All I Love and Know

This is a story about complicated people living through complicated situations. I'm fine with that. I welcome these kinds of stories but inexplicably this just missed the mark for me.

The story takes place in 2003/2004 and the twenty years that have passed make it quasi historical. I like historical fiction and am old enough to remember these times so I wasn't shocked. The politics that imbue a lot of the story are tragically still relevant. Very much so. These aspects were related by the author in a credible voice, she knows whereof she speaks of both on the subject of the LGB community and Israel & its politics.

I think that what prevented me from loving this was twofold. While I understand that the politics very much affected and informed life choices made by the characters, at times it seemed to subsume everything else, as if they were mouthpieces to present certain viewpoints. I can live with that. The real stumbling block was the couple.

Why are Matt & Daniel together? Are they actually in love or did Matt just get tired and scared of the NYC scene and Daniel saw this handsome ex-party boy as his deserved reward for ... ? I dunno. I do know that the person getting the short end of the stick is Matt. Daniel is everything but nice or loving towards him. The excuse is that Daniel is grieving but that didn't wash for me. Maybe a second reading at a different time might cast this in another light but for now the structure that's supposed to hold this story up, two adults in love buffeted by the slings & arrows of life, doesn't hold water. If this were real life I'd venture to say that Matt & Daniel are no longer together.

The rating is for the writing and the unflinching portrayal of characters & situations that aren't necessarily comfortable or lovable.