The Truth Beyond The Bitterness by Emory Schneider
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short story (78 pages)
Other: M/M
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by FernCan love erase a lifetime of fear and bitterness?
Kuba flees the oppressive influence of his strict Catholic family as soon as he graduates high school. In the big city of Pilsen, Czech Republic, he can get a fresh start. Although he is fairly content sharing a flat with his coworker and filling it with books, he knows he’s destined to be alone unless he can come out of the closet. But he just isn’t ready to bare his soul to the world.
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Jakub is content with his life in the Czech Republic. He has a job in the city, a few friends and a good room-mate. While Jakub is wistful about the small number of his friends, his social anxiety prevents him from going out more. Jakub’s room-mate introduces him to Emil, a fellow book-lover and the two men made an instant friendship based on their similarities. Can Jakub and Emil build something lasting together?
I enjoyed this short story. I admit I don’t know much about the Czech Republic and so my interest was piqued to read an M/M set in this country. While there wasn’t a huge amount of descriptions of the city, I did enjoy learning about a few of the different parks and how people go about their normal lives. The whole setting of the story gave a different vibe and I enjoyed the fact it didn’t feel like “just another metropolitan city” that could have been anywhere.
I also found the slower-moving friendship, then romance, between Jakub and Emil to be well written. I was particularly pleased that Jakub didn’t simply “overcome” his anxiety issues and jump from being a quiet, shy guy and suddenly into a massive flirt or social butterfly once he felt attracted to Emil. I enjoyed watching Emil – and Jakub’s two main other friends – slowly help ease Jakub into the small social settings and be caring and understanding about his issues. While these concerns of Jakub could have crippled him, he didn’t let them hold him back, which I loved. And the bibliophile within me loved how Jakub and Emil progressed much of their friendship by exchanging some of their favourite books. They each started meeting up semi-regularly to lend the other a treasured book and I found that really lovely.
Admittedly, readers looking for a hot-and-heavy, intensely erotic story won’t find that here, but there is plenty of characterization, and a lovely slow, easy drop from friendship and shared mutual interests and into love. I thought it quite realistic how Emil and Jakub just gradually wove their respective lives together, and thought it was very sweet – and healthy – how Emil encouraged Jakub to try and be more self-confidant and not rely solely on Emil for his happiness. There were a number of small, supportive and caring things like this between Emil and Jakub that really showed me the depth of their caring for each other and helped show me their relationship wasn’t just one built on lust or convenience, but that they truly cared about each other’s well-being.
I found this a well-rounded story with a good pace and interesting characters. I’d happily try this author again in the future.
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