Hide Book Review

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Wendell and Frank meet just after the second world war and fall comfortably in love with each other. But knowing what their love means to the rest of the world, they isolate them from the southern US state town they live in. Choosing only ever to leave their house separately, the two decide to live quietly away from the prying eyes of their neighbours. Finding comfort in their domestic routine, they accept the hand they’ve been dealt. However, decades later, Wendell finds Frank unconscious in the garden, and suddenly their isolation is threatened and could change the nature of their relationship forever.

Hide is not a book for everyone, and I can understand why some people may not enjoy the drawn out descriptions or melancholic tone. For me however, the beauty of this book lies in the way it celebrates the small moments on intimacy in a relationship. Wendell and Frank drive each other crazy, but through it all what’s most evident is how much love there is between them.

Anyone in a long term relationship will be able to recognise the stubbornness and frustration some of the interactions between Frank and Wendell hold. When you’e lived with someone that long, you can’t help but know them as deeply and complexly as these two men do. It goes without saying that the books holds a lot of pain for the life they should have been able to live but were denied due to the prejudices the people around them have.

A particularly unique part of this book is Wendell’s occupation as a taxidermist – there’s a certain turn of events in the book which could be quite distressing for some people to read, but I think it again ultimately reflected Wendell’s love from Frank rather than any darker or more gruesome intention.

At the time of writing this, Hide has under 1,000 ratings on Goodreads, so if you are looking for an underrated gem, I would HIGHLY recommend this.