Writer Josh Aterovis
(Bleeding Hearts and Reap the Whirlwind) reviews two
books this issue:Geography Club by Brent Hartinger
Stepping Out by Lori L. Lake
 Geography Clubby Brent Hartinger HarperCollins, © 2003 Hardback: 226 Pages ISBN: 0-06-001221-8 Genre: Gay Young Adult Fiction Queer Quotient: ***** of 5 With his debut novel, Geography Club, Brent Hartinger has created a sharp, witty, and touchingly realistic look into the lives of modern gay high school students. Russel has never knowingly met another gay person in his small town. He firmly believes he’s the only gay kid at his high school, and in fact, feels like he’s a spy in enemy territory. When he stumbles across a gay chat room set up just for his town, he’s shocked to meet another gay student from his school. They agree to meet and much to Russ’ surprise, the other gay student is none other than Kevin, a popular jock. That information is just too much to keep to himself so he risks coming out to Min, his best friend. Min shocks him making a confession of her own: she has a girlfriend, soccer-playing Terese. The four of them, along with Terese’s activist friend Ike, decide to get together to talk about all they have in common. But where? There’s seems to be no safe place that jocks, activists, and self-described intellectuals can meet together without drawing suspicion in the clique obsessed society of high school. That’s when they come up with the idea to form the Geography Club. “We just choose a club that’s so boring, nobody in their right mind would ever in a million years join it.” The idea works at first, but when another student suddenly, and rather inexplicably, wants to join, things start to unravel. Things are further complicated by Russ’ rocket-fast trip from the respectable edges of society to popularity. He suddenly finds himself faced with decisions and situations he’s never imagined for himself. Will he make the right choices? What will he do to hang on to his newfound status? Hartinger tackles the difficult and treacherous landscape of high school society with startling realism. I kept expecting his characters to act in the typical “after-school special” fashion for which the first part of the book seems to set them up. Much to my surprise (and pleasure) he doesn’t take the easy way out. His characters feel real, and that means they don’t always do the “right” thing. Hartinger’s writing style, aimed specifically at young adults, is extremely accessible, and the book is a quick, but satisfying read. I think it’s safe to say that we can expect more great things from Brent Hartinger, and I look forward to reading his newest release, the non-gay themed Last Chance Texaco. |
 Stepping Out: Stories by Lori L. Lake Regal Crest Enterprises, © 2004 Paperback: 153 Pages ISBN: 1-932300-16-3 Genre: GLBT Fiction Short Stories Queer Quotient: ***** of 5 With Stepping Out, popular lesbian author Lori L. Lake has crafted a charming and impressive collection of short stories. The name of the book was inspired by the fact that the characters in each story have reached a turning point in their lives, and they must now choose to step out in a new direction. Each story touched me in some way, but some more than others. “The Bright Side” tells of a young woman faced with the inevitability of aging parents. “Everything You Learn in Kindergarten Can Ruin Your Life” takes us back to grammar school and the world of bullies. “Propane” is a powerful tale of domestic abuse in a same-sex relationship. In “Mouse,” we come face-to-face with a homeless woman, forced onto the street when her partner passes away and the family refuses to acknowledge their relationship. Lake isn’t afraid to tackle the tough issues—alcoholism, physical and mental abuse, self-esteem issues, aging parents, homophobia—in her stories, but she does so without ever feeling preachy or confrontational. Her stories are filled with grace, second chances, and self-discovery. All of her characters are fully-realized, even when their stories are sometimes less than ten pages. You feel as if you are being afforded brief (sometimes too brief!) glimpses into the lives of real people—people who could be your neighbors, your friends, or even your relatives. Her writing style is very accessible; the stories quickly draw you in and make you care about their protagonists. Everyone who reads this book will have their favorites. Mine were “Busybody,” “Defending Angels, and “Jumping Over My Head.” In “Busybody,” an aging lesbian couple tries to live their lives in peace and privacy while fending off the well-meaning but unwelcome interference of loved ones and neighbors. However, the couple gains a new perspective by the story’s end. “Defending Angels” tells the emotionally charged story of a young man trying to rebuild his life in the aftermath of an abusive father and an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Of the fourteen stories in this collection, “Jumping Over My Head” felt the most personal to me. It is a story of overcoming self-perception, of the power of having one person who believes in you—and having faith in yourself. While those three especially stood out to me, I believe this book will have something for everyone. In these fourteen short stories, Lori L. Lake, also the author of the popular Gun series, as well as her most recent novel, the well-received Different Dress, shows off her versatility and considerable talent. I highly recommend this book. |