The Coming Out Party

Rating:
Summary: Very, Very funny
Review: I read this book years ago when I first came outand remebered how funny it was when a saw it here. Very non-PC, witty, goofily-romantic, it is a good, entertaining and quick read. I believe it has been out of print for quite some time. Definitely worth getting while you can.

Rating:
Summary: Very, Very funny
Review: I read this book years ago when I first came outand remebered how funny it was when a saw it here. Very non-PC, witty, goofily-romantic, it is a good, entertaining and quick read. I believe it has been out of print for quite some time. Definitely worth getting while you can.

Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Classic
Review: In my constant search for interesting gay fiction, I sometimes stumble upon rare gems, published years ago, that I previously overlooked. One such glittering diamond is THE COMING OUT PARTY by John Caffey. Originally published in 1982, and awarded the 1983 "Pen Prize for First Work of Fiction", this book has been out-of-print until recently. If you have not read this little masterpiece, I highly recommend that you do.

This is the story of Cal and his lover, Sid, two older, wealthy, L.A. Queens, bored with life, and looking for a challenge. They decide, on the spur of the moment, to create the perfect gay man with which to "WOW" their jaded friends on the "circuit". To this end, they pick up Hal, a naive and terribly unhappy, over-weight college student. Cal and Sid discover Hal stranded, with a flat tire, on Santa Monica Blvd, and whisk him away to their mansion in the Hollywood Hills, for the make-over of all make-overs. They have several months of hard work ahead of them in order to transform Hal into the perfect "Gay Adonis", and debut him at the "Debutants for Human Rights Ball", held yearly on Halloween.

All is going swimmingly until Hal tumbles, head-over-heels, in love with the "pool man". Cal is determined to nip this infatuation in the bud. After all, the "pool man" doesn't have two dimes to rub together, and is a totally inappropriate match for his creation; his child if you will.

(...)The characters in this novel, both good and evil, are delightfully outrageous, and the story literally sprints from page to page. The dialogue is cunning and catty without being overly bitter, and the love story is truly one of the most touching I have ever read. I simply can not stop thinking about this fabulous little (215 pages) book, and I felt compelled to share my opinion here.

If you've never read this book then, by all means, get a copy as quick as you can. If you have read it, read it again because I'll bet you've forgotten how much you loved it.

Rating:
Summary: Sure it's dated, but...
Review: My Fair Lady meets La Cage Aux Foilles in this award winning novel set in West Hollywood in the late 70's. The Coming Out Party is the story of two aging queens who pick up an overweight UCLA freshman off Santa Monica Boulevard and train him to become the perfect homosexual. Hilarity ensues!!!

Rating:
Summary: A cute - One Day read...
Review: This book is a politically incorrect satire of 1970's gay lifestyles. The Coming Out Party is the story of two aging queens who pick up an overweight UCLA freshman off Santa Monica boulevard and train him to be the prince of the gay community.

This book has been made into a play based on Caffey's PEN Award-winning novel, which the LA Times said was "much better than 'La Cage aux Folles'."

Prior to it's Los Angeles run, it played to sold-out houses in two theatres in New York City. While it received rave reviews in New York. Some local, outraged critics have been offended by it's politically incorrect material.

I can only say that these critics need to lighten up... this is a fun look at two old queens that try to create the 'Perfect Gay Man'. The story that come from this is so heartening that I could not put it down.

I would highly recommend this book.. albeit fairly short (about 215 pages, in condensed print), allows this book to be read in one or two sittings (I read it in less than 8 hours).

You will fully enjoy this book... Thanks to Backinprint.com for re-releasing this book as I did not get a chance to read it back in the 70's and 80's when it was first released!!