Frontiers

Rating:
Summary: Boldly goes....
Review: I was supposed to be reading my student's essays. I was supposed to be working on a works cited page for a research report. I was supposed to work on transcribing an interview for the website I write for. But I made the wonderful mistake of opening my just arrived copy of Frontiers when I came home this evening and the rest is history. The plot is pretty standard faire -- a crime thriller, but set in 1797. The plot is well executed and Jensen is quite skilled at planting sublte hints and slowly reeling out the elements. What really makes this an excellent novel worth a re-read is Jensen's exquisite eye for detail, his vivid similies, and his quirky cast of characters, all of whom in one way or another live on the "frontiers" (ie. margins) of society. Though this is a novel with an emphasis on action, I particularly enjoyed Jensen's unobtrusive exploration of the themes of lonelyness and alienation. Each chapter begins with an often bittersweet recolection from the narrator's childhood and subtly shows that even as a child he has always been an other, looking for a place to belong. This book also has its roots in one of America's most beloved bits of folklore, and that's what I found really daring and subversive about this novel -- its not just that the narrator is a gay man, but that homosexuality is inextricably linked to something as wholesome,natural, and all-American as apple pie. (And you thought Tinky-Winky gave Jerry Falwell fits!) A fine novel. I hope Jensen has another one baking in the word processor.

Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary journey of mesmeric storytelling!
Review: Michael Jensen is gifted with the ability to paint vivid pictures with mere words. "Frontiers" captured me from the very beginning and didn't let go. I felt myself being swept back to another time and not eager to return. Thank you Michael for the experience!

Rating:
Summary: Soap Opera in the 17th Century
Review: So, I just finished Frontiers by Michael Jensen. I didn't have high expectations when the best blurb on the back cover said that the book was "invigorated by hot sex scenes in bathtubs and amid thunderstorms..." Believe it or not, that doesn't make me want to buy a book. If I wanted to buy a book for the sex scenes, I'd go pick up a copy of one of the Friction series. (Oh look...there's a new one out...hmmmm...)

I picked Frontiers up, because frankly there hasn't been anything out in a while and I was still waiting for the new Alan Hollinghust novel.

The book wasn't horrible, but the characters were all just types, not real people. There's the stereotypical gay greenhorn who is helped by the stereotypical knowing frontiersman, and who then has to escape the knowing frontiersman but is helped by the stereotypical wise Native American woman. There are the stereotypical pushy settlers who try to get the stereotypical greenhorn to marry their stereotypically ugly daughter. And, the stereotypical, young, nubile gay iconoclast. This is a romance novel. It should have Fabio on the cover in a coon-skin cap. Some of the other reviewers discuss the "historical accuracy" of this novel. I'm afraid they haven't done much research themselves. Yes, there was indeed a person named John Chapman who was the basis for the American Myth of Johnny Appleseed. But that's where the accuracy ends.

Frankly I was surprised that the western frontier of Pennsylvania was such a cornucopia of hot man-on-man action in 1797. Pennsylvania isn't much like that now, I'm afraid. I also learned that frontier people are made of sterner stuff than us wusses today. You can throw them off a cliff, shoot them, bash them in the head several times with cast iron skillets, but they keep coming back to try to kill your young, naked, gay lover. Only a cabin filled with gunpowder seems to really kill them. (But no one mentioned finding a body...uh oh, I smell sequel!)

Was there anything good about this book? Yes. It wasn't set in LA or NY, didn't involve a single screenwriter, and absolutely no crystal meth was snorted by any character. A pleasant change of pace from most of the gay books I've read recently.

Rating:
Summary: Review of Frontiers by Cheri
Review: Frontiers, by Michael Jensen, is an historical novel filled with adventure, suspense, steamy sex, beautifully described scenery, note-worthy characters to both love and hate...all woven together to tell a rich and interesting story. A riveting tale, Frontiers is told in the first person through the eyes of John Chapman, a young man with a strong sense of moral values, an endearing love of animals, and, despite all the hardships he has endured, compassion for his fellow man.

Using colorful language, Jensen paints a realistic picture of how difficult life was in the late 1700's for a sensitive young gay man, who has had so much grief and tumult in his life, that he wants nothing more than to settle down. Barely escaping death, Chapman runs for his life. He escapes the men who killed his lover; there was zero tolerance for "sodomites" in 1797. In his haste to avoid being killed or flogged, Chapman escapes without money, supplies, or a horse. Starving, and near frozen to death, he is rescued by Daniel McQuay, who offers him food and shelter, but not necessarily out of the goodness of his heart. Chapman manages to survive the long, cold winter, sharing a cabin with McQuay, but he senses something is not kosher with this moody, alcoholic man. As soon as he's able to escape, Chapman is on the run again.

History repeats itself. He is rescued from starvation and death, this time by a kind Indian woman, Gwennie. She deposits him in a new settlement, Franklin. Being welcomed into this new settlement represents a brand new beginning for Chapman.

Frontiers takes place at a time when settlers were stealing land, left and right, from Native Americans. John feels compassion for the "Indians," and feels the other settlers wouldn't be any happier knowing he preferred men, sexually, than they would if they knew he had an Indian friend. He is indebted to Gwennie for saving him and giving him a real chance at happiness, and hopefully, permanence in his life

Jensen uses flashbacks of John's youth to recall events in his life. I thought this was an excellent touch. It allows the reader to understand John, and helps define his personality. We see why John becomes a wanderer-running away from problems instead of facing them head-on. John is tired of running; he just wants to settle down, be left alone and live his life as he sees fit. He is perfectly willing to give up personal relationships with men in order to avoid further trouble in his life.

Then he meets Palmer, a young man who shows interest in something more than simple friendship. John cannot deny a strong attraction to Palmer, and once again attempts to escape from his natural instincts. Can he avoid temptation or will he give in to love and desire? You simply must read this book.



What I liked best about Frontiers, was how it grabbed me, enticing me to keep reading...I could not put the book down. The sexual tension in the beginning, between John and Daniel, was only appeased by reading further into the story. Jensen relieved the pressure so eloquently and completely, that the first love scene was not just memorable, it was HOT! I was pleasantly surprised when there were more erotic scenes further along in the story. Frontiers had me on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion and I couldn't read quickly enough to get to the outcome.

My only criticism, but I take it back now that I've finished the book, is that the first half of the book was peppered with so many metaphors and similes, that I actually started counting them. They're distracting, but by the second half of the book, I forgot all about them. Not that the similes weren't good; it made me wonder if that was the way people spoke in the 1700's, or if Jensen got carried away. (The author has since told me that more colorful language was used at the time the novel is set in.) Don't get me wrong about the first half, despite my mentioning the similes; Frontiers is incredible and exciting, with elements of fear, longing, hardship, and danger. The whole book is great, and if you like suspense and romance set in historic times, I cannot recommend enough that you should not miss this gem of a novel. I could easily see Frontiers as a new generation major motion picture, in the Gay/Western genre. Move over John Wayne-here comes John Chapman, Palmer, Gwennie and their story of how the west was won.










Rating:
Summary: Compelling & Wonderful Tale of the Highest Order
Review: John Chapman, a 24 year old town-dweller who is hiding that he is homosexual, ends up on the run in November 1797. He?s had an affair with a Major in the British Army and been found out. From the unexpected violence of the opening pages to his journey?first in Lower Canada, then Pennsylvania and onward as he travels West?it is clear that Chapman is an innocent. He has no frontier skills, no horse, no weapons, and some serious doubts about his courage, most of which were implanted by his abusive father. But he does have determination to try to make it to free land in the West to stake his claim or die trying. If he can make it to the Warren Outpost and get free supplies and a parcel of his own land, he thinks his troubles will be over.

Despite the snow and ice, he manages to cross the Allegheny Plateau, but is lost, physically spent, and out of food. Days?perhaps hours?from death, he comes upon a cabin in the wilderness where he is reluctantly taken in by the threatening and mysterious Daniel McQuay.

From this point on, the characters he meets (Daniel, George Chase in Franklin, the solitary Indian woman Gwennie, and the charmingly handsome Palmer Baxter) all have a huge impact on his life. Over the long winter, Daniel teaches him survival skills, but he wants something and eventually scares Chapman away. George Chase then lets him stay in a vacant cabin, but he wants something. Chapman doesn?t know what Gwennie wants. It?s clear Palmer wants Chapman, but our hero isn?t about to succumb to the kind of love and attraction that has already gotten him in trouble and cost a man his life. Despite the fact that Chapman manages to resist Palmer?s charms initially, he still has to deal with small-mindedness, sexism, racism, the ignorant swath of compassionless ?Christians,? bad weather, and new enemies. And old enemies. Lurking in the midst of Chapman?s seemingly safe world is an evil enemy who has the capacity to turn his world upside down and who, of course, does just that. Injuries, deaths, and intrigue ensue, and I was at the proverbial edge of my seat through most of the last half of the book.

The tale is wonderfully told. Jensen?s dialogue is fresh and realistic, giving an accurate flavor of late 18th century while not overwhelming the reader with colloquialisms. Chapman has a sense of humor, especially about his failure to be a tough, he-man type. He displays a gentleness and humanity many of the settlers lack that made me identify with and love him. His narrative of the weather and environment is balanced perfectly as in this lovely description: ?Lightning flashed against the darkening sky, giving me an excuse to turn away. Already dark clouds the color of ugly bruises and hateful intentions were closer, bearing down on us as surely as winter on autumn. Occasional gusts of wind rumbled own the valley rippling through the treetops, their leaves trembling suddenly in the sunlight like a million green-winged birds in flight? (p. 263).

Jensen has crafted a compelling story the likes of which I have never read before. I am not aware of any historical drama/adventure/romance based upon such a well-rounded and mesmerizing gay character. John Chapman?s first person account is riveting. This is bildungsroman of the highest order, a story of love, lust, greed, and striving set against the unforgiving American frontier. I can?t recommend it highly enough! ~Lori L. Lake, author of lesbian fiction and freelance reviewer for Midwest Book Review, Golden Crown Literary Society?s 'The Crown,' The Independent Gay Writer, and Just About Write.


Rating:
Summary: Gay Historical Fiction
Review: I hope Michael Jensen will write more books like this one. It's difficult to find good gay novels, and good gay historical ones are even more rare. He did a good job on his research and keeps everything within the period. Once I got started, it was difficult to put down.