Recent Reads Robert S



What's Robert Been Reading & Watching? Here's somethings that I have recently read and watched and listened to that I thought you might find interesting. Robert, your Group administrator	Big Gay Book Group Home Page Got some books, you want to recommend to others? Send an email to biggaybookgroup@hotmail.com with a short write-up of the book, and we'll post it to the website. This is only available to active members of the Book Group.

Bruce Sargeant and His Circle Figure and Form by Mark Beard	*Bruce Sargeant and His Circle* is one of the most beautiful art books that I have ever come across. It is an elegant volume, kudos to publisher Chronicle Books for their bold presentation and to author/curator Mark Beard for presenting a marvelous collection of this lesser known artist of incredible skills in presenting the beauty of the male athlete. The plates of Sargeant’s art present the English male athlete of the early 1900s bringing to mind Forster’s Maurice. The men are presented in muted colors, pale skins tones with pink flushed cheeks and exquisite detailing of lean musculature and handsome visages. Other members of Sargeant’s “circle” presented here include Hippolyte Alexandre Michallon, Edith Thayer Cromwell, and Brechtholdt Streeruwitz, peers and teachers and mentors that shaped and influenced Sargeant’s artistic skills. Also, works of Peter Coulter, an artist greatly influenced by Streeruwitz and student of Cromwell, make an intriguing addition to this volume. Sadly the artistic career of Bruce Sargeant was cut short by a tragic wrestling accident at age 40. This volume is a tremendous tribute and presentation of the work of an immensely gifted artist and his remarkable ability to capture the sexuality and sensuality of the male athlete. Well worth its weight in gold. You will find yourself drawn over and over to the beautiful images in this collection.

Ugly Betty The Complete First Season	Though I did not watch a great deal of Ugly Betty during its run, I was alway greatly entertained, some now I am sitting a watching the whole series, and having a blast. Filled with delectable villiany, provided most viciously by Vanessa Williams, as Wilhelmina Slater fashion diva at Mode magazine, as well as Marc St. James (Michael Urie) and Amanda Sommers (Becki Newton) (self-appointed Betty rivals), there is a greater balance to the biggest heart of the show in America Ferrara's creation of the fully realized Betty Suarez. There are many facets to Betty as she begins her new job as assistant to Mode magazine editor Daniel Mead (Eric Mabius is quite sexy the playboy coming of age and responsibility). Betty's family life is a counterbalance to mayhem and mania of the magazine, and filled with much love and close-knit support, particularly from Tony Plana, playing her father Ignacio. Lots of comedic drama unfolds as Alex Mead, favored brother to Daniel, returns from the dead and as Alexis Mead, with one bold and amazonian performance by Rebecca Romijn. An odd plot twist mid season, as the writers' switch from the supposedly dead Fey Sommers, Mode editor and mistress to patriarch Mead, to the re-emergence of Alex/Alexis Mead, but the switch is made deftly though a bit startling, leaving some unanswered questions. Particularly engaging is Betty's consistently on-again off-again romance with Mead accountant, Henry Grubstick, Clark Kentishly played to great elan by Christopher Gorham. (There is definitely a hottie hidden behind those glasses!) A great part of the first season is when executive producer Salma Hayek takes on the role of fellow editor of another Mead publication Sofia Reyes, creating tremendous fireworks with Eric Mabius' Daniel. The first season comes to a close with quite a few dramatic and surprising cliffhangers. Truly great fun, and a sad loss to television with such a goodhearted and goodspirited show. So all said a great send up of night-time soap operas but with a tremendous sense of heart and goodness.

*In My Father’s House* by E. Lynn Harris	E. Lynn Harris’ last book is fairly typical of Harris’ last few novels and as enjoyably page-turning as well. There is plenty of melodrama, hot black and multi-racial men, and one very particularly hot sex scene in a reverse “casting-couch” sequence. Bentley Dean is co-owner of hot Miami modeling agency, Picture Perfect Modeling, which specializes in casting of African-American models, both male and female. Bentley Dean oversees male casting while his female partner, Alexandria, oversees the female side. The setting for the book is just before the election and inauguration of Barak Obama to President of the U.S., so the economy is down and business is slow for the agency. Bentley Dean is offered a contract for his agency to provide a bevy of hot men for a “private party.” The men are not required to have sex with any of the party guests but it is understood that they should be mature and tolerant and accepting of any behavior that may occur at the party. At first Bentley Dean is very wary of this offered contract, but agrees to do “casting” for the party as a means to earn a lucrative contract for the business. Bentley Dean also attends the party himself accompanying a young mentee/protégé Jah who is filling in for a last-minute cancelation. Bentley soon discovers that the host of the party is a very high-powered actor/director/producer, Seth Sinclair, in Hollywood. The party goes fairly well, though not without some repercussions. Jah becomes involved in a very controlled relationship with Sinclair. Bentley also has complicated relationships with his family and when a health crisis occurs with his father, he must return to his hometown after years of being cast away by his father. There is a lot to enjoy here with strong characterizations, boldly candid sexuality and the usual Harris flair for drama. This is the first of what was to be trilogy, but not sure what exists or will be published in the future. There is also apparently another book coming late this fall that E. Lynn Harris co-authored with R.M. Johnson about a pair of twin brothers which sounds intriguing.

Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris Three Novellas by Terrance Dean James Earl Hardy & Stanley Bennett Clay	Three renowned African -American authors present novellas paying homage to E. Lynn Harris and what his talents and generosity of spirit and resources brought to the literary, social, and educational communities that he touched. Previously I had only been familiar with the B-Boy books of author James Earl Hardy but found Terrance Dean’s and Stanley Bennett Clay’s contributions to this collection equally pleasurable experiences that make me want to read additional works by them. First in the set is Terrance Dean’s “The Intern” about Chase Kennedy, a television exec that is mostly married to his job, but soon finds himself in a deeply romantic relationship with hot new summer intern Quincy Thornberry. A twist at the end of this story makes for great intrigue and raises possibilities for further contemplation of these characters and the desire to read more. Second is James Earl Hardy’s “Is It Still Jood to Ya?” which takes the reader back to the world of Raheim and his former romantic partner Little Bit/Mitchell. I have always enjoyed Hardy’s B-Boy books and his characters, and this is a great chapter in their story. I definitely need to go and read the sixth book in the series which I haven’t read yet. But here in “… Jood …” Raheim and Mitchell reunite and their passions re-ignite making for a great reading experience. The second half of the novella is presented as a script from a radio talk show interview with Raheim and Mitchell reflecting on their lives, relationship, careers and the African American communities and the changes that have abounded. There is much to reflect on and be entertained with in this novella. Last in the collection is Stanley Bennett Clay’s “House of John,” which presents photographer Jesse Templeton III, who is recovering from the abrupt end of his relationship with an actor whom he discovered en flagrante with another man. Jesse is invited to join a group of men travelling to the Dominican Republic to partake in the pleasures of a private house where the food and drink flow freely and local men are available for pleasurable enjoyment. After joining in the frivolity for a few days, Jesse takes a break and goes off to explore the environs for photo shoots. When he finds himself drawn to the beauty of a young native Davide, he wants to capture his beauty on film. But Davide also captures Jesse’s heart. Clay’s descriptive passages of the Republic are quite vivid taking the reader into the beauties of the cultures and environs and his prose is quite strong and engaging. Each story also has some bold, frank scenes of sexuality that are enticing and delectable. Each author also presents a short essay on what E. Lynn Harris meant to them in their lives and in their writing. Each story also incorporates E. Lynn Harris appearances in the stories that honor him with charm and grace.

*Less Than Zero* by Bret Easton Ellis *Imperial Bedrooms* by Bret Easton Ellis	*Less Than Zero* was the debut novel from Bret Easton Ellis, who stirred controversy with his later novel, American Psycho. In Zero, Ellis presents a group of well-to-do teenagers in 1980s’ Los Angeles as they explore drugs, sex and violence. The story is told through the eyes and mind of Clay who acts more as an observer rather than a participant in the actions and events that occurred. What Ellis’ greatest achievement to me in this book are his incredibly vibrant descriptive passages of the hot, dry Santa Ana winds and their effect on L.A. and his characters. Though brief and stark, *Less Than Zero* is quite engaging. And now 25 years after its publication, Ellis revisits the characters in his newest novel, Imperial Bedrooms. In the very first pages of this new book, narrator Clay addresses the differences between the earlier book and a film that was adapted from the book. Ellis is quite cute with this bit and it works well to set the stage for centering this story on Julian, one of Clay’s closest friends from his youth. Clay apparently is able to overcome his addictions to approach a more successful adult life though questionably running an escort service of ill-repute. Most of Imperial Bedrooms is spent working through the mystery of Julian’s eventual decline and death. Ellis also presents some explicit scenes of sex and violence that add a twist to the tale that adds a surprise for one of the characters. Unfortunately what is lacking here is what could have been an interesting element, the character of Los Angeles as it has changed in the past 25 years, and how Clay, escaping from a previously disastrous relationship and life in New York City. Ellis’ presentation of L.A. in Less Than Zero plays such an important role in the story and it would have been an equally strong element to carry forth in his revisit to these characters and their world.

*Will Grayson, Will Grayson* by John Green & David Levithan	*Will Grayson, Will Grayson* is the collaborative effort of two young adult fiction writers, John Green and David Levithan, and tells the story of two young teens from the Chicago area who have the same name, Will Grayson. Each is exploring his sexual identity and experiences of being a young teen and the first grasps at love and relationships. Each auther writes alternating chapters and handles one of the Will Graysons; Green’s chapters are the odd numbered and follow the straight Will Grayson and his friends including a flamboyant and intriguing character known as Tiny, who is anything but – a former football player known for his large wall of a physique and who is now is exploring his largesse as an openly gay young man. Levithan’s even-numbered chapters follow the other Will Grayon, who is gay and currently exploring a developing relationship via a teen chatroom. A surprise twits to this relationship rocks this Will Grayson's world and comes quite unexpectedly. Levithan demonstrates a remarkable storytelling skill in pulling this off. The Will Graysons meet and become friends and their worlds and friends become interwoven in what is one of the liveliest, most humorous and entertaining young adult books that I have every read. This would make a great read for anyone at the beach this summer and offers much for young adult readers to contemplate with each other and adults about teen sexuality, romance and acceptance of those different from ourselves. A great pleasurable experience.

*Wide Awake* by David Levithan	*Wide Awake* by David Levithan is set a few decades in the future and examines a group of teens who are active in the election of the U.S.’s first gay and Jewish President. The story is told through Duncan, a young openly gay teen who is working as a campaign volunteer for openly gay and Jewish presidential candidate Abraham Stein, who had won the election by popular and electoral vote. But a challenge from the governor of Kansas questions the close victory and calls for a recount. Stein calls for a convergence of supporters to head to Topeka to protest the governor’s manipulations of his authority in calculating the recount. Duncan is joined on this journey and challenged by his boyfriend Jimmy, of multiracial make up, in his commitment to living openly and working to build the Greater Community, one of candidate Stein’s promises for a betterment of America. Levithan presents great explorations of religion, politics and tolerance and acceptance with the characters and ideas presented in *Wide Awake*. The characters are well crafted and the world of the campaign and the non-violent political action and protest is presented with an energy that pulls the reader along. This would make an excellent book for classroom discussion for young adults about the subject matters presented. Levithan creates characters that are very easy to emphasize with and topics that offer a reader much to contemplate.

*The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo* by Stieg Larsson	*The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo* is the first of a trilogy of novels by deceased Swedish writer Steig Larsson, the third of which has just recently been released in the U.S. The first book starts off as a darkly toned character study of financial news correspondent Mikael Blomkvist and private investigative consultant Lisbeth Salander, who is one of the most intriguing young female characters in modern literature. The story is woven with immense amounts of deftly presented detailed both in characterization and descriptive passages of the numerous settings in the story. Salander is an exruciatingly private person, very slight of build, reserved but remarkably resourceful, intelligent and intensely motivated once she takes on a task. She has a strong sense of what is right and will go to any means to exact a vengeful justice, if necessary, as she does with an attorney who is responsible for her business affairs and well-being. He considers her a nothing nebbish, childlike waif with no sensibilities and subsequently sexually abuses her. Her vengeance is deliberately detailed and carried out with determined zeal.. Blomkvist has been found guilty of slandering a corporate giant, and tucking his tail, escapes to a small Swedish village at the request of another corporate giant to investigate the decades-old disappearance of his beloved niece. As part of his investigation, Blomkvist obtains the skills of Salander to aid him in his investigation of the disappearance. About halfway through this first volume, the engaging character study abruptly becomes a fast-paced suspense/thriller as sordid family secrets and sexuality come to light. I felt a bit cheated but this abrupt change, but was nonetheless engaged and intrigued by the storyline as it unfolded. I suspect a good deal of the Swedish idiom and flavor may have been lost in translation, as there are times when some American colloquialisms are used and seem ill fitted to the text. I am intrigued enough by the characters, particularly Salander to want to continue with the series, but not necessarily as a next read.

Blockade Billy by Stephen King	This edition brings together two long stories from the pen of Stephen King. The first Blockade Billy is set in the mid-19520s world of baseball, and tells the unlikely story of a rookie ballplayer assigned as a replacement catcher for the New Jersey Titans. Bill makes an impressive start in his first game creating a wall with his body for runners to get past in their attempts to reach homeplate. But the first game also comes with an injury to a runner, one that raises some questions about Billy. King is certainly in his element with very vivid dispatches describing plays in each of the games Billy plays in and communicates his joy and love for the game. A twist to the story may be a little of a letdown, but still a good narrative from King. The second story here is “Morality,” originally published in Esquire magazine last year. A young husband and wife struggling to make ends meet as he is putting together his first book about working as a substitute teacher. She, an experienced and licensed nurse, is currently working as a caregiver to an elderly priest who has recently suffered a stroke. This priest offers her the chance to earn over $200K if she will perform an act of sin for him and videotape it as authentication of the act. The act is vile though non-sexual, but what follows for the couple turns their relationship upside down. A deviously and capturing read for fans of King’s offbeat sense of realism.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham	John Grisham’s first novel for young adults has much to offer young readers as well as his adult fanbase. Theodore Boone is a 13 year old only child and the offspring of two highly skilled attorneys. His mother is a divorce attorney and his father is a real estate attorney, but Theo seems most intrigued by criminal law. He has his own makeshift (closet) office in his parents’ law offices , and is friends and acquaintances with judges, bailiffs, clerks and police. He offers sound advice to schoolmates who come to him with problems their families are facing. He does his legal research above board and sometimes below the radar. The main thrust of this book is Theo’s observance and involvement in the murder trial of Peter Duffy who is accused of murdering his wife. The DA’s case is circumstantial, but unwittingly, Theo is presented with incriminating evidence that is significant to the case. There are many aspects built in this book for great classroom discussion about the court system, keeping secrets, morality and justice. Enough to a be breezy entertainment for adults with an open ending offering a continuing series with Kid Lawyer, Theodore Boone. Teachers, bring this book into your classroom, if not this spring, definitely in the fall.

	Little Bee by Chris Cleave *Little Bee* is a magnificent reading experience. While I did find it a bit of struggle to believe that narrator Little Bee is only 16 years old, her voice is rich and full of wisdom with a sharp eye for seeing the things in life that so many of us pass by or neglect to take in. The second narrator Sarah is an equally rich voice as she reveals her own search for a truer and deeper sense of herself. These two women meet on a beach in Little Bee's native Nigeria under circumstances that create a startling, frightening bond between these two women that greatly affects and changes their lives and the lives of Sarah's family. At first, Little Bee's narrative was a bit of a struggle but as Sarah's narrative alternates with Little Bee's and their stories unfold, the reader is drawn into their stories and lives and their experiences offer much to contemplate about where one finds oneself in life and where one wants to be. Greatly affecting in emotional strengths. By the end of the book, this reader was captivated by both of these women and the genesis of their development. This story will stay with you...I guarantee it.

	The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers by Thomas Mullen An incredibly deliberate and well crafted tale set in the depression midwest and follows the escapades of the Fireson brothers, Jason and Whit, rogue bankrobbers. Defying the odds, the brothers manage to escape the authorities, both local and federal, in repeated shootouts. Or do they? The brothers commit to complete one final as they make attempts to complete one final "endeavor" that will allow them to escape and set up a new life. Waiting on the sidelines to learn about the Fireson brothers are their mother, brother, Whit's wife and toddler, and Jason's girlfriend, Darcy, whom Jason held briefly as getaway cover after one of their early bank robberies. Smoothly and deliberately paced, with great depictions of the banks, the hideouts and the breadlines and moods of the depression, Mullen weaves a complex tale of family and secrets and truths withheld. I only wished that Darcy, Jason's girlfriend, an intriguing character had been as finely drawn as the brothers Fireson. One of the most thoroughly satisfying and fulfilling reading experiences I have had in quite some time.

	*Horns* by Joe Hill A very strong second novel from Hill. This tells the story of the complex friendship and romantic entanglements of three high school friends. Ignatius Perrish wakes up after a night of drunken debauchery to find that he has grown a set of devilish horns. These horns have the capacity to allow Ig to hear the true desires of those he comes in contact. He learns how almost everyone he knows including his family believe he is responsible for the brutal rape and death of his longtime girlfriend, Merrin. Add to the mix, best friend to both Ig and Merrin in high school. Only has secrets of mischief and longings for Merrin. Elements of the thoroughly fascinating read may prove controversial to some. Certainly the male voices here are fully developed, but I wished we had been given a less sexist and more fully developed picture of Merrin.


To make recommendations for future selections of Big Gay Book Group, please send your suggestions and recommendations by email to biggaybookgroup@hotmail.com Any recommendations will be presented to and voted on by members of the Group during our Group Gatherings.

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What's Robert Been Reading & Watching?