Ivan and Misha by Michael Alenyikov: Free Book

There have been many thought provoking and insightful reviews written this month on the TLC book tour of Ivan and Misha by Michael Alenyikov. Many have called it a top ten read of the year. I agree.

Sally's review from Bibrary Book Lust is a favorite, "it's like a Russian nesting doll, with stories inside stories, each of them revealing something grander, but demanding a greater share of attention to appreciate what you’ve found."

How can I top that? This is a problem when you're at the end of the tour of a popular book and trying to think of a new twist that has yet to be mentioned.

I will say this...

If you'd like a chance to win my gently used book, leave a comment with your email address. I'll pick a winner on October 8 for Yom Kippur. And if you live outside of the USA, you can enter too.

The only reason I'm letting it leave my shelf is because I received a PDF copy from TLC Book Tours. (The
E-book is not available yet and I hope it will be soon).

Back to the story, Alenyikov writes with passion and heartfelt honesty. After losing two parents recently I could relate to the sons' relationship with their father and his to them. Alenyikov brilliantly shows both sides. For me the father's story was my personal favorite.

I'm still trying to figure out the last story. It's hard to read about dying with AIDS. I need more time to digest and let it sink in. The other reviewers are ahead of me on this one. Who is Vinnie?

Response from Author: Michael was kind enough to write to me today about the last short story. "It's the only story I wrote independently of the others...(and)...the first story I wrote when I started writing fiction in mid-life. An author shouldn't have to explain."


My Comment: I agree with you Michael. It's like asking a painter to explain the art he/she has created. 


Response from Michael: 

"Just to clarify: What I meant about an author not needing to clarify his/her work  is that I tried hard not to confuse the  reader, needlessly. And if readers are confused then I wonder if I did a good job guiding them along. That last story was asking more from readers: to make a leap to a narrator who was a very minor character in earlier stories.

I actually had two other stories I cut at the last minute because while they were quite good I decided it was asking too much of the readers (one story was about a gay Swiss UN Peacekeeper in East Timor and Bosnia -- and I introduced a half-brother to Ivan and Misha about whom they knew nothing.)

The larger question of what does a work mean, what should it mean, is hard for an author and I leave that up to the readers. As the author my deepest feeling is that these are characters, emotions, events, thoughts, sentences I've lived with for many years.  I'm always surprised at what readers pick up on, feel most strongly about, etc. I think when we see authors on TV talking about their work they've kind of rehearsed lines that make it seem as if the author had those themes in mind all along, when in fact, a good deal of the time when writing one is quite in the dark about the impact of one's words, one's characters."

My Comment: Thanks Michael for your thoughtful discussion. I don't think I was in the right place emotionally for the last chapter. And because of this, I missed a key element. I understood the story was from an earlier time and remembered that Kevin was Misha's former lover.

This collection of stories of two fraternal twins, both gay, who move to New York with their father from Kiev is one I'll come back to. Stay tuned.

My thanks to TLC for the complimentary copy and including me on this tour.

Scalping the Red Rocks: Book Review

When I was reading Scalping the Red Rocks by Greg Lilly, I enjoyed not only the murder mystery but also the relationship between two men, Derek and Topher.

Gay alert! Yes, we're talking gay murder mystery here. Instead of taking us into the bedroom of these two men, however, the focus is on their emotional connection. Another word might be romance.

I also liked how being gay was not the focus of the book. It seemed normal and accepted behavior which it should be.

Of course the setting is Sedona which has a liberal and new age feel. I've been there and have seen its beauty. It's not hard to imagine what would happen if a big development like the one Lilly writes about, might ruin the view and community for locals. With so much disapproval by community members, it might lead to, yes, m-u-r-d-e-r.

But scalped? This is my first mystery where the dead guy ends up with a final hairdo.

Derek is the new guy in town (an outsider) and wants to solve the mystery of his real estate agent's death. Actually, it's his Aunt's agent. Derek is there to help her relocate. The dead guy had ties to the development, as does Derek, so he has a personal stake in solving the crime. Plus, Derek is the one who found the body.

Lilly writes a good mystery. The ending surprised me. And about that relationship between Derek and Topher? Well, you'll have to read the book and see for yourself if something develops between them.

What's the most unusual death you've read in a mystery?

(Scalping the Red Rocks by Greg Lilly, copyright 2010, Cherokee McGhee, ISBN 9780979969461). I'm linking this review to the GLBT 2011 Reading Challenge.

A Little Fruitcake: Book Review and Giveaway

A Little Fruitcake: A Childhood in Holidays
by David Valdes Greenwood

Da Capo Press, Copyright 2007.
178 pages, ISBN 9780738211220

Rating: 4/5

Holiday Appeal: 5/5

Challenges: 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge and GLBT Challenge 2010

Quote from the book: "I liked his rich red suit, the idea of a flying sleigh, all those adorable reindeer, and the elves, who seemed so light in their pointed loafers."

Giveaway Details: This is my 100th post. In celebration I'm offering a free copy of A Little Fruitcake to a reader chosen at random. Just leave a comment no later than December 5 and include your email address (if it's not on your profile), International readers may enter too.

Do you have a holiday book that you like to re-read every year? For me it's A Little Fruitcake by David Valdes Greenwood. This is David's look back to growing up in the 1970's and his family Christmas celebrations. There are twelve stories here presented in chronological order.

In this boyhood holiday memoir the gift of choice under the tree is "sleek, white, lace-up figure skates," just like Dorothy Hamill's, instead of black hockey skates.

You see, David is a gay man although the book jacket and description makes no mention of this. And the book doesn't either because when you're a kid the labels haven't stuck yet. You just know you're different.

This is a book and a life I can relate to. When David asks for a baby doll in front of his family, it's a conversation show stopper in his Seventh Day Adventist household. I remember making the same wish much to the refusal of my dad. The most I could hope for was G.I. Joe. I wanted Ken.

A Little Fruitcake will put a smile on your face with chapter titles like, Tree Envy and Jealous of Baby Jesus. It may also put a lump in your throat too. Some years money is tight. David grows up in a single parent household with his brother and mom in Maine. It's a big transition from Miami where he lived in Little Havana.

If you're tired of reading the traditional holiday childhood memoir, slice out the fruitcake and give yourself an alternative treat.

(For more information visit David Valdes Greenwood's website).

Where's My Wand? by Eric Poole: Book Review

Where's My Wand?
By Eric Poole

Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, Copyright 2010
263 pages, ISBN 978-0-399-15655-7

Rating: 5/5

Reading Challenge: GLBT 2010

Quote from the book: "My pursuit of a flawlessly raked floor did not strike me as odd, since perfection was not optional in the Poole family militia..."

Here's a trip down memory lane set in the shag carpeting days of the 1970's. It's a coming of age story that is full of heart and good humor. For those of us who grew up feeling different and not always popular, we have a new hero. He's Eric Poole, the self described "Endora of St. Louis."

Eric is funny. I mean really funny. There were times when I laughed so hard that my partner came running to my side. I just held up, Where's My Wand and pointed to the cover. Sometimes I felt a lump in my throat when Eric tackles not so funny issues like death, being bullied and trying to fit in.

The issue of sexuality takes a back seat for most of the book. We know Eric is gay but like most of us growing up, it takes awhile to register. Eric was warned in church that, "one never knows when the homosexual is about. They can appear normal; and it may be too late when you discover they are mentally ill." I don't know about you, but that would scare me straight.

Whenever Eric had a problem to tackle, he channeled the character of Endora on TV's Bewitched and used magic powers to create a positive outcome. As Eric gets older, however, he begins to realize that, "I didn't need magic. All I needed was me." A good message for all.

Find your wand and let Eric cast his spell on you. This book will charm and make you smile.

For More Information: Visit author Eric Poole on Facebook or his blog.

FTC Advisory: I purchased my copy from Barnes and Noble on-line.

Mahu Vice: Book Review and Contest for DATW Tour

A warm Aloha to those joining me for the Detectives Around The World tour. When Jen's Book Thoughts announced the event, I jumped at the opportunity to write about my favorite Hawaii homicide detective, Kimo Kanapa'aka.

Kimo is a regular guy who happens to be gay. His character defies the stereotypes many have of gay men. Kimo can throw a punch and take one too. He lives his life openly on the police force and wants to be known as good cop rather than a good "gay" officer.

There are four books in the Mahu series and all are set on the island of Oahu. They offer not only a compelling mystery but also capture the culture of the islands and the lifestyle I love so well. Some day I hope Kimo "island hops" over to Kauai where I live to solve a crime.

"Mahu is a Hawaiian word for gay, often used in a derogatory way, but I've reclaimed it," writes author Neil Plakcy. "In my stories and novels, readers meet strong, handsome, confident gay men who embrace their sexuality."

Free Book To A Lucky Winner: Enter Here and complete the on-line form for a chance to win a new copy of the Mahu book of your choice. Choose either Mahu, Mahu Surfer, Mahu Fire or Mahu Vice. Winner will be announced on April 25. If you live outside the USA or Canada, you must have your own book review site to enter.

Mahu Vice Book Review: Kimo is taking risks with multiple partners after his break-up with fire inspector (and closeted) Mike Riccardi. Both men have hurt each other but there is still fire between them. It takes an arson and murder of a young Chinese man to reunite these men professionally. Will they be able to solve the crime that may threaten Kimo's career? There's still a lot of tension and heat between these two men that must be worked out on the side. 

Plakcy skillfully creates a realistic who-done-it with action and romance. I wasn't sure what I wanted more; to solve the mystery or to see if these two men worked things out in bed. As with each Mahu mystery, Plakcy doesn't disappoint and delivers a page turner under the hot Hawaiian sun with local cultural and surf added. It's a great escape to Hawaii.

Rob's Rating: 5/5 and I can't wait for the next book.

Meet Author Neil Plakcy: Assistant Professor of English at Broward College in South Florida. Neil is a member of Sisters in Crime, vice president of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and a contributor to gay anthologies. His Mahu Fire won the Hawaii Five-O award for best police procedural, presented by Left Coast Crime, and was a finalist for the 2008 Lambda Literary Award for best gay mystery.

Author's Website: Mahu Books. Neil is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Location, Location! Jen asked us to include something about the book's setting. In Mahu Vice, Kimo finds his mom demonstrating for Native Hawaiian rights. There's a lot of history on this subject that many don't know about. Honolulu is home to the only Royal Palace in the United States. It's named Iolani and is a must see when you're in the islands. The monarchy was overthrown by the United States in 1893 and the Queen imprisoned in the palace. President Clinton issued a formal apology to the Native Hawaiian people on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow. Native Hawaiian rights remain a sensitive and important issue in the islands (and may play a role in the next Mahu book scheduled for release later in 2010).

This post also qualifies for the 2010 GLBT Reading Challenge.

FTC Note: I purchased by copy of Mahu Vice at Borders in Lihue, Kauai.

Mahu Vice by Neil Plakcy, Alyson Books, Copyright 2009, 279 pages, ISBN 978-1-59350-111-0.

GLBT Mini-Challenge for February: People of Color

Our February GLBT Mini-Challenge is to read a poem or short story by or about a person of color. I selected a book from my home library called, Ceremonies: Prose and Poetry by the late Essex Hemphill.

The author died in 1995 at age 38 of AIDS related complications. His book was released in 1992 and received the National Library Association's New Author award. I was lucky enough to obtain a first edition last year on the now defunct Frugal Reader website.

I read his short story, Ceremonies, for our mini-challenge. Essex writes about his first sexual experience as a young black man when he was 14 years old and living in Southeast Washington, D.C.

"I had to carefully allow my petals to unfold. If I had revealed them too soon they would surely have been snatched away, brutalized, and scattered down alleys."

George, the man he gives himself to, is Caucasian and 44 years old. Due to age and fear of exposure, their love making is kept secret. Essex learns that other boys he knows have been with George too. These boys ended up mocking George later because they resented the recognition of their own homosexual desires.

"Ours was truly a fragile, stereotypical Black masculinity that would not recognize homo desire as anything but perverse and a deviation from the expected "role" of a man."

Essex laments that he and his friends could not, "...sexually explore one another in the same way that we all allowed George to explore us."

Essex is called a faggot, within earshot of his mom, when one boy sees him staring at another boy. To show he's a man and to be accepted, Essex stops his relationship with George and begins to look for "good girls" to date; "....pretending I was consumed by love--safe, by all appearances, from being identified as a faggot."

Ceremony can be defined as observance of an established code. I see that playing out in this short story. The code of behavior that Essex writes about is that Black men do not sleep with other Black men in order to be accepted by the community.

This mini-challenge made me realize that many of my GLBT books are written from the Caucasian perspective. I plan to change that and add more diversity to my collection.

For discussion purposes, what's your take on George? His age difference to Essex bothered me. I'm wondering if the boys thought it was more acceptable to have sex with a White man instead of a Black man. Since this book was published in 1992, I'm interested in how Black gay men are seen today by their community.

For other responses to the February mini-challenge, refer to the GLBT 2010 Reading Challenge website.

Ceremonies: Prose and Poetry, by Essex Hemphill. 1992. Plume. ISBN: 0452268176. Note before reading: the book is explicit in its portrayal of love between men.

Book Review: The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet by Myrlin A. Hermes

To be straight or gay? That is the question in Hermes' classic deconstruction of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

There may be something rotten in the State of Denmark, but Hermes' writing in The Lunatic, the Lover and the Poet is fresh like a bright summer's day. 

Packed between its covers are beautiful words that inspire love and passion. When the rough winds shake those buds of May, the love between Hamlet and Horatio lives eternally.

Horatio is, "all men and everyman" (p87) compared to Hamlet who is, "...greater and nobler and fairer than all the subjects immortalized by the great ancient poets." (p221). Their love transcends social status, beauty and age.

Entering into the mix is the not so beautiful Lady Adriane. A thorn in the sides of both men she encourages Horatio to write sonnets of his love for Hamlet. Both men are manipulated into her bed in a web of deception that includes a surprising entrance by rival poet "Shake-spear."

One of my favorite moments is when Hamlet, dressed as a woman in Horatio's play, kisses the male lead on stage. Horatio sees his deepest desires played out. 

"I would court him (Hamlet) as a lover, marry him if I could, if such a thing were not unspeakable. I had shown my love before the world, and all the world had fallen in love." (p.144)

In the end you'll have to decide if Hamlet was mad or gay. It's a joyous ride and one I suggest you take regardless of your sexual orientation.

Rob's Grade: A B C D

Don't forget to enter my contest for a free copy of The Lunatic, the Lover and the Poet. Deadline is February 14 at 6:00 p.m., Hawaiian time.

(Note: I purchased this book from Barnes and Noble on-line. It's my February selection for the GLBT 2010 Reading Challenge).

The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet by Myrlin A. Hermes. Copyright 2010. Harper Perennial. 363 pages. ISBN 9780061805196.

GLBT Mini-Challenge for January: Importance

"They're saying that this (civil unions) is a civil rights issue. Martin Luther King was never able to change his color from black to white, but people have left the homosexual movement."**

This is a direct quote by JoAnne Georgi who is encouraging our lawmakers to vote against civil unions in Hawaii.

What Georgi fails to realize is that sexual orientation is hard wired in each of us. I don't wake up each morning and decide if it's going to be a gay or straight day for me. All of my days are gay and fulfilling. It's who I am.

GLBT literature is important because it helps people know us better and become less afraid. It also made a significant impact on my coming out as a gay man. Reading the personal experiences of people who walked a similar path in life gave me courage to be who I am.

I'll be posting more GLBT reviews soon. In the meantime be sure to join my contest for a free copy of, The Lunatic, The Lover and The Poet, by Myrlin A. Hermes. It's a new book in GLBT literature. Deadline to enter is February 14.

For more posts on the importance of GLBT literature, refer to the GLBT Reading Challenge website.

**Opening quotation from, "Kauai Reacts to Vote, by Michael Levine, The Garden Island Newspaper, Saturday, January 23, 2009.

Out In The Garden by Dean Riddle

Riddle's passion in life is creating beauty and simplicity both in the garden and out as a gay man.

I've found that owning too many things, period, is spiritually burdensome; it spoils the atmosphere of my goal." p.212

With folksy charm, Riddle shares his life journey centering around his Catskills home and garden.

"When I was making my first garden I felt something was being born that already existed. I felt like a sculptor, though I've never used a chisel in my life." p65

Riddle's love of gardening developed early in life in South Carolina. As a child he noticed that, "the world frowned on men who liked soft things." Riddle grew up feeling different from the other other boys and at age 23 concluded, "you are gay...you are fine."

During his career Riddle was turned down for a gardening assignment because the client did not want a gay man working for her. I loved his response back:

"I hope she has discovered that groves of gay people populate the world of gardens, gracing it nicely, much like the frisky fox gloves at the edge of her dark green forest." p136

Riddle is fully alive and present in the garden. It's "dead serious business," according to Riddle and represents his artistic expression.

If you've never stepped foot in a garden before, planted something into the earth, composted or spread manure in your flower beds, this book may be too much outdoor life to hold your interest.

The problem I have with the book is that it covers too many themes and doesn't feel balanced between them. Library of Congress for example, has cataloged the book under "Gardening" with no mention of Gay literature.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Jeffrey Fulvimari. His drawings fit the charm of the book and writing style of Riddle.

I'll leave you with one quote from the book that I treasure. While it represents Riddle's feeling about the need to start his own garden, it reminded me of how I felt before coming out as a gay man.

"I knew something inside of me was asleep, trying to wake up and live and grow, kick up its heels and dance." p64

Riddle found his passion in the garden, and in living a simple life with good friends and food. If I come back as a plant or flower in my next life, it would be a pleasure to be in his garden.

Rob's Grade: A B C D

(Note: This is my January review for the GLBT reading challenge. The book was purchased by me on Bookins).

Out In The Garden, by Dean Riddle, copyright 2002, Harper Collins, 245 pages, ISBN 0-06-018805-7. 

My GLBT Reading Challenge for 2010

I have many books on my shelf (unread) that fall under the gay literature heading. This year I've decided to read and review one each month as part of the GLBT Reading Challenge. I'll do my best to find books that inspire and enlighten.

By reviewing twelve books in this category I'll qualify for Rainbow status. Very appropriate for someone living in Hawaii.

First up in January is Out In The Garden by Dean Riddle. According to the book jacket, the author dispenses hands-on gardening advice and talks about growing up gay in South Carolina.

February's pick will be Hit By A Farm: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Barn, by Catherine Friend. This follows the adventures of a lesbian couple new to farming.

Shakespeare's Sonnets by Samuel Park will be my March title. Set at Harvard in the 1940's, the book follows a scholarship student in love with poetry, with being gay, and with stirring up trouble. I'm looking forward to seeing how Shakespeare is involved.

What happens after March? Stay tuned and I'll post more titles as I find them in my library.

Thanks to Amanda at The Zen Leaf and to Jen for organizing this challenge.

Be sure to comment along the way and join the discussion.