Discharge

Rating:
Summary: David Sedaris meets Jack Kerouac
Review: First off, this is a funny, laugh-out-loud book (Sedaris), but it also has a stream of conscious depth to it (Kerouac) that most gay novels ingore. Both confessional and compelling, I couldn't stop reading it - but then I've always had a weakness for books with lots of short to-the-point chapters moving the plot along like a television show. It's a simple tale, told honestly with humor, an entertaining outlook, and a hint of voyeurism. Hysterical and insightful at the same time, it should be required reading for all lawmakers opposing gays in the military because it proves that normal campy gay people do exist in the navy. I'm sure anyone with compassion and a sense of humor will like this book as much as I did.

Rating:
Summary: David Sedaris meets Jack Kerouac
Review: First off, this is a funny, laugh-out-loud book (Sedaris), but it also has a stream of conscious depth to it (Kerouac) that most gay novels ingore. Both confessional and compelling, I couldn't stop reading it - but then I've always had a weakness for books with lots of short to-the-point chapters moving the plot along like a television show. It's a simple tale, told honestly with humor, an entertaining outlook, and a hint of voyeurism. Hysterical and insightful at the same time, it should be required reading for all lawmakers opposing gays in the military because it proves that normal campy gay people do exist in the navy. I'm sure anyone with compassion and a sense of humor will like this book as much as I did.

Rating:
Summary: This is Like Nothing You Have Ever Read!
Review: For those of you who search (sometimes vainly) for Good Gay Fiction, this is an absolute rare find. You have already read the basic blurb of the story-line by now, but this is an amazing intertwining of events that few of us have ever read with such wildly evolving personal experiences of a truly frightening event in The Gay Man's Life under the control of an American institution that cares not a whit for his struggles... or his feelings. These four men, as different as they can be, come together under the worst of situations and form an unusual bond that is, at times, almost heart-breaking... except for the outrageous events that carry them through this insane adventure.

Trust me on this: I have been there! This is as real as fiction gets in telling the story of a group of men whose lives are thrown into the Lion's Den of the Defense Dept.

You will laugh a lot... and cry a little. But you will be come away with an experience unlike most that a novel can offer.

PS: I don't know anything about you, Ron Belpedio, but I would definitely love to shake your hand - and give you one big hug - for sharing your creative genius with those who are interested in your story... and those of us who still care~

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Great Book!
Review: I throughly enjoyed this book! Albeit a bit pricy, but very well written, and thus worth the money. With me being former Military, and Gay, I was very interested in this story of being Discharged from the military for that reason, and how they would handle it. The author put it on the table perfectly!

This is the story of 4 Naval soldiers that are stationed in Australia, and for various reasons, all must be shipped back to Treasure Island, CA (between San Francisco and Oakland) to be discharged. All 4 of these soldiers happen to be Gay, albeit not the reason they are all being discharged.

The story follows the guys through the month or so long journey from 'discovery' to discharge. We get to know each of the individual's stories in great detail. We get to see several sides to each of the main 4 characters, what makes them tick, what ticks them off, and their true feelings in regard to being Gay, being in the military, being found out, telling family the truth, and how they react to being 'stored' at Treasure Island awaiting discharge.

I was humored that the author pointed out the irony of the military, in their 'wisdom' (cough, cough) would send their gay servicemen to Treasure Island (San Francisco) to be kicked out. Talk about putting a kid in the candy store alone....

You will throughly enjoy this book. It made me laugh, it un-nerved me at points, and really allowed me an insight into lives of servicemen caught under the 'Dont ask, Dont Tell' rules. My hats off to Ron Belpedio, the Author, for his fine work!!

Mike Heine ('winterstone')

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Great Book!
Review: I throughly enjoyed this book! Albeit a bit pricy, but very well written, and thus worth the money. With me being former Military, and Gay, I was very interested in this story of being Discharged from the military for that reason, and how they would handle it. The author put it on the table perfectly!

This is the story of 4 Naval soldiers that are stationed in Australia, and for various reasons, all must be shipped back to Treasure Island, CA (between San Francisco and Oakland) to be discharged. All 4 of these soldiers happen to be Gay, albeit not the reason they are all being discharged.

The story follows the guys through the month or so long journey from 'discovery' to discharge. We get to know each of the individual's stories in great detail. We get to see several sides to each of the main 4 characters, what makes them tick, what ticks them off, and their true feelings in regard to being Gay, being in the military, being found out, telling family the truth, and how they react to being 'stored' at Treasure Island awaiting discharge.

I was humored that the author pointed out the irony of the military, in their 'wisdom' (cough, cough) would send their gay servicemen to Treasure Island (San Francisco) to be kicked out. Talk about putting a kid in the candy store alone....

You will throughly enjoy this book. It made me laugh, it un-nerved me at points, and really allowed me an insight into lives of servicemen caught under the 'Dont ask, Dont Tell' rules. My hats off to Ron Belpedio, the Author, for his fine work!!

Mike Heine ('winterstone')

Rating:
Summary: Congratulations!
Review: This author has always had a knack for seeing the interaction of humor and pathos in life. All of that is reflected in this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Congratulations!
Review: This author has always had a knack for seeing the interaction of humor and pathos in life. All of that is reflected in this novel.