Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't Rise Above Cliches
Review: After reading (mostly) glowing reviews, I decided to give this book a try, despite the tired subject matter cited in the cover blurb. The fluid writing kept me expecting more than the book actually delivered. Gay ghettos, open relationships, youth-obsessed culture... Anyone who's ever picked up a single issue of Genre or Out knows enough about these subjects to have written this novel. The language and the structure are stong, but not strong enough to carry the thin plot, wherein the protagonist mostly laments the fact that he can't have a deeply satisfying relationship with every beautiful man he meets. Supporting characters, most of whom spend time finding and discussing what "paths" they should follow, don't do any more growing than the main character. This lack of character growth was my main problem with the novel. The characters rehash every conversation that has been part of the urban gay forum for the last ten years, but only from the perspective of people who are in the urban gay life. That the (exclusively sex-driven) culture of the novel is the only possible culture is taken for granted by all characters, thereby removing any real tension between opposing viewpoints. When an open relationship between the protagonist and his primary partner begins to lack "passion" for the partner, the question of whether opening the relationship is part of its downfall is never seriously considered. Similary, the problem of youth-obsession is solved through anonymous sexual encounters at roadside rest stops, where the protagonist is still made to feel young. Less "sophisticated" - but equally valid - views such as monogamy never provide a contrast for the characters to make compelling arguments for their current, unfulfilling lifestyles. One minor character, introduced near the end as a sort of "voce ex machina," has had what he feels is a full life and beautiful relationship, but is introduced so artificially, and briefly, that it doesn't have much impact beyond distraction. And in the end, distraction - from one man to the next, from one self-imposed dramatic episode to the next, is all these characters seem to desire or achieve. They don't need to find all the answers, but the story itself should ask more questions. The writing is promising enough that I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by Mann, if the novel had more perspective than the characters.
Rating: 
Summary: BRAVE ENOUGH TO READ IT?
Review: As moving as it is disturbing, "The Men From the Boys" chronicles the complicated obstacles gay men have come to encounter-as a matter of routine form-in establishing the kinds of committed relationships that were previously and perversely reserved for straights only. In a culture that, more often than not, is obsessed with youth and beauty, is it possible for a 30-something guy to find a lover, a boyfriend, or even a buddy with whom to share a romance that lasts longer than a single summer in Provincetown? Mann's answers are not all that encouraging and at times a little scary-(Bill, did Eduardo have to cheat on Tommy? Just when we were beginning to respect him?)-but they'll sure as hell make you think about your own life. After all, how many of us have passed over the maybe-partner of a lifetime in favor of the cute hunk in the cutoffs and the tank top? And what happens when your boyfriend tells you that the passion's gone? "The Men From the Boys" is more than just an often funny, sometimes sad and always sexy read; it's perhaps a little more illuminating than you'd like it to be. Mann doesn't ask us for sympathy, he asks us to examine ourselves. And if we don't always like what he has to say, we might consider searching for some answers of our own-in the mirror.
Rating: 
Summary: Not My Favorite Gay Themed Novel, But.....
Review: At a time in my life when I was thirsty for gay culture, gay films, and especially gay novels, I encountered The Men From the Boys. While not my favorite gay-themed novel, it is one of the better ones that I have read.... . It is hard to find an average, every day gay novel to read at times, about an average, everyday gay man in average, everyday circumstances. But while yearning for just such a find, in reading this novel, I found so many extraordinary features to gay life that perhaps had never dawned upon me before. Jeff, the central character of the novel, is in his thirties, as I am now. And, true to the description the author applies to this time of life for gay men, he is 'gay middle-aged.' It struck me as horribly realistic that the author would describe the character as such, middle-aged, amidst a youth-obsessed culture. But, like it or not, it is the truth. And William Mann, the novelist, captures this in the pages of this book. The story centers on the past and present relationship of Jeff and Lloyd, his lover of several years, as well as Javitz, a former lover, stricken with AIDS. While at times I felt as though Javitz was thrown in as 'comic relief' to the severity of the novel in the disintegration of Jeff and Lloyd's relationship, feeling that there is no longer any passion left, Javitz is utterly recognizable in gay culture and society. Every city has a Javitz, the jaded, bitter, but unwaveringly, hysterically funny friend. Javitz's AIDS affliction is not a major plot point, but very poingantly portrayed in the novel. This book is about so many different things, it is hard to list them all. The obsession of gay men with youth and beauty, the horrors of AIDS, the fickle nature of gay relationships, and the lack of determination to work out problems when they arise, the bitter, vengeful nature of many gay men, and the occasional loneliness of gay life, just like any other lifestyle. Although not the best gay novel I have ever read, this is one of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Not My Favorite Gay Themed Novel, But.....
Review: At a time in my life when I was thirsty for gay culture, gay films, and especially gay novels, I encountered The Men From the Boys. While not my favorite gay-themed novel, it is one of the better ones that I have read.... . It is hard to find an average, every day gay novel to read at times, about an average, everyday gay man in average, everyday circumstances. But while yearning for just such a find, in reading this novel, I found so many extraordinary features to gay life that perhaps had never dawned upon me before. Jeff, the central character of the novel, is in his thirties, as I am now. And, true to the description the author applies to this time of life for gay men, he is 'gay middle-aged.' It struck me as horribly realistic that the author would describe the character as such, middle-aged, amidst a youth-obsessed culture. But, like it or not, it is the truth. And William Mann, the novelist, captures this in the pages of this book. The story centers on the past and present relationship of Jeff and Lloyd, his lover of several years, as well as Javitz, a former lover, stricken with AIDS. While at times I felt as though Javitz was thrown in as 'comic relief' to the severity of the novel in the disintegration of Jeff and Lloyd's relationship, feeling that there is no longer any passion left, Javitz is utterly recognizable in gay culture and society. Every city has a Javitz, the jaded, bitter, but unwaveringly, hysterically funny friend. Javitz's AIDS affliction is not a major plot point, but very poingantly portrayed in the novel. This book is about so many different things, it is hard to list them all. The obsession of gay men with youth and beauty, the horrors of AIDS, the fickle nature of gay relationships, and the lack of determination to work out problems when they arise, the bitter, vengeful nature of many gay men, and the occasional loneliness of gay life, just like any other lifestyle. Although not the best gay novel I have ever read, this is one of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent beach or cozy up at night read!
Review: At first, the flow of Men from the Boys is a bit difficult to follow. Chapters alternate between present day and a year earlier. Once you get used to this switching back and forth, the story becomes much easier to read. A what a great story it is. Jeff, Lloyd, Javits, Eduardo, Tommy etal, remind us all of someone we once knew as they struggle to make sense of gay love in the 90's. At once sad - poor Mr. Tompkins; poor Jeff and Javits; poor Jeff and Lloyd; poor Jeff and Eduardo; poor Jeff and Tommy, and profound - how DID Eduardo learn his life philosophy at such a tender young age?). In the end, a wholly satisfying novel without being falsely upbeat, sugar-coated, or sickeningly sweet. A beautiful read, a great story, and a lovable cast of characters. I only wish Jeff would have actually found the star in the sand! Highly recommended, but how long do I have to wait for the sequel?
Rating:
Summary: This is a "must" read
Review: Even though I had bought the book sometime ago and set it aside, I finally located it...To say I was blown away would be an understatement. There are very few books that I deliberately read slowly so that I won't finish it too quickly, but this is one. I thought the structure of the book worked very well for the author's purposes; it certainly didn't interrupt the flow for me. And the content: characters that I cared about and thoroughly understood. Possibly it spoke to me so completely because I had had a similar experience some (quite a few!) years ago. The devlopment of the hero from a boy to a man is a remarkabletale; in any event, I can't recommend this book too strongly!
Rating:
Summary: What a delightful surprise!
Review: Finally a book that speaks to me and my life... completely unpretensious and honest. If you're not part of the 30something urban gay subculture you might not "get" it - but if you are, it's soul-searing and funny, snd sexy and heartbreaking. Hey, our lives are as important as anyone else's, and we've deserved a book that looks at us. A book like this is overdue. Thanks!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Thoroughly Enjoyable and Enlightening Book
Review: Gay Men's Book Group - Ridgefield, CT In February, we separated "The Men From The Boys" by reading the book by William J. Mann. Many in the group enjoyed the book, feeling connected to the setting in Provincetown and to the events. While the group as a whole would probably only give it four stars, I have to give it five. Some were put off by the narrator's self obsessions. Underneath the story itself is an interesting commentary on the party life of gay men as seen in Provincetown in the summer party months. Thus Mann turns a story about relationships, affairs and families of all types into a commentary on maturing as individuals and as a generation by building strength and wisdom.
Rating:
Summary: stuck on a plane, couldn't stop reading
Review: grabbed this while in an airport (san francisco) and needed something to read. didn't expect to be so thought provoked. i read a great deal, so i'm not sure why this one hit me, but it did. william mann has managed to capture that painful time when a relationship is neither here nor there, neither broken nor working, neither fulfilling nor empty - and it needs to pick a direction. the two characters - neither of whom are particularly enjoyable - have enough aspects, that you will identify with at least one. the story is told from jeff's point of view and flashes back and forth in time. the juxtapositioning of past and present is an interesting effect and mann avoids having it become tedious. it's an interesting effect. teh relationship and it's problems brought many thoughts to mind and i found myself often travelling on introspective tangents. i also found myself speaking out loud to several of the characters. fairly embarassing on a crowded flight. worth the time and effort. an extremely commendable first effort.
Rating:
Summary: Delicately Woven, Deliciously Witty and Damned Sensuous Too!
Review: Having lived in Provincetown for two magical years and having started my life as a writer there, I was on familiar territory as I read this book. These are people I know, not literally, but figuratively. They ring true. Honest. I too wanted to slap the narrator for thinking his life as a sexy gay man was over at 33, but didn't we all think that then? And didn't we all realize that 43 and 53 and so on were sexier, happier and more fulfilling times?
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