Some Men Are Lookers : A Continuation of the "Buddies" Cycle

Rating:
Summary: some readers are family
Review: morddens first three books were terrific, deeply moving and honestly human companions through the darkest years of the aids crisis. the characters are so real that the reader becomes part of that unusual extended family of choice. the unique charm and wit of the author is undeniable on every page and between the lines. the fourth, long awaited volume fits completely in the readers expectations after the first three books. don't believe a word of the kirkus-jerk's review. this is family, for god's sake! and it enlightens the shadowed rainbow-colors of the gay community during the last years, without getting whiny or too depressed over all the grief. as an aids-widower i'm deeply grateful for these books and i'm glad mordden is still around to write many more. ethan, keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs Up!
Review: The best and worst aspects of this book are the dialog. Most is brilliant, some is hard to follow. The relationships are unusual, even by gay standards, but always interesting. The author knows what is "hot" and throws plenty into the story, even if most of his characters may pretend to be shocked. I want more.

Rating:
Summary: Oddball characters you will fall in love with.
Review: The best and worst aspects of this book are the dialog. Most is brilliant, some is hard to follow. The relationships are unusual, even by gay standards, but always interesting. The author knows what is "hot" and throws plenty into the story, even if most of his characters may pretend to be shocked. I want more.

Rating:
Summary: A gay male Gotterdammerung
Review: This book, the final of the four-volume Buddies series, is by far the best in that series. It is gripping; when I finished the book, I was emotionally drained and somewhat in shock -- the story ended and I was not exactly certain what had just happened to me, somewhat akin to viewing an accident or something else traumatic. Having read the other three volumes in short succession, I raced through the book, shocked at points, dismayed by some characters' actions, and developed a whole new appreciation and affection for Cosgrove (helped by the fact that he and I are about the same age). As I read the book, I hoped it would never end, as I wanted to continue to live the lives of these characters, but when I reached the unbelievably emotional and heavy end of the book, I realized one key element to all of Mordden's writing in this series: this series is a sort of gay male "Ring" cycle. This book, the final one, entails the destruction of the entire world that was so carefully constructed throughout the first three books: like Ragnarok, it brings about the end of the old and the creation of a new world from its ashes. I wished to see what came of these characters, to see if Little Kiwi/Virgil/J. would be redeemed, and how Cosgrove and Bud fared in this brave new world of the late 1980s: but then I realized, slowly, that it could not be seen as it was a whole different line of thought and not capable of being part of this series. Heartbroken by this, but exhilarated at the same time, I commend this series, the author who wrote it, and highly recommend the series as a "must read" for all who appreciate contemporary gay fiction. Absolutely astounding and by far the best of the series.

Rating:
Summary: A gay male Gotterdammerung
Review: This book, the final of the four-volume Buddies series, is by far the best in that series. It is gripping; when I finished the book, I was emotionally drained and somewhat in shock -- the story ended and I was not exactly certain what had just happened to me, somewhat akin to viewing an accident or something else traumatic. Having read the other three volumes in short succession, I raced through the book, shocked at points, dismayed by some characters' actions, and developed a whole new appreciation and affection for Cosgrove (helped by the fact that he and I are about the same age). As I read the book, I hoped it would never end, as I wanted to continue to live the lives of these characters, but when I reached the unbelievably emotional and heavy end of the book, I realized one key element to all of Mordden's writing in this series: this series is a sort of gay male "Ring" cycle. This book, the final one, entails the destruction of the entire world that was so carefully constructed throughout the first three books: like Ragnarok, it brings about the end of the old and the creation of a new world from its ashes. I wished to see what came of these characters, to see if Little Kiwi/Virgil/J. would be redeemed, and how Cosgrove and Bud fared in this brave new world of the late 1980s: but then I realized, slowly, that it could not be seen as it was a whole different line of thought and not capable of being part of this series. Heartbroken by this, but exhilarated at the same time, I commend this series, the author who wrote it, and highly recommend the series as a "must read" for all who appreciate contemporary gay fiction. Absolutely astounding and by far the best of the series.