Reviews (70)

Definitely kept my attention
This was my first E. Lynn Harris novel.I bought it because it was the only African American fiction at the airport I was in at the time.I completely finished the book over the course of my roundtrip flights, so it is definitely a page turner.Light, easy reading to take your mind off things.

Actually 2 and 1/2 stars
I love E. Lynn Harris!I own every book he's written and have been to all his book signings.This book was boring and seemed really personal.This is the worst book he's written.I still love E. Lynn though!

A favorite fan
I love all of E Lynn Harris novels, he is an outstanding author and his novels touches people from the inside out.Janie De Coster author of Man of My Dreams? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American bisexuals    2. African American gays    3. African Americans    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - General    7. Fiction - Romance    8. Gay    9. Literary    10. Political    11. Romance - General    12. Fiction / General    13. Gay men   

Editorial Review

E. Lynn Harris's track record as a bestselling novelist began here, with the story of Raymond Tyler, who, after years of questioning his sexual identity, finds himself torn between a married male lover and Nicole, the talented actress with whom he imagines himself able to spend the rest of his life. With a rich cast of supporting characters and emotionally wrenching plot twists, this debut proved popular enough in a self-published edition to catch the attention of Doubleday, which bought the rights to Read more

Reviews (127)

OOOH, My goodness
This book is off the hook.Oh! my God this book will have you looking at your "so-called" straight man in a whole new light.

invisible life: a novel
The book revealed to me a better understanding of the life and issues that confront the gay community in our American society

Not Surprisingly Good
This was my first E. Lynn book and I'll confess it was because of what I heard about the subject matter.However, after reading for myself, I must say that I was captivated and thoroughly enjoyed the story.The author was able to get me to put my own personal feelings aside and get caught up in the realistic characters and storyline.Overall, the story had good flow.There were some minor spots where I wished for expansion on a character's emotion to get more understanding of their thoughts and/or feelings, but these spots were rare.I'm looking forward to picking up the next book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American men    2. American First Novelists    3. Bildungsromane    4. Bisexuals    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - General    7. Gay    8. Young men    9. Fiction / General    10. Literature of special Gay interest    11. Modern fiction   

Editorial Review

At the end of Read more

Reviews (72)

So Good
This book is deep.Couldn't put it down.The ending was sad but still very good.

AMAZING!!!
This is one of the best book that I ever read. Raymond tyler is the Main Character in the book. Raymond life style is very secretive person,his secretive about being bisexualy. such as he wouldn't go to a gaypublic places. He scared thatit might affect his career. And you wont able to tell just by looking at him. he is a lawyer that scared to come out of the closet about is sexuality. HE think he might lose is job if he make everybody know's about his personal life.
less average (2-2.5 stars)
I can't say enuff 'bout this but I thought it was a novel that has to deal w/ life of something like from famous black authors of Richard Wright to Langston Hughes to Ralph Ellison or somethin like that. I believe it's a ok book even tho I don't read it very oftenly all the time 'cuz it deals w/ the situations between HIV/AIDS, sex and celibacy. First of all I never read a sex book in my life. I thought it was cool but it goes to tell you how to beware about the diffrence bout the good side vs. the bad side of sex. I'ma think I'll keep it 'round a lil longer or so. Good work E. Lynn Harris. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American Novel And Short Story    2. African American men    3. Bisexuals    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. Gay    7. Love stories    8. Popular American Fiction    9. Self-acceptance    10. Fiction / General   

Reviews (8)

I'd rather go to a Ren Faire instead....
Still, "From the Ashes" has a lot of appeal for both Rennies and Mundanes (if you have to ask, you probably are one, but the definition is loosely folks who don't participate in Ren Faires, sci-fi cons, etc.) Anyone who's ever attended a RenFaire or been curious about one gets a good look at what goes on behind-the-scenes.In some ways, too good of a look, though.Brunner's anecdotes are interesting in relation to character development, but they bog the plot down.
A Magical Book
The magic of Renaissance faires is that, for a few weekends a year, you can visit times far past and lose yourself in the world of the rennies, the people who become the peasants, nobles, gypsies and thieves populating the medieval villages. There's plenty of that magic in Meghan Brunner's From the Ashes. There's also plenty of real Magick.
Live the faire and feel the magick
When magick spills over between this world and the Otherworld, you have Pendragon. New author Meghan Brunner holds her own with some of the best story tellers of our time. Her annecdotes of the fun, heartache and hardships that happen during the mythical Pendragon Renaissance Faire bring to life the ambiance of faire and put the reader into the middle of the action, pranks and out-and-out fun. But over and above that, she weaves a complex tale of karma that spans centuries and blends true magick, mystery, passion and loyalty that keep the reader wanting more.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexual women    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Fantasy    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy - Contemporary    6. Renaissance    7. Fairs    8. New Age    9. Reincarnation    10. Neopaganism    11. Lesbian   

Editorial Review

One of the guilty pleasures of the reading world, E. Lynn Harris's novels are filled with gorgeous, glamorous, A-list African-Americans who will do whatever it takes to get their way. You don't want to know anyone in a Harris novel. The talented Yancey Braxton, who was left at the altar in the previous book in this series (Read more

Reviews (163)

Any way the author blows...
My issue with the book was that everything just "seemed" to happen....without giving the characters realistic motives. You know the soap opera forumla: create plot, everything is fine and dandy then out of no where throw in some twist--some drama, then somebody comes in and saves the day...blah...blah...
Who says sequels suck?
E. Lynn Harris does it again, but then again, doesn't he always?Yeah, well this book was my second by him.Although it wasn't as good as Not A Day Goes By, it was a very entertaining story full of drama, lies, deceit, and mystery, and a good follow up to Not A Day Goes By.I do feel that one aspect of the story that was incomplete, a conflict that hadn't been resolved; otherwise this book is a very good read.Did I mention that it's full of scandal?I would recommend this book to everyone reading this review!

REAL LIFE DRAMA
SECRETS - THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT HIDING SECRETS AND NOT BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF - THIS BOOK IS THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS WAS A MAGNIFICENT STORY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE READ HIS BOOKS ALREADY.E.LYNN HARRIS IS A GREAT AUTHOR I REALLY FELT LIKE I WAS WATCHING A MOVIE, NOT READING A BOOK - THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR SITUATIONS ARE GREAT!PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American Novel And Short Story    2. African American men    3. African American women singers    4. Bisexuals    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - General    7. General    8. Popular American Fiction    9. Revenge    10. Fiction / General    11. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (7)

Incredible Factual Fictional Account Of Events Behind D-Day!
This extraordinary historical WWII thriller is the fictional account of a true story. "Plan Fortitude" actually existed. It's goal was to influence the decision making of the German High Command by supplying their agents and other Nazi information sources with disinformation. The men who conceived and executed the plan reported directly to Winston Churchill and few were privy to it, including the British and American Secret Services. The intelligence involved was and still remains one of the war's best kept secrets and without its successful implementation the Normandy invasion would have failed. Most of the men and women who gave their lives so that the plan, and thus the invasion, would succeed will never be recognized for their valor and patriotism. Without their sacrifices the world would be a very different place today. Fall From Grace by Larry Collins
Larry Collins wrote "Is Paris Burning".At a dinner party a retired General told him he should research Operation Fortitude.From that research came his book "Fall from Grace."It is based upon the disinformation that was generated during Operation Overloard to make the Germans think that the Normandy Invasion would actually be 200 miles north at the Port of Calis. Un relato emocionante
FALL FROM GRACE esde esas novelas que te dejan el cuerpo hecho polvo... porque no puedes soltarlas hasta que acabes su lectura. Cuenta una historia dentro de otra. La que interesa es la primera,la de una mujer decidida, aventurera y con gran sentimiento patri?tico a quien el destino fatal empuja a la ca?da en desgracia del t?tulo. En Espa?a fue traducido como Juego Mortal, t?tulo convencional aunque no deja de ser adecuado. La otra mujer con m?s peso en la novela act?a m?s de contrapunto. Otras relaciones interesantes son las que se establecen entre Paul y Stromelburg, el americano y Ridley y, naturalmente, Catherine y Paul. Muy recomendada. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexuality in marriage    2. Catholics    3. Chicago (Ill.)    4. Clergy    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - General    7. General    8. Greeley, Andrew M. - Prose & Criticism   

Reviews (9)

The Emergence of an Entire Genre and of a Remarkable Author
Alice Street Editions has released a new edition of this 1986 novel by author Katherine V. Forrest, originally published by Naiad Press.If you read this novel long ago, it is worth the purchase price just to read the foreword from the author and the afterword written by Victoria A. Brownworth.But the book is worth rereading for its own merits.
Wow!What a dramatic story - more a coming to awareness than a romance

Not my kind of thing really
I was quite disappointed in this book - it was the first fiction of its kind I have ever read and sadly it lived up to all the negative stereotypes. The husband character in the book is such a cardboard-cut out villian the lesbian lover is a virtual saint. However the author has a real talent for making sex scenes erotic. Definitely a book for flicking through ... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient, Classical & Medieval    2. Bisexual women    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. General    6. Lesbian    7. Lesbians    8. Married women    9. Poetry    10. Women artists    11. General & Literary Fiction    12. Literature of special Lesbian interest    13. Poetry texts & anthologies   

Reviews (3)

Honest authors
Covering everything from first relationships, to tension between gay and straight friends, to conceptual lesbianism, to the lesbian phenomenon of being attracted only to straight women, this collection of essays by both famous and not-so-famous authors is a great read.The book does have a few duds, but the excellent writing of Grace Paley, Martha Southgate, and Elizabeth Wurtzel, to name only a few, definitely makes up for it.All the authors write honestly and openly about women, friendship, relationships, and lesbianism.It is refreshing to see a book that pulls its authors from such varied backgrounds (including different sexual orientations).Some essays make you nod your head in agreement, thinking, "I know exactly what she means, I've always felt that way," and others make you think about things from a new angle: "I'd never even thought of that before"--which is something that ultimately promotes understanding.I'd recommend this book to ANY woman.

You understand, don't you?
This book was incredible.I would recommend it to any women, straight, gay or bi.It puts things into perspective, that you didn't even know were out of perspective. I love this book!!!

This is an amazing book!
I would buy any book that has an essay by sarah schulman in it! However,this book is worth it for many other reasons. Beautifuly written essays,stories, and excerpts from books make Surface Tension a good book to read.I found it moving, thought provoking, and fullfilling. I was notdisappointed. All the authors had very different ways at looking at thesame thing. One essay (The FeMale Gaze) mentions the popular folkrock band,the Indigo Girls.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Bisexual women    5. Female friendship    6. Gay Studies    7. Heterosexual women    8. Lesbian Studies    9. Lesbians    10. Political    11. Sociology    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Interpersonal relations    14. Modern fiction    15. Social Science / Gay Studies    16. Social Science / Lesbian Studies    17. Social Science-Gay Studies    18. Social Science-Women's Studies - General   

Reviews (26)

hilarious
i laughed from the first page to the last. a total cheer-you-up book. funny and fun, silly not frilly. good times all around.

Frantic, Bizarre, Insightful and Muddled -- I Recommend It
Writing as her alter ego, Jolene "Tomato" Rodriguez, the always-entertaining Erika Lopez spins a tale that you will either adore or despise.It is difficult to feel ambivalent or indifferent towards her quirky story and over-the-top first-person narrator's scrambled but passionate outlook.Adjectives such as "spunky" spring inevitably to mind.
Just too wierd for me
I bought this book based on the 11 pages available online from Amazon. Its interesting, funny in a wierd sort of way and sounded intriguing. I was looking for a kind of journey description with the funny wierd things that happen along the way. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexual women    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. General    5. Motorcycling    6. Popular American Fiction    7. Women motorcyclists    8. Fiction / General   

Reviews (10)

Lousy, maddening, and pointless.
'Fag Hag' is the story of a woman who is in love with her gay best friend, though he doesn't seem likely to change his sexual preferences any time soon.She makes a career out of ruining any relationships he begins, so that she can save him for herself, but when his latest boyfriend seems as though he's going to be in it for the long haul, she goes off the deep end.That is to say, she *would* be going off the deep end, except we've read everything leading up to it and knew after the first page that she was beyond all help.

Subjects:  1. Bisexuality in marriage    2. Chicago (Ill.)    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. Gay    6. Gay men    7. Love stories    8. Fiction / Literary    9. Literature of special Gay interest    10. Modern fiction   

Reviews (1)

Great Book on Bisexuality in Canadian Context
This book contains seventeen poems and nineteen articles.The articles are feminist, anti-racist, and exhibit a level of reflection uncommon for an anthology.There is very little "weak" material.The very best pieces are those which relate discussions between the authors, such as ""Purifying" the (Identi)Ghee: South Asian Feminist Gup-shup,""Towards a Feminist Bisexual Politic: A Discussion," and "A Conversation About The Arab Lesbian and Bisexual Network."Much of the focus within the articles is on the relations between bisexual women and the lesbian community.It is informative to see the way the authors connect their experience of being marginalized for their sexuality with similar experiences around gender, race, and class. Since this is published by Sister Vision Press most of the contributors are women of colour.This presents a wide range of bisexual women's experience, not only that of white academics.As an indication of the issues which are particularly important to bisexual identity within Canada this book is indispensible. On the negative side, the resources listed in the back are out of date, partly because the bisexual community in Canada is developing and changing rapidly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexual women    2. Bisexuals' writings, Canadian    3. Canadian literature    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. Lesbian    7. Lesbians    8. Literary collections    9. Women authors   

Reviews (23)

Loved, loved, LOVED this book!
My only question is, why on earth is it out of print??I am an avid reader and try to read most African American lesbian-oriented fiction that I can get my hands on.The sad thing is, there isn't much out there, and of that that is, there isn't alot that's good...or true.What's wonderful about this book is that it's both.It's great writing---strong plot, great character development and tight storyline.But more importantly, its TRUE.I could relate to every part of this story---both those that I've lived and those I've only heard about.And my partner and every friend I've told to read this book have all said the same.Please get this book back into print and then, Ms. Rose, please pick up your pen and let us know what happenend next!We're waiting with baited breath!!!

It left me wanting more.
I have read this novel 3 times. The language is lyrical. The characters, people we meet everyday. The story nearly brought tears to my eyes, actually I did cry. This is a must read for lesbians, especially African American lesbians.

Great Read
I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more of Odessa Rose's books in the future. I am not a lesbian but can understand the confusion that Tanya was going through. I felt the sadness of both of her lovers and at times felt that Tanya was really selfish. I would recommend this book to all of my friends gay or straight. Good job Mrs.Rose! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Fiction / Gay    4. Identity (Psychology)    5. Lesbian    6. Psychological fiction    7. Women sculptors    8. Afro-Americans    9. Bisexuality    10. Fiction / Lesbian   

Reviews (1)

Moira should sue
Wayne Koestenbaum's book MOIRA ORFEI IN AIGUES-MORTES is arse. It's the diary of a polysexual pianist, so it's mostly about arse, although it's more penis than pianist. I thought there were only two sexes, so the most you could get was bisexual, but page after page shows how wrong I was. His diarist loves lists. He mainly loves arse, but he also loves lists. He lists the places he's been, the piano works he's played, the people he knows, what he ate, what he drank, and principally what sexual perversion he indulged, or thought about indulging, wherever he was any place in the World, and believe me that invariably involved arse. It's a sort of perverted and pretentious version of the Diaries of Adrian Mole, but without the laughs.
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Subjects:  1. Bisexual men    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Gay    5. General    6. New York (State)    7. Pianists    8. Popular American Fiction    9. Sex addicts    10. Fiction / Gay    11. General & Literary Fiction    12. Literature of special Gay interest   

Subjects:  1. Bisexual women    2. Fiction    3. Love stories   

Subjects:  1. Bisexual men    2. Fiction    3. Men    4. Sexual behavior   

Reviews (7)

Funny as heck
With a slow beginning this book kicked it up big time, about 30 pages into it.I laughed so hard I hurt myself a few times. Would love to read about there life in England, but thats a different story......
A good first novel............
This is a must read book.You'll find yourself laughing out loud, as well as perhaps finding yourself in Max's shoes. Max does a fine job of being able to handle two women who have feelings for one another.Does Max make this a sexual type of situation?No!That's what I love about this book.He explores another side, which in today's society isn't viewed often.
A welcome change
Yes!A bisexual-themed novel that isn't dry or academic!When I heard about this book on the radio I was so anxious to get it because it sounded like it would offer a story that wasn't just "boy meets girl and they live happily ever after" while at the same time being funny.And it didn't disappoint.The novel was an insightful look into how people of differing sexual orientations can get together and somehow succeed in fulfilling everyone's needs.But buy this book for the humor and the laughs.It may not stand up to any in depth clinical analysis of bisexualism or lesbianism but trust me, that's not the point of the book so don't buy it if that's what you're looking for.However, that being said there are alot of really good points made about society and human nature.In fact, you'll probably be quoting things Max says.His wit and attitude make the story.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Romance    3. Humorous    4. Romance - Contemporary    5. Romance: Modern    6. Fiction / Romance / Contemporary    7. General & Literary Fiction    8. Romance    9. Bisexuality    10. Bisexual women    11. Romance - Adult   

Reviews (74)

Although strange and foriegn, its idea is still compelling
This book was written a long time ago for a completely different audience. That being said, this is still a good book that gives insight on to the lives of people in France in the early 20th century as well as possibly opening people's eyes to the idea of homosexuality in a whole new light. Baldwin creates real people, that could be me or you, and puts them in a situation that isnt too far fetched to consider, and does a good job of showing how people act.
"Can we not have a life together?"
"Love him and let him love you."
Finely crafted melancholy
One thing I'll say right off: This is a book that can require several breaks from the reader, simply because its well-written despair worms its way into your mind and stays there. It's not the book you should read on a relaxing vacation, on your birthday, the day before your wedding, when you've already had an awful day. Still, it is a book you should read, because of Baldwin's insights into his characters and their situations.
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Subjects:  1. Americans    2. Bisexuals    3. Fiction    4. France    5. Paris (France)    6. Sexual orientation   

Subjects:  1. Bisexual women    2. Boston    3. Computer hackers    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    6. Massachusetts    7. Mystery & Detective - General    8. Mystery/Suspense    9. Women detectives   

Reviews (1)

so engrossing....
Written by French director and rockstar Cyril Collard, this book is an engrossing confession where it is impossible to keep hope and despair apart. This largely autobiographical novel is the story of a young, gay,promiscuos man, Jean, who, after being told he's got AIDS, startsunderstanding the meaning of love thanks to a nervous, morbid at sometimes, relationship with a very young girl called Laura: whem the end comes(there is an end, actually) Jean states he's understood what love means andhis farewell sounds like the triumph of life rather than of death. Collardloved life; and life, which was not unsensitive towards him, gave him thepossibility to write this remarkable story, with an outstanding style thatreminds of both rap music and French symbolism. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. Bisexual men    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. General    6. Motion picture producers and d    7. Motion picture producers and directors    8. Patients    9. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (2)

Victor Erofeev is the best.
I concur withthepoint about Victor Erofeev being "the best of the Russian writers working now".

Subjects:  1. Bisexuals    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. General    5. Moscow (Russia)    6. Slavic (Language) Contemporary Fiction    7. Fiction / General