Rubyfruit Jungle By Rita Mae Brown

So why did I originally chose this book. Well if anyone has had the pleasure to be introduced to Educating Rita the main character mention reading a book called Rubyfruit Jungle By Rita Mae Brown in an English accent just made me laugh; which followed a look by my friends who’d question if I’d read it. A disappointed face when I raised my shoulder indicating “It’s a book?” . So with the movie and a very good friend of mine convinced me to read. Or at least buy and and pick it up later. So two years later. Done! It was great.

The novel was taken from the perceptive of Molly Bolt, the adopted daughter of a poor family. Her relationship with her mother is rocky, and at a young age her mother, tells Molly that she is ‘bastard’ and that she is not her biological child but adopted. In grade 6 Molly has her first same-sex sexual relationship and her second sexual experience in a Florida high school with Carolyn Simpson, the school lead cheerleader, who willingly has sex with Molly but refuses the name "lesbian."

Molly also engages in sex with males, including her cousin Leroy when the two were younger. Her father, Carl, dies when she is in her junior year of high school. In a combination of her strong-willed nature and disdain for Carrie, Molly pushes herself to excel in high school, winning a full scholarship to the University of Florida. Unlike Carrie, Carl has always supported Molly's goals and education.

When Molly's homosexual relationship with her alcoholic roommate is discovered, she is denied a renewal of her scholarship. Possessing little money, she moves to New York to pursue an education in filmmaking. Upon reaching New York, she realizes that the rubyfruit is maybe not as delicious and varied as she had dreamed within the concrete jungle.

Rubyfruit Jungle is a gay cult story that needs to be devoured. It’s a reminder of how the world can seem filled of possibilities.

The Gay Body By Mark Thompson

The Californian Mark Thompson is a journalist from the 70’s that writes about his spiritual journey as a gay individual in a gay world as he see’s it. He illustrates a deep insights into the evolving gay rights, gay social attitudes and the attitudes within the general public local and at world large. His perceptions I warn can be dark but in the end offers hope I dually warn you may even read a little of yourself within the pages. Mark describes the gay males spirt with with Greek Myths and modern stories such as The Wizard of Oz and more.

When reading “Gay Body” you’ll soon learn that it has nothing to with vanity in terms of fitness, although he does speaks of the vanity in terms of the mind. I’ll admit I completely missed Marks point why he titled the book “Gay Body”. But conceptualizing the title I could only assumes that souls can not always choice there body and experiences but we can choice how to interpret and react to those experiences.

“...We put on our seven-league boots and take great strides, barely touching earth. Or we never make contact at all, keeping airborne and aloof. To stay in the clouds is to run with the sprits of imagination, wonder, and wit. Who would want such companionship to end?”

Mark’s childhood was surrounded with issues’ that like many do in society; the miserable parents in a marriage and lack of support and love received from them. His brother becomes his comfort and childish love play. Which re-ballets the nature vs. nurture argument of sexuality. Mark’s story does not intend to dame ones hope into believing that there is no light at the end of the tunnel but instead his wisdom may offer a reinvention into life possibility for self improvements and may even consider being compassion to your brothers in the most pure sense.

It could be stated that Mark’s story is coming from the perceptive of a scene queen who’d lived out his life parading around beats, night clubs and the artistry groupies if you’re like me you still can’t help feeling a deep sense of sympathy and admiration for the guy for really putting his heart and spiritual self on his pages; something never really seen anymore.

Mark’s writings lays out his own experiences and allow the reader to makes their own morals judgement rather a book that tells you how it is or should. This book is a huge emotional challenge and a book that makes you think not the type of a book I’d recommend for escapism. It questions your moral judgements.

Holding the Man By Timothy Conigrave

Holding the Man is the best-selling memoir by the Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. Holding the Man was published in February 1995 by Penguin Books in Australia just a few months after Conigrave's death, and has since been published in Spain and North America. Holding the Man won the United Nations Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction in 1995 and was listed as one of the "100 Favourite Australian Books" by the Australian Society of Authors for its 40th anniversary in 2003.
Holding the Man tells the story of Tim's life, and centrally of his relationship with his lover of fifteen years, John Caleo. They met in the mid-1970s at Xavier College, a prestigious all-boys Jesuit Catholic school in Melbourne. In 1976, Timothy Conigrave fell in love with the captain of the football team, John Caleo, a relationship lasting 15 years.
Their love affair that weathered disapproval, separation and, ultimately death. With honesty and insight, 'Holding the Man' explores the highs and lows of their life partnership: the intimacy, constraints, temptations, and the strength of heart both men had to find when they tested positive to HIV.
Here is a little taste of the book “Holding The Man by Timothy Conigrave”
Juliet kissed Pepe. Their kiss lingered. Pepe came up for air. 'Tim'. As I kissed her she opened her mouth. Her tongue was exploring mine. I felt trapped. I was afraid to stop kissing her because I knew what was coming. I don't want John to think I'm enjoying this. Before I knew it my hand was on his knee, as if to let him know it was him I wanted. His hand settled on mine as Pepe continued kissing me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was a virgin being led to the volcano to be sacrificed. I turned to face him. He shut his eyes and pursed his lips. Everything went slow motion as I pressed my mouth against his. His gentle warm lips filled my head. My body dissolved and I was only lips pressed against the flesh of his. I would have stayed there for the rest of my life, but I was suddenly worried about freaking him out and I pulled away. I caught sight of his face - fresh, with chocolate-brown eyes, and a small, almost undetectable smile.
Three years after writing the book “Holding The Man” Timothy died.
In 2006, it was adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy , and has become one of the most successful Australian stage productions in recent years.
I would recommend the book “Holding On To The Man” to anyone, it was not just the fact that it was a heart warming, heart crushing story but also for the fact that the words on the page just washed over you, his writing is impeccably absolutely amazing.

Elf Child By David Pierce

Russ, a twenty-something-looking gay man, is a changeling...a shape-shifter who will never age, and who, perhaps, will never die. Living a carefree beach life in San Diego, he uses his uncanny abilities to feed his desire for men of all shapes and sizes - but something important is missing...This suspenseful novel unfolds as Russ realizes that his obsession with image has become empty and that what he really needs is a relationship with another man that will encompass more than the satisfaction of his sexual needs. Eric, who has been enjoying all that San Diego has to offer a single young gay man, is also looking for something more. Falling in love with one of Russ's many sexy incarnations, he is blissfully unaware of the supernatural direction his life story is about to take. Still, he can't help thinking that there is something odd, something too good to be true about his new lover...
A fantasy story, along with something rare in contemporary gay fiction - originality.... An entertaining light read with some unusually serious things to say about gay life.
For anyone that enjoys fantasy I would defiantly give this novel a go, especially those into vampire stories this book may just open up your bubble.

True Blood - Dead Until Dark By Charlaine Harris

The story "Dead Until Dark" is the first book in the True Blood Series as casted by HBO. Now at first I'll admit I was thinking another dame vampire series this is completely insane although a little persuasion from an online buddy and our hot Australian actor Ryan Kwanten playing Jason Stackhouse won me over.


Contrasting the HBO True Blood season with the book I thought that they done a fantastic piece of work. HBO certainly picked a winning piece of eye candy Ryan Kwanten (Australian Actor in Home and Away) who plays Jason Stackhouse. He is the eye-candy of just about every girl in Bon Temps, but with his looks his role comes with his stupidity which creates an interesting entrainment in it self. It amazes me how the Australian Actor Ryan was able to pull of a Southern American accent.

On the surface of the story we have vampires that have been uncovered/revealed into the American society. Vampires are the new "gay's"; some are accepted whilst other's still deal with stigma against them due to myths and truths. This could be as easily contrasted with homosexuality. Charlaine Harris's Vampires have many powers and class levels within their political social arena as noted on sudo media event within the HBO series. Even marketing companies within the HBO series illustrate that Asia have up took opportunities to accommodate the vampires nutrients by supplying artificial blood in packaged bottle that resemble bottles of beer.

The book takes on the perception of the southern American girl Sookie Stackhouse who works as a cocktail waitress in a small Louisiana bar. While the television series did take on Sookie Stackhouse angle as the main character similarly was done in the television series but did expand on the perceptions of other characters giving a multitude of perceptions.



Her story describes the dealing with having the ability to read other peoples mind. Sookie general persona is gentle towards other characters and the young 20 something that still wears Walt Disney character prints on her night shirt; I could not help but feel there was an essence of her character that reminded me of my sister.

Sookie Stackhouse was my favourite character because I guess in a way I relate to how much pressure she has to deal with taking on other people emotional distress, thoughts and feeling due to my occupation. Sookie describes her ability to read people's minds as a disability Charlaine Harris describes blocking out other peoples thoughts as different as we may be able to imagine due to your own experiences. Such as some people's thoughts are not crystal clear but are a bunch of blurry words with strong emotions or just a bunch of thoughts with music and other disjointed thoughts. Even the way she describes how Sookie tries to block her mind but is hard because its like holding up heavy pieces of iron wall which because exhorting. So the bare bones of the story line vampire is saved by girl they fall in love; but more is to come that rocks Sookie Stackhouse's world. Murder!

Magyk (Book One) - By Angie Sage

Magyyk is a cute book which is aimed between the ages of 12 to 15 years but who say you have to stop being a child at a child at 32; well probably many but it don't hurt to escape as a child even if it is for a hours. Its a fantasy wizardry world based on the stories from the perceptive of the heap family. Silas Heaps find a girl in the snow whilst making way home; Silas and his wife Sarah are then told by the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Marcia to raise her in secret about where she came to be. But things take a twist when they return to find there own child Septimus has been announced dead.

Several yeas after Marcia the ExtraOrdinary Wizard returns an reveals Jenna to be a princess who's mother was killed when Jenna was found in the snow. And furthermore that she is no longer safe and that dark Wizard DomDaniel are currently on their way to stole the child away. And so the adventures begin and more mysterious begin to unfold in book one Magyk.

OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO

My first book completed for this week is the book Oh, the places you'll go! By Dr. Seuss - If you've feeling; down, out, rejected. This is the book for you especially if your short term memory is shoot to pieces. This little book rhymes and has a funky beat. A little book that reminds you of all the possibilities. I loved this book for two reasons its easy and fun and yes the other reason is that you don't need to dedicate more than 15 minutes to read and appreciate it. My favourite quote;

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself and direction you choose. You're on your own. An you know what you know. And You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Please add a comment what's your favourite Dr Seuss book