Rating: 
Summary: "True Love"
Review: "Where the Boys Are" is a poignant story of true love,of the forces external and,internal that try to pound a wedge between what is felt by the two individuals involved.It's a story that hit home for me,though,my situation is somewhat different but,the theme is nonetheless the same.I read "The Boys From the Men" and "Where the Boys Are" in succession so as not to lose sight of where they've been and,where they were to go. The main characters,Jeff and Lloyd,now separated but,nonetheless still very much in love,explore their individual lives,question their love for each,seek new friends,new loves,new experiences.But,What is true love? It is putting two totally different people together with all their good qualities and faults,individualities,baggage past and present including family,friends,enemies,past loves,work/play and,health and producing a close bound unity that is invincible to those forces against it.Jeff and Lloyd certainly have plenty of issues,made many mistakes but,were able look at themselves and each other with clearer vision and realize that,yes,they were meant to always be in "True Love".In closing,"The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence but,it may not be in your destiny to have to mow it!"
Rating:
Summary: This Book Touched Me
Review: After reading this book in one sitting I was left with the feeling of being understood. To often in my life I have been misunderstood, to often I have been placed in stereotypes that did not quite fit who I was. The characters in this book are not stereotypical, the dialogue is not stereotypical. William J Mann has a mastery of dialogue that brings forth seven very different very unique characters. I have since purchased copies for my mother, and other good friends telling them "This is the world I belong to!" They too have been surprised at how enjoyable this book is to read. This is a definate must in anyone's library gay, straight, bi, transgender, or questioning. When it comes down to it 'Where the Boys Are' is simply a fun read.
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Summary: Once Again William Mann Comes Thru
Review: After waiting several years for the sequel to The Men From The Boys, I can honestly say the wait was worthwhile. In his writing Mann raises many issues relating specifically to the gay life and gay issues. Those of us that are gay can certainly see some of ourselves in his characters. All of us, more than the straight world, have been touched by AIDS. Most of us realize how lonely the gay life can be at times.....constantly trying for acceptance. His characters on the circuit party scene are very real. Jeff, Lloyd and Anthony have all been friends of mine. Even Eva! Yes, he has captured the 'real' people in the gay world. If you are gay (or not) and cannot relate to the people in the book, then all I can say is,'Where the hell have you been living?" This is a must read for everyone, GAY and STRAIGHT. William J. Mann is THE author for for the gay community. Telling life as it is without all the smut. Read it ......you'll love it!
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Summary: Mann has a masterpiece!
Review: An ambitious sequel of sorts to his 1997 novel "The Men From The Boys", Mann's new novel can likeiwse be considered a "coming of age" story, this time of a group of gay men becoming disillusioned with the "circuit party" life and looking to settle down. Having not read the original should not deter readers from this one (I hardly remember the first book, and it didn't matter.) The story alternates narration by three main characters, including 30-something Jeff and Lloyd from the first book, who are no longer a couple and have tried to reinvent their lives with money inherited by their former mentor/lover Javitz. Jeff has become a regular at "circuit" parties, and takes in a 29 year old hunk who seems surprisingly naive about gay life. The nore conservative Lloyd is in the process of opening a bed-and-breakfast inn in Provincetown along with a widowed woman around his age who seems to enjoy the company of gay men. But Jeff and Lloyd are still in love, and bond somewhat in trying to uncover the mysterious pasts of their new partners. The third narrator is Henry, a formerly-nebbish younger man to whom Jeff has become sort of a mentor, and under whose encouragement has morphed into a gym bunny who gets off on the attention his new body commands, and decides to moonlight as a male escort. This lengthy (426 page) book is fleshed out with colorful additional characters (gay, lesbian and straight), stuffed with campy references, catty remarks, circuit happenings, accurate commentary on the changing attitudes concerning AIDS, and references to recent events. Thought provoking, entertaining and original, very satisfying reading.
Rating: 
Summary: OK, but an unworthy follow-up to an excellent novel
Review: Boy,this one was tough. I LOVED The Men from the Boys; it is one of my favorite newer gay novels, so I was very excited about this. But, I have very mixed feelings here. Pros: Mann makes some wonderful observations about the gay lifestyle in relation to AIDS in this era, the self destructiveness of certain behavior, etc. But that's about it. Cons: 1) Wow. There is a "mystery" that runs almost to the very last page of the novel. A mystery that any reader will solve a few pages into the setup. I mean it is ridiculous to believe that ANY gay man wouldn't have thought out the angle to that story - never mind a character who is an educated, writer. It becomes REALLY torturous as we keep waiting for him to figure it out.
2) The other main character has become almost too new-agey spritual. To the point where some dialogue is really annoying and makes you almost cringe. 3) Eva. Hello? Really - yeah, we'd all put up with that. 4) I guess these two great characters now just seem ... dumb. Flip side: if you haven't read the first book, it does have it's fun moments and some good social observations. But as a sequel it is a letdown. It's like Mann wanted to write a sequel but didn't have a real story so he concocted this strange platform for the boys return.
Rating:
Summary: Coming Home
Review: Having read Mann for the first time on the advice of a friend, I found myself transported to a house of mirrors. Wm. Mann's views on the gay tribe, the passages from idealistic youth to the experiences of aging, the drug culture and the realtionships we choose to play out have made the experience of reading this story all too familiar yet refreshingly unique. To see one another's lives through the eyes of the three narrators rounded out the journey through the story and offered a prism of perspective that made every page more enjoyable than the next. I was given the opportunity to take a good look at my past and present and make peace with my tribe, accept all that it is to be gay and remember to hold tightly to the people I've chosen to call my family. I look forward to reading other work by the author.
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Summary: A fantastic summer read
Review: I disagree with the other reviewers who didn't like this book. I totally love this book. It might not be the great literature of the boring kind that you have to read for English class. It's a light summer read that will entertain you and touch you at the same time. What more could you ask for in a book rather that inspire you and have some fun with it? Enough said. Go out and buy it and read for yourself. I can't wait for William J. Mann next book.
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Summary: Captivated
Review: I found it difficult to put this book down once I began reading it. I was so captivated by the characters and felt like I knew each one of them personally by the way the author wrote about them. It was almost like I was sitting in the middle of the story and it was unfolding around me like a movie. I could identify with each of the characters in different ways as well. I thogtht that this book was well thought out, written and presented to me, the reader. I read alot of books by many authors and this is the first time that I have been so impressed that I wrote my thoughts out for others to see.
Rating:
Summary: Captivated
Review: I found it difficult to put this book down once I began reading it. I was so captivated by the characters and felt like I knew each one of them personally by the way the author wrote about them. It was almost like I was sitting in the middle of the story and it was unfolding around me like a movie. I could identify with each of the characters in different ways as well. I thogtht that this book was well thought out, written and presented to me, the reader. I read alot of books by many authors and this is the first time that I have been so impressed that I wrote my thoughts out for others to see.
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Summary: Wanting to know more ...
Review: I have read three of William J. Mann's works, 2 novels and 1 short story, and I find myself eagerly searching for more of his output. So far, I've enjoyed everything immensly. The novels have presented me with 7 characters with which I have easily fallen in love and would really care to know more about. The short story has given me two more - and I've already read that 3 times. The last novel I read, "Where The Boys Are" was just as good in some ways and better in others than the delightful pre-quel, and presented us with Bill Mann's most interesting, most beautiful and most tragic character to date. I am anxious for Mr. Mann to give us more on this complex and enigmatic young man. All in all, I've read close to 100 gay-themed novels and short stories in the past 8 months (not counting porn, of course) and can count on the fingers of one hand those that I will most probably read again. All three of Mr. Mann's efforts will be among those. Actually, I should say I would most definitely re-read them rather than most probably. He gives us not only actions and events, but thought, motivation and reflection - what's actually going on in his characters' minds. And he makes them real, likable and sympathetic - even the not so admirable ones stir our sympathy and compassion. I consider his work to be thoroughly "top drawer" in the area of gay fiction - of any modern fiction, for that matter, and highly recommend "Where The Boys Are".
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