2.75 stars rounded up

Too much smut not enough story for my taste. I mean chapter 1 alone spent more time about cooking than anything relationship related!!

Thus, Wiley making a move on David and the ILY part came way too sudden for me to believe the whole thing. Especially since the story was written solely from David's perspective and I only got Wiley's version from what he told David.

But it was light and easy, good enough to spare less than 30 minutes with.

Je t’aime, mon coeur, toujours

An interracial love story at Southern plantation between the owner's son and a black slave who are also best-friends (they are the same age) since they were young.

I think my excitement for this story was fueled by two things. One, the prompt was written by a friend of mine, Heather C and I thought it was one of the best in this event. Two, I read MacLagan's work from last year, Window; it was one of the most thoughtful and memorable stories related to HIV test. So I was happy MacLagan was the one picking up the prompt.

After that, Heather sometime updated me with news, even showed me a link MacLagan's pinterest for this story (https://www.pinterest.com/alimaclagan...) so I definitely have built up my expectation. I was so happy when the story was finally available.

This is one of the most beautiful and profound stories I have ever read from this event.

I seriously thought that MacLagan had done a great and extensive research for that era. She didn't pull any punches though -- some scenes were hard to read. Several times I had to take a deep breath, and reminded myself that Heather wanted happy ending, so there WOULD be happy ending for this one. Still, it wasn't easy when you read the parts about treatment towards slaves.

The friendship that later turned into love between Joseph and Henry had that tinge of innocence; it felt pure and true. It was so romantic too, especially when Joseph sang to Henry, or when they danced together. Oh gosh, I so wanted to see this in visual, making a Hallmark movie or something ... it had that quality of an epic love story for sure.

I think the last 10%-15%, I read it with my hearts tied in knots and tears hanging on the corner of my eyes. If I wasn't reading this at the office (hush, don't tell!) with my colleagues around me, I would probably already crying -- my heart was out for both Joseph and Henry. Sure the solution for their situation might feel like a sudden gift from God above, but I really didn't care. It was perfect and I couldn't feel more satisfied.

Thank you so much for this story, Ms. MacLagan. This is why I read stories, because how it can make me feel. And surely you have make me feel A LOT. Thank you. Thank you.

3.5 stars

The first part that tells the subsequent years of Tom and Jacob meeting at the beach, from age of 8 to age 18, and the last year when Jacob just disappeared ... well, I loved that part. It was beautiful; it built up the story and emotion wonderfully. I was there from the beginning, a witness of their friendship, the small moments, their kiss, their first attempt at sex, and the broken heart. It did wonders to my heart.

However, the second part, the ten years after ... somehow it lacks the emotional pull of the first part. Maybe because to me, it felt like it happened quicker, less of momentum built? I mean, I liked that Tom didn't just accept Jacob's apology which then led to the reveal but I wanted to read more.

I especially would love to know more about Jacob. I would love to see him more fleshed out after the ten years being apart from Tom. And, I guess I wanted to see a more happier ending, something more promising at least than a (what I categorized as) happy for now. It gave me good feels but just (not yet) the feels, if that makes sense.

“We don’t see the stars often in the Downs. When they do shine, it’s like a beautiful gift. Rare and unexpected. Everyone wanders outside to gape, and some people get so enamored they bump into houses and trees. We call them star-blind.... That’s me. You make me star-blind."

Enitan Javed is convicted of murdering his father and by order of the Judge, he is sentenced to be banished to the Downs, which is said to be filled with demons that torture the prisoners thrown there. Only when Enitan wakes up after his fall -- body battered and broken -- he finds that the Downs offers something very different than what he first imagined...

I honestly don't know how Fielding does it. I mean, she takes a rather vague prompt by the leash and writes something amazing in result. Although this is only a novella length (around 31k) The Downs is a rich story about two people finding love in the unlikeliest place. Rig is tender person, disregards his scars (kind of reminded me of Brute), and I loved him so. Enitan needs to be reminded about his self worth and to see something beautiful within the confines of The Downs -- he gets me little frustrated in the end when he can't see that and endanger the lovely Rig.

I also loved how Fielding described the differences between the Downs and the City. The Downs might be harsher and more dangerous in terms of the lands, with poisonous plants and killing fogs, but the people are kind and helpful. It's a place to heal and to reinvent yourself to be someone better. While The City, despite its facilities, offering light and brick and metal, but the people can be judgmental, selfish, prone to betray others, and well, alone and friendless....

After reading three Kim Fielding's stories in a row, I realize that this is the theme she often writes. Two imperfect people (often with physical scars) who heal each other and find love in process. It makes Fielding's stories character-driven, focuses on the journey of the relationship, even if it takes slower to get there. The Downs is a refined piece of story. Definitely one of my favorites from this year's Don't Read in the Closet Event

Reading this story prompted this convo with my college age son:

He went on to say that it's really a different generation. Besides making me feel old as rocks, it made me really happy. And it made me enjoy this 'crushing on you' story all the more. It was playful, sexy and reminded me that fraternities don't have to be all about horrible homophobic hazing.