Ruth Sims (1939–2014)

(No explicit spoilers, but spoilers regarding the general direction in which the story goes.)

That right there might just be my favorite book of all time. The passion evident in every scene--front the youthful, fiery, arrogance that pervaded the beginning of Dylan's youth and time with Laurence to the slow maturity and strength and pained losses that came and were endured by Dylan and Geoffrey, to their ultimate successes.

"'These pieces are extraordinary for one your age and with your show more limited training. I was but warning you of the difficulties ahead, for I can see by this music that you want to break rules and smash barriers.'
'I do indeed, Sir!'
'You must understand one thing: when one smashes barriers, one often breaks one's own hear in doing it.'
'I don't care about that.'
'Understandable. At your age, why should you?'"

I was lost in this book, lost in the tremendous love for music and love for another human being that overflowed from these pages. This had one of the two most emotional and tragic scenes that I have ever read and I cried the most I ever had while reading a story. At that most tragic scene my tears would not stop slipping down my face--I still get teary-eyed just thinking about it--and my eyes again dripped at the triumphant culmination of the story. I felt every moment keenly, loved the authenticity of the time and places and every emotion felt, saw how human and true each character was, and completely was entranced. I feel like I lived through each moment with Dylan, like I was there with him and Laurence, and later him and Geoffrey, and everyone else in their lives. It was the most amazing feeling, one I'll never forget and will strive to recapture. I feel like these people should be real, and I want to hear their music with my ears, not just my soul, as I have though out this book. I feel like all the emotions I felt must transfer into something more.

"My love. Emotion shook him as Laurence touched his face with trembling fingertips. My love. Love. So this was what love felt like--being willing to die for just one more touch, being willing to wait for the rest if need be."

Remembering the beginning scenes, no, the beginning half, and the differences between that and the second half or the ending of this book; not just the characters, but the whole tone, the situations, the scenes, everything grew up and changed, and yet was so closely linked to the earlier parts...oh it was incredible! All of it was! This review is more of a stream-of-consciousness process, of me reliving the scenes, than a proper review, but that is how much this book has scrambled my mind, given me everything I wanted and more. Horrified me and made me overjoyed; touched me and made me cry; made me hold my breath and then breathe out in awe; sickened and astonished me, then made me grin. Up and down, over and again. This was absolute mastery, and it took command of my soul. I will remember this journey, and cannot recommend this book highly enough. I hope everyone reads it just for the experience of being invaded and changed into a whole new being. It's magic, the way Dylan's and Geoffrey's music is to the people of this book.

"'Without you to play it, it's nothing but small black marks on paper. When I wrote, it was like a flood from my brain and my heart out through my fingers. Those marks are the sum of everything I feel for you! Every grand detache, every bariolage is yours. Every rest, every fermata, every time change, every notation, every bloody note is yours.'"

P.S. The writing was also so, so beautiful in itself. I highlighted the most sections I ever have from one book. Too many to list or write out, but I included a few of my favorites in here.

P.P.S. I've been thinking about it, and one reason I liked this so much was that Ms. Sims didn't use any of the tried and true (and tired) plot threads like cheating, jealousy, or gay bashing that would have been easy to use as a filler, but instead forged her own unique path for the story, which made it all the better for that choice. Also, I feel like I almost don't want to read another story right now out of respect for this one. I'm not sure if any will live up to this one, and I have this playing on a loop in my head, and I don't want to taint that :) Oh well, I must take each story on its own merit I suppose! show less

Dylan Rutledge is a headstrong teenager in an all-boys English boarding school. He is driven by a desire to compose music, and this passion is so powerful that it leads him to take bold risks. He steals the cathedral key from the headmaster’s office for a single opportunity to play the church organ. He simply must hear his music played as he intended it to sound when he wrote it. Dylan is obstinate and daring, and he cannot help but challenge the conservative establishment. Sadly, this show more sort of behavior leads to his expulsion from the school.One of the school’s instructors, Laurence Northcliff, is charmed by young Dylan. He sees a talent in the aspiring artist that none of his other teachers seem willing to acknowledge. He convinces the headmaster to reinstate Dylan at the school and agrees to be his tutor. Unbeknownst to Laurence, Dylan begins to fall in love with his tutor. When Dylan advances on Laurence with an unexpected kiss, Laurence panics and flees the school.It isn’t until after Dylan’s graduation that he reconnects with his former teacher in Paris. Dylan, now an adult, is embarrassed by his earlier behavior, yet he once again finds himself smitten by Laurence. The two begin seeing one another socially, and eventually a romance blossoms. When Dylan elects to remain in Paris in order to pursue his study of music, his family disowns him. His father learns of his relationship with Laurence and is disgraced. Although the loss of his family is devastating to Dylan, his love for Laurence trumps all else. They fall even deeper in love and build a life together where Laurence realizes enormous success as an author of fiction, and Dylan finally begins to make strides with his musical compositions.Suddenly tragedy strikes, and it appears that Dylan will lose everything. All of the happiness he has thus far realized in his life is instantly swept away, and he must begin anew. How will he ever find the strength to go on after losing everything? Will his passion for music sustain him in his darkest hours? Will he ever love again?Ruth Sims has done it again. She’s written a masterpiece! She has woven an epic love story into a painstakingly accurate historical depiction of nineteenth century English life. This accuracy is evidenced by the minutiae of daily life which is presented in a beautiful, seamless manner, painting a vivid portrait of a truly remarkable era. The story’s central character, Dylan Rutledge, is a marvelously flawed and utterly human protagonist—passionate, arrogant, impudent, and undeniably lovable. Introduced as a rebellious teenager whose passion for music is so powerful that it’s nearly all-consuming, Dylan ultimately matures and evolves into a man who loves with an equally powerful fervency. Like Job of the Bible, Dylan helplessly watches his entire world crumble before him, and he somehow manages to endure the unimaginable heartbreak. He somehow finds the will to go on and eventually love again. Ultimately it is he who must choose to redirect this love and place his faith in another. His eternal love for Laurence remains within him, and it brings him full circle to a place where he assumes the role in another’s life which Laurence once so perfectly demonstrated in Dylan’s life.Ruth Sims is a marvelous storyteller. Her prose is written beautifully, and her character development is executed superbly. The villains are detestable, and the heroes are impossible not to love. The intimate scenes are romantic and tasteful, and the feel of the novel is of such high literary quality that the same-gender romance is inconsequential. It is purely a love story, and that is all that matters.I felt that Ruth Sims had peaked when she released The Phoenix, and I feared that any subsequent work by her would pale in comparison. I’m thrilled to admit I was wrong. Counterpoint is a must read, and it is sure to remain one of my all-time favorite historical romances. show less

I had the honor of being a beta reader for this novel, and ever since then I have been eagerly anticipating its publication so I could read it again. Though I truly enjoyed Sims' previous novel, "The Phoenix," I have to say that Counterpoint is even better. This is brilliant historical fiction with two love stories at the heart of it.

Dylan Rutledge has a gift for music, and nothing but disdain for traditional schooling that keeps him from it. At the Bede School, only Master Laurence show more Northcliff can see Dylan's potential. What he cannot see is that Dylan loves him. Dylan will lose everything in pursuit of his dream: his family, security, even true love. As he struggles to make his place in the world, he crosses paths with another musical genius who could be the salvation of both his heart, and his music. Geoffrey is a gifted violinist, apprenticed to a master musician. His life is torn apart when his master dies; and Dylan must find a way to save Geoffrey, and himself.

The historical setting is very well done, with lots of details to put a reader in the time, but it is the characters that make this book come alive. Dylan's passion for his music is so intense, a reader cannot help but be pulled in. I wanted Dylan to find success. But, this is not a simple romance with some angst and an HEA. Readers follow Dylan as his life unravels - through his first experiments with sex, his confrontations with his father, his consuming need to compose, his first true love, the pain of loss and finally redemption. Though Dylan is the focus, many secondary characters are also fully developed. Dylan eventually finds a patron, and she is pivotal in weaving some of the threads back together. And then there is Geoffrey, who is Rom (Romany, Gypsy). It is easy to see how these two could connect. Both feel like outsides; Geoffrey because of his heritage, Dylan because he refuses the traditional path of a young gentleman. But, they are also sustained by their music. Theirs is a beautiful romance, fiery at one moment, tender the next. They are so very real.

Overall, this is a fantastic read that I cannot recommend enough. I also have to say, the cover art is gorgeous! show less

Beautiful new edition!

The Phoenix easily gives Romeo and Juliet a run for it's money! I am a huge fan of Shakespeare, as is the author if her (Kit's!) enthusiasm within the story is any indication. Yet, Sims' forbidden love between two men is more poignant. It resonates through our society, where such love is attacked as strongly now as it was when this story was set.

I will not rehash the plot, as other reviewers have already done so. But, I will say Ruth Sims is an exceptional writer whose show more work should not be missed. If you are looking for erotica, or M/M romance, this may not be for you. There is sex, but it's not explicit. And, Phoenix does not have the contrived "happily ever after" ending that many romances have (which I also enjoy, and am not knocking here). If you ARE looking for a deeply felt, well-written novel of true love, then buy this book now. Nico and Kit love each other, but their lives, society, and their own insecurities get in the way time and again. Until, finally, they realize that one simply cannot live without the other. While our two heroes do end up together, it is only after much loss and pain, just as in real life. A bittersweet ending, but still sweet.

This novel should be enjoyed by historical fiction fans, as well as M/M fiction fans. Even those who do not agree with the M/M lifestyle can appreciate the magic in the story and Sims' prose. The reviewer who quoted Kit, forgot one line (or it has changed in this revised edition):

Without the sanction of Sociey
Without the sanction of the Church
Without the sanction of God,
Without the sanction even of yourself
I love you.

Obviously, these words have touched a lot of people (me included). How else to explain so many reviewers quoting them here? And, the cover art is beautiful. show less