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  • Into This River I Drown

  • By: TJ Klune
  • Narrated by: Matt Baca
  • Length: 18 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (68 ratings)
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Into This River I Drown

By: TJ Klune
Narrated by: Matt Baca
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Summary

Five years ago, Benji Green lost his beloved father Big Eddie when his truck crashed into a river. Everyone called it an accident, but Benji knows it was more. Even years later, he's buried in his grief, throwing himself into managing Big Eddie's convenience store in the small-town of Roseland, Oregon. Surrounded by his mother and three aunts, he lives day to day, struggling to keep his head above water.

But Roseland is no ordinary place.

With ever more frequent dreams of his father's death and waking visions of feathers on the river's surface, Benji finds his definition of reality bending. He thinks himself haunted; by ghosts or memories, he can no longer tell. Not until a man falls from the sky, leaving the burning imprint of wings on the ground, does Benji begin to understand that the world is more mysterious than he ever imagined - and more dangerous. As uncontrollable forces descend on Roseland, they reveal long-hidden truths about friends, family, and the stranger Calliel - a man Benji can no longer live without.

©2013 TJ Klune (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

What listeners say about Into This River I Drown

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A powerful story about love and loss.

Very enjoyable listen and excellent performance from the narrator. I found the prose really emphasised the emotional state of the protagonist. 5*

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Another bottom scraper

In a world where the Christian God exists and sends angels in the shape of hot men to assist in the dealings of young gays – no, this makes it sound like an exciting book. It could’ve been, if the author had a better editor and the sense to kill his darlings. Indeed, if you were to cut 30% of the longwinded introspection, and send an industrial size lawnmower in to trim all the repetitions that leach all effect out of the original instance, this could be a good book.

My main disappointment, besides having to actually, audibly cringe at some of the dialogue, is that I expected an LGBT author to have a more nuanced perspective, but women only seem to exist to convince the reader that the average, by all accounts dull young gay guy, is in fact fantastic and special enough to change the world, and have very little substance or personality. You can interchange the mothers freely between the books I’ve read by this author without making a difference. The only interesting character in the whole book is actually the aunt with Downs, but she would have made a better younger sister, in my opinion, since she is infantilized so deeply anyway.


TLDR; if you like some plot-with-your-smut and enjoy things like Twilight and animes like Black Butler – or just stories where aesthetics are more important than believability and quality of writing – not to mention the “plain person is courted by hot supernatural creature”, you’ll probably like this.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So So Beautiful! 😍😍

OMG!!!

This audiobook has had me ugly crying 😭😭😭throughout.

It is so beautifully written - the love between father and son, family bonds as well as the townspeople is beyond anything I could have imagined🥰🥰
The love between the two MC’s is just astounding and the reverence is just too much to put into words ☺️

TJ Klune does, in all his audiobooks, transports your heart, mind and soul into everything he writes and makes you feel everything! I can count on one hand, how many authors can make you feel like this! Truly brilliant 🤩

Matt Bacca does an outstanding performance narrating this and truly encapsulates TJ Klune’s essence from paper to spoken word.

I CANNOT reiterate enough how much this should be in your reading/listening repertoire.

Like Green Creek, BOATK, Tales From Verania and The Extraordinaries - I’d give 1000🌟’s if I could ❤️❤️🥰🥰

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!

I loved this story and the narration brought it alive. So many twists and turns in directions I hadn’t thought of. I cried more than a few times too. Well worth a listen!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Captivating

TJ Klune can be really hit and miss for me. However, this was a hit! In parts it is really beautifully written, and emotive. Some themes are a little relentless, but I think that speaks to the reality of experiencing them. I found the intimate scene far too graphic, and I think it could have benefited from being a little more delicate or implied, but it didn’t hinder overall enjoyment of the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

ITTRID ... in floods of tears.

3rd time listening and it gets better each time.

This is just heartbreakingly joyful and sad.

Narration is 100% . Matt Baca is sublime

20 out of 10!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really Enjoyed!

Matt Bacca was a great choice to read this book. I was fully engrossed and could well believe he was Benji. Overall I really enjoyed this book, although being 18 hours long the story did lag in places but it was quick to pick up again. Its an easy book to binge with addictive and relatable characters; you really do find yourself rooting for them. Excellent gay rep and a really engaging story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting, But Flawed

Long and meandering story revolving primarily around Benji Green, who several years after the death of his father (was it an accident or something more sinister!) feels so alone and depressed that he prays for help because he feels that he is struggling and can't continue. His prayers are answered when Cal, who is not perfect, but is by far and away the most likeable character in the book, literally drops from the skies, and a love story begins! I wish that the story had been centred around him as I probably would have liked the book more, though there are (as is usual with this author) several interesting characters, some I loved and others I loathed!

For me, Benji himself is not always the most likeable character and I kept wishing he would 'grow a pair' as I found him to be selfish and spineless! There is a lot of unnecessary repetition concerning Benji's dream about his father. Initially, I found his dreams added to the story, but by three quarters of the way through the book this really began to irritate me and I struggled to stay with the story, though I have to say that I'm pleased I did for the ending!

Usually I'm a big fan of TJ Klune, having read or listened to several of his wonderful books, but I have to say that had this been the first one I'm not sure I would have listened or read to any of his other books, as in my opinion this one falls short!

What kept me sticking with this story was the excellent narration, as in the hands of a less accomplished narrator I would have given up!

If you haven't listened to any of TJ Klune's books previously then I suggest you start with 'Tell Me It's Real' or 'Bear, Otter and The Kid', but avoid this one!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

beautiful story

beautifully written story that covers grief loss and betrayal, I cried many tears, this story made me want to be a better person

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Be prepared for highly emotional journey throughou

Any additional comments?

For the first time in a long time, I felt so emotionally overwhelmed. Benjamin's story was truly captivating, emotional and very thought provoking. It was everything all at once. Life, choice, grief, pain, horror, death,anger, loss, shock, denial choice. Love. Betrayal. Miracle. Sacrifice. Everything.

“My name is Benjamin Edward Green, after my father, our first and middle names transposed. People call me Benji. Big Eddie wanted me to carry his name, but felt I should have my own identity, hence the switch. I don’t mind, knowing it will always bind us together. It’s a gift, and because of him, I’ve been able to find my life again. I’ve been able to find meaning in all the colors of the world. Because of him, I’ve found my home. This is at once the end and the beginning. This is the story of my love of two men. One is my father. The other is a man who fell from the sky.”

The narrator, Matt Baca , did a truly superb job, nails every voice astonishingly. The differentiation of each of characters were maintained all the way through. It looked like he told the story of his life. I felt the emotions with every fiber of my being. He is the best fit for it. Bravo!

Well, this is exactly what I want every romance to be like. It is a brilliant example how a poem about the bond between a parent and child could be a real beauty. This is one of the best books I've ever read . It was my third book by this author and he's been becoming my favorite.
I am so glad I read this remarkable book! It's been a tremendous pleasure! Yes, it was a very heavy read with several moments stopping your breath but it is a powerful piece of LGBT fiction that need to be placed on the most visible spot on your bookshelf.

Thank you Mr. Klune for this absolutely captivating book!

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