The Boys in the Bars

Rating:
Summary: A Great Collection from a Lesser Known Author
Review: I first read the title story in the Men on Men anthology, and I loved it. Not even the whole story, necessarily, but the ending. I then stumbled across his two novels (Joseph and the Old Man, Valley of the Shadow), and I was hooked. I found this book in the library at the NYC Lesbian and Gay Center's library. The stories here focus mainly on gay life just before and just after AIDS. Some have absolutely nothing to do with AIDS.

Davis is a very talented writer. His words paint impressions as delicate and striking as the pastel-laden covers of the Stonewall Inn series of books did in the mid-1980s. His writing is observant and imbued with love; bitchiness and angst do not prevail--and when they are there, they don't leave a bitter aftertaste.

Davis also wrote the novelization of the movie Philadelphia.

Rating:
Summary: The Boys In The Bars
Review: This is one of my favourite collection of stories -- gay or otherwise. Davis paints so many different scenarios -- each story is so different from the others -- and his prose is so descriptive and elegant, yet simple and sparse. One of the best stories in the book, "Watercolours", is a great example -- short and vivid, it left lasting images in my mind. Find this book and read it -- each and every story is brilliant! I also recommend one of his other books, "Valley Of The Shadows" -- very moving.