Books to Ease the Summertime Blues

John Rechy’s first novel, City of Night, was published by Grove Press in 1964, five years before Stonewall. Since then, every book written by Rechy has been published by Grove, most recently About My Life and the Kept Woman (320 pages; $24.00), Rechy’s memoir. Though Rechy’s early novels – primarily City of Night and Numbers (1967) - were largely autobiographical, a non-fiction memoir from this literary giant is long overdue.

About My Life and the Kept Woman takes us back to El Paso, Texas in the 1930s where Rechy, the son of Mexican immigrants, grew up. The title refers to Marisa Guzman, the “kept woman” of a powerful Mexican politician who made a great impact on the young Rechy when she attended her brother’s marriage to Rechy’s beloved sister, Olga. Through the decades, the memory of the Kept Woman remains a major influence in the life and writings of John Rechy.

And what a life it is! Growing up Mexican-American and gay, Rechy remained a part of his community even as his relatively light complexion and muscular build allowed him to mingle in white society.

Later Rechy was able to expand his horizons, first in the military and then back in civilian life as a writer and hustler (though sometimes his status as a highly-cultured, intelligent, gay writer collided with his street persona as a tough, narcissistic, “rough trade” hustler).

A young John Rechy

Out of all this came Rechy’s classic novels, which, even at their worst, are worth reading decades after they were first published. Though non-fiction, About My Life and the Kept Woman is as entertaining as any novel, and should be at the top of anyone’s summertime reading list.

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and gay book buff who lives and writes in South Florida. Write him a note at jessemontagudo@aol.com.