Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: For Love Of God

SERIES: Blessed Be #1

AUTHOR: Robin Reardon

PUBLISHER: Iam Books

LENGTH: 306 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2022

BLURB:

It’s Manhattan, 1983. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is going strong at the 8^th Street Playhouse. HIV/AIDS is still called “the gay plague.” The Twin Towers still stand tall. And Spencer Hill is convinced God has called him to the Episcopal priesthood.

There’s just one problem. He’s gay.

Determined to stay the course, Spencer avoids Donald Rainey, a young actor he’s attracted to. Then he tries dating a woman, another candidate at General Theological Seminary. Then, as a last resort, he considers a life of chastity.

His attempts to deny his orientation fail, and he has a crisis of faith that nearly sends him over the edge. He’s saved by an insightful therapist and by his relationship with Donald, which he can no longer avoid. Then his life is in disarray again when Donald’s life takes a religious turn Spencer cannot accept, and he must find a path where there is no conflict between God and gay.

REVIEW:

Set in a time when being gay, though not illegal, was negatively portrayed in the news, a priest struggles to balance serving his God and his sexuality.

It’s a bit disconcerting when the author puts reviews from a previous series at the beginning of a new one. As encouraging as the advertising is, subconsciously, my expectations change, raising the bar to say, ok then, prove it.

This is a story that I was divided over. On the one hand, it is an exceptional manuscript that weighs heavy on the heart and deserves to be read by everyone. It delves into the human spirit, its connection to the scriptures, various plays, and the dilemma of what is right for each individual. It’s incredibly in-depth and has a personal quality that pulls at the heart. And for this reason, it is a fascinating read. However, as a piece of entertainment – it left me thoughtful but not truly entertained. It’s the difference between watching the discovery channel and going to the cinema with a bucket of popcorn. For me, it belonged on a different shelf in the library. I’m all for learning while being entertained, and, towards the end, the lines between the two forms blurred. In the same way that I pick a TV channel depending on my mood – it’s the same with books.

The story is told in the first person entirely from Spencer’s viewpoint. The scene-setting was there, but I honestly didn’t notice it as I was more engrossed in Spencer’s thoughts. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel intelligent enough to read this at times. Many unusual words, e.g. umbrageous – and many others that I needed a dictionary to explain – prevented me from connecting effectively with the emotion within the pages. Also, plays were discussed where I felt I needed a more intimate knowledge. The outlines that existed were not enough. But, there are comparisons between works of art, real life, and the ability to see from different perspectives, that prompted discussion areas. Indeed, there are questions for discussion at the end – maybe suggesting that the author hopes this book will be discussed in reading groups, etc.

The road to enlightenment can often be a fraught one. Many questions are asked, and all have a multitude of answers. No one answer is suitable for everyone.

How do you know when something is missing from your life? What? Why? When and How? These are all questions one strives to answer. Spencer analyzes his life, thoughts, and dreams to many levels, and Donald helps gain multiple perspectives while being Spencer’s personal heaven and hell. What is my calling, and how can I achieve it while remaining true to myself? Do I know who I am and how I wish to represent myself? These are questions everyone, not only men of the cloth ask.

Donald and Spencer experience personal tragedy and are looking for something to fulfill a need. There are mentions of suicide, death, hell, prejudice, and acceptance. There is confusion, and therapy helps with this. Every act and every word have meaning, and I sometimes wanted a scene to just be at face value. As the only viewpoint – Spencer’s emotions are as turbulent as his thoughts.

For Love Of God is an exceptional piece of work. However, by halfway, as interesting as the story was, it felt more like a biography than a piece of traditional entertainment. While it is a story that is important to be told, I wanted to be entertained and educated. As many a true story is emphasized through various artistic mediums – the two are not mutually exclusive. However, when I turn on the TV, I pick a channel depending on my mood, and I am the same with books. When I read a story, I want to laugh, cry, have a fan close by, and feel an adrenaline rush. I have a separate shelf for my history books and more serious reads.

There are many ways to serve God, and as this is a series, Spencer and Donald will eventually find the path right for them. Spencer has a genuinely amazing soul, and his story is a lovely insight into the plight of many in the 80s. I don’t know what elements will carry over to the next installment. However, due to the elaborate wording, I read the words while not feeling intelligent enough to understand their meaning.

As a piece of biographical art, I would easily give it five hearts – most highly recommended, read again. Especially as some expressions are so insightful, they will stay with me. As a piece of entertainment, three hearts equal, a good book. Therefore, I go down the middle with four hearts – a great book recommended.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

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