Tom & Christopher And Their Kind (Dog in The Chapel)

Another instalment in the on going story of Tom and Christopher. Well written and as enthralling as the first. I would recommend not reading the précis of the third book before finishing this one though.

A jolly good read and accurately set in the 1960s and 1970s and the second novel in the series . The attention to detail is very good and the storyline is very creditable . I enjoyed the first book better but am looking forward to reading the last one very much . A very well written novel by a talented author .

Another perceptively sensitive exploration of young gay love from Anthony McDonald. The youngsters have fled to France - a country McDonald knows and loves - where we follow our young heroes as they make their way through the occasionally mazelike world of gay self discovery. Their experimentation in personal relationships is typical of the way youngsters have to find their way, changing partners, learning and making mistakes, sometimes painful ones and coping with parental and religious disapproval. It is wonderfully real, and Anthony McDonald's trademark lyrical prose makes it a joy to read. As an ardent Francophile I enjoyed and recognised his Paris and northern France and cannot wait for the next instalment.

Having thoroughly enjoyed "The Dog In The Chapel" I couldn't wait to start the sequel. As you would expect from this author, it's beautifully written and so there's no disappointment there! For me, and this is entirely personal, it just lacked the power of the original in that little seemed to be 'driving' the story beyond a description of the rather tangled events that came next in Tom and Christopher's lives. One dramatic moment with Angelo is actually set up and then totally disappears as if forgotten about, however. That was the only wince that I had in reading this book. Did the story change along the way, leaving this hook still there but now bare? Overall, the novel seemed biographical rather than dramatic. That said, if you enjoyed the first book, this is worth a read on the grounds of its always being nice to catch up with old friends! It's indicative, however, that I have chosen to read another of the author's books straight away. Anthony McDonald has certainly become one of my favourite authors.

I loved the first of the series and started this immediately after finishing the preceding novel, which was helpful as this picks up straight after the previous one ends. The writing was great and I enjoyed the story, though I did find it quite far fetched at times. There was a lot more sex in this one, more so than the other two in the series, but it was never overly explicit. I loved the descriptions of France, especially during the time period it's set in.

This is the second in the trilogy, tracing the live and loves of Tom and Christopher, which began when they were teachers in a 1950s Catholic boarding school. This book covers their new, and often precarious, life as exiles in France and, once again, Anthony McDonald delves deftly into the complexities of human love and attraction. For Tom and Christopher, each is the love of a lifetime, but where are the boundaries of love and fidelity? Experience and time change both of the book's heroes. McDonald takes you into the minds of his characters as well as telling a compelling tale of the ups and downs of life, set against the landscapes of France and England, evocatively portrayed. This is a great trilogy.

This series/trilogy I found to be a truly emotional journey through the lives of its protagonists, beautifully portrayed by the author and covering all of the many facets of life's relationships. Excellent narrative and carefully crafted description make this series one of the very best of its genera, I recommend these books very highly indeed, its almost as though they were taken from true life experiences.

Mixed feelings about this. It felt rather as though l was on the outside looking in through a window as it were. The scenes were well realised. The story was as confusing and convoluted as life. A decent read.

Dog in the Chapel: Tom and Christopher and Their Kind; Dog Roses. Such exemplary writing. The author really knows how to construct a plot and keep it moving. Most of all: to keep the reader involved and caring about the characters. And, as a writer, such excellent writing: I never felt shamed for not knowing something, or forgetting something. I always trusted the author. And a positive, but not fake, ending. Really loved reading these books.

Another great read from Anthony...

good character development and solid writing throughout the trilogy - enjoyable read all together about the journey of two young british gay men starting in 1960 ending in late middle age - nice descriptions of the french gay world as well.

This is the second book by Anthony McDonald that I have read. I like his masterly unfolding of the story and the relationships of the characters over sixteen or seventeen years against the backdrop of changes in the law and attitudes affecting homosexuality. One cannot help but be caught up in the author's explicit scene setting in France, in Oxford, and in Kent. His attention to detail exudes the atmosphere of these places, so you are caught up realistically in the narrative. The characters are real and very much alive in their interactions. The sex is delicious. It is a beautifully woven narrative. I did not want it to end, so. towards the conclusion, I found myself reading shorter and shorter portions each day to delay the inevitable. My take (not the author's) in it all is that exclusivity has its problems, and the joy of open relationships may have more in its favour.

I found the first book interesting. The second: not so much. The story follows Tom and Christopher, but I found it primarily about the sex amongst a group of friends. The sex isn't graphic, but there isn't much of a storyline and I found the outcomes predictable.