To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

Three stories in different timelines that connect with common themes. The first takes place in an alternative "Free States" America in 1893. David is born into a wealthy family and his grandfather is trying to marry him off to an older gentleman but David is secretly in love with a less worthy man who might be a hustler. The second story is more familiar 1980's America caught in the HIV/AIDS crisis. The third story is the longest and takes place in the faraway future where a series of shattering viruses , climate change and living under a totalitarian government add up to less than a desirable vision of the future. Many of the same names are used in the three stories so it can be a bit confusing and I wanted to think of them as related to each other. The overwhelming themes that I took from this 700 page tome is the longing for love, loneliness, the need to pull away from meddling family and a connection to being of Hawaiian descent (although it is not a Hawaii we recognize). It was refreshing to think of relationships and marriage as between two people without caring if that was between a man/woman, man/man or woman/woman. The writing is emotional and deep and it will quietly pull you in.  3 1/2 stars