Gaywyck

Rating:
Summary: Jane Eyre was a tougher cookie...
Review: This gay gothic romance entertains, but also suffers from the overheated sensibilities and language of most romance novels, almost sickeningly so. The "hero" bursts into tears on almost every page, which made me want to slap him heartily, and some of the "camp" elements are a bit tough to swallow (no pun intended). Despite these carpings, it's a fun and refreshing alternative look at a cliche-encrusted genre.

Rating:
Summary: Robert and Donough, 19th/early 20th century gentlemen
Review: Vincent Virga's language, character depictions, and setting all work together to create what I consider to be a carefully crafted piece of literature. Yet, what struck me most was Virga's portrayal of Robert's and Donough's relationship with one another. That is, Virga's wonderful metaphors and intimate descriptions of scenes in which Donough and Robert experience one another physically, sexually, and spiritually truly elevate the ordinary to extraordinary. For example, in the following scene, Robert writes in his journal his impression of Donough rising out of the water as he went for a swim in the ocean, "He rose with a fiery brightness discharging light into the universe. When he tossed his head, a galaxy of stars exploded..."[p.114]. Such exquisite writing captures both the sensuality of the perceived (Donough)along with the longings of the perceiver (Robert). Also, Virga's style shifts the focus from Donough's and Robert's relationship from that of a "homosexual" relationship to that of a "human" relationship. This is, in my opinion, perhaps one of the greatest qualities of the novel. Gaywyck is a story about two people who happen to fall in love -- and they happen to be two men. This is a story about human emotion, human experience, and human companionship. Granted, the medium of the "Gothic" genre as a vehicle to convey these notions might appear as trite to some readers, but overall the sense and depth of Virga's story cannot be overlooked or even discounted as mere triviality or fluff. This is truly a romance that transcends the ordinary!