Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Brian Malloy is a talented writer who has supplied gay readers with what many of us complain about not having enough of: a gay character who's life does not revolve around sex, partying, drugs, or clubing. Yes, Kevin (the main character) thinks about these things and they are a part of his life, but they do not consume his every thought and action. It is a real treat to read a book without a self-loathing, closeted gay character. Despite this book being based in the late '70s, Kevin Doyle is a character who speaks to the future.I can't wait to see what is next from this talented stroyteller! This book wins a second place prize among my personal all-time favorite novels, eclipsed only by "Breakfast with Scot"
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Summary: Attn: Book Discussion Groups
Review: Brian Malloy's sensitive debut novel provides enough jumping-off topics to keep any book club talking well into the night...a high school senior named Kevin out in Minnesota, it provides generous food for thought on all of the following: dealing with the death of a loved one amid comflicted feelings about the person; the difficulty of parents and children to ever really see one another for who they are; the loneliness experienced by the most individual of individuals trying to fit into the society at large. Not just a serious novel, however, there's more at work here: like wry humor, a strong protagonist whose survival-against-the-odds beyond the end of the novel is a comfort to imagine; and the fact that that protagonist is allowed to be achingly human to the point where he's borderline annoying, not in a truly annoying-annoying way, but in a nostalgic-annoying way that will make older readers fondly remember, "God, I remember when I was young and the whole world moved all around me."...
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Summary: Unbelievable!! One of the funniest books I've read in years
Review: This book is perfect, literally perfect. It's funny, it's smart, it's touching, it's sad, it's heartwrenching, and beautiful. And it has some of the best one liners of anything I've ever read. Kevin, the protagonist, is a 17 year old boy/man who just happens to be gay. And that's one of the things I love about how Malloy tells Kevin's story. I've read enough so-called 'gay fiction' where the fact that the character is gay overshadows the book and the story itself becomes incidental to the characters gayness. Malloy's book is about family and life and growing up, with the fact that Kevin is gay as simply a fact of life. Malloy has also written one of the funniest scenes in a book I have ever read. Kevin is picked up at his crazy aunt's house by his father's mistress and the mistress' niece. What follows had me laughing so hard I was gasping for breath. Please, please, please buy this book. I promise you will not regret it. Malloy reminds me of Richard Russo with an even sharper sense of humour. And Brian, please tell me there will be a sequel to this book. You can count on me lining up for the hardback!!
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Summary: True North
Review: I read this novel in one sitting. In this small, working class, and all-male family, the fiercest loyalties are to not to each other, but to one's own secrets. The consequences of this perverse hierarchy are both funny and heartbreaking. Malloy creates a rich interior life for his narrator Kevin, a man/boy of few words who can only divulge his inner-most thoughts to a pile of pillows that serve as his imaginary boyfriend. This, and Kevin's often insightful and always hilarious commentary, makes for an original and engaging narrative. The era of The Year of Ice certainly rings true, with small details, such as who guest-starred on the 1978 Johnny Cash Christmas Special, thrown in for good measure (it was Steve Martin). In a welcome departure from the typical coming-to-terms-with-a [non traditional]-son theme, it is the [non traditional]- son - who never once describes himself as such - who must come to terms with a philandering father and a mother who may or may not have taken her own life. While it may be tempting to short-hand Malloy's novel as a tale of coming out or coming of age, it would be an injustice as well as inaccurate. Kevin neither comes out nor does he come of age. He's already a cynic from page one. The Year of Ice is not about coming at all, it's about the fundamental choice we all must make between going forward or going nowhere. That father and son make radically different choices only strengthens a strong and unpretentious book that is surprisingly free from the sort of schmaltzy sentimentality and simplicities that I've come to expect from family-focused novels (with the notable exception, of course, of Jonathon Franzen's National Book Award winner, The Corrections). Perhaps the only flaw in this subtle and superbly plotted book is the author's obligatory nod to the quirky reputation of his far-north setting, a Fargo-esque subplot involving an eccentric Swedish neighbor and his absent wife. While an amusing aside, it does little to move the story forward. In spite of this small shortcoming, Malloy's considerable storytelling ability - combined with a flawless voice for his teenage narrator - make The Year of Ice an inspired and memorable debut from a talented and somewhat off-beat writer that we can only hope to hear more from in the future.
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Summary: Not your average coming of age story
Review: The year is 1978, and Kevin Doyle is in most ways like every other teenage boy on the verge of adulthood. He's handsome and popular, but also angst ridden, bored, and sexually frustrated. But Kevin's life is different from that of his friends; not only is he struggling with the realization that his mother's death may have been self-inflicted (due to her knowledge of his father's affair),but Kevin is gay and that is complicating matters even more. He lusts after a class-mate only to discover that the feeling is not mutual. To compensate for his growing sense of paranoia of being discovered, Kevin falls into a relationship with a girl, with less than stellar results. Kevin's growing frustration with how to express his sexuality makes for some angry outbursts and hilarious dialogue. This well written novel is poignant, funny and filled with memorable characters. The author has the feel of the era just right; my own high school years came easily back to memory. This novel confirms that gay or straight, popular or not, the adolescence experience is in so many ways universal for all. Highly recommended.
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Summary: surprising, witty, and wise
Review: I hope that Brian Malloy's wonderful book will not be pigeon-holed as simply a 'gay' novel. It is so much more than that. This loving little gem joins the select few in this genre that I will read and re-read. I read it twice, bought a second copy because (having lent my first to a friend) and read it again! What distinguishes Mr Malloy's writing is the definition of his characters and the humor with which he portrays them, along with the gritty and real situations. The writing is elevated further by the counterpoint of a simultaneous inner dialogue which accompanies the outer. It is so well done that, even after multiple readings, the humor still comes as a surprise. Sometimes the words of young men can sound stilted in novels written by adults, but Mr Malloy speaks with a voice that is both genuine and rings true for an intelligent 18 year old. In fact, all his characters are multi-faceted and real.(...). Thank you, Mr Malloy, for your heart-wrenching portrait of a wonderful, troubled, and angry young man at a cross-road in his life. Your very human and thoughtful novel raises the 'coming out' or 'coming of age' novel from good story to literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh man...was so close to giving it *****
Review: I can't add much to the excellent previous review by Robert W Holzel. I agree with every point he made. But for what my two cents are worth... The author's whimsical and clever writing style had me laughing out loud throughout this book. The principle character, Kevin, was beautifully fleshed out with one of the most creative, believable, and endearing narrative voices I've ever read. It was, indeed, a pleasure to read about a gay character who was complexly and completely portrayed by more than a series titillating episodes of sexual experimentation. I became very fond of Kevin and so much wanted the author to permit him a single moment of joy in his life. Unfortunately, until the very end, he was filled with angst, cemented by repeated rejection. I wanted this character to evolve out of his isolation and be rewarded with a moment - even if brief - of the love that he so richly deserved. And yet, the author continued to keep every hope of romance and affection at a painful arm's reach. Despite such promise, Kevin was never permitted the dignity of developing a sense of self-worth; he never could cast aside his internalized homophobia, continuing to refer to gays as "fags" until the very end. There are so many gay coming-of-age novels out there that end in tragedy, despair, and loneliness. Must all of these very talented authors craft stories that insist on denying their characters joy? There is no shame in writing a happy ending! ... Despite my disappointment, I'd read another of Mr. Malloy's books in a heartbeat. Please, Mr. Malloy, do us the honor of writing a sequel to "Year of Ice"... but name this one "Year of Warmth" and reward your richly-developed character of Kevin with someone to love him.
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Summary: Captivating, Elegant, Mesmerizing and Funny
Review: How much more than THAT can you ask for in a book? I read quite a bit of gay literature. And I am critical about my selections, and generally avoid "trash".(Not always possible, though. No matter now greatly a book is reviewed, I've still had my share of stinkers once I actually get around to reading the book myself). Happily, THE YEAR OF ICE is anything but a stinker. This book soars to levels I haven't been privy to for quite some time. How marvelous to read something written by a highly talented writer. It's been a while. From the opening chapter, one gets swept up into the urgency of Kevin's plight. Malloy captures the quiet desperation of the closeted gay high school experience spectacularly. He also avoids cliche, by making Kevin a popular kid, an "alpha male", as he puts it. The tangled web of family secrets and coming-of-age drama to follow is at times heartwrenching and at times purely, laugh out loud hysterical. Bravo to Mr. Malloy! I can't wait for his next book.
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Summary: AWESOME!!! PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY
Review: MR. MALLOY HAS BEEN ADDED TO MY TOP 5 LIST...HIS BOOK, THE YEAR OF ICE, IS WELL WRITTEN, HEARTFELT, WITTY, FUNNY AND JUST ADDICTIVE...I MUST GIVE KUDOS TO THIS MAN, FOR HIS FIRST DEBUT NOVEL, I JUST READ IT FOR THE SECOND TIME ...AWESOME!!! I REALLY DO HOPE THAT THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK COMING FROM MR. MALLOY, OR AT LEAST A SEQUEL TO THIS ONE, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF KEVIN FINDS WHAT HE HAS BEEN SEEKING FOR MOST OF, WHAT IT SEEMS TO ME, HIS LIFE...LOVE!!!!! PLEASE IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING THIS BOOK, THEN TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, IT IS WELL WORTH IT!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A fearless book filled with fear
Review: The characters in this book were so real I felt I knew them more intimately than they knew themselves. I can't wait to see more by this author. He took a powerful hold of my imagination, and days after finishing the book, he still has it. I would recommend it to anyone, gay, straight, or any combination thereof.
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