Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed on 9/30/2012 + 813 more book reviews

If you have read E. M. Foster's "Maurice," or Virginia Woolf's "Orlando," you may want to consider this one. I think that I shall subtitle this "Homosexuals in Paris," as it follows the exploits of four men who more than like each other. The narrator, David, is an American bum ( he has seemed never to have held a job) about to become down and out in gay (no double entendre intended) Paris. Woe, his mistress has left him for a tour of Spain, after which she returns to the USA. This is when his acquaintances of a similar bent introduces him to a bar owner and his very Italian bartender, Giovanni (who has also had a heterosexual relationship). At this David and Giovanni resume their latent penchant for the male persuasion. Though the reader is spared the wicked details, they quickly become more than roommates. Bring your imagination with you: also your LaRousse, unless you are quite up on your French. (Why do writers have to impress the reader with their proficiency in the French language? Even Tolstoy does so! It must be to ensure that the reader is an inferior.) So here is their relationship bared to all to a final breakup. Evidently David cannot decide for which team he wants to play. Giovanni, we learn early, is to be treated to a trip to the "National Barber." Wow! This is supposed to be 1950 France. Despite my lack of interest in this novel, I must read on to find out what this is all about and why Giovanni is to have his shoulders trimmed.

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