THEGAYUK

Tag: Book Review

All the latest book reviews. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of for books.

  • BOOK REVIEW: It’s Okay To Be Gay, Edited by Alison Stokes

    BOOK REVIEW: It’s Okay To Be Gay, Edited by Alison Stokes

    It’s OK to be Gay is a brilliant new book featuring the coming out tales of a number of high profile personalities. Edited by Alison Stokes, It’s OK to be Gay has been created to raise money for the charity Diversity Role Models.

    It’s OK to be Gay contains the coming out stories of a diverse range of LGB people. It may have been too easy for the book to comprise of the usual gay celebrities telling the same tales we have heard many times before. What It’s OK to be Gay does is feature a number of prominent LGB people who discuss their sexuality, their coming out, and how it has shaped their lives. It’s an interesting read and I found myself relating to many of the situations the contributors had faced and the emotions they had experienced.

    The balance of It’s OK to be Gay is just right; the tone is frank and matter of a fact, but not in a way that is shocking or headline grabbing. It’s a collection of real accounts that many readers will relate to. There is something for everyone.

    The one story that stuck out for me was that of the great Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, co-founder and director of UK Black Pride. Many of the stories show that coming out can be a positive experience, but this particular story shows that it is not always plain sailing. There are some of us who experience negative reactions when coming out and Phyllis’ story is a stark reminder of that. It covers not only being a lesbian, but also black and from a religious household. However, it’s not a story that focuses on the doom and gloom, and Phyllis’ journey demonstrates that each negative experience can be turned into something wonderfully positive.

    Another story that drew my particular attention was the inclusion of the singer Diana King. A long-time admirer of Diana having been brought up on her music in my own mixed race, multi-cultural household, it was interesting for It’s OK to be Gay to feature a coming out story from someone who lives in a country where being gay is not widely accepted. In Jamaica it is a real risk that LGB people can be beaten or even killed due to their sexuality. I feel it is of the utmost importance that a book of this kind covers cultural difficulties that some LGB people can face, and it achieves that with flying colours.

    As a whole package, It’s OK to be Gay covers all bases. The inspiring people who have contributed their stories come from all walks of life, which instantly makes this book endearing. Perhaps it’s true to say that several of the stories are quite similar, but it does prove that although our coming out experiences are as individual as the people we are, there will more often than not be those similarities. The majority of us experience the same worries and apprehensions when faced with coming out.

    I thoroughly recommend getting your hands on It’s OK to be Gay. It’s a delightful and well put together book. I believe it will serve to help and inspire younger LGB people as well as reminding the rest of us that it can and does get better.

    It’s OK to be Gay is available on Amazon.

  • BOOK REVIEW | Hombres by Joan Crisol

    ★★★★ Publishers of distinction – Bruno Gmünder, releases Joan Crisol’s rather wonderful Hombres.

    Described as the look book for Spanish fashion brand ES, photographer Joan Crisol has managed to capture some incredible photos. It makes for a perfect Coffee Table book or dare we say early Christmas present for the man admirer in your life – or just you!

    81 full colour pages of more muscle perfect men in various states of undress, than you could shake a stick at.

    Absolutely recommended coffee table reading.

  • BOOK REVIEW | God Believes in Love – Straight Talk about Gay Marriage by Gene Robinson

    Firstly it’s presented really well – hardback with parchment-like paper and a easy to read font. On the back cover there’s a quote, which instantly sparked my interest from President Barack Obama that says:
    ‘My friend Bishop Gene Robinson has long been a voice for equality – not with anger or vitriol, but with compassion and faith. He has been guided by the simple precept that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us.’

    Gene writes in a conversational style throughout the book making it feel like you’re sat somewhere warm and cosy listening to him speak, a writing style that I found captivating. He starts with an introduction sharing his story of being in love with and marrying his best friend (a woman); having two daughters but later realising that his attraction to the same gender could not be suppressed or changed.

    Gene writes that he and his wife divorced and that he later met and fell in love with Mark his husband. In this introduction he explains what marriage means to him, that he and Mark had a ‘Civil Union,’ before getting married (after it was made legal for them to do so) and the he later became IX Bishop of New Hampshire. It is a heart warming that he chose to share his life experience and I have a huge respect for him doing this as it would make most people feel exposed & vulnerable.

    Gene answers ten questions commonly posed by Christians:

    1. Why Gay Marriage Now?

    2. Why Should You Care About Gay Marriage If You’re Straight?

    3. What’s Wrong with Civil Unions?

    4. Doesn’t the Bible Condemn Homosexuality?

    5. What Would Jesus Do?

    6. Doesn’t Gay Marriage Change the Definition of Marriage That’s Been in Place for Thousands of Years?

    7. Doesn’t Gay Marriage Undermine Marriage?

    8. What If My Religion Doesn’t Believe in Gay Marriage?

    9. Don’t Children Need a Mother and a Father?

    10. Is This About Civil Rights or Getting Approval for Questionable Behaviour?

     

    Gene’s answers are intelligent, insightful and obviously well thought out. His knowledge of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans history and civil rights activism was fascinating. I thought I was well educated on gay history, but he conveyed some history of which I was unaware.

    Gene recognises that straight people need to advocate for gay people and encourages them throughout the book to ‘get to know us,’ listen to gay people’s stories and believe them as their truth. He asks them to try and imagine walking in a gay persons shoes.

    Gene examines the meaning and context of scriptures used to condemn homosexuality which would help any gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans Christians accept their sexuality within their faith.

    Gene discusses the concept of marriage and it’s evolution over centuries; this chapter of the book was absolutely engrossing. I’ve never really looked into marriage as a concept or how it’s developed over time.

    Gene shares his vision for the future; where the State recognises marriage regardless of the sexuality of the people involved legislatively (giving them the same benefits, rights and protections) and that Church’s role (regardless of religion) is to invite God to bless and be a part of the marriages. Gene states that religious institutions need to look at their own stance on homosexuality and the issue of gay marriage.

    Gene concludes with a chapter on God Believes in Love stating that to selflessly love another is how God feels about us his children. He encourages all to love your neighbour, as you would want to be loved.

    Now you’ll notice throughout this review I’ve referred to the author by his first name, Gene. That’s because by the end of the book I feel as though I’ve made a friend; one who’s educational, non-preachy and represents the best of human spirituality.

    God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage by Gene Robinson is available to buy on Amazon.

  • BOOK REVIEW | Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

    ★★★ | Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

    Tales of the supernatural and dark vampires stalking dystopian worlds seem to have abounded in recent years and are; it seems, here to stay.

    If you’re looking for an erotic vampire story with a gay twist then J.R. Ward’s ‘Black Dagger Brotherhood’ series are the ones to look out for. ‘Lover at Last’ is the 11th book in the series but works well as a standalone also.

    The story follows the stories of Qhuinn, a disavowed aristocrat who is now a brutal fighter in the darker corners of a ravaged New York and Blay, who after years of unrequited for Qhuinn has finally started to move on. What follows is a multi layered story with good dramatic tension and erotic scenes. If you like Twilight but just wish there’d been more male on male action then this series is for you

    Buy the book here

  • BOOK REVIEW | Blackout by Joey Jameson

    ★★★ | Blackout by Joey Jameson

    Dice Valentine is a nightclub stripper with the body of an Adonis and dance moves which leave the crowds of men watching hot under the collar.

    Becoming tired of the life of hedonism and the darkness of the world he inhabits, Dice is considering quitting stripping when he hooks up with a stranger for a night of casual sex. When the stranger is found dead the next day Dice finds himself drawn into a mystery which he needs to unravel in order to clear his own name.

    ‘Blackout’ is by turns erotic and thrilling with a plot which manages to keep the reader turning the page until the end. Jameson evokes an atmospheric world inhabited by shady characters and skilfully handles the genre of erotic mystery with a deft touch.

    Whilst being no great literary work in terms of style and execution, the novel is essentially fun and diverting which is great for a summer read or for an autumnal night by the fire as the seasons change.

    Buy it here

  • BOOK REVIEW | Speed Demons by Gun Brooke

    Speed Demons by Gun Brooke is quite essentially a lesbian love story that was kindly sent to me by Publishers Group UK.

    Evie is a NASCAR Racing Driver that has had a crash and is planning a come back. Blythe is a Professional Photographer and was snapping the day of the crash. Blythe has heard about Evie’s comeback and wants to document her journey back to the racetrack in the form of a photography book.

    Blythe convinces Evie to agree to the photography book idea and a relationship starts to develop – far to quickly to be believable to the reader. Along with the waves of closeness between Evie & Blythe they both help one another to overcome the current challenges in their lives.

    For Evie the challenge is apparent: her recovery and return to the racetrack. In order for Evie to achieve her goal she must undertake her physical training and find a way of dealing with her post-traumatic stress disorder. Blythe’s challenge is to deal with her lost family connection and her feelings about it. Blythe feels that her family indirectly blame her for the attack on her brother many years ago.
    Evie & Blythe’s characters are well developed with good backstories. Brooke‘s use of character perspectives and of Evie & Blythe psychoanalysing one another makes the reader care about them.
    Brooke‘s description was sparse at times and the reader would have benefited from more detail. The are a few sex scenes; it was strange that Brooke used the word ‘sex’ to describe lady-parts in one part of the book and yet later on used the word ‘clit’ quite blatantly.

    The storyline was fair but somewhat predictable. Blythe’s family challenge felt like an after thought, being thrown in towards the end of the book. The ending felt rushed and not thought out. It had a few loose ends – such as Evie’s family approval and a resolution of Blythe’s family issues. The most unsatisfying part of the ending was Blythe’s seemingly sacrificing her life for Evie’s.

    Yet despite the criticisms it was a reasonable piece of lesbian literature. Speed Demons by Gun Brooke is available to buy on Amazon.

  • BOOK REVIEW | In His Secret Life, by Mel Bossa

    In His Secret Life is Mel Bossa‘s latest book. Allan has taken care of his sister Elise and her daughter Fay ever since Elise was dumped by Fay’s father. But when Elise meets Dayton, Allan knows things are going to change. It’s not long until Elise & Dayton get engaged and Allan gets to meet Dayton’s family.

    Allan meets Davinder, one of Dayton’s brothers who is married with two kids. Something about Davinder captivates Allan and he’s about to break his one and only rule: never fall for a straight guy.

    In His Secret Life is a love story about a seemingly impossible relationship, which is told over decades. It gives the reader a moral dilemma. On the one hand Davinder is a married man, but on the other it’s clear that he’s unhappily married and that he loves Allan.

    The story is written in three parts. In the first part the characters are introduced and Allan & Davinder meet. The second part is about Allan & Davinder’s affair and the duality of their double lives. The third and final part is about Allan & Davinder’s journey on separate paths back to one another.

    There’s something magical about Mel Bossa‘s writing that hypnotises the reader from the first word. All of the characters are likeable and the story is written from Allan’s perspective. The reader empathises with Allan’s loneliness, as well as the highs and lows of love – that he likens to drug addiction. The use of perspective and these emotions – that everybody has experienced at sometime in their life, creates a connection between Allan and the reader.

    Allan & Davinder’s sexual relationship develops a bit too quickly in the beginning and their was a scene that gave the impression that Allan had drunkenly drove home. But apart from these minor details the plot is perfectly paced, well thought out and exceptionally well written.

    Mel Bossa‘s use letters and emails to show other characters perspectives was a really clever idea. The description ignites the readers imagination, giving a flawless image of the characters, settings and events. The end this book made me cry (with happiness) and was heartwarming.

    In His Secret Life is Mel Bossa‘s best book to date and is one of those incredibly rare books that comes into your life and leaves you feeling changed somehow.

    If you want a book about impossible love made possible, that will make you question yourself, leave you feeling satisfied and joyous then I recommend In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa.

  • BOOK REVIEW | Peggy Lee Loves London Katrina Leskanich and Sher Harper

    ★★★★ | Peggy Lee Loves London

    Being on the verge of moving to London, I’ve been looking for a good tour guide to take me around some of the more quirky spots that only Londoners know about. I didn’t expect that my tour guide would be a glamorous lady poodle called Peggy Lee, but I’m very glad that I’ve found her.

    Eurovision has just been and gone and it may serve you well to reminisce about happier times when we actually made a dent on the score-cards. This lovely book was written by our last Eurovision winner, Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves, along with her partner, writer Sher Harper. They’ve spent the last six years pounding the streets of London along with pretty little Peggy Lee, exploring the curiosities so you don’t have to.

    The book features a wide variety of haunts including bars, open spaces, markets, eateries and landmarks. Each page has brief but tantalising description of each off-beat attraction along with a picture of the aforementioned poodle and links to transport to get there. The pictures are comical, beautiful and intriguing. Although there’s not a huge description of each place, this works well in the context, making you want to go and find out more for yourself.

    It’s a delightful book and if you’re looking for a fun guide to London then look no further. If Peggy Lee is available, I’m also prepared to tag along on the end of a lead. I’m very well behaved and never shed a hair.

    View the website: http://peggyleeloveslondon.com

    Available from Amazon to buy

    Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/peggyleeloves

  • BOOK REVIEW | Handling Edna The Unauthorised Biography by Barry Humphries

    Barry Humphries has been with Edna Everage since the very beginning. In Handling Edna: The Unauthorised Biography by Barry Humphries he describes how they met, and the adventure she’s dragged him along for ever since.

    Before the book even begins there is a “Note to the Reader” alluding to the fact that some people have come to believe that Barry Humphries and Dame Edna are essentially the same person. Humphries writes that he hopes to shed some light on where this belief came from, so that the reader can make their own decision about what they believe.

    The first chapter starts in Moonee Ponds, Australia and describes how Barry and Edna met. Humphries writes in the first person, and throughout the book uses description to indicate the decade and location of events he describes.

    Each chapter gives an entertaining and fascinating insight into Barry’s life and career (or lack of), Edna and her family’s life and careers, her rise to stardom (and Barry’s lack of understanding as to why) and the problems that it brought her – all in a chronological order.

    A few highlights (in no particular order) include Barry being the warm up act for Dame Edna – for various shows; Edna’s time in Hollywood; Barry’s stint in hospital with alcoholism and Edna being his only visitor; Barry’s love life; Barry’s impersonation of Edna on two occasions – the first for his benefit and the second trying to help her; Edna’s poor mental health – in particular in relation to the death of Norm (her husband).

    Towards the end of the book you start to get a fictional feel to the book especially in the final few chapters. Early in the book Madge hands Barry a letter for Edna. Madge instructs Barry to only give the letter to Edna when she dies. In the final chapter Madge finally dies in hospital. Barry remembers the letter and it reveals that Madge took Edna’s missing daughter Lois in a moment of madness (which explains why Madge tolerated Edna over the decades). There’s a predictable twist that leaves the reader feeling oddly satisfied.

    Having read the book do I believe that Barry Humphries and Edna Everage are the same person?

    Yes, but that only makes Humphries even cleverer. The factual parts about Barry’s life are interesting to read, but the fiction about Edna is even more enjoyable. The book is a throughly entertaining read and it gives an insight into the psyche of Humphries. As you’d expect from a bibliography it has several glossy photo pages throughout the book.

     

    You can purchase this book on Amazon.com

  • BOOK REVIEW | Older, Younger, By Michael John

    This book, by Michael John, aims to look at the one last taboo in gay life. We’ve had piercings, fisting, anal, bare back, you name it, its been discussed – but the one thing still guaranteed to make us stare is a young man with an older companion.

    We all think the obvious – its done for the money, he’s trade, he’s desperate, etc, etc… but what about the fact that for some, it’s a physical attraction, no different from liking ginger hair or beards.

    Although fictional, the book takes place in a real place, uses real experiences and helps you appreciate the genre more. It has a good plot line, keeps moving you through the story, gives you characters you like and laugh with, not at.

    The story follows Terry, a handsome young man from northern England who has a secret: he is sexually attracted only to much older men. Several times a year, he takes trips to Gran Canaria where he can indulge his unconventional passion. But on one of these trips he meets Alan Reid, the father of his ex-girlfriend – a man he’s always secretly desired. Alan, and his companion George are taking the chance to grow old disgracefully. Older Younger explores the nature of attraction between the generations, using the backdrop of this holiday island as a natural foil for temporary relationships and taboos.

    All in all, the book is a good read, and I for one cant wait for the follow up…

    You can buy the book from Amazon

  • BOOK REVIEW | Into The Flames by Mel Bossa

    The kind people at Publishers Group UK sent me a copy of Into the Flames by Mel Bossato read and review on my blog. It’s written in the perspectives of the three main characters: Jamie, Dance and Neil.

    Jamie or Dr. Jamie Scarborough to his patients is a psychiatrist. But poor Jamie suffers with his own mental health – he has severe anxiety (which at times lead to panic attacks) with a bit of OCD thrown in. He’s recently split up from bisexual Basil his partner of five years, leaving behind Basil’s sisters twin children Mallory and Marshall.

    Dance is an eccentric, loveable and very intelligent compulsive liar. He’s homeless and the only family he has is a twin brother Seth whose desperate to become a woman named September. September however has an eating disorder so can’t get the psychiatric pass to allow the surgery.

    Neil is a fire fighter who has been suspended due to putting his colleagues life at risk. Neil is a loner with his only family being an old dog that has to be put down by the vet. Neil’s poor mental health worsens after this trauma, making him unstable, neurotic and a very sinister person later in the book.

    Jamie, Dance and Neil all have mental health issues in this story, the root cause of which is childhood trauma. This heavy subject matter made Into the Flames difficult to read at times, but what encouraged me to read on was the genuine care and compassion that I felt for the characters.

    The story was slow to get going and initially focused on the characters issues rather than the characters and their development. I’m not sure if this was deliberate from Bossa, wanting the reader to care about the main characters to the point of us wanting to rescue them. Bossa also took her time in building the links and associations between the different characters which also encourages the reader to read on.

    Towards the end of the book tension builds and you become hooked. Neil starts to have a neurotic breakdown becoming dangerous and Dance disappears. Will Neil harm anyone? If he does will it be physical or psychological torture or both? Where has Dance gone? Will he be OK?

    Bossa uses the twin connection cleverly throughout the book and for more than one of the main characters. The story concludes traumatically but leaving the reader with a sense that everything will be OK in the end. I did feel sorry for Matt (one of the minor characters) who I felt was a loose string that could have been tied up at the end.

    Overall the story is well written with the use of the characters perspectives being pleasing; it is obvious that Bossa has a lot passion for writing queer literature. Into the Flames is available to buy on Amazon.