Visible Lives: A Tribute To E. Lynn Harris

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Visible Lives: A Tribute To E. Lynn Harris

by Stanley Bennett Clay (Goodreads Author), Terrance Dean, James Earl Hardy

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 54 ratings · 15 reviews

In a powerful tribute to bestselling author and literary icon E. Lynn Harris, bestselling authors and friends Terrance Dean, James Earl Hardy, and Stanley Bennett Clay honor him with sexy, original novellas in the genre he helped create--groundbreaking stories of black, gay men searching for love in a taboo world.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published June 1st 2010 by Kensington (first published 2010)

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Jan 29, 2011 Taylor Siluwé rated it 4 of 5 stars

Terrance Dean's opening tale was my introduction to his work, and I was quite impressed with the poetic style and sexual intensity that was "The Intern". The 2nd, "Is It Still Jood To Ya?" by James Earl Hardy gives us the characters that made him famous with 'B-Boy Blues'. Admittedly, I wasn't as moved by this tale; possibly because there was nothing new for me having read about the ups and downs of Raheim and Mitchell before. Still, there is one scene depicting a dinner with E. Lynn which warme...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Richard Kirkwood rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was a recommended read for a book club I belong too. The book is made up of three short stories, "The Intern" by Terrance Dean, "Is it Still Good to Ya?" by James Earl Hardy and "House of John" by Stanley Bennett Clay. The Intern was a well written and engrossing story and this is where it stops, James Earl Hardy's story was trite and boring I could not get myself to read pass the first couple of pages of the story, I have yet to read the "House of John", only because I hated "Is it St...more

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Oct 11, 2010 Alan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Visible Lives was published to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of E. Lynn Harris, one of gay fiction’s best-loved authors. This is a collection of three novellas from African-American gay fiction writers who had some association with Harris. Each story begins with a heartfelt introduction outlining how the author knew Harris and the effect Harris had on their work.

The First story, The Intern by Terrance Dean, tells the tale of Chase, a television executive who has dated a stri...more Visible Lives was published to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of E. Lynn Harris, one of gay fiction’s best-loved authors. This is a collection of three novellas from African-American gay fiction writers who had some association with Harris. Each story begins with a heartfelt introduction outlining how the author knew Harris and the effect Harris had on their work.

The First story, The Intern by Terrance Dean, tells the tale of Chase, a television executive who has dated a string of losers until a summer intern working in his office comes on to him. The intern is sexy, caring, passionate and hung – everything Chase needs. The problem? The intern is much younger. This is basically a story about how Chase got his groove back.
This turned out to be a moderately entertaining story. I found the characters to be somewhat one dimensional and the plot overly predictable. There were, however, several clever scenes and the dialog was often funny. It’s not a story I would rank high on my list, but it was certainly an enjoyable read.

Story number two, Is It Still Jood to Ya? by James Earl Hardy, tells of how Raheim tries to lure his ex-lover back in order to save their family, at a time when his ex-lover is getting ready to fly off and spend time with another man. Fate steps in and grounds all flights, giving Raheim the opportunity he needs.
I had significant issues with this story. Cardboard characters, page after page of useless dialog that failed to move the story forward, and ending with forty pages of questions and answers in an interview format that was so utterly boring that I couldn’t finish it. This story, in my opinion, is poorly written and tedious. To top it off, every time the author used the word “good” (which was often) he replaced it with “jood”, which pulled me out of the story every time. It became extremely annoying. I can’t recommend this story.

The third and last story, House of John by Stanley Bennett Clay, turned out to be my favorite of the three. A middle-aged man, Jesse, is devastated when he finds that his long-term lover is cheating on him. To retaliate he joins a group of other gay men on a sex vacation in the Dominican Republic that promises a wealth of sexual opportunities with the local hustlers. Although he craves uncomplicated sex with sexy young studs, he finds that he has issues exploiting the locals. But then he meets a local guy who is not only drop-dead-gorgeous, but is also NOT a hustler. The two begin a very sweet romance. But where will it lead?
This story is unique, intelligent and fun. The characters seem real and have depth, and the situations are interesting, sometimes even gripping. It is very well written and the pace moves along at a good clip. This one story made the trilogy worth reading. I can highly recommend it.

I have never read any of E. Lynn Harris’s works, so I’m no judge of how closely these stories come to his style or quality of writing. All three had a heavy erotic content, which seldom detracted from the storyline. And all three had two other things in common, they centered around an African-American man looking for a relationship, and all three managed to work Harris’s name into the storyline. For the most part, the way each one weaved Harris into the story seemed awkward, and somewhat cheesy. Overall, two of the three stories are certainly worth a look. I do recommend this book.
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Sep 12, 2010 Debra rated it 5 of 5 stars

E. Lynn Harris is surely smiling, that infectious smile that he was known for. It’s that beaming pride, of a parent whose kids are performing, extremely well. The protégés of E. Lynne, have done a first class tribute in Visible Lives. Terrance Dean, James Earl Hardy and Stanley Bennett Clay, have done an outstanding job in honoring his legacy. His encouragement to these authors, as well as many others, read like melodies from heaven.
Visible Lives Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris, is d...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Elisa Ramblings added it

Even if I have to admit that I haven’t read many books by E. Lynn Harris, it’s also true that he is probably the first gay romance authors I noticed, well before I started reading this genre. I remember to have noticed the nice cover of I Say a Little Prayer and thinking, mmh, interesting. E. Lynn Harris was probably the only gay romance author at the time that was able to reach the top selling lists with the various ladies of romance. And so it was with sadness that I read of his sudden death,...more Even if I have to admit that I haven’t read many books by E. Lynn Harris, it’s also true that he is probably the first gay romance authors I noticed, well before I started reading this genre. I remember to have noticed the nice cover of I Say a Little Prayer and thinking, mmh, interesting. E. Lynn Harris was probably the only gay romance author at the time that was able to reach the top selling lists with the various ladies of romance. And so it was with sadness that I read of his sudden death, when still so many years where in front of him, and many books and stories and possibilities. I have never thought who E. Lynn Harris was for his colleagues, black gay men who were fighting with double/triple prejudices, being of colour, being gay and writing romance. Apparently E. Lynn Harris was a lighthouse for all of them, the man who was able to, able to write, able to come out, able to have success, always remaining one of them. In this tribute, three different black man are telling their version of the story, but it’s always the same story, how you can be gay, black and in love with romance.

The Intern by Terrance Dean: this story is all about fashion and romance, glitter and love. Chase was always used to be the boy, the one other macho men pursued, the prized arm candy. But now Chase is pushing forty, and sincerely he is tired to be someone else little secret: Chase has a successful career and a beautiful house, he is still an handsome man and he is still able to pick his choice among men. His best girl friend tells him to stop to search for the macho man of his dream and to play “cougar” with his pretty, and very young intern, Quincy. Indeed Chase surrenders to temptation, but sincerely there is not much difference, since Quincy, even if young and a subaltern of Chase, is for sure very self-confident and able to well balance the difference in age with his positive attitude.

The feeling of this story is young and fresh, like a glossy magazine, well highlight but the almost obsessive pointing up to all the fashion brands.

Is It Still Jood To Ya? By James Earl Hardy: Raheim and Mitchell have a past together, a past made of good and bad days, of bringing up together two sons, of family parties and knowing everything of each other; when the story starts Raheim and Mitchell are not together, but sincerely the reader doesn’t understand why and so do Raheim, that is indeed trying to woo Mitchell back in his bed and life. Above all, Raheim is worried since Mitchell is leaving for a business trip that will give him the chance to meet someone else, and Raheim doesn’t like the competition. A blackout will allow Raheim to block Mitchell in his apartment for a few days, and the forced cohabitation will also prove that they are still good together, as and better than before.

The strength of this story is the time construction and the double writing style: in the first part the reader is plunged in the middle of Raheim and Mitchell’s story without much notice, and I tried to collect little pieces of info here and there to build the structure; in the second part Rahein and Mitchell are interviewed together, and basically they give you all those info all together, in a constructed way.

House of John by Stanley Bennett Clay: Jesse has an enviable life and a job he likes, but he is not lucky in love. At 38 years old, he is so desperate for love that he easily mistakes sex for the real thing, only to be bitterly awakened soon after. Since he is slow to learn the lesson, he decides to join a group of friends at Santo Domingo, with the only purpose of finding cheap sex without string attached. On the island, he meets Etienne, but the young man is not what Jesse was expecting: romantic, with strict and old fashioned principle, Etienne doesn’t believe in the easy sex, and Jesse has to woo him, at the same time being the joke of his friends who are enjoying as much as possible the natural “beauties” of the place.

This is probably the most romantic of all the three stories, the romance is all around in the air, and basically when there is love, everything seems easier.

E. Lynn Harris plays the role of the fairy godmother in all above stories, the one who is able to give the right advice to set the men on their right path towards love, being always truthful to themselves and the men they love.

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Jun 30, 2010 Grady rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Most Fitting Tribute to an Innovative Mentor

VISIBLE LIVES: THREE STORIES IN TRIBUTE TO E. LYNN HARRIS is a treasure. Even if the initial concept for the production of this book weren't so worthy (and WORTHY it is!) this little triptych of novellas is by three superb writers whose works stand well on their own past glories, but whose spirits are elevated by this homage to the man who in many ways introduced the quality of literature about African American sexuality to a new and higher level. Be...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Author G D Grace rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I attended the tribute reading for the late E. Lynn Harris that took place at Oakland’s SMAAC Youth Center on 5/22/2010 at 6:30pm, and it was an honor to be a part of the celebration of a life that touched and inspired so many writers and non writers near and abroad.

The center had a quaint welcoming feel to it, and smiles were on every face as authors, James Earl Hardy and Stanley Bennett Clay read excerpts from their contributions to “Visible Lives“ a Three Story Tribute to E. Lynn Harris. In a...more

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Aug 27, 2012 sassygirl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-american, m-m, ebooks-i-own

I loved the first story by Terrance Dean. Loved Chase and Quinn. Chase is an older black man who meets a younger black man, Quinn. Quinn is very sincere and not what I would call a player. But he knows that he wants Chase and he pursues him. Theres a surprise twist in the last chapter and I hope a full novel comes of it. Would like to see how it plays out.
The second novel was by Hardy and I couldn't even finish it. I think I read 15 pages and was done.
I didn't really like the 3rd novella either...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Edina Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

THREE STORIES.

The best is story 3, House of John, by the author of Looker. A real delight.

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Sep 20, 2010 ACRL added it

Shelves: motw

Read by ACRL Member of the Week Michelle Dartis. Learn more about Michelle on the ACRL Insider blog.

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Jun 23, 2010 Grey853 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, fiction

I enjoyed the three stories in this tribute. They were all very different in tone and style, but all had the same theme, finding love is never easy.

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Aug 29, 2010 Rena rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bois

I loved the book, although I must say that Terrance Dean's story stood out the most. He seemed to capture the spirit of E. Lynn Harris best. It could have been a stand-alone novel, and I didn't want it to end. Stanley Bennett Clay and James Earl Hardy did okay on their fictional tributes, as well. Overall, well-written and makes me miss E. Lynn all the more.

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Jul 29, 2010 Darnetta added it

Visible Lives, I am sure, would make E. Lynn Harris very proud. With warm tributes before each story, this book packs a mighty blow to the heart and mind. I recommend Visible Lives to E. Lynn Harris fans as well as readers who enjoy vivid, entertaining, enlightening, and well-written fiction.

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Mar 16, 2011 Denicemarcell added it · review of another edition

once i really got into it i liked it. especially how they each worked E Lynn Harris into the story. he is missed.

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Oct 10, 2010 Michele Montgomery rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewing for review site

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About Stanley Bennett Clay

Stanley Bennett Clay received 3 NAACP Theatre Awards and 3 Drama-logue Awards for writing, directing and co-producing the stage play “Ritual.” He made his film writing/directorial debut with the film version, which was voted the Jury Award at the 2000 Pan African Film Festival.

He wrote the plays “Lovers” (Theatre of Arts), wrote and composed the musical “Street Nativity” (Celebrity Centre Theatre)...more Stanley Bennett Clay received 3 NAACP Theatre Awards and 3 Drama-logue Awards for writing, directing and co-producing the stage play “Ritual.” He made his film writing/directorial debut with the film version, which was voted the Jury Award at the 2000 Pan African Film Festival.

He wrote the plays “Lovers” (Theatre of Arts), wrote and composed the musical “Street Nativity” (Celebrity Centre Theatre), and wrote and starred in “Armstrong’s Kid” (Roy Arias Off-Broadway Theatre/NY).

He directed the west coast premiere of the play “Jonin’” (Estelle Harmon Theatre, Drama-logue Award/Direction), produced the GLAAD award-winning “Children of the Night” (Ebony Showcase Theatre), and produced the world premiere of “Willie & Esther” which was a Los Angeles Times Critics’ Choice and won 2 L.A. Weekly Awards, including Best Play.

As an actor, Clay starred, guest-starred and was featured in more than fifty TV and film productions including “Good Times,” “Cheers,” “Minstrel Man,” "James Michener’s Dynasty,” “Cannonball” and “All The President’s Men.” On stage, he did leads in “Zooman and the Sign” (Drama-logue Award/NAACP Image Award Best Actor nominee) “Anna Lucasta” (NAACP Image Award Best Actor winner) and “Six Pieces of Musical Broadway” (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion). He also appeared in Albert Camus’ “Caligula” (Zodiac Theatre) Bill Duke’s “Sonata” (Theatre of Arts) and “A Hatful of Rain” (Argo Repertory Company).

He’s the author of three novels: “Diva” (Fleming & Sons), “In Search of Pretty Young Black Men” (Atria) and “Looker” (Atria). “Search” won the 2005 New York HOTEP Society Award for Best Gay Novel, and "Diva," his first novel, has been re-issued in paperback on Amazon.com and as an ebook in Amazon's Kindle store, after nearly twenty years of being out of print. He also co-authored “Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris.” He recently signed a contract with Ellora's Cave Publishers for a five-book series under the umbrella title "Dominican Heat."

For ten years (1991-2001) he edited and published SBC Magazine, then the most widely distributed national monthly for the Black LGBT community. He received Genre Magazine’s Life Guard Award, The National Black Writers’ Founder’s Award, the first Black Gay and Lesbian Cultural Alliance Award, the 2008 Oakland Black Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, Blatino Oasis 2010 Award for Literature, and the Indianapolis Black Pride/Brothers United Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature.

He most recently wrote and directed the documentary "You Are Not Alone," which examines depression among black gay men.

He lives in Manhattan, New York.(less)

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