A review by gerhard
Best Gay Romance 2012 by Jamie Freeman, Aaron Chan, Richard Labonté
5.0
In the intro to this anthology, entitled 'The Heart Finds Many Ways', Richard Labonte reflects on the myriad themes these stories touch upon: 'Young love. Love, unexpected. Lost love. Love, interrupted. 'Straight' love. Rough love.'
In 'Hello, Young Lovers', the protagonist sees two young men in a mosh pit at a music concert: 'Both of them have each other's cocks in their hands, jacking each other off as they kiss passionately ... He thinks it's the most romantic thing he's seen in a long while.'
Buster reflects: 'Yes, I know that most straight people, maybe even some Respectable Gays, would look askance at whipping it out at a concert, much less thinking of that as 'love'. But fuck it. Breaking the rules: it's one of the best things about being queer.'
... and breaking the rules about gay romance and love is certainly what this excellent anthology does.
The normal connotations of romance are wine, muzak and soft light ... there is a great deal of sex in these stories, which initially made me wonder what the difference was between Labonte's Best Gay Romance and Best Gay Erotica anthologies. But, as Labonte points out at the outset, the heart finds many ways ...
And in the immortal words of Buster from 'Hello, Young Lovers': 'Back in the olden days, people sure behaved weirdly because they couldn't just fuck.'
The stories range from whimsical to heartbreaking, glamorous, laugh-out-loud funny and, yes, High Romance. This makes for a varied, always entertaining and highly thought-provoking reading experience.
Labonte's anthologies continue to fly the (rainbow) flag for literature in the short form. Here's to the 2013 versions of Best Gay Romance and Best Gay Erotica.
In 'Hello, Young Lovers', the protagonist sees two young men in a mosh pit at a music concert: 'Both of them have each other's cocks in their hands, jacking each other off as they kiss passionately ... He thinks it's the most romantic thing he's seen in a long while.'
Buster reflects: 'Yes, I know that most straight people, maybe even some Respectable Gays, would look askance at whipping it out at a concert, much less thinking of that as 'love'. But fuck it. Breaking the rules: it's one of the best things about being queer.'
... and breaking the rules about gay romance and love is certainly what this excellent anthology does.
The normal connotations of romance are wine, muzak and soft light ... there is a great deal of sex in these stories, which initially made me wonder what the difference was between Labonte's Best Gay Romance and Best Gay Erotica anthologies. But, as Labonte points out at the outset, the heart finds many ways ...
And in the immortal words of Buster from 'Hello, Young Lovers': 'Back in the olden days, people sure behaved weirdly because they couldn't just fuck.'
The stories range from whimsical to heartbreaking, glamorous, laugh-out-loud funny and, yes, High Romance. This makes for a varied, always entertaining and highly thought-provoking reading experience.
Labonte's anthologies continue to fly the (rainbow) flag for literature in the short form. Here's to the 2013 versions of Best Gay Romance and Best Gay Erotica.