Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

     Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan is the teenage love story of Paul who meets Noah. Paul is blessed in the way that his community and family is more open and accepting than most from my personal experience. Reading this was a nice vacation from my reality where things would play out quite differently.

     It's not easy for all of Paul's gender and sexually diverse friends despite the general community's feelings of equality. Tony comes from a very religious family and is basically on house arrest for his parents' fear the devil will influence Tony's soul in a homosexual manner and bind him to eternal damnation. Unless a girl is involved in an adventure, it's unlikely Tony is going anywhere.

     Infinite Darlene, formerly a Daryl, is a homecoming queen/star quarterback hybrid of a student who can be overly dramatic but acts with the best of intentions from a big heart.

     Joni has been friends with Paul for what seems like "forever" but things go sour when Joni begins dating a guy that Paul (and many others) can hardly stand.

Author David Levithan

     Noah, perspective love interest of Paul's, is the newest addition to the community. He recently moved his easels and photography equipment into a home not far from Paul's. They first meet in a bookstore and things are looking good until Paul's past catches up with him.

     Kyle, Paul's ex, is struggling with his identity and pulls Paul into a situation previously thought laughable at best. Life has a funny way of mending their relationship as friends while simultaneously causing problems between Paul and Noah.

     I think I found this book fascinating because it takes place in an atmosphere of acceptance, love and progressiveness I'm not used to. I dream of a comfortable enough time to hold hands with my husband whenever and wherever or talk freely with my peers about gay relationships and culture without feeling the all-too-familiar marginalization that comes with living in areas such as the one I reside in. I should take a lesson from Tony and his courageous spirit.

You can find Boy Meets Boy at your local library. You can also purchase it on Amazon for your Kindle, as a paperback or audiobook.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

     I've just had the privilege of reading Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle. Though it sounds as if it could be a highly personalized self-help book for Nates around the world revealing the secrets of becoming a better Nate than ever, it was actually the most delightful story I've read in a long while about Nate Foster, thirteen (nearly fourteen) year-old dreamer from a small town in Pennsylvania.

     Nate's stuck in a rut. His hometown doesn't seem to appreciate him, his talents are considered weird or "gay" by his peers he's often the target of bullying. Nothing dims the stage lights to the production of Nate's dream, however. Nate is going to be a star on Broadway. It all starts with a carefully-planned trip to New York to audition for the leading role in E.T.: The Musical...without his parents knowing about it.

     Nate's partner in crime (and most likely future agent) Libby helps him unlock his potential and fine tune his craft as an actor and singer. She encourages his love for Broadway and musicals and together they form an unbreakable bond of friendship that leads them through some pretty interesting situations in the book.

Author Tim Federle

     The characters in this book, particularly in New York where the majority of the story takes place, are fantastically and magically brought to life through Federle's writing. Throughout the book, I laughed, I cried, I was anxious then calm and finally overwhelmed with euphoria upon finishing the book. Federle will engage your senses, make a home for Nate in your heart and leave you inspired and uplifted.

     I also love that Nate hasn't quite figured out his sexuality - he's "undecided" and feels no pressure to declare or slap a label on himself. Though bullies throw their limited and cruel vernacular at Nate, he holds his head high. We are who we are and who we are is beautiful. He encounters hateful people, loving people, straight people and gay people and sees them all as equal individuals. When it comes to bullies, or a-holes, he speaks words of wisdom saying each day we all make a choice whether we're going to be a nice guy or an a-hole and Nate chooses to be a nice guy even in the face of bullying.

     I dare not spoil the events of the story. Will Nate make it to the audition? Will Nate make it back home undetected? Read it and find out but know that your heart will be engaged and you'll fall in love with Nate as you're cheering him on, admiring his courage. Nate's an inspiration for us all to follow our hearts and realize our dreams are always within our reach.

     Check out Better Nate Than Ever at your local library. You can purchase Better Nate Than Ever for Amazon Kindle or buy the hardcover book here. It is also available as an unabridged audio edition via Audible.

Kill Your Darlings by Max Allan Collins

 

     A mystery author at the gloomy end of his career, or so it seems, is ironically found drowned in his hotel bathtub the night before the 1984 Bouchercon, or Anthony Boucher Memorial World Mystery Convention, in the grand city of Chicago.

     Having personally been in Chicago on holiday for approximately the last ten chapters (of nineteen) in this book, I supremely enjoyed being able to visualize the locations and venues described in the book. The main character, a mystery author from Iowa named Mallory, has a certain clumsiness about him I find endearing. His idol, the possibly murdered but nonetheless drowned, Roscoe Kane created a macho detective named Gat Garson who Mallory is accused of wanting to embody on several different occasions. However Mallory's lack of impulse reactions and too-perfect timing bring him short of that prize...thankfully.

Author Max Allan Collins

     It was refreshing to read a novel from the perspective of a character who was far from perfect, who was honest with himself and aware that there were talents far beyond his own. He simply loved writing and the world of mystery - and certainly found himself enveloped in his Chicago adventure. 

     Kane kept quite the company, making several possible suspects in the drowning that was made to look accidental. An obnoxious, large and loud ex-wife, a weak, over-dramatic widow, a gay son who only recently made amends and, of course, the greedy publisher seeing little more than dollar signs at every corner.

     I won't spoil or give away any clues, but I will say the book ended with a bang! I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and excitement of the conclusion to this enthralling mystery.

     Check out Kill Your Darlings by Max Allan Collins from your local library or find it on Amazon for your Kindle (Prime members borrow for free), as an old-fashioned book or audiobook. 

Openly Bob by Bob Smith

Bob Smith, gay comedian and author, compiled a book of his essays entitled “Openly Bob.” I recently finished the book and, unfortunately, discovered that I have an OCD quirk that hinders my ability to enjoy literature. Because all of the essays could be stand-alone publications, I had a hard time finishing it. William suggested I break every now and then to another book but because of my OCD I had to finish the book. It felt very stop-and-go. However, the format isn’t the book and does not affect its contents.

Smith’s humor is rich and intoxicating. Upon finishing the many essays, you’re likely to walk away with a new comedic view of everyday situations.

His essays of his life include such topics as coming out to his parents, having a boyfriend (Tom, whom the collection is dedicated to) and introducing him to his parents, travelling, antique-shopping behaviors, bird-watching, hurricane-survival and friendships in Provincetown, auditioning for films, family loss and mourning, turbulence in relationships and trying to survive in big cities with little dollars among others.

My favorite essay is Hurricane Bob, the essay of the aforementioned hurricane that struck Bob’s temporary home in Provincetown during one of his summers there doing stand-up at a bar. His housemates, also gay or lesbian, were a fun cast of characters and seemed to all have their quirks and talents – and some not-so-talented but feeling otherwise. The family-like feeling came through the words strongly and it was comforting to see such a diverse range of people living and sharing together. From the preparation for the hurricane to the aftermath, these people bonded and supported one another and kept a friendship alive and burning long after their parting.

If you don’t mind reading many mini-stories in one book, you’ll appreciate the humor if nothing else and most likely you’ll be able to relate. I promise you’ll chuckle at least once in each chapter if not each page. Bob has lived an interesting, exciting life and you’re sure to be inspired by its telling.

Blue Lawn by William Taylor

Author, William Taylor

It happens. We live life, our hearts tell us one thing, our minds tell another. In The Blue Lawn by William Taylor, David, a near-16-year-old boy, can't help but feel funny around Theo - a boy a few years older who was held back in school. They're nothing alike. Theo likes driving fast, smoking cigarettes and being lazy. David hunts, plays rugby and likes gardens. A friendship that starts with fists flying and anger develops into something neither one of them can truly explain - but something neither one really wants to lose.

The Blue Lawn was a wonderful, touching short story (122 pages). I enjoyed every chapter. The writing style of Taylor was enjoyable and easy to follow. My heart followed David's side of the relationship through ups, downs and all-arounds. When he was

If you're looking for a short, sweet read I would encourage this. Meet Theo's grandma - a strange, but loving, gardener who drives a Porsche. Meet David's family - a little rough on the edges, but simply sweet to the core. And of course hear the heart-clutching story of David and Theo - an unforeseen friendship on a path to the unknown - waiting for but not believing in the reality that is blue lawn.
jealous, anxious or confused, I was able to relate and understand where his feelings were coming from. We all have experienced similar situations and feelings at one time or another. By the end, I just wanted to cry for multiple reasons for multiple characters.

When I Knew by Robert Trachtenberg

Comedian and Author, Eddie Sarfaty

This morning at Lawrence Public Library, I picked up a book called When I Knew, edited by Robert Trachtenberg. It's a collection of stories and paragraphs by the more well-known citizens of our society telling their individual experiences with one of life's greatest moments. When I knew I was gay.

My favorite story was by Eddie Sarfaty, stand-up comedian. It was called "Second-Guessing Grandma" and is also featured as the opener to Eddie's book, Mental: Funny in the Head. Eddie came out to his grandma and went through the oh-so-familiar trials and tribulations of family tension for over a week. When he called his grandma, she would ho-hum around responses and, as he puts it, pins dropped and crickets chirped between fragments of the attempted conversation. Read the story. It's just four pages and will warm your heart much more than my summary. Eddie's story was also adapted for film and became a ten-minute film featured at festivals and online here.

Other stories in the collection were shorter but still straight from the heart. Some were one sentence, others were pages. The very first entry by Andrew Freedman is, "1969; My father was watching the evening news. The announcer said that Judy Garland had died. I fainted. I was nine." Many of the tales are similar in humor and make the book very enjoyable to read. I read it in one sitting and would have had a hard time putting it down for any reason short of an earthquake.