Thursday, January 7, 2010

“Book Reviews: The Best Gay Teen Novel Ever? - AfterElton.com” plus 3 more

“Book Reviews: The Best Gay Teen Novel Ever? - AfterElton.com” plus 3 more

Book Reviews: The Best Gay Teen Novel Ever? - AfterElton.com

Posted: 06 Jan 2010 07:25 PM PST

In his introduction to Queers in History (BenBella Books, $19.95), author Keith Stern makes the point that while we sometimes hear that this or that historical figure might have been gay, we never really hear the reasons why people think that — and, often, there's a furious blow-back when it's mentioned at all.

As a result, he's compiled this fascinating encyclopedia of hundreds of historical and contemporary GLBT individuals, the "evidence" why they are thought to be queer, and the ways it might have influenced their lives.

All of the obvious individuals are here, from Perez Hilton to Little Richard, whose song "Tutti Fruiti" (recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley to Pat Boone) was apparently originally an homage to anal sex.

But the book also includes some controversial names, such as John Travolta and Abraham Lincoln, who not only shared a bed with men all his life, but who also apparently wrote a poem while a young man about two men who get married.

It's a pretty interesting read for even casual students of gay history – which, frankly, should be every one of us. 

It's a shame that Back for MOORE by DC Morgan (UStar Books & Novels, $49.95) came too late for me to review before Christmas, because it would have made someone the perfect gag Christmas gift — at least someone with a lot of money, because it's not cheap.

backformooresidewaysarrowWhat are you paying for exactly? It's a gay romance/erotica novel where you and your spouse, partner or boyfriend are the "stars" of the action. Basically, you provide the publishing company with names and a list of distinguishing characteristics — no, not the ones you're thinking of, more like the name of your pet — and they print up a copy of the book with you and he in on the action, which involves you replacing a dead rock star and becoming embroiled in a mystery.

The book is the brainchild of an outfit that publishes a whole line of similar books for gays and straights alike. You provide the details, then choose the level of sexual explicitness, although this is currently the only title available for gay men (they claim it's a "two" on a four-point scale of explicitness, but it seemed pretty explicit to me, which makes me wonder for a "four" is).

As for the gimmick, a little goes a long way, and this won't be winning any writing awards. But it's a clever idea, and I wasn't surprised that the company was recently featured on the TV show Dragon's Den about budding entrepreneurs (the dragons apparently didn't bite on the idea).

Still, unless they manage to somehow get the price down, I have a hard time seeing this catching on any time soon.

More info here.

 

We have a policy that we don't review books written by writers who work for AfterElton.com, which means I can't review Josh Aterovis' latest, All Lost Things (P.D. Publishing, $21.99), the third book in his Killian Kendall mystery series about a gay teen who solves crimes.

In this one, Killian is graduating from high school and starting his own detective agency – only to be confronted with two mysteries to solve, one involving a murder by the new boyfriend of his own ex, and the other involving a haunting in the house of his surrogate parents.

For more info, check out Josh's website.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Jay Meltzer Chair Established - East Hampton Star

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 08:25 AM PST

    At a reception at the Asia Society and Museum in December, Dr. Meltzer was hailed as a private physician and a research scientist. Lee Goldman, M.D., dean of the faculties of health science and medicine, noted that Dr. Meltzer was a founder of the division of nephrology at the center and a pioneer in dialysis and liver biopsies. He participated in establishing a formal program on medical ethics for students and staff, in part as a response to the issues raised by what had been a scarcity of dialysis machines.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Friends of the Library to meet - Press & Sun-Bulletin

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 04:43 AM PST

Broome County Friends of the Library will hold its annual meeting from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Broome County Public Library, located at 185 Court St. in Binghamton.

Agenda items include the election of officers, volunteer recognition, the 2010 budget review and proposed library projects. This year's guest speaker will be Tom Rossi, a teacher at Broome Community College and frequent participant in the Friends Book Reviews. His topic will be "The Profane and the Profound: Books That Have Influenced My Life and My Teaching."

All Friends members and those interested in joining are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Table of Contents - News & Review

Posted: 07 Jan 2010 12:25 AM PST

GREEN GUIDE


Sustainability Black and greenGreen Tech seeks to provide environmental opportunities for Sacramento's young African-American men.

Homegrown Going undergroundIf it's winter, then that means it's time for root vegetables.

An Inconvenient Ruth Extinctions, etc.Global warming isn't the only problem we've got.

Plug'd In Del Paso casa verdeEven older homes can become more energy efficient.

LOCAL STORIES


Feature Story Capital clashHounded by the extreme element in their own party, California's moderate Republicans are crying out for a little sanity.

News No news is bad newsOnce again, Project Censored picks up the ball dropped by the mainstream media.

News Wedded dissSupporters of one marriage-equality measure seek to repeal Proposition 8 on 2010 ballot.

ARTS&CULTURE


Arts & Culture Sketch of an artist as a 30-somethingIndie comic-book author Jeffrey Brown used to tell stories of love 'how it really is.' Now, he draws Ringo Starr as a ninja.

Arts & Culture Puzzling truthMemoir writers and publishers weigh the good and bad of fact and fiction—and the gray area in between.

d'ART Big skulls, little monstersAustrian artist A. Forster shows his stuff at A Bitchin' Space.

Stage On the shoulders of giantsA great reckoning in a small room: What if Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. really had a chance to talk to each other?

Scene & Heard Good year's eveLots of beer. Lots of Mormon orgies.

Poet's Corner Trial of the Oblique Triangle: Building Permit #78A poem by Dorine Jennette of Davis.

Art Pick of the Week Over the hill on the other side of causewayNotable art to see for the month of January.

Art Pick of the Week Multitude of mediaNotable art to see for the month of January.

Art Pick of the Week Steel in the showNotable art to see for the month of January.

Art Pick of the Week He breeds artNotable art to see for the month of January.

Night & Day Pick The sound your face makes when I slam my foot into itWatch Urijah Faber redeem himself at WEC 46.

Night & Day Pick Adult diaper encouragedGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may appear at Punch Line—in the form of Pablo Francisco.

Stage Pick of the Week Don't mess with MamaShakin' with an ensemble: Celebration Arts offers a paean to African-American womanhood in Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery.

Stage Pick of the Week Ticking back into boomtownJust in time for Rent: a reprise of Tick, Tick … Boom! in a limited run at New Helvetia.

Book Reviews Knut knowsCaged, hunted and now losing their ice—somebody buy those polar bears a beer to cry in.

Book Reviews She was all thatMolly Ivins was a lot of things, but mostly, she was one heckuva reporter.

Book Reviews Got wings?Hey, what happens in Vegas … well, you know the rest.

Ogg's World Ogg's WorldWelcome to the bizzare world of Doug Ogg.

Curtain Call Funny kidsKeep the class clown out of the principal's office. Teach him to be funny.

DINING


Eating Old Sac epiphanyTen22 effectively ends the quest for Sacramento's best mac 'n' cheese, with beginnings of a butterful relationship.

Smorgasbord Milk itSoggy cereal is only possible with milk—uh, delicious soggy cereal, that is.

Corner Table When life gives you lemonsForget the lemonade and whip up some vinaigrette.

Food Stuff Cheap dateRestaurant.com makes the cheapest person appear generous.

MUSIC


Music Feature It's always darkest before it goes pitch black(Waning) goes from noise to artsy-fartsy post-something—to hair metal?

Sound Advice Ladies' nightThe Mother Hips, New Year's Eve, Parson Red Heads, K Street Mall, public intoxication, Fat Wreck Chords, Epitaph Records, Strung Out, Ricky Berger, Carly DuHain, Katy Jane, Ally Hasche, Capitol Garage, Autumn Sky, Mia Riddle, James Rickman, Slow Gherkin.

Music Pick of the Week You record it, SN&R reviews itIntroducing SN&R's weekly record-review section.

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Jan 9, ChllngrFormerly Dub Defender.

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Jan 9, Joe Louis WalkerJoe Louis Walker has had the blues since the '60s.

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Jan 9, Rahsaan PattersonA voice like raw silk!

Music Pick of the Week Tues, Jan 12, The Builders and the ButchersBanjo alert.

FILM


Film Reviews Youth in RevoltMichael Cera, forever young.

Short Reviews DaybreakersHumanity is endangered—which totally sucks for vampires.

Short Reviews The Imaginarium of Doctor ParnassusTerry Gilliam does weird and wild, again.

Short Reviews A Single ManOnce cutting-edge, now old news.

Short Reviews Sherlock HolmesFrom the boorish hands of Guy Ritchie.

OPINIONS


Race to the Bottom Rant 'n' railCan Sacramento Regional Transit's high fares be justified?

Popsmart Dirty wordsRachel bans a few Sacto-centric terms. Hey, is Sacto-centric banned, too?

Ask Joey Addicted to pornMaybe Charles Darwin should have studied the regressive evolution of porn stars.

Letters Letters for January 7, 2010Love, hate, indifferencereaders express their opinions, sometimes about each other.

Editorial A new Engines of disquietudeThe SN&R encourages a complete ban on leaf blowers in Sacramento.

15 Minutes Sacramento's Sam MalonePouring drinks at R15—until he becomes water boy for the Miami Dolphins.

Editorial Cartoon Editorial CartoonThis week's cartoon from the mind of John Kloss.

Essay Upside of a recessionWhen naysayers complain about the slump, remind them about the bright side.

Greenlight The challengeIt takes 2 million Sacramentans to create a sustainable community.

Ask a Mexican El hangover, dos rerunsThe Mexican on grooming and blow jobs.

Cut&Paste Pruitt most overpaid CEO, againGathered from SN&R blogs.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
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