This book was published in England in 1972 and in the U.S. in 1974.  It had the archetypal story of Adams's manuscript being turned down by every major British publisher until a small, one-man operation took a chance on it.  The same thing happened to J.K. Rowling when she was shopping the manuscript for Harry Potter.  (It also calls to mind the episode where Decca Records turned down the Beatles before they landed at an obscure EMI label called Parlophone.)

The author explains in a preface that the story originated with imagined tales that he told his two young daughters while they made long automobile trips across England.  The daughters insisted that he write them down, and after an 18-month effort the manuscript came to be.

I know I read this back in the mid-70s when it first came out -- I think my parents had a copy, which I borrowed and read when I was visiting home.  But it's been so long -- 50 years -- that all is pretty much new to me (again).  

Anyway, for someone looking for a different kind of adventure story, you could do much worse than this.  I am enjoying it.

R

The second story that Matt reads to the boys is entitled "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen.  This is a Young Adult title published in 2001, aimed squarely at the age group of Matt's kids.  Intrigued, I added myself to the multi-month waiting list for this book at the Los Angeles Public Library.  I reached the head of the line earlier this week, checked out the book (downloading it to my Kindle reader), and began reading it immediately.  I am only in chapter 8 (out of 28) but I thought I should share my experience so far with the group.

This book explodes out of the starting blocks and keeps advancing on the reader like a runaway locomotive.  Perhaps this is typical for the Young Adult genre, especially as to boys.  The emotions are raw and powerful, and I suspect adolescents can genuinely relate to this as they face the challenge of coming of age.  By coincidence, the main character, a teen, is also named Cole, and he has a huge number of demons to face.  He has a few admirable qualities mixed with a lot of awful ones.  His bad behavior has led to him being banished alone to survive for one year on a deserted island in Alaska.  I look forward to learning more about how he makes it through his ordeal, confident that the journey will not be boring.

R

After some introductory pages, the next big section of the book consists of the "prompt book" that Coppola created from a physical copy of Mario Puzo's novel.  All of the pages of the novel were carefully separated from the binding with a razor blade.  Then each individual page was pasted into an 8-1/2 x 11 blank sheet of paper with a window cut in the center, large enough for all the printing on the back of each book page to show through.  This created a work space where Coppola could write notes and make observations in the margins around the printed page.  He also underlined and highlighted key portions of the book's text.

The first Godfather movie came out in 1972, which means that Coppola must have been working on this notebook not long after I had graduated from high school.  It is fascinating to see what he picks up from the book's text.  But more than anything, it brings home the incredible amount of work required to adapt a novel to film in this fashion.  

I know I read the book in 1969 or 1970 when it was published.  I'm pretty sure I saw the first movie as well, but I can't swear to it.  I know I saw the second movie (from 1974).

Anyway, this book provides a fascinating window on the process of developing a screenplay.  

R

The Stormlight Archives, Sanderson's epic fantasy, is designed to have two 5 book sequences. Presently, we're at number 4 of the first sequence - the first book being titled 'The Way Of Kings.' However, three years before he was published he wrote a first version of the book now titled 'The Way Of Kings Prime.'

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The Way of Kings Prime was written in 2002 and is basically an alternate version of The Way of Kings, which was published by Tor Books in 2010. The Way of Kings Prime is very different from the officially published book from Tor. Think of it as set in a different universe with a completely different plot. If you haven’t read the 2010 canonical version, please read that one first before reading or listening to this book.

Sanderson has now released The Way Of Kings Prime, for free. Also, he has had it read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading (who read all his other books), and that too is free.

The Way Of Kings Prime - epub, mobi & PDF

The Way Of Kings Prime - audio
 

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Please be aware that this is a LARGE download. Be patient and download from a stable internet connection. Alternatively, you can listen to it in parts on YouTube.

Nate Mayer is shoot down whilst on a photo reconnaissance mission. He is rescued by an escaped POW and the two hole up in a deserted French farm house. There they become lovers. After the war Nate Mayer goes to Time Square every New Years Eve to hear the ghostly bells that he and his wartime lover pledge to hear together. This year though the invalided Nate is pushed to the square, in his wheel chair by his grandson Blain and Blain's friend. In taking Nate to the square Blain and his friend give away far more than they intended.

A wonderful story very well written. I am a fan of all Amy Lane's writing but this has to rank amongst her best books.

In my opinion, though I am no doubt biased, this is one of Amy Lane's best books and so far I have not read one of her books that I have not liked. 

String Boys is available from Amazon as a paperback and on Kindle.

The swordsmen live in Riverside, what was once the centre of the city but is now a derelict area occupied by whores, thieves, con-men and swordsmen. It is here that we find our main protagonists Richard St Vier, probably the greatest swordsman in the city,  and his lover Alec. It is from this base we view the machinations of the nobility as they try to use Richard St Vier for their own ends.

As I said from the start, it is not an easy book to read, it is though one well worth reading. I enjoyed it so much, I have just ordered the other two books in the trilogy.

Swordpoint is available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.

Mike is a sixteen year old in a fundamentalist Christian family of comfortable means; he is a student at a private Christian school; he has a circle of friends but knows that he is gay and wonders why God (Big Guy) declines to answer his prayers and help him solve this problem.  Then, to add further complexity to a difficult situation, he develops a friendship with the preachers son.

This is a real page turner and is apt to ring particularly true to anyone who was subjected to that 'old time religion' when they were young.

Delightful and satisfying.

Rob Wardell is a seventeen-year old who feels like he doesn't quite fit in anywhere--not at home, not at school and not on the baseball field. The small, shy boy stays on the high school baseball team only to please his father since he knows he will never get to play. He's living his life alone until he finds himself drawn into a friendship with the team's new star pitcher, Josh Schlagel. The two boys hit it off instantly; maybe it's because Josh isn't exactly welcomed by the team either. But as Rob and Josh grow closer and start spending more time together away from the field, Rob realizes this his friend is hiding something. The bruises on Josh's body and his reluctance to let Rob know about certain parts of his life have Rob suspicious. When Josh's secrets are finally revealed and become life threatening, Rob and his family must step up to the plate.

My son recommended this book, originally published in 2012. 

Set in the 1960s in an Oxford college, when being gay was still an offence punishable by imprisonment, 'Sandel' tells the story of a love affair between an undergraduate (David Rogers), and a cathedral choir boy Antony Sandel.

If you click on the link you will get or more detailed review

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandel-Angus-Stewart-ebook/dp/B00EGXTH60/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1537665592&sr=8-3&keywords=Sandel 

But there is one politician who has always been in our corner, and yet he seems to have faded into the background. I am speaking about Joe Biden, our former vice-president and a commendable voice in support of the LGBT community.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/01/25/joe-biden-reveals-what-barack-obama-privately-told-him-about-equal-marriage/

I have never met Mr. Biden, but I would enjoy shaking his hand. For a man who faced such monumental tragedy in his life I have always been in awe of his empathy and genuine concern for others. The article mentions this new book about his family life and I am determined to read it. Amidst all the scandal and strife in government these days, I always manage to imagine Joe Biden as a breath of fresh air, something I never attribute to politics.     

It's here, it's finally here!

"Rivers of the Dead" looks amazing with its brand new cover and renovation to this new-fangled age of digital media. That's right, it's available as both a paperback and as an ebook, and here's four reasons why you should consider buying it:

1)    It's a story about love, about sacrifice and overcoming grief—it'll pull on your heart over and over again as you journey with Caleb as he journeys to The Underworld to reclaim his friend's soul.

2)    The mythological perspective is fresh, even if it returns us to the classic Greek myth of Orpheus. He may be ancient, but he's traded his lute for a guitar and a wickedly sarcastic attitude. You'll love him.

3)    If you like my stories, you'll like this one, too. If you trust me to tell a good story, you'll definitely like this one.

4)    If for no other reason, I'm taking the plunge in October and quitting my day job to become a full-time writer. Your support simply by purchasing this book will do more for me than you can possibly imagine.

Whether you decide to pick up a copy or not, know that I appreciate you getting this far. I love being part of this community, and I appreciate all the support you've given me over the years.

That being said, there's a link here I hope you'll check out:

Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742J15QF/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B0742J15QF&pd_rd_r=7TC92AN6F77Y97R4E8G1&pd_rd_w=DRFPb&pd_rd_wg=BkBqf&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=XBV8WT4VN04MG2K0HAEK&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=781f4767-b4d4-466b-8c26-2639359664eb&pf_rd_i=desktop

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Rivers-Dead-Samuel-D-Roe/dp/1521885354/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

The story is that of a nerd type genius, who is a butterfly expert, and his meeting and subsequent relationship with a wildlife and parks manager. It's well told and interesting. The story is continued in Imagines and Red Dirt Heart Imago. Both of which are equally well written. They are all available from Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback forms.

My only criticism of them is that they are all fairly short and personally I would have thought they would have made one good book if they had been combined.

There have been revisionists in every nation on the planet who would change the facts of history to suit their own interests. The most prominent textual changes have probably been in religious books....the Bible comes to mind. But the history of the Americas has been under assault ever since the first white man set foot on these shores, decided this was an uncivilized land, and claimed it all in the name of some foreign power.

Howard Zinn is famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view. Needless to say he will not be celebrated as a great scholar in Arkansas any time soon, but what do they know? Radical thoughts about American history beyond the flag waving apple pie bunch of conservatives means his latest book had to be banned.

In all honesty, I have not read this book, yet. Needless to say it will not be high on the list of acquisitions my local library will order this year. But it is available from Amazon at a reasonable price and I am awaiting delivery. A Peoples History of the United States, sounds like a good read to me.

So read the article and try to see how the contents might fit into your way of thinking. I will read the book and get back to you here once that is accomplished. I love a good story, especially when someone digs thru the American trash bin to write it. I don't doubt the residents of Arkansas will be thrilled to know their state is protecting them from certain knowledge. I intend to read and find out what they don't know, evaluate the words in the book and compare them to  what I already know. Arkansas won't find out until Breitbart  News tells them what to think. Sad.   

WHY? is a wonderful study of a complex issue. Although much has been written about the Holocaust, most of it describes what happened and fails to specifically address the issue of why. Author Peter Hayes is well qualified to write on this subject and I found his book easy to read. Although it is filled with details that are familiar you don't have to be a historical scholar to appreciate the information he imparts.

Professor Hayes had the desire to analyze  what made the Jewish people of greater Europe, Asia, and specifically Germany, become the target for such intense hatred. It is too easy to say that Adolph Hitler and his 'final solution' was the action of a madman and a sociopath, although that is part of the answer. As Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies at Northwestern University, and a member of the academic committee advising the National Holocaust Museum, Professor Hayes has access to all the information he might need to answer the question why.

This is an important book in that it details the reality of the thinking behind the death camps and the governments who either supported the destruction or chose to ignore the events that led to the murder of millions of people. The author's insight of how the homosexuals fared in the camps is enlightening, but they were just one of many non-Jewish groups rounded up to serve the Nazi vision of racial purity. In light of the recent crisis in the Middle East it seems unconscionable that any nation would refuse the plight of refugees to escape the destruction in their homelands.

In the path of events leading up to World War II, the nineteen thirties in Europe, and specifically the activities in Germany, were known to Western nations. Reports from politicians, aid agencies, and military sources all became aware of the early stages of the Holocaust. As institutions these entities felt helpless to do anything about the round up and incarceration of the Jewish population, but they had their chance and failed to act by not accepting refugees. In the decades following the war, written documents from the archives of governments tell an incredible horror story.

The culpability of the nations, the Church, and even the owners of the major business corporations tells us how easily the Third Reich set their plans in motion to eliminate a religious minority. The propaganda, the lies, and the great effort to conceal the true nature behind the Nazi death camps was all part of a grand design by Hitler and his followers. The historical revisionists would have us believe that the Holocaust never happened, and yet the Nazis archived millions of documents that say otherwise.

The book is only three hundred and fifty pages long but the information it contains, and the way it is presented, give the reader a substantial glimpse at the answer to the book's title. Just understanding the why does little to alleviate the horror perpetrated on the Jews. It is something best remembered in light of the Syrian conflict, the rise of ISIS, and the genocide of thousands in Africa. Allegiance to a cause is not always the best way for society to evolve, and knowledge is a powerful tool to prevent another Holocaust. I recommend this book to anyone who seeks the knowledge of why the human race always seems to be teetering on the brink of disaster.         

It's not a gay-themed story but it involves a young teen boy on a major quest. The writing is superb and it is difficult to put down. Really good.

R

Nicola Haken in this book examines the thinking of the addict and those who are involved with them. Her insights are true and often painful. Reading her descriptions of Cameron and Dylan and the interaction between them I realised she was describing events that I had experienced with my boyfriend.

The book follows the life of Cameron and Dylan, two boys who fall in love but are forced apart by circumstances when they are thirteen, only to come together fifteen years later. By then Cameron's life has become one of success. Dylan's life is one of addiction. How the two of them deal with the issues that this creates and how love can survive the conflicts of such a relationship is well explored in the book.  

It is well worth reading. You can find it in ebook format for Kindle from Amazon and I believe it is available in other ebook formats.

EM Lindsey is a remarkably good writer who has a feel for her characters. Unlike a lot of gay writing available in E-Book form this is far more than wank feest material. Yes there are sex scenes in it, but they are well written and are integral to the story - if you are wanting graphic detail this is not the book for you.

Verismo is available for Kindle from Amazon, I do not know if it is available in other formats.

​A good book, despite it forays into wank feest sex at times, that unfortunately seems to be a requirement for gay books on Kindle. It it perfectly possible to read the book and jump over those passages without losing any of the story.

You an get it an Amazon for a penny plus $3.99 shipping and handling.

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Part of what spoke to me in his look back was the remarkable differences between his experiences and mine. In the end and after he is out, he describes his sexuality as a complication, a word Ann and I often use in reference to mine. You can knock this one off in a few hours.