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Gordon Merrick
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The Lord Won't Mind (The Peter & Charlie Trilogy) Kindle Edition

by Gordon Merrick (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 154 ratings
A four-month New York Times bestseller: This classic gay love story is as gripping and sexy today as when it was first published.

Charlie Mills always played the role of the good grandson, and his grandmother rewarded him for it handsomely in the form of all the gifts, money, and attention a boy could want. Entering college in the late 1930s, Charlie just has to keep doing what his grandmother expects of him in order to continue to receive her gifts. He has to find a nice girl, get married, and have a few kids. Then one summer, he meets Peter Martin.
 
Peter is everything that Charlie has ever wanted. Despite all the obstacles, Charlie immediately craves and pursues Peter, who happily obliges him. As they grow closer, Charlie is forced to choose between two options: complying with the expectations of society and family, or following the call of true love. In this, the first book of the Charlie & Peter Trilogy, Gordon Merrick creates an enduring portrait of two young men deeply in love, and the tribulations they endure to express themselves and maintain their relationship. 
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Peter & Charlie Trilogy
  2. Print length
    366 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Open Road Media
  5. Publication date
    September 30, 2014
  6. File size
    4.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Outrageous, addictive, perversely sexy . . . The closest thing gay people have to the fat, juicy romance novels that housewives have been devouring for years.” —Charles Busch, author of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom and Psycho Beach Party on One for the Gods

About the Author

Gordon Merrick (1916–1988) was an actor, television writer, and journalist. Merrick was one of the first authors to write about gay themes for a mass audience. He wrote fourteen books, including the beloved Peter & Charlie Trilogy. The Lord Won’t Mind spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list in 1970. Merrick’s posthumously published novel The Good Life, coauthored with his partner, Charles G. Hulse, was a bestseller as well. Merrick died in Sri Lanka.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00MO0N36M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (September 30, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 366 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 154 ratings

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Gordon Merrick

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
154 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story gripping and enjoyable. They describe it as a timeless classic of gay fiction with a happy ending. The book is described as thrilling and exciting, making it an excellent read for anyone in love. Readers appreciate the contemporary content and period piece feel.

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Story qualityReadabilityContemporary content
16 customers mention "Story quality"14 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the story's gripping plot about true love. They describe it as a classic of gay fiction with a happy ending. The well-written story is described as fun, trashy, and timeless.

"TLWM is a well-written story containing a driving, riveting plot about true love, a love that usually happens to a person only once in a lifetime...." Read more

"...So easy to read. Such wonderful dialogue. Excellent descriptive narrative of a summer romance and a deep love between to beautiful young men that..." Read more

"I just reread this timeless novel and am as engross as ever in the love between Charlie and Peter. Again I find myself loving Peter but not Charlie...." Read more

"...A straightforward love story!" Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found it thrilling and exciting, especially for those interested in love. Many considered it a good escape from reality, though some wanted it to be more realistic.

"...However the subject is just as contemporary as ever. A must read for the broadminded person who loves being in love." Read more

"...What a mistake, as a young man I found the book thrilling and exciting, as an older man I found it trite, cliche, boring with no real basis in..." Read more

"...I love it and the reread is better than the first read because I have experienced so much more. A straightforward love story!" Read more

"...Definitely worth a read for its own merit as well as to see how the genre has developed." Read more

4 customers mention "Contemporary content"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's contemporary content. They find it timeless and fresh, with a period piece feel.

"...However the subject is just as contemporary as ever. A must read for the broadminded person who loves being in love." Read more

"...I have reread this book several times over about 15 years. It is always fresh and a title that you will keep in your bookcase or library...." Read more

"...It is definitely a period piece and the characters' attitudes seem to reflect the thinking of America in the 1940s...." Read more

"Timeless !..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • The Good Doctor.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read for anyone in love
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    TLWM is a well-written story containing a driving, riveting plot about true love, a love that usually happens to a person only once in a lifetime. A taboo subject at the time of writing, in the 21st century the idea of same sex love and marriage is more acceptable. However the subject is just as contemporary as ever. A must read for the broadminded person who loves being in love.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking Love Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    * a controlling, manipulative wealthy grandmother
    * a doting grandson - a hidden homosexual
    * a summer romance - an innocent virgin
    * a deep love
    * denied homosexuality
    *heartbreak So much complex heartache and heartbreak by Charlie

    Such a pure love from Peter. Our innocent virgin. He embraced his homosexuality. But all of the above changed in New York.

    A breathaking love. A breathless romance. A cold-hearted grandmother. If only Charlie would accept what he is.

    I could not put this book down. So easy to read. Such wonderful dialogue. Excellent descriptive narrative of a summer romance and a deep love between to beautiful young men that will have to brave more than just coming out.

    A breath of fresh air.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Amelia Oh
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but still lacking...SPOILERS AHEAD
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book from Profsmith's books from amazon and was pleased when it came with ONE FOR THE GODS. (...). I was only able to read the first page before purchasing this book and was hoping that the rest of the book would be as good. It really wasnt. I dont know what Gordon Merrick has against women but I hope the sequel isnt as sexist. He makes C.B. a two faced and sneaky, manipulative woman. He describes Betty as a tease and says that most all women are like that. That they will act like they want it until it is presented to them and then they fail to deliver. (...) I was partly pleased but i have many more gay themed novels that are MUCH better.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Benben .
    3.0 out of 5 stars Gay romance novel, don't expect too much.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book I read that talked about a gay sexual relationship. I read it in the early 70s and thought ti was the most amazing book! When I saw the book available as a daily deal and realized there were 2 more books in the series, I bought all of them. I thought I'd reread The Lord Won't Mind and rekindle the excitement I felt the first time I read the book.

    What a mistake, as a young man I found the book thrilling and exciting, as an older man I found it trite, cliche, boring with no real basis in reality. It made me wonder if Mr. Merrick had ever had actual sex with another man before he wrote the book because the sex was not in the least bit realistic. No wonder I had such unrealistic expectations after reading dribble like this. If you want to read a gay romance novel with no basis in reality then go for it. I think this book was written more for straight women than gay men because it is so far from being realistic, it laughable but a romance lover would probably enjoy it.

    The story is very basic and such a cliche of a victim, Yes, treat me badly, Yes, use me, Yes, throw me away, Yes, I'll love you forever and welcome you with open arms back into my life. "Ugh, gag me with a spoon and give me a real man with some backbone."
    11 people found this helpful
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  • IMHO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless !
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2003
    Verified Purchase
    I just reread this timeless novel and am as engross as ever in the love between Charlie and Peter. Again I find myself loving Peter but not Charlie. Perhaps because I am sentimental at heart and hates it when one half of a loving relationship abandons and betrays the other just because suddenly he could not withstand the pressure. However the satisfying ending makes up for Charlie's betrayal. Once again I feel that Charlie's and Peter's story should have just ended with The Lord Won't Mind and not continue into a trilogy. Reason being The Lord Won't Mind is perfect and complete in itself and the second and third books just spoil the enthrallment of Charlie's and Peter's love for each other.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Steve Harrington
    5.0 out of 5 stars Was amazed to find it on kindle
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    One of the first books I read when I came out many years ago. Was amazed to find it on kindle, and now it is a trilogy. I love it and the reread is better than the first read because I have experienced so much more. A straightforward love story!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Dennis J Black
    2.0 out of 5 stars A different time; a different story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I first read this back in the 70s. I lived in a small town and had no experience in life, so I assumed this was the way things were. I recently read this again, and this book has not aged well. It is a very unhealthy relationship , not to mention homophobic and racist. Neither Charlie nor Peter are very likable people. For its time, it was a breakthrough gay "fantasy-fiction". Today, this book would never sell, because people want more reality in their novels. My favorite person in this book was Sapphire.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • barefoot4evr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This is a classic gay book. I have reread this book several times over about 15 years. It is always fresh and a title that you will keep in your bookcase or library. The book is very detailed and graphic.Paints a vivid picture in your mind.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Steve
    5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful and erotically charged story of homoxexual love
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book to disturb one's complacency. For gay men such as myself, living in a modern, tolerant society, Merrick evokes a world that is both exciting and frightening and where the forbidden love between men leads to extremes of passion, of action and reaction. The two main protagonists, Peter and Charlie, are opposite poles. Charlie is a bit older, more experienced, the consummate seducer. But he hates the idea of being a homosexual and does violence to himself and others on the road to self-acceptance. Peter is younger, innocent and inexperienced. But once the doors of homosexual experience have been opened for him, he embraces his desires and personality and is content, even proud, to be 'queer'.
    Looming over both men is the baleful influence of Charlie's grandmother, who deserves to be singled out as one of the great characters of modern fiction. She is a sophisticated, charming, wealthy New Yorker, but with a family history, and the resultant twists to her personality, that infect almost every page.
    Ultimately, the theme of Merrick's novels is that a man's true nature (notably his sexuality) has to be allowed to flourish for there to be happiness. But the path for Merrick's characters is both compellingly compassionate and often dark and disturbing.
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  • RAEL.ORG
    2.0 out of 5 stars Pas réussi à terminer
    Reviewed in France on March 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    C'est plutôt bien écrit, mais je n'ai pas accroché. Je l'ai trouvé trop bavard, et je n'ai pas aimé les personnages. Le plus jeune, Peter le novice est plus tarte que la plupart des héroïnes actuelles. Quand il rencontre le personnage principal, au bout de trois heures il perd sa virginité avec lui (désolée pour le spoiler, en même temps, c'est au tout début du livre) puis au bout de 4 heures, le héros le laisse seul une demi-heure et il croit mourir tellement il lui a manqué. Le soir de la même journée il lui dit qu'il l'aime et qu'il veut tout lâcher pour vivre avec lui. Même Anastasia dans 50 nuances de Grey est plus futée...

    Mais c'est une question de goût. Encore une fois, je ne critique pas l’œuvre, je n'ai tout simplement pas accroché mais d'autres peuvent aimer.
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  • Anton Bolton
    5.0 out of 5 stars memories
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    wanted to start to read the trilogy again very hard to find no reprints available , and nothing new either so got this , read it within the week , great book , want to collect the lot again ,
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