Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Desire: Tales of New Orleans. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Desire: Tales of New Orleans. Sort by date Show all posts

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walker


There are places that exude an atmosphere of casual sensuality that can be felt, smelled, and tasted. The residents of such places absorb the atmosphere like sponges until they become part of the place and the place becomes part of them. The City of New Orleans is such a place. In his collection of loosely related short stories, Desire: Tales of New Orleans, William Sterling Walker captures the essence of this city until, with its strong presence and influence, New Orleans takes center stage and breaths life into each and every character. Walker's beautiful integration of music -- classical, jazz, 80's pop -- and art adds to the overall sense of time and place, capturing moments, depth of feeling, and often creating the illusion of a written snapshot suspended in time.

Walker's descriptions of New Orleans are also intrinsically connected to themes found in his collection, -- with "connection" the most prevalent theme throughout -- to the character's conflicts, and to their personal desires. The heat and oppressive humidity may be connected to voracious or subtle physical needs. The stagnation of a place where the past is present may be found in conflicts faced by quite a few of the men, and the gravitational pull that the city exerts on its denizens as if it were a living entity is mirrored in the friendships and relationships between the characters.

The word desire, as in the title of the book, usually brings to mind sexual want or hunger. Humans, however, desire much more from each other than the physical and Walker incorporates both in his stories. He breathes life into his stories through his characters, the friendships they share, their loves, losses, needs and desires. Moments, events, conversations, assignations, paralyzing fear, pain and regret, all become connected through friendships and hookups in a pre-Katrina gay community that learned early about tragic loss while experiencing the plague years.

I first read Walker's short story "Farewell to Wise's" in the Best Gay Stories 2013 anthology and what really struck me about it at the time, what made me love it, was the fact that the place and characters became real to me. I found that same quality in the rest of his stories. Walker develops intimate interactions and dialog between his characters, slowly revealing layers and, in the process, giving them a depth that becomes an essential part of his portrayals. This development leads readers to become fully invested in both the characters and the conflicts they face.

I know I will reread this book for a couple of reasons. Throughout the time it took me to read it, and after, I fell asleep in New Orleans thinking about the characters and woke up the next day in New Orleans still communing with them. But, most importantly, Desire: Tales of New Orleans is a book that strongly reminded me of the "why" behind my love for short stories. Highly recommended.

Category: LGBT/Gay Fiction
Series: None
Publisher/Release Date: Chelsea Station Editions/November 1, 2012
Grade: A

Visit William Sterling Walker here.

Friday, October 4, 2013

September 2013 Recap: Books Read + Minis

I am in the middle of what I am calling an "Indescribably Severe Period of Blogger's Fatigue." I'm half-way through my fifth year of blogging, and it has been seven years (or is it eight) since I've been hanging around the blogosphere. Perhaps it's the seven year itch and I just need a little pick-me up. Someone prepare a strong and refreshing mint julep for me, please!

Anyway, here are my reads for September 2013:

Total Books Read: 18
Contemporary: 1 (YA Fiction)
Historical: 1 (Romance)
Urban Fantasy: 10
Fantasy: 4 (Historical Fantasy Fiction: 2)
LGBT: 2 (Gay Fiction: 1, M/M Romance: 1)

Top 3 Reads of the month:



Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walker: A
I loved this book so much that I read it twice. You can read my review, but let me tell you... I had to retrain myself! This book is so gorgeous, I had enough notes and quotes to write a saga instead of a review. I can't believe I missed this collection in 2012.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: A-
This is a fantastic adult fairy tale. I can't recommend it enough to lovers of fantasy as a "must read."
Ashes of Honor (October Daye #6) by Seanan McGuire: A-
After reading the whole October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, this book was definitely my favorite. It is the one book of the series where everything came together and worked for me: Toby, the plot, the relationships, and the world-building.
One Salt Sea (October Daye #5) by Seanan McGuire: B+
I love the additional world-building in One Salt Sea. McGuire's inclusion of the Undersea Faerie Folk was fantastic. The revelations about the Luidaeg's history was a definite plus. And, this book has one of the funniest scenes as well as some of the saddest of the whole series. I was kind of relieved that some characters were finally disposed of and that decisions that needed to be made were faced by Toby.
The House of Impossible Loves by Cristina Lopez Barrio: B
This Latin American style magical realism yarn has teeth and challenges comfort zones with a few taboo subjects, love, angst, some truly hateful characters, and a gorgeous historical setting. Not for everyone.
Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs: B
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of werewolves and witches. Briggs's world-building is quite attractive and I liked the characters much more in this book than in the introductory novella, On the Prowl. However, I feel that without reading that novella, this book would be incomplete as it really explains Anna's psychological state of mind and how Charles came into her life. A solid read!
The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley: B
The lovely romance between detective Chief Inspector Lloyd Fellows and Lady Louisa Scranton is a novella. It contains passion and a wonderful crime mystery. I enjoyed getting to know Fellows while he yearned for his Louisa, and wished that there had been more page time when it ended.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: B
This was our Internet Book Club choice for the month of September. The Fault in Our Stars is not a book I intended to read, but it was recommended by Mariana's young daughter and of course I had to give it a go. If this book were a movie, it would fall under the "tear jerker" category. I found it to be relentlessly sad with three dimensional characters that pulled me in and under until the end. So yes, this is a great read, but I could not help but be relieved when it finally ended. Augustus and Hazel Grace are memorable characters I won't soon forget. A really great book for young adults.
Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) by Seanan McGuire: B
Late Eclipses is the book that was needed to give this series a boost, in my humble opinion. It's filled with great revelations about Toby, her magic, and her mother Amandine that help make sense of what happened in the previous three books. Finally! A solid, solid installment.
Rosemary & Rue (October Daye #1) by Seanan McGuire: B-
Rosemary and Rue begins with a bang, fizzles out, and then picks up with the kind of great world-building that I love and kept me reading this series.
Chimes at Midnight (October Daye #7) by Seanan McGuire: B-
The latest release in the Toby Daye series was a mixed bag for me. The plot felt disjointed and not quite up to snuff, particularly after reading Ashes of Honor #6 -- a much tighter installment. In the end, I found the central theme of the book, pureblood superiority/inferiority with its power or lack of it, disturbing.
Carniepunk Anthology: B-
A dark urban fantasy anthology that is packed with stories that are part of ongoing series, although a few are free standing. I enjoyed enough of them to recommend this as a good October, Halloween read.
An Artificial Night (October Daye #3) by Seanan McGuire: C+
Another book I'm not crazy about, but I liked better than book #2 because characters such as Raj, Tybalt's nephew, are introduced, Quentin's relationship with Toby is further developed as is her relationship with the Luidaeg, plus the excellent fantasy world-building continues.
My Cowboy Heart by Z. A. Maxfield: C+
This was a good M/M Western Romance by ZAM but nothing really unique. This story about a foreman in his 30's who becomes aware that he is gay when a new out and proud gay ranch hand is hired, has been done before. It's not a gay for you story. Anyway, ZAM writes a good contemporary western yarn, better than some others I've read with this same plot device. I'm actually interested in reading the follow-up story about two older ranch hands, one of them an alcoholic.
On the Prowl (Alpha & Omega 0.5) by Patricia Briggs: C
A short novella with great central characters, but one that felt incomplete. It has that insta-mine paranormal device that feels a bit tired and an overly abusive storyline toward the female protagonist that nearly turned me off from continuing to the first book of the series. The world-building seemed interesting and I wanted to give Briggs a shot, so I continued on to Cry Wolf.
La Rosa de Fuego (The Rose of Fire: The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #0.5) by Carlos Ruiz Zafon: C
I read the Spanish version of this fantasy-based prequel to Zafon's Cemetery series and enjoyed his prose and writing style. Set in 15th Century Barcelona during the time of the inquisition, Zafon incorporates religion, ignorance, and the prejudicial mores of the times, along with a rather heavy handed dose of fantasy. This prequel is a bit too short and lacks depth.
A Local Habitation (October Daye #2) by Seanan McGuire: C-
Unfortunately this book drove me insane! Why? The setting for the plot in this book is limited for the most part to one very uninviting, cold place, the characters introduced are not compelling or interesting, and Toby is not well prepared to investigate the crimes occurring in this place. Yet, the relationship and world-building continued and that kept me reading.

Rereads:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: A
This is ghoulish children's fairy tale, that is true, but at its core it is a family-oriented fairy tale that deals beautifully and warmly with the subject of adoption. This was a reread for me, and yes I fell in love with the characters and Gaiman's storytelling talent all over again.

I will remember September 2013 as the month I went nuts reading UF! I began a couple of books from other UF series, but in the end settled for McGuire and Briggs. Maybe by the end of the year I'll read a few more of those "first books in a series" that have been hanging out in my TBR for years.

How was your September? I fell in love with Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walker and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Did you fall in love with any books last month?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

LGBT: 2013 Favorite Reads & Authors

Happy New Year everyone!! It's time to take a look back at the LGBT books that made the past year memorable. Overall, 2013 was a great reading year for me. As always, my list of favorite reads is based on books read and reviewed during the year, and graded A (5.0) or A-/B+ (4.5). This time around, however, I've included 2013 releases, as well as a few previously released books that are too good to ignore. These are the stories that spoke to me throughout the year.

Desire: Tales of New Orleans by William Sterling Walker
Gay Fiction: (2012, Chelsea Station Editions)
William Sterling Walker's collection of short stories set in a pre-Katrina New Orleans is one of those books where everything, from the characters to the setting and from the writing to the subject matter, comes together perfectly into one unforgettable package. Walker's ability to make time, place, and characters come alive is uncanny. I've re-read passages, single, and various stories from this collection repeatedly after my first go round -- Desire, Aubade, Menuetto, Fin de Siècle -- and keep the book handy. I cannot recommend this collection enough.

Red-Inked Retablos by Rigoberto Gonzalez
Creative Non-Fiction: (2013, The University of Arizona Press)
In Red-Inked Retablos, Rigoberto Gonzalez invites readers to contemplation and activism. He speaks with authority and passion from the many viewpoints that make up his life experiences -- the Latino, the gay man, the writer, the teacher, the activist -- but, most importantly he speaks from the heart. I read this book in February 2013 and referred to it several times throughout the year. A memorable and highly recommended read.

In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa 
Bisexual/Gay Romance: (2013, Bold Strokes Books)
Mel Bossa writes beautiful romances filled with conflicted gay and bisexual males in pursuit of understanding, self-awareness, and love. I love her LGBT romances, and in 2013 she did it again with In His Secret Life where Bossa again displays her talents for creating three dimensional characters and a complex, memorable romance by tackling a controversial love affair between a married bisexual man and single gay man further complicated by family ties.

Boystown #5: Murder Book by Marshall Thornton
Mystery: (2013, MLR Press)
Set in Chicago at the beginning of the 1980's, the Nick Nowack Mystery series by Marshall Thornton is gritty and makes an impact on the reader with more than just the great mysteries. Throughout the series, it is Nick's personal life -- sexual exploits and romantic interests -- that slowly become the ongoing source of tension for the reader. Thornton takes the readers back to the 80's and keeps them there with his no nonsense writing style and magnificent central character. Time for Secrets #4 (2012, MLR Press) and Murder Book #5 are both favorite reads, but I highly recommend the entire series!

Death by Silver by Melissa Scott & Amy Griswold
Fantasy: (2013, Lethe Press)
Scott & Griswold's world-building is a combination of high magic and Victorian morals in a quasi-recognizable London. Death by Silver is an excellent blend of fantasy and mystery with steampunk elements. The romance in the making between the two main characters and their inner conflicts, however, give this novel a perfect emotional touch, as do the secondary characters and gray areas that these two authors explore throughout the story.

Dust Devil on a Quiet Street by Richard Bowes 
Fantasy/Speculative Fiction: (2013, Lethe Press)
In 2013, I read three books by Richard Bowes including his collection of fairy tales The Queen, The Cambion and Seven Others (2013, Aqueduct Press) and When Angels Fight (2013, Fairwood Press). I reviewed two of the three books, but enjoyed and recommend them all. Dust Devil on a Quiet Street is a fantastic compilation of short stories that are organically blended into one book or one story. Bowes' knowledge and love of New York City and the intimacy of thought found in his narrative are fantastic. This book is categorized as a fantasy, yet I am still fascinated by the fact that at times it is impossible to tell where truth ends and fiction begins. Richard Bowes is that talented.

Light by 'Nathan Burgoine
SFF/Romance/Suspense: (2013, Bold Strokes Books)
We all need heroes in our lives, even reluctant heroes who hide their light are welcome! Burgoine is a multi-talented author who successfully creates short stories within different LGBT sub-genres such as speculative fiction, romance and gay fiction. His debut full-length novel Light makes it to my list of favorite reads as one of the most enjoyable books read in 2013. This action/adventure, superhero, romance suspense yarn is tough to place into one of those little boxes or categories, what is not difficult to do is love it. It is fun, entertaining, and absorbing with a memorable central character and a grounded, focused central gay theme. Light now resides on my "reread" shelf.

Best Gay Stories 2013 ed. Steve Berman
Anthology--Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction: (2013, Lethe Press)
Best Gay Stories 2013 is undoubtedly my favorite anthology of the year. Steve Berman compiled 20 amazing fiction and creative non-fiction pieces by 20 equally fantastic authors, some already well known to me and others not at all. I read many collections and anthologies during a single year and was greatly surprised to read one excellent piece after another in this anthology, each with a different theme highly relevant to today's gay man -- young and not so young -- some embracing recent history and others dealing with the here and now.

Favorite Short Stories: I chose the following short stories from favorite single author collections and anthologies rated A (5.0) and A-/B+ (4.5).  I'm sort of cheating since the books, as well as the short stories, are highly recommended in their entirety.


"Things I Can't Tell My Father"
"Ice Water"
The Silent Hustler by Sean Meriwether (2009, Lethe Press)

"Boy"
"Between Us"
The Rest of Us: Stories by Guy Mark Foster (2013, Lethe Press)



"Light and Dark" by Damon Shaw
"The Third State" by Lee Thomas
"The Origin of the Fiend" by Hal Duncan
The Lavender Menace: Tales of Queer Villainy! ed. by Tom Cardamone (2013, Northwest Press) 

"Sic Him Hellhound! Kill! Kill!" by Hal Duncan
"A Strange Form of Life" by Laird Barron
Wilde Stories 2013: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction ed. Steve Berman (2013, Lethe Press)

Friday, July 26, 2013

LGBTQ: Upcoming & Recent Releases

There are SO many upcoming LGBTQ releases or books already released that I want to read! Some of the books on my ever growing, greedy list are already in my Kindle and others will be as soon as they release. Here are just a few:

UPCOMING:

RED CAPS by Steve Berman (Lethe Press, October 2013)



Red Caps might be a rock band. Or they might be something more sinister, a fey source of sounds that are but the backdrop to thrills and misadventures. These thirteen stories provide readers jaded with the traditional, Old World fairy tales and tempts them with new stories that will engage bored readers from their suburban ennui. Closets are waiting to be explored. Escape from work camp leads to a dangerous encounter on a wet road. That high school year book is magical and might be mocking you...or helping you find love. And isn't love one of the central premises of the fairy tale? These teenage boys and girls need not fear that their love has no worth, because Steve Berman has written for them princesses who love maidens and adorkable students who have wondrous and smart boyfriends. Readers can be assured that, if the tale does not end happy, it ends most memorably.
This is a new gay Young Adult speculative fiction collection written by Steve Berman. Berman wrote Vintage: A Ghost Story, a book that is loved by many and considered a classic LGBTQ YA read. I'm really looking forward to reading this one!

FOOLISH HEARTS: NEW GAY FICTION by Timothy J. Lambert & R. D. Cochrane (Cleis Press, January 14, 2014)


Okay, I don't have a blurb for Foolish Hearts yet. But, I couldn't wait to highlight it because this is a sequel to one of my favorite anthologies, Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. I have been stalking Becky Cochrane's blog ever since I found out this anthology was on the planning stages. Well, it's going to happen. There's a cover, a release date, and finally, a list of the contributing authors:
Tony Calvert, David Puterbaugh, Trebor Healey, Steven Reigns, Erik Orrantia, Paul Lisicky, Jeffrey Ricker, Taylor McGrath, ‘Nathan Burgoine, Greg Herren, Timothy Forry, Felice Picano, Mark G. Harris, Craig Cotter, Rob Williams, Timothy J. Lambert, Andrew Holleran.
I am really psyched about this anthology! It's all about the lurv...

ALREADY IN MY KINDLE:

PACIFIC RIMMING by Tom Cardamone (Chelsea Station Editions, March 2013)

Lambda Literary finalist Tom Cardamone’s novella, Pacific Rimming, is a dazzling narrative of obsession.

Set in New York City in the late 1990s, a young gay man wanders from bed to bed, creating a life of drug use and sexual conquest to avoid emotional intimacy, his desire focused exclusively on Asian men.
Cardamone is a favorite speculative fiction writer, but with this book he goes into a totally different direction. There is a review in amazon that calls it "filthy/gorgeous" and another one at the Lambda Literary site that makes it sound like an outstanding read. Just what I have come to expect from Cardamone.

CRACK SHOT, WESTERN EROTICA by Dale Chase (Bold Strokes, Books, April 15, 2013)

Men of the Wild West indulge in far more than drinking and gunplay. Cattle drovers, gamblers, miners, outlaws, and the lawmen who chase them rub up against each other in towns where law is thin and a saloon occupies every corner. How could they not indulge in sex? This collection of Western erotica brings to life the intensely masculine Old West in stories such as “Brazen,” in which a man indulging in sexual gratification beside his campfire welcomes a stranger to further indulge; “Thyself A Man,” in which a preacher attempting to save souls in a gold rush camp loses his own through sexual indulgence; “Gandy Dancer,” which shows building the transcontinental railroad involves more than laying track; “Crack Shot,” in which a lawman cannot resist his prisoner; and “Picture Show,” in which the past comes alive as two former lawmen who were once lovers reunite on a silent movie set.
Lovely Ms. Chase whose western gay erotica I absolutely adore! Of course I picked up this collection immediately. I'm so glad I'll have so many of her great stories in one volume and hope to find new favorites to reread over and over again. :D

THE DUST OF WONDERLAND by Lee Thomas (Lethe Press, June 3, 2013)

A panicked call from his ex-wife summons Ken Nicholson back to New Orleans, where his son has been attacked and left for dead. While his child's life hangs in the balance, Ken endures visions connected to a terrifying time from his past. As a teenager, he witnessed the brutal deaths of several young men, an act orchestrated by his benefactor, Travis Brugier. Following the shocking spectacle, Brugier kills himself before Ken's eyes. Now, decades later, someone wants Ken to remember, wants Ken to return to those violent days.

With the lives of his estranged family and his lover, David, threatened, Ken has no choice but to follow his nightmares back to their origin. There he will battle a corrupt and powerful being that believes every life is a story to be captured and rewritten, a being that doesn't believe in happy endings.

Welcome back to Wonderland.
My expectations of a Lee Thomas novel or novella are rather high at this point. He is such a talented writer. The Dust of Wonderland is Lee Thomas's latest novel and I'm hoping to sink my teeth into it soon, soon, soon!

Also added to my Kindle: What Comes Around by Jameson Currier (Chelsea Station Editions, 2012), Love, Christopher Street: Reflections of New York City ed. by Thomas Keith (Vantage Point, 2012) , and On the Clock by Chris Owen (Torquere Press, July 17, 2013).