Just a short one from me today, as time has got away from me, and I’m within a gnat’s crochet of finishing my WIP and my BRAIN is being eaten.
Today I’m talking about The Back Passage by James Lear. It might read a bit reviewish, but I don’t mean it to be, rather an exploration as to how it manages to span so many genres while fitting in them all.
There is no way that The Back Passage can be termed as a romance.
Why?
It’s graphically sexual, there’s no romance as we know it. Despite Mitch feeling strongly for Boy, he’s not really in love with him.
The protagonist is “unfaithful” to the object of his affections (AND HOW!!!)
The ending does not conform to the definition of romance as we are forced to accept it.
So why, then, has this book done so well with readers of gay romance?
Well (and once more, these are my opinions, YMMV) first of all, the cover is lovely. It might be a little too racy to take on the tube or bus for some (wouldn’t bother me) but both this, and the sequel (The Secret Tunnel) are sexy without being crude, and of course, a little tongue in cheek–ditto the titles.
TPB, whilst not exactly being a comedy, doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s filled with humour and the protagonist, the very horny Mitch who finds gay men wheresoever he doth go, is a testosterone fuelled delight. It’s this light-hearted feel that carries the book along, like the fizz of the champagne at the country house he’s staying at.
It has a very viable mystery within it. And this, I think, is at the very core of its success. There are many books which are stuffed full of sex which have done little more than bore me rigid because when it came down to it, there was no real plot tying them together. They are no more than “boy meets boy, sex sex sex a bit of plot sex sex sex plot sex sex sex.) While TPB is indeed stuffed with sex of all sorts–Mitch has found that sex is a great way to get information from other people and he’s sticking to his method, (I have to say that I’m hugely grateful Poirot or Marple didn’t employ this tactic)
but each scene is different, each person he jumps on has a different agenda, a different motivation – and it’s this, together with the coherent plot that drives it along.
Yes, it’s hugely far fetched, but it’s FUN!
Where it also shines (from my persepctive) is that, despite being a mystery story/sex romp – it’s impeccably researched, and very well written. I’m hugely jealous, can you tell?
If you are someone who can’t stand bed hopping (although there’s little bed-sex in this, much cupboard, pond, car sex) then you might shy away from this book, but believe me, you’ll be missing a treat, because if there’s any book that truly transcends genres, and simply defies definition, then it’s the Back Passage.
How very pleasant to know Mr Lear!
As an aside – if you liked this, you might also like “The Vampire Fred:Wicked Game” by Vaughn R Demont, which has a great vein of self-deprecating humour and a fresh look, and a sly dig, at the vampire genre.
What are your recommendations of books that don’t fit the genre but do stonkingly well, nevertheless? And why do you think they have done so?
I really enjoyed this book and bought it on your and Wave’s recommendations. (So I would have blamed you should I have hated it. 🙂 ) But its not a romance, its Agatha Christie-esque with sex and doesn’t take itself seriously. What are the odds of that many men in a small town jumping to have gay sex in the open at that point in time? Umm, slim to none, but it works. (Oh and now I’m thinking Poirot and Hastings – I don’t think that’s a good thing, I need some Unicorn Chaser http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/unicorn-chaser.html ) I read it in public, but then I’m getting old and don’t care what people think anymore. 😛
I am fairly new to the genre (coming up on my one year anniversary *sniff* *sniff* it’s so romantic) so I don’t know that I’ve read too many that don’t fit the m/m romance mold (save for straight up erotica/porn which is what it is). I have the Secret Tunnel waiting for me to read. Must get on that.
I enjoyed it, reviewed it on my LJ in fact. Some of the sex I find a bit TOO much and it struck me as in general terms more male fantasy than female fantasy.
But the writing is so good, the first person narration so lively, that it’s hard not to enjoy. I was a tad disappointed in the ending, but only the denoument scene, where someone other than the protag did too much of the explaining. But otherwise it’s a lot of fun, if shallow.
I do actually prefer his The Palace of Varieties, since it’s just meatier to get one’s teeth into, and though again a lively, witty style, it’s a bit more of a substantial and less far-fetched story. And that’s got more romance elements to it, (though not an HEA and I want a sequel!) though plenty of shagging with lots of men on the way!
Your reference to the other Mr Lear prompts me to investigate this one. *g*
Thank you 🙂
Erastes
The Back Passage remains one of my favourite books and I re-read it whenever I want a sexy read with a lot of humour. I think this author is a terrific writer and he manages to have his hero find his way through all of that sex to uncover a real mystery, and solve it. What more can a mystery buff like me want?*giggle* Agatha Christie he’s not!!! Romance readers may not find this book to their taste because there’s sex almost on every page but James lear makes sex fun.
Another title that comes to mind, although probably not as funny as this one is Sex, Lies and Celluloid by Chris Owen and Jodi Payne but it’s been so long since I read it that it might not be as funny as I remember, but there’s hot and heavy action between the sheets.:)
And thus does Erastes extend my list by one more book. Damnation.
I can’t remember if I once recommended this one here or elsewhere, or seconded someone else’s rec, but a superb, nontraditional m/m tale is Cry to Heaven by — prepare yourselves — Anne Rice.
For all her other faults, Rice does excel not only at meticulous historical research, but at lyrically rendering the results in prose.
The book is a heart- and gut-wrenching study of 18th-century Italian castrati — you know, the boys who were castrated to preserve the angelic purity of their singing voices — and, in addition to its vivid detail, has a lot more to offer.
Violence! Intrigue! Incest! Twink sex! Opera! Icky descriptions of denutting!
Don’t know about you, but I couldn’t ask for more. 😉
KZ
I read Cry to Heaven a long time ago about the same time that I read Anne Rice’s “Beauty” books!!
And what did you think of it, Wave?
I loved “Beauty” more than Cry to Heaven – the denutting was a bit hard to take.:( Of course I read these books at least 10 – 15 years ago) Obviously my tastes have changed and probably if I read Cry to Heaven now I will love it more than I did at the time, but I’m not sure about the incest. I’ll see if I still have it and give it another read.
I was looking forward to reading your post, Erastes, because I’ve read The Back Passage, and was a little “meh” about it.
That’s probably because I’m one of those people who’s not fond of bed hopping, and there IS a lot of that in this book, isn’t there!
I agree with Junkfoodmonkey in that respect – “some of the sex I find a bit TOO much”.
TBP’s definitely not a romance as such, but if I remember rightly, the mystery side of it didn’t do much for me either.
This is just another reminder that we all have different tastes when it comes to reading, and that variety is the spice of life. 🙂
Oh and that cover, yes, I recall holding it at funny angles on the train to keep from flashing naked dude to the whole carriage. Heh and at the time I’d also just read JL Langley’s My Fair Captain with its Giant Hairy Torso of Doom and I don’t know which of them was more embarassing!
I have to admit the GHToD doesn’t do anything for me, either, but then I don’t like hairy men in real life.
*snort* I thought y’all outta know that I almost shot tea out my nose. (Pointing finger at junkfoodmonkey- If I have to buy a new keyboard and monitor, I’ll be blaming you!)
Great post Erastes.
I also loved this book. Terrific writing, great characters and a mystery that was actually interesting and kept me guessing.
Junkfoodmonkey
You should do what people do on the tube in London, put brown paper covers on your books. They actually sell them in different sizes in bookstores (or used to) I understand.:DDD
Did you say Giant Hairy Torso of Doom? You’re so bad ! I really like that cover, especially the chest hair.
There’s lots of naked torsos on m/m book covers, but that one is just especially huge and hairier than most, so it deserves its own special name. 😀
Thanks for the review! I don’t have any titles that I can think of right now, though at 3 a.m. next week I’ll think of a bunch. I’d skipped this one but I’m rethinking that now. I love the hot and fluffy books; they’re like cotton candy for your brain.
I tried book covers but then I felt like an idiot reliving those painful junior high school years. (It could be an “I was an American dork” thing.) 🙂 I went eBook and now everybody wants to look at my toy! You just can’t escape the “Giant Hairy Torso of Doom” or *gasp* the Badly Done Odd Looking CG Artwork! O_O
Though at home I do love that cover, at work, not so much.
Happy anniversary Tam! *sniff, wiping tear* That really is lovely, you should celebrate with something special and indulgent. I’m not as brave as you are m’dear.
(IE ate my comment too)