I guess I’ve officially joined the resistance? I shared a post about marriage equality on FB and they removed it, claiming it was spam. For the record, I believe DJT.2 and MAGA are deeply invested in reversing marriage equality in the US, just as they’re reversing civil, medical, and legal rights for trans citizens and reproductive rights and medical privacy for women. When citizens are asking for help with the cost of living, why are elected officials submitting hundreds of bills aimed only at damaging a vulnerable minority?
On to this week’s reading. As always, I encourage you to buy direct if you can:
Fathers of the Bride by Marshall Thornton, in which the acrimoniously divorcing parents of much-loved young adult get the MM Hollywood treatment. Quite funny at times, messy yet engaging MCs, the worst in-laws ever, enjoyed it. Author site HERE
Grease by Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey, the book of the musical, for research purposes. I’ve never seen the show on stage and was surprised both by how different it is from the movie (which I re-watched) and how well the screenwriter actually made a movie out of it. The movie as a whole (I love it) has some glaring flaws; the adaptation (and the two-disc movie soundtrack) I’m giving an A+. The official ‘Grease’ musical songbook, on the other hand, I’m giving a D- for notating every number as if for a soprano. Casting your production with all sopranos would be … a choice.
How I Paid For College by Marc Acito. For mature readers of queer YA (this could well be read by teenagers; it features scenes of drinking, drug use, and sex-related nonsense, but none of that is graphic; maturity is called for in following the themes and comprehending how the book goes beyond a coming-of-age farce. I’d compare it to the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High) featuring a cast of teenagers. The POV character is an aspiring actor, the action takes place from summer after junior year of high school through to starting at Juilliard. Class of 1984, like me, so the time setting feels very familiar though the location setting is New Jersey. Quite funny, many shenanigans, an interesting and atypical friend group and various flavors of bad parenting. Author site HERE
A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCracken, a gift from my sibling. The author is a Literary Novelist and her notes are addressed to same, but it’s readable and encouraging for all.
This week’s shorts:
Hidden Hearts by Clare London, a MM novelette starting with MCs each being signed up by friends for a Valentine’s day speed date event; various disasters ensue in which the slapstick is not too cruel and the MCs are both quite sweet. A likely re-read. Author site HERE
Hex and Candy by Ashlyn Kane, a MM novella featuring a candymaker who’s also a curse-breaker and a nurse who’s under a cockblocking curse following a breakup with a vampire. A number of subplots come together in a not entirely unpredictable but not lamentably obvious way. Nice relationship arc. Also a likely re-read. Author site HERE
Tumbling Dreams by Kaje Harper, subtitle “A 2012 Olympic MM Novella.” MC1 is a college gymnast who’s just made the team; MC2 is his 2-year non-gymnast roommate; they have hidden feelings; MC2 is about to move out because he’s tired of watching MC1 train through & around a serious and potentially disabling injury. Very good. Author site HERE
If you happen to read and like ‘Tumbling Dreams,’ there’s another good MM story about a gymnast by E.J. Russell, The Thomas Flair. Author site HERE