Simon had always expected love to feel different than this. Whether it was his Catholic upbringing or the poetry he’d read—Simon had thought that true love would be uplifting, fulfilling, that it would give a meaning to his loitering, and add joy to his leisure. But not this kind of love. This love was a flesh-eating monster, sharp-clawed and evil-eyed, ravishing his mind with medieval cruelty.Dr … cruelty.
Dr Simon Mráz is a respected specialist and lecturer at the Charles University in Prague. He is a serious man, responsible. His students call him The Cruel Doctor Frost not because he’s unkind, but because of his unwavering, ice-cold composure. As a psychiatrist, he values sanity. And sanity can be found in work, restraint, and self-control.
Not many know of that one time in the past when The Cruel Doctor Frost lost his cool. His ill-advised, secret affair with a student left Simon deeply wounded. Since that day, every minute of Simon’s life has been a struggle to remain sane, functioning. He’s managed so far—as long as he is needed, as long as his work makes a difference, Simon can scrape together enough strength to get up in the morning and run off the nightmares. But when his friends begin drifting away, his beloved protégé becomes independent, and the man who bereaved Simon of his precious sanity might return… Simon’s mind and body stop responding to his impressive willpower.
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A beautiful and poignant story that ripped my heart apart and pieced it back together, A Love Song for the Sad Man in the White Coat is a romance unlike any I have read this year. Be warned, there is a lot of angst, but its written with so much heart and emotion it’s hard to stop reading. The happy, romantic ending is well worth all the tears, and I felt so satisfied and touched by the end. The audiobook was performed by Vance Bastian who did a superb job. He draws the listener in and holds our attention until the very last. I highly recommend this book.
Ha, it took me till the end of the audiobook before I finally had the title memorized… I love it.
What a gorgeous story. We get so deep into these characters – their connection to each other, how they’re feeling, and everything they’re going through personally. Roe Horvat truly is a master of the human psyche, he’s simply brilliant.
The work that’s involved in crafting a story this way, skipping around in time and having it all flow so perfectly is amazing.
The benefit of the audio version? You get to listen to Vance Bastian’s gorgeous, melodic voice. And his accent? Just lovely.
The view on this story…the details described to make us see, feel and smell the environments..
was exquisite done.
Building up to explode….
Matěj (right pronouncing ty google 🙂 disappeared years ago. Left behind is his sister and Simon
We are witnessing the aftermath… the why….the consequences…..the hurt, the despair, this put down…amazingly touching, tender and sore.
It was a moving story, depressed and emotional, the moment Simon knew in what state he was it felt almost as a relieve….
“Inversion”
Just the awareness of : He (censor) made Simon’s conscience heavy with guilt for tiny everyday missteps.
Simon’s personality, intelligent, unpredictable behavior for outsiders. Matěj I had to guess for a while because his was everywhere except on page for some time.
And than….there he was Matěj ….introduced in all his sublimeness …gosh what a personality.
“After decades of constant buzzing, writhing, regrouping, and clashing, the processes in Simon’s brain limped and then halted entirely.”
Simon….I couldn’t help it, he reminded me so much of someone I knew and lost, I felt connected… all his moves were heartbreaking, honesty raw and somewhat sad.
I think in this story he is prettier than in my real life, but gosh it felt real.
Simon’s brain is fabulous. His reflections brilliant…thorough.
“I’m not talking about this with someone who’s more stupid than me.”
While reading it was a heavy stone lying on my chest… a train come crashing… an unbearable hurt… luckily it was temporary. Both men in all their passion and fairness finally get the chance to come close as before.
With as background beautiful Prague a complicated and touching love/live story. Sentences stunningly written with a great perception.
This beautiful and painful tale is a romance, even though Simon and Matěj have a complicated relationship from the start. When Matěj leaves though, this becomes Simon’s story of merely existing without really living. This man breaks my heart, when he tries to literally outrun his pain, when he hurts others with his inability to let them in, and when he lets go and breaks down. It’s good that that part of the book remains focused on Simon, because seeing Matěj’s devastation at the same time would be overwhelming. When the two come together again, will they be able to heal the deep wounds that are now part of their souls? I recommend that you read it and see for yourself. This story is very much worth your time and tears. I love it, and Simon and Matěj will stay in my heart.
My heart, my heart, my heart, my heart! It hurt a lot reading this book. Why is it so enticing? And why is the book title so perfect?
Immediately I loved Simon Mráz with his dog chewed ear and his inner sadness. And I loved the bright, shining light and full of colour Matêj Chrs so much. So so much. I was invested. Completely. It seems like every feeling and emotion was pulled out of me. I soared the high and felt the depth of low. I loved and I hated. I treasured every perfect moment and kept it safe. Tucked it away and wrapped it up.
The storyline had me completely involved and emotional. I gasped and I cried. Love is beautiful. There is nothing to hate about love.