To summarize what I'm about to say in one short sentence: This book is life-changing.I had already read the first few chapters of this book on the internet with Gerard and Frank so I could decide whether it was going to be worth buying or not. I bought it. The thing about this book is that a lot of people don't like the idea of it because of Thomas and Bernard's age difference. This book will change your view on that. It changes your views on a lot of things. It makes you think differently, feel differently and it will make your life better. I wrote all of Bernard's lessons down on a bit of paper and I now follow his teachings. I don't watch TV now or spend more than half an hour on my laptop at a time. I study properly for school because I want to get out of it quickly so I can leave and do what makes me happy. I appreciate the smaller things in life and am starting not to take things for granted. I'm always trying to do creative things and it makes me so happy that I could cry. This book, as well as helping you in life, is generally a really heart-wrenching story. I literally did not want to put it down ever and when I finished it, my god, tears were cascading down my face likes waterfalls of emotion. It is funny, witty as hell, sad, frustrating and so wonderful. Bernard is the only fictional character I have come across that I don't really think I can stand not being a real person. I feel empty when I think that he's not painting in Paris, waiting for Thomas to come and see him. I want to find a Bernard in this world. Just one. Then I'll be happy. This has become my favorite book of all time. My old one used to be The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and that one is quite close but nothing will beat this one. Ever. If you think that your life needs more meaning, or you want to feel better about most things in general, read this book. I owe my happiness mostly to Bernard and Thomas, two fictional characters who I'm never going to meet and that breaks my heart. The closest person I have to thank is Evelyn. Thank you, with all my being. Thank you. I'm still catching my breath from finishing this book: it is long, the font is tiny, the narrative can be somewhat repetitive. That said, it is one of the most beautiful, honest, genuine stories I have read in a long time. It almost seems poetic that getting through reading the book is a struggle, because that is what the story is about: the struggle to find yourself, to hold on to love and to learn to let go.Thomas and Bernard, the main characters in this story, are so heart wrenchingly authentic that I couldn't help getting emotionally involved and invested in their relationship. They are portrayed as real multidimensional human beings: flawed, aesthetically imperfect, insecure, kind and vulnerable. I went on a journey with this book, an emotional one that had it's highs and lows and made me reflect upon what things mean to me. The narrative of the book is centered on the significance of art and expression, which resonated pretty profoundly.I recommend this book in PDF format because the font on the paperback version is just so ridiculously small (believe me) I just couldn't read it. But I do recommend it thoroughly because it has the potential to connect with the reader and transcend it's limits as a story into an experience.
What do You think about The Dove Keeper (2008)?
Very interesting to go so far back in time. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
—ChungS
