Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Kaylie Jones Books (2019), 224 pages
Description
For the last fifty years, the Colombian drug cartels, various insurgent groups, and the government have fought over the control of the drug traffic, in the process destroying vast stretches of the Amazon, devastating Indian communities, and killing tens of thousands of homesteaders caught in the middle of the conflict. Inspired by these events, Jaime Manrique's sixth novel, Like This Afternoon Forever, weaves in two narratives: the shocking story of a series of murders known internationally as "the false positives," and the related story of two gay Catholic priests who become lovers when they meet in the seminary. Lucas (the son of farmers) and Ignacio (a descendant of the Barí indigenous people) enter the seminary out of a desire to help others and to get an education. Their visceral love story undergoes stages of passion, indifference, rage, and a final commitment to stay together until the end of their lives. Working in a community largely composed of people displaced by the war, Ignacio stumbles upon the horrifying story of the false positives, which will put the lives of the two men in grave dange… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sophroniaborgia
In Colombia, both sensitive Lucas and angry Ignacio accept from an early age that the priesthood offers the only path to a productive adulthood for intelligent homosexual boys like themselves. After entering the seminary as adolescents, they make a powerful and deep connection that becomes a strong
This book describes a Catholic establishment that looks the other way at homosexual and drug-abusing priests, but is unwilling to stand up to the political leaders who have mired the people in poverty and violence. Both Ignacio and Lucas are interesting, vital characters who manage to do some good despite the forces opposing them, but who are often overwhelmed by the scale of the problems they cannot solve single-handedly. Author Manrique, a poet, includes several very powerful descriptive scenes of haunting violence as well as moments of beauty, and does a great job of articulating the despair and the affection his characters feel. I would have liked to see less narrative distance between the reader and the story and more in-the-moment writing, as I felt these were the strongest parts of the book. The final chapter was quite moving.
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sexual relationship that continues off and on for their entire lives. But can their love withstand the threats of daily life in their war-torn country and the tensions produced by their conflicting personalities? And what future can there be in a place where violence colors every aspect of life?This book describes a Catholic establishment that looks the other way at homosexual and drug-abusing priests, but is unwilling to stand up to the political leaders who have mired the people in poverty and violence. Both Ignacio and Lucas are interesting, vital characters who manage to do some good despite the forces opposing them, but who are often overwhelmed by the scale of the problems they cannot solve single-handedly. Author Manrique, a poet, includes several very powerful descriptive scenes of haunting violence as well as moments of beauty, and does a great job of articulating the despair and the affection his characters feel. I would have liked to see less narrative distance between the reader and the story and more in-the-moment writing, as I felt these were the strongest parts of the book. The final chapter was quite moving.
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LibraryThing member IsolaBlue
Out of the sensitive mind of author, Jaime Manrique, comes this short, tender novel which gives the reader a wee bit of Romeo and Juliet with the Catholic Church as the stage. There is nothing cheery about Manrique's novel, but it is true to its characters and to its portrayal of the country,
Manrique chose well to focus the novel more on the bond between the two men rather than on the turmoil of Colombia during this time period. If the book had gotten bogged down in politics and warfare, the reader might have gotten lost. Not that the horrors happening in Colombia weren't important or relevant, but rather because they were so complicated. As a priest, Lucas prefers to ignore the killings, the displacement of people, the violence and terror permeating the countryside. He prefers, simply, to leave it to God. Ignacio, on the other hand, has always questioned the Church even though he has long been a part of it. In his role as priest, he becomes a champion of the people, inspiration to the poor, a guide for children, and a hero in his own right. Ignacio is not afraid. His fearlessness frightens Lucas who works in a different area and ministers to a different population. Lucas seeks peace and stability through the Church whereas Ignacio sees the Church as a vehicle for change within the community and the country.
Manrique writes well of romance and, through that view, is able to critique Catholicism in a way that is easily accessible for the reader. Most readers of romance do not want to have to wade through pages of religious analysis, yet in LIKE THIS AFTERNOON FOREVER, Manrique is able to balance religion and romance, keeping them centered in the novel, one not overtaking the other. As for the relationship between Lucas and Ignacio, Manrique develops it in a believable way, and it is, indeed, the bones of the entire book. A book built on love. Many readers will think about the connection between Lucas and Ignacio long after reading the book and closing the final page. There is something about their romance that is so true, so honest, and so real that most readers will be able to relate. If readers cannot relate, it undoubtedly means they have yet to know true love.
Comparing the Spanish version to the English version of this novel, it appears that reading it in Spanish would be preferable - not because the English edition is missing anything - perhaps because Spanish is the language of Colombia, the language of Lucas and Ignacio. If one can read it in Spanish, do. If not, the English version will be just fine. And remember, Manrique has accomplished what he set out to do in LIKE THIS AFTERNOON FOREVER. Besides giving us one of the best book titles of the year, he has given his own heart and soul to accomplishing a very true feeling and the telling of a difficult love story. Readers who appreciate LIKE THIS AFTERNOON FOREVER might also like Lawrence Scott's book AELRED'S SIN and/or Colm Toibin's THE STORY OF THE NIGHT, both equivalent examples of this type of gay literature.
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Colombia. Against the background of drug trafficking, guerrilla warfare, corrupt politicians, and a questionable government, two young men study to be priests. One is Lucas, the son of farmers, and the other is Ignacio, the son of poor, indigenous Indians. Lucas feels called to a religious profession after experiencing a near miracle in which his arm was saved rather than amputated. Ignacio is pushed toward a religious life by being an excellent student and to please his parents who have chosen this vocation for him. Throughout their years studying together and later years working as ordained priests, the two men question their callings in view of their own, individual beliefs in God and their own interpretations and questions about life.Manrique chose well to focus the novel more on the bond between the two men rather than on the turmoil of Colombia during this time period. If the book had gotten bogged down in politics and warfare, the reader might have gotten lost. Not that the horrors happening in Colombia weren't important or relevant, but rather because they were so complicated. As a priest, Lucas prefers to ignore the killings, the displacement of people, the violence and terror permeating the countryside. He prefers, simply, to leave it to God. Ignacio, on the other hand, has always questioned the Church even though he has long been a part of it. In his role as priest, he becomes a champion of the people, inspiration to the poor, a guide for children, and a hero in his own right. Ignacio is not afraid. His fearlessness frightens Lucas who works in a different area and ministers to a different population. Lucas seeks peace and stability through the Church whereas Ignacio sees the Church as a vehicle for change within the community and the country.
Manrique writes well of romance and, through that view, is able to critique Catholicism in a way that is easily accessible for the reader. Most readers of romance do not want to have to wade through pages of religious analysis, yet in LIKE THIS AFTERNOON FOREVER, Manrique is able to balance religion and romance, keeping them centered in the novel, one not overtaking the other. As for the relationship between Lucas and Ignacio, Manrique develops it in a believable way, and it is, indeed, the bones of the entire book. A book built on love. Many readers will think about the connection between Lucas and Ignacio long after reading the book and closing the final page. There is something about their romance that is so true, so honest, and so real that most readers will be able to relate. If readers cannot relate, it undoubtedly means they have yet to know true love.
Comparing the Spanish version to the English version of this novel, it appears that reading it in Spanish would be preferable - not because the English edition is missing anything - perhaps because Spanish is the language of Colombia, the language of Lucas and Ignacio. If one can read it in Spanish, do. If not, the English version will be just fine. And remember, Manrique has accomplished what he set out to do in LIKE THIS AFTERNOON FOREVER. Besides giving us one of the best book titles of the year, he has given his own heart and soul to accomplishing a very true feeling and the telling of a difficult love story. Readers who appreciate LIKE THIS AFTERNOON FOREVER might also like Lawrence Scott's book AELRED'S SIN and/or Colm Toibin's THE STORY OF THE NIGHT, both equivalent examples of this type of gay literature.
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LibraryThing member LivelyLady
Story of two men, becoming Catholic priests in Columbia. They are both gay and become lovers. The story intertwines the Church, the gay culture as well as the political unrest of Columbia. The story itself has great potential but I found parts of it at the beginning almost pornographic and
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detracting. I almost stopped reading it because of that. Wished it had been better edited. Show Less
LibraryThing member andrea58
I received this book from LTER. This could have been a great book, but unfortunately wasn’t. I thought the story line was compelling with so many facets. Two young men studying for the priesthood in Columbia, struggling with their sexuality, trying to discover their place in the world and trying
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to make a difference despite gangs, corruption, drugs, extreme poverty, etc. But something was lacking, and halfway through I decided it was the translation from Spanish. It just didn’t sound right at times, which was really frustrating. I found the writing itself to be a distraction. It is still a good book and it covers many important issues. Show Less
LibraryThing member jeanie0510
I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers group. I found the book to be an intense and moving love story about the 11 year relationship between two gay Catholic priests. It hits on many important and timely themes. Homosexuality, promiscuity, AIDS, politics and corruptness in the
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Catholic church and Columbia, insurgency, poverty, and love. Most importantly, faithfulness and lack of faithfulness in a relationship as well as sacred vows. How can a man justify being faithful to his priestly vows while being openly gay? The answer to that remains with Lucas and Ignacio, the two men in this story. If a reader is looking for a happy story or a happy ending, they will not find it in this book. However, it was a book I didn't want to put down because I was curious how all the loose ends would be tied up. They are tied up, yes, but in an unfortunate distressing manner. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookmuse56
A richly observed novel that follows two friends on their road to priesthood in violent and conservative Colombia. One of the only “legal” ways to escape poverty is to pursue priesthood whether your passion is driven in that direction. Lucas is a white-looking mestizo from a farming family
As their friendship turns intimate, the two friends learn to use their opposite personalities to support and protect each other.
This is more a love story than a thriller though there is a far amount of drug-fueled violence.
This storyline is intimate, raw, and harrowing as conveys a strong sense of place and time.
The reader observes the church being secretly being permissive of homosexuality among priests as long as they are discrete, how the church as power is only the sanctuary for poor people who get caught too often in the cross-fire between the gangs and the guerillas and the paramilitaries.
Sobering, but too often uneven in plot this book will appeal to those interested in homosexual love during this time.
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whose pleasing personality leans to being compliant to the norms while darker skinned Ignacio is descendant of the Bari indigenous is more headstrong and challenging.As their friendship turns intimate, the two friends learn to use their opposite personalities to support and protect each other.
This is more a love story than a thriller though there is a far amount of drug-fueled violence.
This storyline is intimate, raw, and harrowing as conveys a strong sense of place and time.
The reader observes the church being secretly being permissive of homosexuality among priests as long as they are discrete, how the church as power is only the sanctuary for poor people who get caught too often in the cross-fire between the gangs and the guerillas and the paramilitaries.
Sobering, but too often uneven in plot this book will appeal to those interested in homosexual love during this time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carrie88
I received an advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. I thought the themes and storylines of this book were rich and intriguing, but just not completely fleshed out. The main story is of two gay priests Lucas and Ignacio....for which we receive great detail of
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Lucas' early life, but once he meets Ignacio, it seems we learn more from Ignacio's point of view from then to the end of the story. The "false positives" portion of the story was intriguing but without any resolution. The book just seemed to end abruptly, Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
This novel tells the story of Lucas, whose mother left his violent father and managed to make a life for the two of them, and of Ignacio, son of indigenous subsistence farmers, both of whom showed an aptitude for learning which led to them being given the opportunity to go to a Catholic boarding
Colombia during the nineties and early 2000s was a violent place with many rural areas under the control of guerrilla groups and the military matching them in ruthlessness and corruption. As Lucas and Ignacio grow up in Catholic boarding schools and then go to university, Lucas grows stronger in his faith and Ignacio's fierce intelligence has him exploring the history of liberation theology. After they are ordained, they are sent into different neighborhoods in Bogota. Ignacio is sent to the most crime-ridden and poor parish, where he works hard to improve the lives of his parishioners and where he learns about the "false positives," and tries to get that story out into the world. Both his activism and his homosexuality put Ignacio into great danger.
This is a novel with a lot going on, so much so that it sometimes feels like a summary. The passages where Manrique slows down and describes the setting or the relationship between the men, the writing is beautiful and the story a lovely, if melancholic one.
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school with the promise of being able to attend university and become priests. When they meet, they quickly become close friends, and then discover a love that would keep them together for the rest of their lives.Colombia during the nineties and early 2000s was a violent place with many rural areas under the control of guerrilla groups and the military matching them in ruthlessness and corruption. As Lucas and Ignacio grow up in Catholic boarding schools and then go to university, Lucas grows stronger in his faith and Ignacio's fierce intelligence has him exploring the history of liberation theology. After they are ordained, they are sent into different neighborhoods in Bogota. Ignacio is sent to the most crime-ridden and poor parish, where he works hard to improve the lives of his parishioners and where he learns about the "false positives," and tries to get that story out into the world. Both his activism and his homosexuality put Ignacio into great danger.
This is a novel with a lot going on, so much so that it sometimes feels like a summary. The passages where Manrique slows down and describes the setting or the relationship between the men, the writing is beautiful and the story a lovely, if melancholic one.
Show Less
Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Finalist — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
224 p.; 8.4 inches
ISBN
1617757152 / 9781617757150