I wanted first to say that A BETTER PLACE was one of the best gay novels that I have read for quite some time. I found Mark's technqiue of alternative perspectives from chapter to chapter a clever way to capture the unique personalities of each character. Living in Indianapolis, Indiana, I understand the climate that Brendan and Casper endured. This is a novel about liberation, a novel about sacrifices, a novel about "soul" love. Most importantly, Mark's novel reinforced my opinion that everyone's lives are interconnected and complex. We all need each other. This novel really caused me to pause and reflect on my own life, my own understanding of love, and my own understanding of selfless sacrifices. Thanks Mark, in my opinion, this is a classic that clearly maps the human condition.
