River, an alternative healer and Paris-trained chef—a decidedly reluctant mystic—returns to England from America to help his ex-partner, back from the brink of death. Stepping into a London life he left behind, he finds himself on an unanticipated journey of the heart. Together in a familiar house once more, haunted by the ghost of a lost dog and wreckage of a painful separation, the two men must forgive each other in their attempt to mend what was broken—not simply their former relating, but Robert’s body and spirit. Seeking the greater healing nature can bring, they relocate from the crowded, noisy metropolis to the pastoral setting of Kent in South East England. Cradled by a genteel old farmhouse, they remain outsiders; gay Americans, with no community or friends except each other. Tucked amid hedgerows, verdant pastures, and apple orchards, the English countryside gently welcomes and buoys them. Yet within the undefined parameters of their renewed relating, unforeseen challenges and conflict arise. Crisis, the master agent of change, once more stands at hand. Each wrestles with dark angels, both men searching for an authentic calling in the world, along with some elusive notion of home. As a reluctant mystic in-tune with the living earth, unexpected events transpire for River, including a numinous revelation one evening, when the cosmos reveals its inner workings as the ultimate symphony of consciousness and interwoven relationship. Set amongst the green fields of England, punctuated by clever foxes and requisite cups of tea, brushed with a wee bit of magic, here is a celebration. All while marching towards an unconventional wedding on a wild heath—yet not ending in a predictable manner as readers likely expect. WHERE TWO WORLDS TOUCH strikes at the heart, unfolds like a lotus blossom, to ultimately uplift with joy and wonder. A luminous, genre-defying memoir written in a searching and heartfelt voice. A love song to the soul of the world.
In this entrancing memoir, Faire encapsulates how true love knows no gender. Having heard that Robert contracted an illness that threatens to invade his brain, Faire flies from the U.S. to England to tend to his ex-partner. Sincere in his care, he lets bygones be bygones and refuses to label their relationship as lovers again; instead, they remain steadfast in a friendship powered by profound love. They both believe Robert's physical suffering signals a spiritual awakening. As Robert gradually recovers, he is determined to leave the soulless banking world and is eager to start anew with River while reviving his artistic soul.Ever an empath, Faire writes this memoir as a mindful examination of the heart and soul, and its interconnection with the divine, nature, and mystery. In his quest for Robert’s healing, Faire remains otherworldly in his careful attention to the dance between the earthly and ethereal with his lush portrayal of England’s landscape, savory descriptions of their shared meals, and exquisite taste in home interiors when they decided to leave Wimbledon and relocated to a Kent farmhouse—what they always wanted. "Our planet is the ultimate symphony of consciousness," Faire writes. Not a bird, a lamb, or a fox, escapes Faire’s attention. “Oddly, I’m not surprised to come downstairs and the man I live with is holding a bird in his hands,” Robert says.
Readers looking for traditional page-turners may find Faire’s memoir elegant but meandering, but this is precisely the book’s beauty. Faire can capture the intimacy in the mundanity of tending to sickness, sharing meals, and moving houses with his lover. A redemption of the dying-artist soul, a second chance at love, and pursuit of transcendence despite fear and shame, this memoir explores the unorthodox ways of loving, and how a conscious and mindful relationship is the ultimate relationship worth having.
Takeaway: Moving account of a couple’s second chance at a transcendent life together.
Comparable Titles: Will Schwalbe’s We Should Not Be Friends, Peter M. Nardi’s Gay Men’s Friendships.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
“[A] charming and spiritual memoir … Composed with immediacy and an old-fashioned whimsical tone, the narrative is underpinned with passion … Faire’s descriptions of the natural world are powerful and sensual … indoors, too, where he delights in descriptions of food and cooking. Throughout the book, he navigates the chasm between the modern world and natural life … reaching to refine what it means to be human.”
4+ stars award
“[A] moving, intensely sensual read. Faire has crafted a work that, while covering some bleak, even elegiac moods, is ultimately uplifting in tone and form. … [The author] conveys the various sensations associated with life in another country, identity crisis, and the possibility of a second chance at love with verve and feeling. … a tale of two estranged people rediscovering love … touching, tender, and hugely affecting.”
An Indie Books We Love selection!
“A celebration of food, nature and the spirit in this lyrical memoir where second chances create an opportunity for healing. … Everything is described with an artist’s keen eye for detail, whether it’s an experience of nature or the preparation of a meal. The lyrical and almost meditative storytelling draws you into the moment as though it were a work of fiction. … [A] really peaceful and charming narrative about embracing the unknown and new opportunities and trusting your intuition.”
