PINS

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating study of teenage jock life
Review: I found this a fascinating read. As a relatively carefree California jock, the tensions weren't my experience, but I could see how this paralells other real cases.

This is a great sports novel on a par with "Boys on the Rock" and
"The Front Runner," but with a more poetic lingo of teenage kids.

The wrestling scenes were told from inside Joey's head, not like some other less inspiring sports books.

Anyone who calls this "too long" has the attention span of a flea. This book snowballs from a world of innocent love and sports to a shocking violent incident. The second half builds through a maze of emotions, guilt, fumbled sexual encounters and Joey's change into a defender for his gay friend.

The ending offers hope for survivors, and a future for a young teenage boy. I want to read more by this author, and soon.

Rating:
Summary: So good i couldn't put it down
Review: I just recently finished the book, and i can say that i'll be re-reading this book a lot, even if it's just little parts of it. And what makes this book unique to any other book, and i mean ANY, is that i can REALLY put myself in Joey's shoes. Being a high school wrestler, and in-the-closet bi, i really felt how Joey felt during the whole book, from the wrestling invitationals and duals (i've been through them), to the stereotypes and the cliques that come out of wrestling in high schools, and even some of the parts of the book that i personally haven't been through, such as the court proceedings and when Anthony was beaten up, seemed so real, i guess it's because i could already feel, see, and sense everything in the beginning that the rest of the book went the same way.

The book kinda gave me a new perspective not only on me as a wrestler, but also as a person in general, because i now know somewhat of what might be not only some of the benefits, but also some of the consequences of being an openly bi wrestler, if i ever come out of the closet in the mere future. But for now, i can only go into Joey's life and experience life as a gay wrestler through his point of view.

I would reccomend ths book to any straight, gay, bi, or in the closet atheletes, wrestler or not, to read it, because it gives readers a persepective on homosexuals and homophobia in sports, especially in high school, the effects of such things in sports, and maybe a way to break down the stereotypes and thoughts that come about when such topics are mixed together. I plan to watch the play in San Francisco, and i hope that this comes out as a movie so the book can become even more real to life than it is already.

Rating:
Summary: I MUST BE TOO OLD FOR THIS
Review: I must be too old for this novel, I really hated it! The writing was sloppy, the people that live in these pages, just didn't touch me like they did others. i was very surprised. I'm in my 30's and I read as much gay fiction as I can and most of it I love, but this just didn't grab me like the Front Runner. I am really surprised by how many people said this was "moving" and "touching". Sorry I just don't see it. I must be getting old.If your in your 30's or older skip it. If your a teen or 20's read it, If your a jock you might get it. I found that wrestling stuff BOOOORING! More story less erotic fantasies of under age kids rolling around feeling eacother up! I think I made my point. For a younger group not adults.

Rating:
Summary: Great Literature
Review: I never dreamed of coming out as a teenager, but if I'd read this book I might have had the courage to do so. The book's protagonist, Joey, is something of a gay hero, in the humble everyday sense of heroism, which makes him a truly admirable person. His story is a wonderful testament to honesty in more ways than one, and to love-not of the platitudinous, sentimental variety, but the kind that has real strength and muscle, and the power to make a better world. I had to keep reminding myself as I read Pins that this was a work of fiction rather than nonfiction. Provenzano's ability to render a sense of reality to his story is that good; exceptional really. He masterfully depicts adolescent sensibilities and adroitly lays out the family dynamics of the Nicci family (and what a great character Mr. Nicci is. God, if all fathers of gay kids were like him. He's not even idealized--what made me cry was that he was so real, so full of foibles, so flesh and blood). Provenzano has an uncanny ability to capture the thoughts and priorities of young men, so much so that I forgot at times that I was even reading a book. Joey and Dink really came alive. More than once I had to just stop reading for a few moments, shocked at how seamlessly he'd taken me back so many years to thoughts and feelings long buried, touching a very deep chord in my history, which was much like Joey's. This book made me laugh and cry and even get angry at all the unnecessary stupidity in our society. But above all, it made me nod my head over and over again and sigh, 'yea, exactly; that's exactly how it was--and is!' I can't pay a higher compliment to a work of fiction than that, and it's why I have a feeling this book will be read for a very long time to come. It belongs in the American coming-of-age canon. Any young person will gain courage from this tale, and any older person will gain a sense of completion. These are things great literature does, and Provenzano has done them with Pins.

Rating:
Summary: simply moving
Review: i read about this novel in the magazine XY and went out in bought it not knowing very much about it at all. Pins was my first gay novel and im not sure if that is whats influncing my opinion of it, but i thought this book was amasing. as a highschooler who is active in school sports, i found this totally moving and touching. i completely connected with the characters and have been in many of joe's situations so i know how it feels. this novel comforted me and moved me in such a way that i started a gay straight alliance at my school and i couldnt be happier, all of my friend have read this book now and they are all better people for it. if you couldnt tell by this point....i highly reccomend this novel.

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed it
Review: I really enjoyed PINS even though it seemed to be written for a younger audience. I'm in my early 30's. I would recommend it to a younger audience--teens to 20's.

Rating:
Summary: Why is pro-gay always "political"?
Review: I totally disagree with the previous review. PINS is an amazing book. I had no problems with it being pro-gay and supportive.

"Sickening?" If there's any schizophrenia, it's a previous reviewer. I saw each section, in which the narration changes calling the protagonist Joey, Joseph, and Joe, as symbolic of the shocking changes he goes through and a clever literary device. The horse imagery, the biblical passages, many elements may not be clear, but a second reading shows more.

As to the "mainstream" and SM comparisons. Absurd. Bennie isn't SM, but a conflicted deranged young man. How has that anything to do with leather culture? The underground sport of wrestling and gay sports, even Gay Games, may not fit some sex extremists' vision of queer culture, but as a gay athlete, I know I found this book accurately depicted the struggle of teen jocks.

Rating:
Summary: Completely amazing
Review: I urge you to buy this book. I can't tell you how much I regret letting it linger on my "wish list" for so long. Mr. Provenzano's novel is nothing short of amazing. The writer's ability to describe the main character, Joseph, and his surroundings and feelings are brilliant. I found this story so moving that as I approached the ending I faced it with the same despair one feels knowing that their best friend would be moving away - forever. I miss Joseph and his family everyday since finishing the book. This is a real treasure of a book that I have urged all of my friends to read. If you enjoyed K.M. Sondlein's delightful, "The World of Normal Boys", then you will fall hard for "PINS".

Rating:
Summary: Completely amazing
Review: I urge you to buy this book. I can't tell you how much I regret letting it linger on my "wish list" for so long. Mr. Provenzano's novel is nothing short of amazing. The writer's ability to describe the main character, Joseph, and his surroundings and feelings are brilliant. I found this story so moving that as I approached the ending I faced it with the same despair one feels knowing that their best friend would be moving away - forever. I miss Joseph and his family everyday since finishing the book. This is a real treasure of a book that I have urged all of my friends to read. If you enjoyed K.M. Sondlein's delightful, "The World of Normal Boys", then you will fall hard for "PINS".

Rating:
Summary: Inspiration to Gay Jocks
Review: I wish every high school library would carry this book. It's an inspirational story for everyone gay or straight, especially if they're into wrestling or sports in general. I don't agree that it's just for young people- I'm 38 and couldn't put it down.

I think this book is important because it shows young gay jocks that they aren't alone. When I was in high school, I couldn't believe I was gay, because I didn't fit the stereotypes. That kept me confused for too long. Things are different now of course, but I sure could have used a book like this, and I bet it will help a whole lot of young guys, especially jocks, even today.

Besides all that, it's just a great story.