 Jak
KlinikowskiReviews
The Summer of My Discontent by Mark A. Roeder 296 pages iUniverse.com, 2003 ISBN: 0595298060 |
| This is the forth
selection from Mark Roeder’s “Youth Chronicles” I have read, (SOMEONE
IS WATCHING, A BETTER PLACE, and DO YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU are the
other three), and once again, I am in awe of this author’s ability to
deliver meaningful “morality plays” wrapped up in what are basically
gay teen romance novels, “heavy breathers” if you will. Don’t get me
wrong, I am a huge fan of the romance genre, but I don’t normally read
love stories for their moral guidance; however, where Roeder’s books
are concerned, I don’t mind making an exception. Interwoven through all of Roeder’s novels are important lessons in tolerance, faithfulness, monogamy and loyalty. Resisting temptation in all its forms and learning to take responsibility for one's self are the foundations for each of the novels in the “youth chronicles,” yet each is also a charming story of gay boys in love, determined to have their place in the world. These stories are told through the very believable voices of the young main characters, and the reader can almost feel the confusion and excitement, the heartache and ultimately the joy, of these boys. To quote the book jacket, “THE SUMMER OF MY DISCONTENT is the much anticipated sequel to A BETTER PLACE,” which happens to be my favorite in the series. The time is late summer 1981, and the place is Verona, Indiana. Teenage runaway, Dane, lands in town hell bent on experiencing life in a way that he’s always been afraid of in the past. Dane is gay, desperately horny, and determined to find a boyfriend, regardless of the cost, be it blackmail or assault. He is going to get laid no matter what. Also featured here are characters developed in previous installments of the “chronicles.” Ethan and Nathan, out high school seniors, very much in love with each other, and recent arrivals in Verona, Brendan, a football hero from Kentucky, and his slight but adorable boyfriend Casper. All four are living and working on Nathan’s Uncle’s farm. A devastating draught has hit the region and crop failures threaten the farm’s solvency. In an attempt to help out financially, Casper and Nathan take jobs in downtown Verona while Ethan and Brendan continue to work side by side on the farm, re-awakening erotic feelings Ethan has had for Brendan, but has been suppressing. Dane, hanging out in a park across the street from the restaurant where Casper has found a job, develops an infatuation for Brendan’s boyfriend, but when he is unable to entice him, sets his sights on the ultra-hunky Ethan, a star on the high school wrestling team. Dane is determined to get into Ethan’s pants, and he doesn’t care what he has to do to accomplish his goal. Will Dane be successful in his attempts at seduction? Will he get lucky with Austin, a young hustler he meets in the park and crashes with? To what depths will Dane sink in order to experience the gay sex for which he is so desperate? And what of Ethan, will he be able to resist his secret yearnings for Brendan, and stay true to Nathan? Will he finally be able to deal with, and move on from, the suicides of two gay friends who were lovers but were unable to handle the homophobia surrounding them? All these questions, and more, are answered realistically if somewhat idealistically, through the course of this very involving novel. As in previous installments, Roeder has infused this book with a great deal of positive reinforcement. His nicely developed characters are fleshed out and very believable. The young lovers here must struggle for their happiness, as they face not only peer pressure, but internal pressure as well, learning thru it all, the value of trust and commitment. The message of the book is definitive. Gay boys can find as much love and satisfaction in this life as anybody else, if they are willing to fight for it and stand strong. Does THE SUMMER OF MY DISCONTENT stand on its own as a novel or are Roeder’s previous books required reading in order to appreciate this one? Yes to both questions. “DISCONTENT” provides enough background information during the story to keep the reader from being confused about characters developed in earlier novels, and it has its own rich individual plot, but it is, after all, a “sequel” and should be approached as one. I encourage reading SOMEONE IS WATCHING and A BETTER PLACE (in that order), before starting THE SUMMER OF MY DISCONTENT for maximum enjoyment. Are Roeder’s novels intended for someone my age? Don’t ask! Let’s just say old enough to be these gay boys' father. Yes, in the sense that any book is intended for whoever finds it interesting, but the obvious target consumers here are young gays in their teens or very early twenties. Did this fact keep me from enjoying these books? Absolutely not! The novels are well written and the stories more then held my interest, but the lessons here, alas, are for those young enough to make use of them, very much like advice from a father to a son. All of Roeder’s books in the “Youth Chronicles”, at least the four I have read, are worth the time and effort. They are sharp, interesting reads, full of positive gay role models and hope for a brighter tomorrow. The novels are not necessarily in sequential order, but they are interlocking to one degree or another, and so even though I have not read them all, I recommend each one of them to readers of any age, but particularly to the young readers for whom they were intended. |