“A tender, funny tour of a mind struggling to do the right thing. A revelatory and sympathetic guide to a misunderstood world.”
--S... read full description
reviews
Jul 16, 2009
Alan
rated it: 
Gary Gray has a huge problem. On the one hand he’s young and black, a devout Christian, husband and father; on the other hand he’s secretly gay. His is the story of a black Christian bouncing between desire and belief, between love for his family and his worship of other men. Gary struggles for years to hold his life together with his dark secret always threatening to destroy his fragile world, but then what he believes is a clean way out presents itself – a way to slip away from his life and be
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Jul 13, 2009
Michael
rated it: 
Readers, read it. Teachers, teach it. I know James, and this book surprised and deeply impressed me. At the heart of it is a trick-- er, I could call it a trick if it was less successful, let's call it a major accomplishment-- of personation, inhabiting the voice of a fat, closeted, deeply religious black man from South Carolina named Gary Gray. The two might not have all of those aspects in common, but think of Kenneth the Page as maybe not too far-off in terms of voice. Gary is freaking h
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Jul 19, 2009
Mike
rated it: 
I think maybe 3.5 stars? (Why am I so absurdly concerned about stars? It's a good book--smart, well-written, moving, enjoyable. I didn't love it, but I do without qualification recommend it. I hope it sells a bunch of copies; I look forward to reading Hannaham's next novel.)
Gary Gray seems tailor-made for a great number of belittling narrative conventions. He's a chubby, devout, poor, Southern, Black, gay man struggling to reconcile his varied desires, and I bet you can imagine a More...
Gary Gray seems tailor-made for a great number of belittling narrative conventions. He's a chubby, devout, poor, Southern, Black, gay man struggling to reconcile his varied desires, and I bet you can imagine a More...
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Nov 29, 2009
Corey
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What is most surprising about Hannaham's tale is how superbly he handles all sides of the issue. Gary is absolutely sincere in his desire to change that which can never be, although it is obvious that he's happiest and most 'himself' when he accepts his nature. When he enters a program to 'remove' his homosexuality, a lesser writer would likely use the opportunity to condemn such actions as ludicrous and hateful. But Gary and his teachers are fundamentally good people, led by firm beliefs that w
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Aug 15, 2010
Wade
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This book, despite the slightly outlandish situations Gary Gray gets himself into, is a surprisingly honest and unflinching look the conflict between sexuality and religion. The character is at times frustrating, yet the author has pinned down the personality of someone who has too long followed external authority even (especially) when it goes against his own lived experience. Rather than giving simple answers or taking sides, this story is a strong argument for empathy in a polarizing issue. I
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Aug 10, 2009
Gaelen
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Every now and then a book that I've requested comes in at the library, and I have no idea why I was interested in reading. Often, it turns out that the book was recommended at largeheartedboy.com, a music blog that I read. Even knowing where the recommendation came from, and having read the book, I'm still not sure why I chose to request it, though. "God Says No" is about a gay christian man who tries to free himself of his gayness. He makes some pretty stupid decisions through the boo
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Aug 18, 2010
Andrea
rated it:
A very well written book about an obese, extremely devout African American man in the South who is gay and doesn't want to be, so he struggles very hard to be "normal", a prospect doomed to failure. He tries marriage to a woman, a year of "free checking", an "ex-gay" ministry, but in the end, perhaps he can only accept what he truly is. His own contradictions and hypocrisies are shown in a very realistic way, and even the easy to mock ex-gay crowd are portrayed in a
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Jul 21, 2011
Maicie
rated it:
Gary Gray is a hot mess and doesn’t have a clue how to pull his life together. He’s fat, black, gay, and newly married with a child on the way. And he’s convinced he’s going straight to hell. A sad, humorous, and touching story of one man deciding if he is “a for-real homosexual” or “a straight fellow with some problems.”
At first, I thought the writing was a little messy but later changed my mind. Hannaham writes in a way that doesn’t make his main character particularly likeable. A More...
At first, I thought the writing was a little messy but later changed my mind. Hannaham writes in a way that doesn’t make his main character particularly likeable. A More...
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Nov 28, 2011
Corey
rated it:
I bought this book because I liked the idea of it, and I was also convinced by the fact that it was presumably a thought-provoking, insightful book about a character torn between two commonly opposing forces--a christian lifestyle and homosexuality. I was not really let down by the idea of the book as I read, but I did feel let down about virtually everything else.
The narration is bland and banal, and the relationships between characters, particularly the protagonist and his wife, a More...
The narration is bland and banal, and the relationships between characters, particularly the protagonist and his wife, a More...
Oct 01, 2011
Anita
rated it:
Fat. Black. Christian. Gay. Man.
The main character of this novel could not be any more dissimilar from me. Which is what drew me to this book. Talk about getting a fresh perspective. But I admit that it was frustrating.
At the heart of this novel is the apparent incompatibility of Christianity and homosexuality. The consequences that befall Gary because of this belief are heartbreaking.
When I first started this book, I was so frustrated with Gary's ignorance of everything outside h More...
The main character of this novel could not be any more dissimilar from me. Which is what drew me to this book. Talk about getting a fresh perspective. But I admit that it was frustrating.
At the heart of this novel is the apparent incompatibility of Christianity and homosexuality. The consequences that befall Gary because of this belief are heartbreaking.
When I first started this book, I was so frustrated with Gary's ignorance of everything outside h More...
Jun 20, 2009
Abraham
rated it:
It is a rare thing indeed that I want to have a good experience reading a book and then do. God Says No began with a premise I wasn't sure about and a character whose credulity I wasn't certain I could relate to, and a tone I couldn't quite parse at first, but after a few chapters I was hooked. What Hannaham (AKA (by me) my friend James) has done here is to turn his protagonist - a pitiable character not normally found in the protagonist role - and turn him into the Everyman. Though I am neithe
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May 29, 2009
Amy
rated it:
This novel is phenomenally good. It’s important-to-have-been-written good. It made me laugh out loud, get teary-eyed, and re-read individual sentences for the music and poetry of the language. I am a lazy and picky reader, but hours flew by while I read this novel. I was entertained, surprised, and moved; I experienced the catharsis of feeling empathy for a fully realized character, appreciated a rich and nuanced story and a cast of well-drawn secondary characters, and found myself completely re
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Jul 13, 2010
Matt
rated it:
This was a great, quick book with humor throughout. Hannaham's ability to make one laugh at uncanny situations (the protagonist, Gary Gray, struggles with his homosexuality and tries to rid himself of it by living the out life in Atlanta followed by a stint at a "pray away the gay" type place) pushes this book from four stars to five.
The story itself is very engaging and the plot moves at a very reasonable pace. Hannaham's prose throws the reader into Gary's life very well, a More...
The story itself is very engaging and the plot moves at a very reasonable pace. Hannaham's prose throws the reader into Gary's life very well, a More...
Oct 28, 2010
Jeff
rated it: 
Given the superlatives lavished on this book by a few reviewers, I really expected to love this story about a man torn between self-identity and religious identity. While there were some wonderful and touching moments to the book, I found it simply too long in the telling. I do think it is an important story and reflective of many people's inner struggle to reconcile who they are with who they want to be; however, Hannaham's book could have benefitted from some major editing.
Jan 03, 2011
Amber
rated it:
Gary Gray is a fat, black Christian trying to fight his homosexual feelings. Tomfoolery ensues. I admit, the misadventures Gary gets himself into is a bit of stretch, but Hannaham's writing is crisp and funny, so you lose yourself in the questionable plot. Of course you know where the author's social and political leanings are, but he does tackle all sides and at times I felt he was arguing for the other team. This was an excellent weekend read.
Sep 16, 2009
Amber
rated it:
The protagonist is Gary Gray, a God fearing, food loving black man struggling with his sexuality.
Early on in the novel, you discover Gary's feelings for his college roommate cause him to impregnate his girlfriend. He leaves school and gets a job, gets promoted, and gets a cozy apartment for his new family. He wants desperately to be a "family man" and he really does try but he's having trouble in the bedroom which puts pressure on his new marriage. Work is sending him on m More...
Early on in the novel, you discover Gary's feelings for his college roommate cause him to impregnate his girlfriend. He leaves school and gets a job, gets promoted, and gets a cozy apartment for his new family. He wants desperately to be a "family man" and he really does try but he's having trouble in the bedroom which puts pressure on his new marriage. Work is sending him on m More...
Jun 08, 2009
Matthew
rated it:
Hannaham's God Says No is a timely as well as a delicately and precisely crafted book that explores the psychological, emotional and spiritual landscape of living on the "down low". Hannaham deals with complex social taboos as honestly as he deals with a father's love for his daughter and one's sense of empowerment and inadequacy. This book is an important addition to American literature.
Jun 07, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Not exactly a fun read--more fascinating and disturbing than fun. It's the story of a young Christian man struggling with homosexuality. It's heartbreaking at times how he suppresses who he is. I usually think of prejudice as being something one person imposes on another, so it was eye opening to read a story about someone who was prejudiced against himself. It saddens me that it's possible for religion/society to make people suffer so much and hate themselves for who they are.
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Jan 27, 2010
Chad
rated it:
Nobody talks about this. James guides you through the Odyssean perils of the closeted Christian gay man with compassion and wit. He provides a context for the self-deceit and denial that haunts so many men in this situation that rings right in its complexity and severity. I hope the people who really need this book can find it.
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Sep 05, 2011
Annie
rated it:
I am loving this book. gary is just a normal guy trying to figure out who is he supposed to be. at the pray away the gay part right now. am hoping the ending holds up like the beginning did. excellent read so far.
Aug 07, 2009
Celeste
rated it:
Not my typical read but thoroughly enjoyable. About a young black man struggling with his sexuality. Crisply written and great depth to the characters.
Sep 14, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
This got off to a promising start: fundamentalist boy discovering his homosexual tendencies in college. Buy by halfway through the novel, I was really tired of the character's flaws and internalized homophobia. I know that's what the book was about, but I just couldn't be bothered.
May 17, 2010
Kissley
rated it:
Painfully funny, brilliant and bold. McSweeney's strikes again.
Gary is overweight, black, gay and Christian. What?! I heard you say.
Read it.
Gary is overweight, black, gay and Christian. What?! I heard you say.
Read it.
Jul 30, 2011
Loved it. Anyone who's ever struggled with the religious faith / same sex attraction debate will be able to relate to this in so many ways
Aug 07, 2009
Ryan
rated it:
This is a very funny, intriguing read. While several plot points in the story seem contrived, the book is overall a delight.
Jul 07, 2009
Vaughn
rated it:
My first McSweeney's installment. Entertaining. Looking forward to the rest of them.
Dec 20, 2011
Tracey
rated it:
i love it when a book makes me care about a character that i hated in the beginning.
Aug 22, 2011
Olivia
rated it:
Amazing writing style - really smooth and non-cliched, but with lots of great lines ("How did they make a city so huge without using up the world's supply of bricks and metal?") Also very sad, considering that the reader knows about the injustice in the book and the narrator isn't as convinced until its end.
