The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion

Benji Green is just an ordinary guy in a small town in the middle of nowhere. He's nobody, in his own estimation, a speck of dust in a big, confusing world. And he misses his Dad, Big Eddie Green. He misses him something fierce.

And then something brilliant and blue streaks across the sky one night, and everything changes.

I've read all of Klune's other books, and was concerned from some of the comments I've read - not to mention the title and cover - that this would be far different from the quirky, overloaded prose style I've come to appreciate. Well, is and it isn't. But it is surely his most powerful and mature novel to date, and I was moved beyond all expectation by both the characters and by the story this unusual book tells.

What starts out as a straightforward story about Benjamin Edward Green, a young man grieving inconsolably over the death of his father in a small town in America's northwest, evolves into a magical realist fantasy wrapped up in a murder mystery inside a love story of epic proportions. A tale of personal grief evolves into a parable of communal love and faith of startling intensity.

There is always a certain exhaustion factor in reading Klune's internal dialogues - his characters think too much and that over-thinking becomes part of the narrative. But Benji Green's first-person telling of the tale is eloquent in its sadness and relentless in its consistent forward motion. There are repetitive touchstones in this book, particularly the color blue, used literally and symbolically, and the mournful lyrics of a song Benji's father sang him as a child that makes up the title. But Klune uses these leitmotifs deftly, giving his prose richness and depth, like the refrain of an epic poem. There is an intensity and a constant forward momentum that pulls the reader along with mounting excitement and anxiety towards the penultimate climax - the resolution of the truly gruesome mystery - and then continues to drag us along to the final, equally startling ending.

There is a plot-driven link to another of Klune's books - "Burn" - that may confuse readers who have not read it (perhaps not). It seems to set up the entire book to be part of a larger trilogy, although I confess that this sort of threw me for a loop because it seemed to come out of nowhere. While I look forward to seeing how Klune will tie these two novels together, and bring the characters from each into contact; it also was a mild distraction during a particularly intense part of the story.

This is a majestic book for a young author, showing a maturation of writing and mastery of narrative that is enviable. I can't wait to see where TJ is going to take us next.

Ulysses wrote: "Benji Green is just an ordinary guy in a small town in the middle of nowhere. He's nobody, in his own estimation, a speck of dust in a big, confusing world. And he misses his Dad, Big Eddie Green. ..."

I've just bought this (amongst several other titles ... Vamp in Suburbia included) and just cannot decide whether to start this next or not ... aargh. If only I had less studies to tackle and more time to relax.

PaperMoon - wait till you have some time for "River." It is intense reading, and you'll want to have leisure to focus on it and enjoy it.

This one is definitely on my wish list---sounds like it will be pretty good. (Plus, there's the fact that I just loved the last TJ Klune book I read, so I'm eager to check out more).

This sounds great. I've put Burn and this one on my iPad for this week.

This is a deftly written book. The prose heightens the river analogy and the passage of time in this grief stricken boy's life. I read it to myself and then immediately re-read it to my husband (I was that captivated by it). And though we're through and through atheists, we both had no issue with the religious overtones and themes of the story. They were well crafted, haunting and deeply moving. Benji and Cal will stay with you long after you've closed this book. This is both a book to be read and absorbed alone and to share with someone you care about who is open to its themes. A very, very lovely heart driven piece (though it has its harsh gritty moments as well). Very highly recommend it.