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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
♡ The duality of the characters. Each main character is fully fleshed out. There are good and bad things about them, they forgive when they shouldn't, they love and hate and both, they're messy and real.
♡ The mystery. I was disappointed because, as I was reading, I thought at first the killer reveal was obvious. Turns out I was wrong, and everyone else that I could have suspected had already been cleared. I am not cut out to be a detective.
x The physical abuse. It is a personal hangup and I know it was probably so Steve wasn't a saint but I just hated it. Coy was a morally terrible person, but it is still not justified. Steve also gets progressively more violent throughout the book as his stress levels rise, not just towards Coy but also his estranged wife (who is also a terrible, terrible person, but still not okay).
♡ The mystery. I was disappointed because, as I was reading, I thought at first the killer reveal was obvious. Turns out I was wrong, and everyone else that I could have suspected had already been cleared. I am not cut out to be a detective.
x The physical abuse. It is a personal hangup and I know it was probably so Steve wasn't a saint but I just hated it. Coy was a morally terrible person, but it is still not justified. Steve also gets progressively more violent throughout the book as his stress levels rise, not just towards Coy but also his estranged wife (who is also a terrible, terrible person, but still not okay).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just happened to pick up this novel at a Goodwill without knowing anything about it. It was...interesting, to say the least. It kind of feels like two novels woven together - one about the complexity of an interracial gay relationship in the 60s, and then a private eye detective novel. I'm not sure the two really mesh that well.
I didn't realize until after I had started that the author was a white man writing from the POV of a black man. As a white person myself, it doesn't read terribly stereotypical, but knowing that I did feel a discomfort from those sections that are very explicitly about racism and the Black experience. I would be really interested in hearing about what the response to this novel was from the Black queer community when it was published.
The characters are imperfect which does make them feel real but also makes it harder to root for them. The main character is a domestic abuser, & his main lover a thief and a liar. It's a snapshot of gay life in a time period where we don't get as much explicit talk about queer life and stories, but the same things that make that period of time less than ideal for those of us in the 21st century is definitely apparent here as well.
I found it intriguing but I don't think I would recommend it to others.
I didn't realize until after I had started that the author was a white man writing from the POV of a black man. As a white person myself, it doesn't read terribly stereotypical, but knowing that I did feel a discomfort from those sections that are very explicitly about racism and the Black experience. I would be really interested in hearing about what the response to this novel was from the Black queer community when it was published.
The characters are imperfect which does make them feel real but also makes it harder to root for them. The main character is a domestic abuser, & his main lover a thief and a liar. It's a snapshot of gay life in a time period where we don't get as much explicit talk about queer life and stories, but the same things that make that period of time less than ideal for those of us in the 21st century is definitely apparent here as well.
I found it intriguing but I don't think I would recommend it to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Outing, Alcohol
Minor: Lesbophobia
Originally published in 1968 as Known Homosexual, and in 1977 as Stranger to Himself; both probably under the pen name "James Colton"
Although it could be considered a literary murder mystery, Pretty Boy Dead, the third incarnation of this book, is in truth more a coming of age story with a murder story tacked on to the end (and the first chapter).
The read knows from the start that a character has been killed and that Steven, the hero, has been arrested for the murder. Most of the book is however dedicated to telling Steven's recent story as an arty young black gay man coming to term with who he is and the mistakes he makes along the way.
Hansen takes care to present us with an ever-growing list of suspects as the story proceeds but still manages to surprise with his solution.
The writing is very good and the story is at time totally engrossing and always well paced and involving.
The read knows from the start that a character has been killed and that Steven, the hero, has been arrested for the murder. Most of the book is however dedicated to telling Steven's recent story as an arty young black gay man coming to term with who he is and the mistakes he makes along the way.
Hansen takes care to present us with an ever-growing list of suspects as the story proceeds but still manages to surprise with his solution.
The writing is very good and the story is at time totally engrossing and always well paced and involving.