Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (June 27, 2008)

I READ A BOOK! FOUR, ACTUALLY!
One of the few drawbacks to being the editor of this site is that my reading time is way less than I would like. But Brent and I recently took a vacation and I actually got to do some reading. It was heaven! And all but one of the books had some gay connection so I have a reason to write about them here. Double woo hoo!

Tom Rob Smith

I love a good thriller and if it's a historical thriller all the better. Tom Rob Smith's debut novel Child 44 delivers on both the thriller and historical aspects. Oh, and he also happens to be gay, not that has much to do with anything. Actually, I do think it is relevant not only because there is a small gay subplot, but I suspect in the hands of many a straight writer, there very easily could've been some homophobic characters in this plot, especially the villain.

Set in 1950's Stalinist Russia, Child 44 tells the story of Leo Demidov, a hero of Soviet Russia and a man who is about to find that everything he believes in is rotten to the core. While the mystery Leo must solve is more than adequate, the true pleasure to be found in this book is being immersed into the world of totalitarian Russia. Smith's evocative writing brings to life the horror of living in a state where truth is what the state says it is and one's highest allegiance is to Josef Stalin.

Smith more than convincingly portrays how one man allowed himself to willingly become a brutal tool of the Soviet state, only to slowly wake up to the crimes he has committed and to seek redemption. If you're headed out on vacation, this is a definite winner to take with you.

Joel Derfner

Methinks there aren't too many writers out there who can lay claim to both graduating from Harvard and having not only worked as a stripper, but as one who worked to, uh, climax. However, that is exactly the story Joel Derfner shares with readers in Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever.

Derfner's book is kissing cousin to that other out humor writer David Sedaris, only gayer (although word is that Sedaris' new book is pretty darn gay as well). Swish encompasses Derfner's experiences at summer camp both as a child and as an adult, his sneaking into a conference for ex-gays and his many sexual encounters. Derfner combines hilarity with poignancy, at least most of the time although the whole ex-gay thing felt a little creepy and "been there, done that". But on the whole, Derfner's foibles are interesting and his insights even more so.

That being said, the whole "quest to become the gayest person ever" felt a little gimmicky and like something an editor pushed him to write so the book would have a media "hook". Luckily for all involved, Derfner pulls it off.

Josh Kilmer-Purcell as Aqua

Josh Kilmer-Purcell hit comic gold with his debut book I Am Not Myself These Days, a hilarious recounting of his days performing in New York City as the drag queen Aqua. Kilmer-Purcell is now trying his hand at fiction and the result is Candy Everybody Wants.

The story of Jayson Blocher, a young man from the Midwest absolutely desperate to be famous, Candy is an over-the-top tale reminiscent of something by Joe Keenan. Careening from New York to Los Angeles and points in between, Jayson finds himself embroiled with a long-lost father running a house of ill-repute for his gentlemen friends, a washed up child actor boyfriend and a shot at sitcom stardom that has him trampling over anyone in his way.

For the most part Kilmer-Purcell keeps all his comedic balls in the air, but the novel doesn't quite reach the sublimely ridiculous heights of I Am Not Myself These Days. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction and sometimes more interesting to read.

Next page! America's Gay Bachelor! Plus we're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!