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A review by vomiii
The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren
3.0
In an attempt to gather my thoughts after reading The Front Runner, I have a lot to say but I don’t at the same time.
Billy is one of a kind! He’s ambitious, confident, and intelligent all while standing against what’s considered “normal” in terms of sexuality. Harlan, his coach, is the narrator but Billy is the star of the show.
Harlan and Billy quickly develop feelings for one another and get into a relationship in secret. They mainly do this because 1. The relationship is “unprofessional” (it’s coach x athelete) and 2. They didn’t want to jeopardize Billy’s track career and his dream to go to the ‘70s Olympics.
The author does a very good job on tackling social issues. It sheds light on the importance of human and LGBTQ+ rights in athletic spaces and I enjoyed reading about those who have been silenced fighting their way into being heard.
However, I will admit, this book was a bit of a bore. I think the author dragged the story a little too long and I believe it could’ve been cut the book down to at least 200 pages.
Though the book is marketed as a love story, I feel as if I barely got a glimpse of Harlan and Billy’s relationship other than descriptions of how they’ve spent their time together off-book (which I found kind of annoying).
First off all, Harlan wasn’t a good partner. He was hotheaded, rude, and constantly projected his insecurities onto Billy. For a man his age, you would think he’d be the wiser/mature one but he acted like a 17-year-old (I’m wondering if years of repressing his sexuality plays a part in his childishness). Albeit Billy’s reassurance when Harlan accused him of sleeping with his best friend, Vince, Harlan would continue to put it over his head. Not to mention the constant cases of miscommunication??
To be real, I couldn’t understand what Billy saw in Harlan other than the fact he was an older, taller, and attractive beef-caked ex-Marine. Personality-wise, his sucks ass, and he didn’t even try to improve as the chapters went by (other than fighting for LGBTQ+ rights when it came to his gay runners competing against straight runners).
Billy, on the other hand, was the opposite. He was patient, kind, and always willed himself to see the good in people. I loved that the author made him Buddhist and I had the chance to learn a bit about the religion. He never abided by violence, rather, he followed peace. That’s what I loved the most about him! He was too good for Harlan—for the world even—and it was a shame he was murdered in the
very place he considered his safe place (the track field). I hope Billy thrives wherever his running shoes takes him!
Billy is one of a kind! He’s ambitious, confident, and intelligent all while standing against what’s considered “normal” in terms of sexuality. Harlan, his coach, is the narrator but Billy is the star of the show.
Harlan and Billy quickly develop feelings for one another and get into a relationship in secret. They mainly do this because 1. The relationship is “unprofessional” (it’s coach x athelete) and 2. They didn’t want to jeopardize Billy’s track career and his dream to go to the ‘70s Olympics.
The author does a very good job on tackling social issues. It sheds light on the importance of human and LGBTQ+ rights in athletic spaces and I enjoyed reading about those who have been silenced fighting their way into being heard.
However, I will admit, this book was a bit of a bore. I think the author dragged the story a little too long and I believe it could’ve been cut the book down to at least 200 pages.
Though the book is marketed as a love story, I feel as if I barely got a glimpse of Harlan and Billy’s relationship other than descriptions of how they’ve spent their time together off-book (which I found kind of annoying).
First off all, Harlan wasn’t a good partner. He was hotheaded, rude, and constantly projected his insecurities onto Billy. For a man his age, you would think he’d be the wiser/mature one but he acted like a 17-year-old (I’m wondering if years of repressing his sexuality plays a part in his childishness). Albeit Billy’s reassurance when Harlan accused him of sleeping with his best friend, Vince, Harlan would continue to put it over his head. Not to mention the constant cases of miscommunication??
To be real, I couldn’t understand what Billy saw in Harlan other than the fact he was an older, taller, and attractive beef-caked ex-Marine. Personality-wise, his sucks ass, and he didn’t even try to improve as the chapters went by (other than fighting for LGBTQ+ rights when it came to his gay runners competing against straight runners).
Billy, on the other hand, was the opposite. He was patient, kind, and always willed himself to see the good in people. I loved that the author made him Buddhist and I had the chance to learn a bit about the religion. He never abided by violence, rather, he followed peace. That’s what I loved the most about him! He was too good for Harlan—for the world even—and it was a shame he was murdered in the
very place he considered his safe place (the track field). I hope Billy thrives wherever his running shoes takes him!