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A review by barrypierce
We Think the World of You by J.R. Ackerley
3.0
At the beginning of We Think the World of You, Frank, our queer middle-aged narrator, is faced with the reality that his young lover Johnny is being sentenced to a year in Wormwood Scrubs. Johnny is, however, also married and has a child. His 'vile' wife Megan is aware of Johnny's friendship with Frank but doesn't think any more of it. Johnny's family think the world of Frank. Whilst in prison, Frank is order to take care of Johnny's dog, Evie. At first he's incredibly apprehensive, but eventually Evie become an object of obsession to our narrator.
It's an odd plot. The novel, first published in 1960, is viewed as something of a forgotten queer classic, or at least it's being marketed that way. However, this isn't really a queer novel. Yes, Frank and Johnny are lovers, but that really seems beside the point. The novel isn't about queerness. Which in many ways makes it more subversive.
The novel overall is a sometimes comic, sometimes tragic tale of a man and his lover's dog. A strange chapter in British queer fiction. But I must say that I enjoyed it, and its myriad of quirks.
It's an odd plot. The novel, first published in 1960, is viewed as something of a forgotten queer classic, or at least it's being marketed that way. However, this isn't really a queer novel. Yes, Frank and Johnny are lovers, but that really seems beside the point. The novel isn't about queerness. Which in many ways makes it more subversive.
The novel overall is a sometimes comic, sometimes tragic tale of a man and his lover's dog. A strange chapter in British queer fiction. But I must say that I enjoyed it, and its myriad of quirks.