powered by profound love. They both believe Robert's physical suffering signals a spiritual awakening. As Robert gradually recovers, he is determined to leave the soulless banking world and is eager to start anew with River while reviving his artistic soul.
Ever an empath, Faire writes this memoir as a mindful examination of the heart and soul, and its interconnection with the divine, nature, and mystery. In his quest for Robert’s healing, Faire remains otherworldly in his careful attention to the dance between the earthly and ethereal with his lush portrayal of England’s landscape, savory descriptions of their shared meals, and exquisite taste in home interiors when they decided to leave Wimbledon and relocated to a Kent farmhouse—what they always wanted. "Our planet is the ultimate symphony of consciousness," Faire writes. Not a bird, a lamb, or a fox, escapes Faire’s attention. “Oddly, I’m not surprised to come downstairs and the man I live with is holding a bird in his hands,” Robert says.
Readers looking for traditional page-turners may find Faire’s memoir elegant but meandering, but this is precisely the book’s beauty. Faire can capture the intimacy in the mundanity of tending to sickness, sharing meals, and moving houses with his lover. A redemption of the dying-artist soul, a second chance at love, and pursuit of transcendence despite fear and shame, this memoir explores the unorthodox ways of loving, and how a conscious and mindful relationship is the ultimate relationship worth having.
Takeaway: Moving account of a couple’s second chance at a transcendent life together.
Comparable Titles: Will Schwalbe’s We Should Not Be Friends, Peter M. Nardi’s Gay Men’s Friendships.
Production grades Cover: A- Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A
From the Publisher
Editor's Pick "In this entrancing memoir, Faire encapsulates how true love knows no gender. [The author] writes ... as a mindful examination of the heart and soul, and its interconnection with the divine, nature, and mystery ... otherworldly in his careful attention to the dance between the earthly and ethereal with his lush portrayal of England's landscape... not a bird, a lamb, or a fox escapes Faire's attention. ... Readers looking for traditional page-turners may find Faire's memoir elegant but meandering, but this is precisely the book's beauty. Faire can capture the intimacy in the mundanity ... A redemption of the soul, a second chance at love, and pursuit of transcendence despite fear and shame, this memoir explores the unorthodox ways of loving, and how a conscious and mindful relationship is the ultimate relationship worth having." - BookLife Reviews by Publishers Weekly
"[A] charming and spiritual memoir ... Composed with immediacy and an old-fashioned whimsical tone, the narrative is underpinned with passion ... Faire's descriptions of the natural world are powerful and sensual ... indoors, too, where he delights in descriptions of food and cooking. Throughout the book, he navigates the chasm between the modern world and natural life ... reaching to refine what it means to be human." - Foreword Clarion Reviews
Indie Books We Love selection! "A celebration of food, nature and the spirit in this lyrical memoir where second chances create an opportunity for healing. ... Everything is described with an artist's keen eye for detail, whether it's an experience of nature or the preparation of a meal. The lyrical and almost meditative storytelling draws you into the moment as though it were a work of fiction. ... [A] really peaceful and charming narrative about embracing the unknown and new opportunities and trusting your intuition." - LoveReading, The UK's Leading Book Recommendation Website
"Where Two Worlds Touch is ... Faire's telling of his journey from 'happily ever after' to heartbreak and back again. Few writers have such keen self-awareness as Faire. [He] imbues each paragraph with an almost visceral sense of reality. Faire provides a unique perspective on reading the signs that life places in our path and ultimately following the intricacies of what the heart wants. An illuminating and bittersweet personal story of second chances." - Independent Book Review
"[A] moving, intensely sensual read. Faire has crafted a work that, while covering some bleak, even elegiac moods, is ultimately uplifting in tone and form. ... [The author] conveys the various sensations associated with life in another country, identity crisis, and the possibility of a second chance at love with verve and feeling. ... a tale of two estranged people rediscovering love ... touching, tender, and hugely affecting." - IndieReader, 4+ stars award
