Scan barcode
zefrog's reviews
1018 reviews
Here There Be Dragons by Robert Bentley
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Like many modern readers, it seems, the book came to my notice via another one: Josh Lanyon's Adrien English Mystery Fatal Shadows. And I am so glad I followed through and bought a copy.
Spy novels are not normally my jam but this one Cold War thriller, with its gay twist, got me hooked from the start and never let go. Bentley has woven his story with suspense, and although there isn't much action as such (as in gun fights and such), the book has a lot to offer: dream scenery, likable characters, nail biting moments, some moving ones, hot gay sex, and even a bit of romance. Someone needs to turn it into a film!
As the quote by one Michael Greer states at the back of my copy, it is "a damn good book!" What a shame Bentley doesn't seem to have published anything else (despite the promise of a second novel in the blurb).
Spy novels are not normally my jam but this one Cold War thriller, with its gay twist, got me hooked from the start and never let go. Bentley has woven his story with suspense, and although there isn't much action as such (as in gun fights and such), the book has a lot to offer: dream scenery, likable characters, nail biting moments, some moving ones, hot gay sex, and even a bit of romance. Someone needs to turn it into a film!
As the quote by one Michael Greer states at the back of my copy, it is "a damn good book!" What a shame Bentley doesn't seem to have published anything else (despite the promise of a second novel in the blurb).
Heartscape by Garrett Leigh
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wanted, an Author by KJ Charles
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Featherbed by Annabeth Albert
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Featherbed sits comfortably (and unoriginally?) in the tropes and recognised structure of the M/M genre, and as such it is enjoyable enough.
My reservations come with the writing. While this could be a device by the author to reflect the close-loop communication style if couples, the banter between the MCs is very repetitive and comes across as clumsy in the compacted form of a story. Similarly the style of writing is not the best and choices of words often jarring because not quite appropriate (i'll pass of the use of "viewable" for "visible", or "talky" for "talkative", etc). Finally the storytelling also lacks flow, and often contain non-sequiturs. Could do much better, I think!
My reservations come with the writing. While this could be a device by the author to reflect the close-loop communication style if couples, the banter between the MCs is very repetitive and comes across as clumsy in the compacted form of a story. Similarly the style of writing is not the best and choices of words often jarring because not quite appropriate (i'll pass of the use of "viewable" for "visible", or "talky" for "talkative", etc). Finally the storytelling also lacks flow, and often contain non-sequiturs. Could do much better, I think!
Dem by William Melvin Kelley
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Apartment by Teddy Wayne
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Apartment is a page turner; the story of an abortive bromance, with regular (and just as abortive) hints of homoeroticism, that begins and ends in solitude. Needless to say that struck a bruised chord with me.
The language is rich and enticing (even if the author may be overworking his mental thesaurus in the first quarter of the book).
Throughout I didn't really know where the plot was taking me (particulalry true, I suspect, for a queer reader of this "straight" novel) but I was ready for the ride, anf it didn't disappoint.
The language is rich and enticing (even if the author may be overworking his mental thesaurus in the first quarter of the book).
Throughout I didn't really know where the plot was taking me (particulalry true, I suspect, for a queer reader of this "straight" novel) but I was ready for the ride, anf it didn't disappoint.
Roommate by Sarina Bowen
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Decent M/M novel, though I would quibble with the premise: In the opening scene the hero is returning to his estranged parents' home after eight years, asking for help after a breakup. I don't think that's realistic. Also a little later, I find it odd that his new co-worker don't ask him where he lives as part of small talk.
But it's a sweet story, enjoyable to read.
But it's a sweet story, enjoyable to read.
White Houses by Amy Bloom
3.0
White Houses is not a user-friendly book. For some reason, perhaps partly because I have attended a Q&A event with Bloom, I had great hopes for it. I suppose I was expecting a sweet historical queer romance, and to a point it is all these things but not in the way that answered those hopes of mine.
It is probably best to see White Houses as a literary cubist portrait of a love affair, or perhaps a Picasso in novel form, where several aspects of the subjects are impossibly presented on the same plane.
Although the narrative, told through the eyes of Lorena Hickok (Hick), is tightly framed in four parts containing numerous chapters themselves divided into discrete sections, it is presented from a variety of random and undefined points in time.
The chapters, except the last one, set in 1962, which works as some sort of epilogue, are dated and located from the same location over a long weekend in April 1945.
Being shortly after the death of FDR, it is possible that particular date has been selected as an anchor for the book as the point where the protagonist could expect to be finally free to live and be together.
From there, Hick reminisce on her past in general and more acutely on her on/off relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt. As far as I recall, the only date mentioned (several times) within the text is 1933, which is when Roosevelt became First Lady and Hick moved in at the White House. Otherwise there is little indication of where we are at any time on a meandering and overlapping time line, sometimes even with the same section of a chapter.
Bloom has made the decision to keep a general vagueness in terms of historical context. This could be for fear of repeating what she feels is already well documented or perhaps she wanted to specially explore the emotional landscape of the central relationship, but even that often remains out of focus.
Because of this and because we only have a one-sided, second-hand telling of the story, the narrative becomes alienating and difficult to engage with. It took me almost three quarter of the book to begin to care a little, finely drawn in by Bloom's fine prose. By then, in this short novel, it was too late, however.
I think I would have liked to have more of Eleanor Roosevelt, whom Hick (and Bloom) describe as totally fascinating. This doesn't really come across from the book, sadly.
From a queer perspective, it is interesting to see that heterosexual and lesbian dalliances seems to be able to flourish with widespread complicity from the wider society at the time. Not so much with gay relationships, as exemplified by the only fictional characters (as far as I know) introduced by Bloom.
So, not what I expected. As such I give the book a hesitant three-star rating, because I did sort of like it in the end. You'll have to make up your own mind, I suppose.
It is probably best to see White Houses as a literary cubist portrait of a love affair, or perhaps a Picasso in novel form, where several aspects of the subjects are impossibly presented on the same plane.
Although the narrative, told through the eyes of Lorena Hickok (Hick), is tightly framed in four parts containing numerous chapters themselves divided into discrete sections, it is presented from a variety of random and undefined points in time.
The chapters, except the last one, set in 1962, which works as some sort of epilogue, are dated and located from the same location over a long weekend in April 1945.
Being shortly after the death of FDR, it is possible that particular date has been selected as an anchor for the book as the point where the protagonist could expect to be finally free to live and be together.
From there, Hick reminisce on her past in general and more acutely on her on/off relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt. As far as I recall, the only date mentioned (several times) within the text is 1933, which is when Roosevelt became First Lady and Hick moved in at the White House. Otherwise there is little indication of where we are at any time on a meandering and overlapping time line, sometimes even with the same section of a chapter.
Bloom has made the decision to keep a general vagueness in terms of historical context. This could be for fear of repeating what she feels is already well documented or perhaps she wanted to specially explore the emotional landscape of the central relationship, but even that often remains out of focus.
Because of this and because we only have a one-sided, second-hand telling of the story, the narrative becomes alienating and difficult to engage with. It took me almost three quarter of the book to begin to care a little, finely drawn in by Bloom's fine prose. By then, in this short novel, it was too late, however.
I think I would have liked to have more of Eleanor Roosevelt, whom Hick (and Bloom) describe as totally fascinating. This doesn't really come across from the book, sadly.
From a queer perspective, it is interesting to see that heterosexual and lesbian dalliances seems to be able to flourish with widespread complicity from the wider society at the time. Not so much with gay relationships, as exemplified by the only fictional characters (as far as I know) introduced by Bloom.
So, not what I expected. As such I give the book a hesitant three-star rating, because I did sort of like it in the end. You'll have to make up your own mind, I suppose.