Reviewer: Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
Publisher: Chelsea Station Editions, November 2012,
Pages: 170
Jameson Currier happens to be one of my favorite authors, and I relished his three previous novels, although he is perhaps best known by his diverse and captivating short stories that have appeared in various anthologies and other publications over the years. This work actually combines fifteen of his short stories, crafting them into chapters in a story of a single gay man and his failure to find a meaningful relationship.
The stories were written over a period of many years, so it is fitting that a similar time period applies to the character depicted, starting with his first realization about his sexuality at age 15. The next chapter follows the young man ten years later, and subsequent installments show the character maturing, having various sexual encounters, though still unsuccessful in finding a potential lifemate.
It was a little confusing to me that the stories were written in the second person, which I can only guess was meant to add some distance from the reader to the character, as if a disjointed voyeur through his disappointing love life. That disappointment, although realistic, became a bit tedious for me at times, and I kept assuming he would eventually find the love of his life. It was also a bit depressing to read the seemingly desperate measures that the character took in his later years.
Not really a "fun" read, but an interesting and realistic character study by a talented, creative author. I give it four stars out of five.
For more information about his book/author click here.
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