by Brad Benedict
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
by Brad Benedict
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
Some books just grab you and don’t let go. They are few and far between, but one of those excellent ones is Bart Yates’ Leave Myself Behind, from Kensington Publishing Corporation, www.kensingtonbooks.com. The story is told by seventeen-year-old Noah York, a hilariously profane, searingly honest, and completely engaging young man.
His dead father is fading into a snapshot memory, and his mother has relocated from Chicago to a rural New England town, which could fit the description of any small town in America. Well, it isn’t exactly what the perfect ad would depict especially when that "f" work pops up so often.
With the renovation of the old house they have moved into comes the revelation of things found within the walls. These are stories being revealed as the house is being torn apart. Previous lives are revealed, and secrets come to the light of day.
While his mother is concerned with what has happened to the mysterious existence of a woman who disappeared decades before, Noah is troubled by his obsession with the boy next door. J.D. is the boy, and he is also hiding a terrible pain, but the relationship grows into a love that shatters the lives within this small town.
The shocker is the startling discovery Noah makes within the old house. Noah is a very engaging and interesting character. His story is one of hope, heartbreak, and the great power one obtains in growing up.
This is a $23 investment in great storytelling. It’s a wonderful way to spend some spare time with quality literature.
Life on Cripple Creek is written by Dean Kramer and is a series of essays on living with multiple sclerosis. Published by Demos Medical Publishing, Inc., it is priced at $18.95 in a soft-cover format.
This book shows how people live with a disease and its limitations on life in general. The author of this book struggles through her failures and victories, and the reader actually experiences what life is all about through her eyes. There are other books that explain this condition, but Kramer’s writing goes beyond this.
Life on Cripple Creek goes further to show that with inner strength and a sense of humor the intrinsic land mines one encounters with this disease need not be devastating. She is able to convey to the reader the beauty and joy along with the laughter and tears.
It is interesting to note how Kramer has allowed the reader to look inside her home in rural Pennsylvania and share a day in her life with this chronic illness. You can follow her on her scooter and come away with a better understanding of what she has to live with and how she copes with her condition.
Most people would not even think about reading a book like this, but I can assure you. After reading it, you will feel better about yourself and even realize how fortunate you are to be healthy and disease free. There is a lesson to be learned here. Keeping your eyes open to the ordinary things in life may become great gifts.
That’s Why They’re in Cages, People! is Joel Perry’s hilarious look at being gay. He has gained attention by telling his sidesplitting stories. This is his second book.
Perry enjoys life whether he’s trying to lose weight, auctioning his underwear, making enemies on live TV, hijacking the Oscars, flossing his cat, or setting people on fire (accidentally, of course). His outlook on life is refreshing, and as people in Louisiana might say so full of joie de vivre. He actually makes gay life a celebration.
The book is broken up into eight parts. Each part carries a special theme. For instance, under "Holy Cowhide!" the reader is introduced to Halloween in leather and things Mother never told you about leather.
Under "Getting Through It," he carries you into bed, bathhouse, and beyond and when work doesn’t work for you.
Every essay will make you want more. This one is softcover, $14.95, and comes from Alyson Publications.
The very cover of Huddle will cause you to want this book. Four handsome athletes in shorts certainly did it for me.
The question is do nine gay men have what it takes to win a flag football championship? I’d have to say with hunks like these, the answer is definitely yes.
The game starts with a whistle and ends with a joyful howl, or it could be a frustrated silence. For nine gay men of the L.A. Quake, this is the tale of a ragtag collection of Hollywood types who drink too much, snort too much, and screw too much. The season of sweat is about to end, and the chance for the championship is at hand.
This is a look at sports as you haven’t seen it before. It’s an enjoyable reading experience, and author Dan Boyle has captured the camaraderie, friendship, interplay, and sex-play that can go on with a bunch of buys who play football together. Of course, in this case, all are gay.
This one comes from Southern Tier Editions, Harrington Park Press, and it’s priced at $16.95 in a soft-cover edition. It is 244 pages of great reading. Relax a while. Play a little football.
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