Review: "Bored Gay Werewolf" by Tony Santorella, 2023

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella,2023
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tony Santorella's "Bored Gay Werewolf" is a unique entry in the world of queer literature, offering more than just a tale of transformation and moonlit escapades. It's a story that resonates deeply with the complexities and absurdities of modern gay life, all through the lens of our protagonist, Brian, a werewolf who's as aimlessly charming as he is hairy in wolf form.

Brian's life, tangled between his Grindr escapades and lunar-induced transformations, is beautifully
chaotic. His friends, Nik and Darby, stand as pillars of normalcy in the whirlwind of his life, grounding the story in a reality that's both relatable and endearing.

While the climactic showdown is packed with excitement, it does rush towards its conclusion, particularly with the introduction of Abe, whose sudden appearance feels a bit like a jolt in an otherwise smoothly running  action narrative. However, this is balanced by the beautifully executed 'coming out' moment- a scene that is a blend of sweet, absurd, and heartwarming elements, perfectly encapsulating the nuances of revealing one's true self.

"Bored Gay Werewolf" goes beyond the typical werewolf narrative, weaving in threads of friendship, self-discovery, and the quest for identity in a world that often feels as unpredictable as a full moon night. Santorella has crafted a story that not only entertains but also reflects on the deeper aspects of the gay experience with sensitivity and wit.

"Bored Gay Werewolf" is more than a clever title. It's a heartfelt exploration of what it means to find one's place in the world – a world that may not always understand the complexities of being queer (and a werewolf, if you are lucky). For those seeking a story that combines earnest exploration of identity with a touch of the supernatural, this book is a compelling choice.

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Review: The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, 2021

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, by Matt Cain 2021

The book is an endearing novel about an elderly postman's "coming out story" at such a late age in life set in today's times. Albert is about to retire from the postal service and realizes he hasn't lived much of a life at all. He decides to come out and search for an old flame from nearly 50 years ago to rekindle the fire.

There are plenty of books covering "coming out stories." What sets this one apart is the age of the main character. Albert is in his mid-sixties, never had a boyfriend, and spent almost all his life toiling at work-- his life was his work. When he receives news of his upcoming retirement, he realizes he hasn't done much outside of work and goes through a life crisis. So he embarks on a journey to find his long lost "almost-boyfriend" from almost half a century ago to rekindle the flame- to have a chance to have a life with love.

Though some parts and characters are a bit unrealistic, the story is endearing, told from an interesting point of view, and generally uplifting. My only complaint is that some parts were unnecessarily too long, and with some edits targeting for concision, the book could be a third shorter than its current length and may flow better.

I rate this book 3.85 out of 5 stars.

#LGBTQIA #MattCain #AlbertEntwhistle #ComingOut #Pride

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Review: "Shuggie Bain", by Douglas Stuart, 2021

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you read this book and feel nothing, you're probably dead inside.

It's a heartbreaking story of a young son's love of his alcoholic mother. Set in the 1980s in Glasgow, precocious and young Shuggie Bain struggles to care for his mother Agnes as she descends into the depths of alcoholism. It is also a story of Shuggie's discovery of his sexuality eclipsed in the backdrop of Agnes' addiction.

It is a pretty long book, about 900 pages, and spends almost the first half setting up characters, environments, and lulling me into the bane of the characters' existence and with little mention of Shuggie. 

Once we got into the book's second half, it was nonstop tears for me. It was an emotional roller coaster through and through. Simultaneous tears of joy and sadness dripped from my eyes. The story evoked such profound feelings from me, caused me to reconsider my positions on certain subjects, and most of all gave a glimpse of what life might have been like for someone who experienced the hardships they endured growing up with an alcoholic mother.

While the book is fiction, the author draws heavily from his own experiences growing up. Shuggie Bain is Douglas Stuart's debut novel and is a 2020 Booker Prize winner (among other awards lists). The audiobook version is absolutely captivating with its reader's performance. I don't have an ear for The Scottish accent, so I had to listen actively. Prose coupled with Scottish slang from the 1980s, understanding specific passages was challenging for me. I ended up getting the Kindle version as well so that I could go back to the portions I did not audibly understand and re-read for comprehension.

I love this story so much, in a way that one can love a heartbreaking story I suppose, that I ended up buying the audiobook and Kindle ebook for someone. I'm a little sad that I have to return this loan to the public library, but I'm also happy that I'm returning this to the public library so that someone else can enjoy this story. There is a hardbound book with the author's signature that I've got my eye on now.

I rate this book 5 out 5 stars.

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