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First Exposure
Straight, married Petty Officer Second Class Skyler Thompson battles homophobia from his navy buddies, the military, and his wife when he takes a job creating flower arrangements at a gay-owned florist. But rather than yield to pressure and quit, he refuses to give up the joy of creating beautiful arrangements, battling homophobia for artistic expression. His dream is to leave the navy and open his own florist shop.
Ezra Dumphy—his shipmates call him Dumpy because of his obesity—is a gay sailor who likes to dress in drag. He is shunned by his shipmates, tragically lonely, and uses drugs to cope with his solitude. What he wants more than anything is someone to share his life with.
Can these two men, opposites in every way, help each other achieve their dreams?
Ezra Dumphy—his shipmates call him Dumpy because of his obesity—is a gay sailor who likes to dress in drag. He is shunned by his shipmates, tragically lonely, and uses drugs to cope with his solitude. What he wants more than anything is someone to share his life with.
Can these two men, opposites in every way, help each other achieve their dreams?
264 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2014
49 people want to read
About the author
Alan Chin
12 books97 followersAlan Chin was born in Ogden, Utah, where he was christened, Alan Lewis Hurlburt. He was raised in San Jose, California where he enjoyed an undistinguished childhood. After graduating high school, Alan served four years in the U.S. Navy where he learned and practiced the trade of aircraft mechanic while stationed at the naval air station in Kingsville, Texas.
Alan attended four years of night school at San Francisco State University, studying the field of Data Processing. Afterwards he enjoyed a twenty year career working his way from computer programmer, to software engineer, to network designer, and finally to manager of several software engineer development groups.
In 1991, while still working full time, Alan went back to night school and years later graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Economics and a Masters in Creative Writing.
In 1999, Alan retired from his career in Information Technology to devote more time to his three hobbies: writing, traveling, and tennis. During that same timeframe, Alan legally changed his name to Alan Chin, so that he could share the same family name as his life partner, Herman Chin.
Alan turned serious about his writing in 2003, and began working on his first novel, Island Song. He has now published two novel with Zumaya Publications - Island Song and The Lonely War. He is currently searching for a publisher fr his 3rd novel, while writing a 4th novel and two screenplays.
Alan currently lives and writes half of each year at his home in San Rafael, California, and he spends the other half of each year traveling the globe.
You can learn more about Alan Chin and his writing at: http://AlanChinWriter.blogspot.com or about his travels at his travel blog: http://HermanAndAlan.blogspot.com
Alan attended four years of night school at San Francisco State University, studying the field of Data Processing. Afterwards he enjoyed a twenty year career working his way from computer programmer, to software engineer, to network designer, and finally to manager of several software engineer development groups.
In 1991, while still working full time, Alan went back to night school and years later graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Economics and a Masters in Creative Writing.
In 1999, Alan retired from his career in Information Technology to devote more time to his three hobbies: writing, traveling, and tennis. During that same timeframe, Alan legally changed his name to Alan Chin, so that he could share the same family name as his life partner, Herman Chin.
Alan turned serious about his writing in 2003, and began working on his first novel, Island Song. He has now published two novel with Zumaya Publications - Island Song and The Lonely War. He is currently searching for a publisher fr his 3rd novel, while writing a 4th novel and two screenplays.
Alan currently lives and writes half of each year at his home in San Rafael, California, and he spends the other half of each year traveling the globe.
You can learn more about Alan Chin and his writing at: http://AlanChinWriter.blogspot.com or about his travels at his travel blog: http://HermanAndAlan.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 19, 2014
Final Exposure -- One thing I liked and 2 that things that pissed me right the fuck off.
One thing I liked.
And now for some poetry. While reading this book I was reminded of the only three lines from The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost) that I have memorized.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—There are three main characters in this novel; Skylar, Rosa and Ezra. Each of them repeatedly faces a choice of road to take – not the choice but a choice. Not just once but over and over and over again. Their roads fork and they have to choose which way to go, how to act and react. Do they choose the easy path, the familiar one that others will approve of or do they choose the harder path, the scarily unknown one that has no guarantees but may lead to a beautiful, fulfilling life. It made for a complicated, enjoyable read. At least for the first 50%.
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Two things – A.
There are two supporting characters in the novel that are already living a beautiful life. They have a calming influence on some of the characters and the readers. In the second half of the novel something truly horrifying happens to one of them. It’s beyond words and understanding and it happens every day in our world. I don’t object to its realism but I cannot get passed the thought that this man was created solely to provide a powerful life lesson for the main characters. You’ve learned so much, main characters, but here’s a tragic event that will inspire you even further. Go forth and make better life choices. You’re welcome. And perhaps the readers will be inspired as well! You know what? As a reader, I don’t need or want a flashing neon sign that says LIFE LESSONS LEARNED HERE. Just tell me a goddamn story, leave out the emotional manipulation, and I’ll either get something out of it or I won’t.
Two things – B. Directly related to A.
However, what really gets on my nerves is that the truly shitty events in this novel seem to happen to the gay characters. Yes, plenty of bad shit happens to Skylar and Rosa, the hetero couple. But it felt like the gay characters, Hollister, Miguel and Ezra, were making all the sacrifices so Skylar and Rosa could live a happy life together. The gay characters are only there to provide a lesson in how homophobia ruins lives but love and acceptance leads to happiness. That’s super great but meanwhile what about Hollister's life? What about Miguel's love? What about Ezra? To give the author his due, Ezra is a fully fleshed out character who makes his own decisions. At the end he’s, literally and figuratively, in a better place. Again, super great. However before he can get to that better place (which we never even see) he has to sacrifice his freedom for a short time to ensure a golden existence for Rosa and Skylar. Why the fuck are they so important?
Result
I have no fucking clue how to rate this book, so I'm going to grant it three stars. It’s not a simple tale, some parts moved me and many others pissed me right the fuck off. (In case you missed the title.) I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a long time to come. The character of Ezra will especially stay with me. I would really like to know what happens to him. I will forever dislike Rosa and resent her for sharing my name. Which is fairly ridiculous, I know, it’s not exactly a unique name. But why couldn't she be sacrificed? Why couldn't that bitch trip and fall on a railroad spike and inspire everyone to live a better life? I know I would be inspired.
**Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
August 24, 2014
Reviewage and Fun and insightful interview with Alan Chin on PBA
"Life, friendship, love, was a crapshoot."
After just two chapters into this book, I had bought into this story, to Ezra and Skylar, to their lives, to this author’s writing.
On the surface of things, it may appear like these are trope-worn characters with trope-worn backgrounds, but this is not the case. Chin has given these people lives through their struggles and the crutches with which they try to deal with those struggles. He’s given to them talents and the joy they feel when they get lost in them. The level of emotional honesty is unavoidable, it’s so real.
Ezra and Skylar share a connection, though through different media. The result is a door that opens practically on its own.
To him, art was somehow sacred, the way you gaze up at a night sky and wonder if you’re standing on an electron that revolves around a proton in a series of infinite universes, and suddenly your mind expands and you experience your reality in a new and more significant light.
Anyone who has ever gotten lost while looking at a photograph or watching a playing musician or reading a passage in a poem, or anything of the like, will understand that feeling. There’s no turning back from it, either.
Desperation.
Fleeting joy.
Deep pain.
Strength.
Loneliness.
Wispy hope.
Sadness.
Unexpected chances.
This writer has a healthy comfort level with language and knows how to use it. It’s such an interesting juxtaposition, his use of what I can only call celebratory prose in writing about difficult things taking place in complicated, uneasy lives. The styles aren’t all similar but I got the same feeling from his writing as I do when reading Harper Fox or Edmond Manning. The words the words the words.
There are a few cases of what feels like overindulgence in that language, but when it’s this enjoyable, I let it go like a two-day old bagel.
At some point during all of this, I realized I wouldn’t be able to ever forget these characters. Beautiful, sweet, carrying their burdens, frightened, hopeful and working to survive. Again, it’s the writing. It brings inspiration and darkness to life.
“Flowers are more delicate, more ethereal than the plants they emerge from, and they have scent, which is amorphous. They are the bridge between the physical and the formless, body and spirit. Flowers are a metamorphosis of the plant in the same way spiritual awakening is to a human.”
Hollister, one of the supporting characters and co-owner of the flower shop with his partner Miguel, says this to Skylar as they work on creating some arrangements for an event. This is one of many, many turns in this story for multiple characters. I have to say, as well, that in this kind of story, I almost don’t like to use the term “supporting”, as if they aren’t important all on their own. Believe me, every character in this book is meant to be there.
Unpredictable characters making unpredictable choices. I like that I didn’t always agree with those choices or that they didn’t always feel right for the characters. Whenever that happened, it forced me to reexamine my understanding of them. How great is that? Highly involved reading is the name of the game here. Love it.
There are all types of relationships explored in this story: friendship, co-workers, married couples, child/parent, long-time companions, lovers, and all of them feel very real. Real means emotional, relatable, they made me think, stayed with me, and I couldn’t wait to get back to reading about them each day.
“Honey, did you ever have a kite pull you right off the ground when you were a kid? If so, then you know the thrill I get when I work with flowers.”
There’s a nostalgic feel to this book. I’m not even sure how I can “prove” that, except that it does. Maybe it’s the overall style of the storytelling Chin has. I think that’s what it is. I want more.
This is not an easy read given the wide array of tangled, difficult subjects examined and experiences revealed. Despite all of that, I felt peaceful when I was finished. Looking back at everything that happened, everything these characters put themselves through, I never would have predicted peace being my final reaction. Just like the story itself, it was unpredictable.
This is a novel that, frankly, defies categorization. It left me utterly satisfied. It’s very personal. And that last scene? I still can’t find the words to adequately describe how it made me feel, all of these days later. I do know that I want more of Ezra’s story. ;)
"Life, friendship, love, was a crapshoot."
After just two chapters into this book, I had bought into this story, to Ezra and Skylar, to their lives, to this author’s writing.
On the surface of things, it may appear like these are trope-worn characters with trope-worn backgrounds, but this is not the case. Chin has given these people lives through their struggles and the crutches with which they try to deal with those struggles. He’s given to them talents and the joy they feel when they get lost in them. The level of emotional honesty is unavoidable, it’s so real.
Ezra and Skylar share a connection, though through different media. The result is a door that opens practically on its own.
To him, art was somehow sacred, the way you gaze up at a night sky and wonder if you’re standing on an electron that revolves around a proton in a series of infinite universes, and suddenly your mind expands and you experience your reality in a new and more significant light.
Anyone who has ever gotten lost while looking at a photograph or watching a playing musician or reading a passage in a poem, or anything of the like, will understand that feeling. There’s no turning back from it, either.
Desperation.
Fleeting joy.
Deep pain.
Strength.
Loneliness.
Wispy hope.
Sadness.
Unexpected chances.
This writer has a healthy comfort level with language and knows how to use it. It’s such an interesting juxtaposition, his use of what I can only call celebratory prose in writing about difficult things taking place in complicated, uneasy lives. The styles aren’t all similar but I got the same feeling from his writing as I do when reading Harper Fox or Edmond Manning. The words the words the words.
There are a few cases of what feels like overindulgence in that language, but when it’s this enjoyable, I let it go like a two-day old bagel.
At some point during all of this, I realized I wouldn’t be able to ever forget these characters. Beautiful, sweet, carrying their burdens, frightened, hopeful and working to survive. Again, it’s the writing. It brings inspiration and darkness to life.
“Flowers are more delicate, more ethereal than the plants they emerge from, and they have scent, which is amorphous. They are the bridge between the physical and the formless, body and spirit. Flowers are a metamorphosis of the plant in the same way spiritual awakening is to a human.”
Hollister, one of the supporting characters and co-owner of the flower shop with his partner Miguel, says this to Skylar as they work on creating some arrangements for an event. This is one of many, many turns in this story for multiple characters. I have to say, as well, that in this kind of story, I almost don’t like to use the term “supporting”, as if they aren’t important all on their own. Believe me, every character in this book is meant to be there.
Unpredictable characters making unpredictable choices. I like that I didn’t always agree with those choices or that they didn’t always feel right for the characters. Whenever that happened, it forced me to reexamine my understanding of them. How great is that? Highly involved reading is the name of the game here. Love it.
There are all types of relationships explored in this story: friendship, co-workers, married couples, child/parent, long-time companions, lovers, and all of them feel very real. Real means emotional, relatable, they made me think, stayed with me, and I couldn’t wait to get back to reading about them each day.
“Honey, did you ever have a kite pull you right off the ground when you were a kid? If so, then you know the thrill I get when I work with flowers.”
There’s a nostalgic feel to this book. I’m not even sure how I can “prove” that, except that it does. Maybe it’s the overall style of the storytelling Chin has. I think that’s what it is. I want more.
This is not an easy read given the wide array of tangled, difficult subjects examined and experiences revealed. Despite all of that, I felt peaceful when I was finished. Looking back at everything that happened, everything these characters put themselves through, I never would have predicted peace being my final reaction. Just like the story itself, it was unpredictable.
This is a novel that, frankly, defies categorization. It left me utterly satisfied. It’s very personal. And that last scene? I still can’t find the words to adequately describe how it made me feel, all of these days later. I do know that I want more of Ezra’s story. ;)
September 8, 2014
This was no fun read, lots of times I had my heart in my mouth and my head shaking no, no, no. Dealing with homophobia and its effect as a result of simply having gay friends or working with gay colleagues, Chin gave me fully formed characters in all their glory and unglory and makes them go through a wringer. People and how they deal with life. What becomes important to them, what do they cling to, what saves them.
I found some of the story heavy, some of it was maybe too much for my sensibilities but the characters stayed true to course. You know you might not agree with a certain action but can totally see a certain character doing that because that is what he/she is. That is it here. The people in this book rang true.
Why grieve a love that never was?
Because we do, do that, don’t we. We make ourselves sick with wanting something we do not have. We trample on and ruin what we have in order to try and get what we do not. And then we are still left with an hole in our chest which we have no hope of filling, making ourselves feel unwanted, undesired, unloved.
If romance means A + B = HEA, than this is not a romance. But if it is people finding their way to love, any kind of love, mostly love towards oneself, than this is a romance. For can any one of us let others love us unless we too love ourselves? Loving, accepting ourselves, lets us open the door to others.
BR with Rosa and Bev
September 2, 2014
~ ~ ~
I read this as a buddy read and, now, two days after finishing it I'm still talking it through.
Very contemplative.
Review:
This book affected me. It wasn't an easy-to-take read despite its flow and, at times, lyrical nature. The characters are deeply flawed with unquestionably deplorable morals even if one might be able to justify their actions, or not. Who among us hasn't wished harm on someone who has wronged us? Chalk it up to-- too close to reality, too recognizable and entirely too gripping, but this book will remain in my mind and soul.
I warn you there are triggers here, so check the tags before delving in.
THE CHARACTERS
Petty Officer Second Class Skylar Thompson - Masculine to a fault, lithe, artistic, beautiful and compassionate. AND, angry, bitter, stubborn and conflicted. His actions may infuriate you and they may break you, but either way it is fascinating to see if he can pull his life together.
Ezra Dunphy - His loneliness and crushingly desperate search for attention nearly had me setting this book aside. But glimpses of his true nature, strength and genius kept me welded to this story.
The Secondary Characters -
Rosa- Conniving, selfish and completely unworthy of her husbands affection. Kudos to the author for not smoothing out her edges. I rarely hate a character to this degree.
Miguel and Holly- True love lies here. These beautiful, wise and committed lovers were the glue that others needed to model their lives after. Lovely.
THE STORY
This bittersweet and mature story begins with Skylar returning home from an eighteen month deployment at sea. He's eager to reunite with his family, but this artistic man struggles to provide for them. He takes a second job that allows his creativity to bloom, but his navy job changes to allow his new daytime job and the two careers couldn't clash more.
Ezra finds himself alone and traveling a familiar path in order to find companionship, but will he ever find compassion?
It turns out that this is a story about two men who are just looking for acceptance and understanding; elemental necessities that can be so very hard to achieve.
THE WRITING
This is probably where I'm most conflicted with this book. Mr. Chin can certainly weave a story. He surprised me, was tough and unforgiving. He fully developed his characters to the point of being unforgettable and caused me emotional duress. The pacing was spot on, because if it had slowed anywhere I would have become too caught up in considering the immoral nature of these characters to continue.
The conflict comes with his choice to allow nearly all of his characters to be deplorable. That made it difficult to cling on, to root for and to endure this read. That being said, I'm confident in calling this a four-star read. I believe the author achieved his goals, wanting to tell a tale of coarse immorality while shining a spotlight on the intimate beauty of friendship.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Just go into it knowing that this author doesn't pull his punches. He's going to make you uncomfortable, but he definitely puts you in the story and gives you plenty to consider.
~ ~ ~
I would like to sincerely thank Alan Chin for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and for allowing it to be shared for a group read/review.
~ ~ ~
I read this as a buddy read and, now, two days after finishing it I'm still talking it through.
Very contemplative.
Review:
This book affected me. It wasn't an easy-to-take read despite its flow and, at times, lyrical nature. The characters are deeply flawed with unquestionably deplorable morals even if one might be able to justify their actions, or not. Who among us hasn't wished harm on someone who has wronged us? Chalk it up to-- too close to reality, too recognizable and entirely too gripping, but this book will remain in my mind and soul.
I warn you there are triggers here, so check the tags before delving in.
THE CHARACTERS
Petty Officer Second Class Skylar Thompson - Masculine to a fault, lithe, artistic, beautiful and compassionate. AND, angry, bitter, stubborn and conflicted. His actions may infuriate you and they may break you, but either way it is fascinating to see if he can pull his life together.
Skylar felt his balls being crushed between two boulders called Salvation and Disaster.
Ezra Dunphy - His loneliness and crushingly desperate search for attention nearly had me setting this book aside. But glimpses of his true nature, strength and genius kept me welded to this story.
Diamond knew that all the evils of the world arose from people wishing to be to be something other than what they are, and that desire gave birth to despair, covetousness, and sickness.
The Secondary Characters -
Rosa- Conniving, selfish and completely unworthy of her husbands affection. Kudos to the author for not smoothing out her edges. I rarely hate a character to this degree.
Miguel and Holly- True love lies here. These beautiful, wise and committed lovers were the glue that others needed to model their lives after. Lovely.
THE STORY
This bittersweet and mature story begins with Skylar returning home from an eighteen month deployment at sea. He's eager to reunite with his family, but this artistic man struggles to provide for them. He takes a second job that allows his creativity to bloom, but his navy job changes to allow his new daytime job and the two careers couldn't clash more.
Ezra finds himself alone and traveling a familiar path in order to find companionship, but will he ever find compassion?
It turns out that this is a story about two men who are just looking for acceptance and understanding; elemental necessities that can be so very hard to achieve.
THE WRITING
This is probably where I'm most conflicted with this book. Mr. Chin can certainly weave a story. He surprised me, was tough and unforgiving. He fully developed his characters to the point of being unforgettable and caused me emotional duress. The pacing was spot on, because if it had slowed anywhere I would have become too caught up in considering the immoral nature of these characters to continue.
The conflict comes with his choice to allow nearly all of his characters to be deplorable. That made it difficult to cling on, to root for and to endure this read. That being said, I'm confident in calling this a four-star read. I believe the author achieved his goals, wanting to tell a tale of coarse immorality while shining a spotlight on the intimate beauty of friendship.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Just go into it knowing that this author doesn't pull his punches. He's going to make you uncomfortable, but he definitely puts you in the story and gives you plenty to consider.
~ ~ ~
I would like to sincerely thank Alan Chin for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and for allowing it to be shared for a group read/review.
~ ~ ~
to-read-yes-soonish-arc-br-blog
September 5, 2014I just got a copy of First Exposure to ARC read...
Yay!!!
***********************************************************
Yay!!!
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September 1, 2014
eARC Review & Excerpt: First Exposure by Alan Chin
Superbly Written. An unforgetable read.
No, it is nowhere near or even similar to The Plain of Bitter Honey which was a thought provoking and sometimes philosophical read. This reads more like about life in general with characters working and living within the navy, their personal lives, their work, their dreams and their frustrations. It just so happens that there are quite a few gay men here, some colorful, some not so colorful. And then there was Ezra Dumphy.
Ezra had a crush on Petty Officer Second Class Skyler Thompson for some time now and had been secretly and lovingly taken pictures of the man. It was not an idolization for romance's sake as it was because the man exuded a confidence he himself lacked and because the man was simply a good man. He never tormented Ezra, or Dumpy as others called him, because of the way he looked and acted. He treated Ezra just like any other, even when reprimanding him for a job sloppily done or just being careless. Without really realizing it, Skyler was Ezra's protector.
Skyler's life is not blissful at all. His financial woes are aplenty, his personal problems with his wife and father was something he really did not want to think about. That he is the sole bread winner is not helping matters when his only means of earning money is through the navy which took him from his family months on end. When his wife's grandmother's health deteriorated, the family situation at home also deteriorated. He needed to earn extra to keep food on the table. When he gets offered a job at a florists, it was a shock but he was desperate. He never thought this would spur him on to dream of a better future once more.
The lives of Skyler and Ezra was not a stuff out of fairy tales. Author Alan Chin wrote their story as a matter of factly making this one of the more real books I have read in a long, long time. Not only does he deal with society's expectations bluntly, he also writes about how the people affected by it could go either the right path or towards the more unreliable and negative path to destruction. How each individual deals with their life's journeys, this is the beauty of this book.
What really grabbed my attention was how the author used flowers as symbols of life. The mere action of stripping thorns off a rose, taping a flower stem to prep it for the arrangement, the cutting of the floral foam to shape, each action seemed mundane at first but reading more into the book it was soon apparent that not only did the author know flower arrangement but that he used the movements as an introduction into the psychology of each individual.
Reading this, I felt at times lost in the dreamy splendor of the flowers as described for they were vividly written in, but I also got lost within the minds of both Ezra and Skyler. They were beautiful characters and quite unforgettable. Their lives, the way it all panned out in the end, may not have been what I was prepared for, but it surely made an impression I could not soon or will ever forget.
Superbly Written. An unforgetable read.
No, it is nowhere near or even similar to The Plain of Bitter Honey which was a thought provoking and sometimes philosophical read. This reads more like about life in general with characters working and living within the navy, their personal lives, their work, their dreams and their frustrations. It just so happens that there are quite a few gay men here, some colorful, some not so colorful. And then there was Ezra Dumphy.
Ezra had a crush on Petty Officer Second Class Skyler Thompson for some time now and had been secretly and lovingly taken pictures of the man. It was not an idolization for romance's sake as it was because the man exuded a confidence he himself lacked and because the man was simply a good man. He never tormented Ezra, or Dumpy as others called him, because of the way he looked and acted. He treated Ezra just like any other, even when reprimanding him for a job sloppily done or just being careless. Without really realizing it, Skyler was Ezra's protector.
Skyler's life is not blissful at all. His financial woes are aplenty, his personal problems with his wife and father was something he really did not want to think about. That he is the sole bread winner is not helping matters when his only means of earning money is through the navy which took him from his family months on end. When his wife's grandmother's health deteriorated, the family situation at home also deteriorated. He needed to earn extra to keep food on the table. When he gets offered a job at a florists, it was a shock but he was desperate. He never thought this would spur him on to dream of a better future once more.
The lives of Skyler and Ezra was not a stuff out of fairy tales. Author Alan Chin wrote their story as a matter of factly making this one of the more real books I have read in a long, long time. Not only does he deal with society's expectations bluntly, he also writes about how the people affected by it could go either the right path or towards the more unreliable and negative path to destruction. How each individual deals with their life's journeys, this is the beauty of this book.
What really grabbed my attention was how the author used flowers as symbols of life. The mere action of stripping thorns off a rose, taping a flower stem to prep it for the arrangement, the cutting of the floral foam to shape, each action seemed mundane at first but reading more into the book it was soon apparent that not only did the author know flower arrangement but that he used the movements as an introduction into the psychology of each individual.
Reading this, I felt at times lost in the dreamy splendor of the flowers as described for they were vividly written in, but I also got lost within the minds of both Ezra and Skyler. They were beautiful characters and quite unforgettable. Their lives, the way it all panned out in the end, may not have been what I was prepared for, but it surely made an impression I could not soon or will ever forget.
September 2, 2014
3.5 stars
This book here....
[image error]
Yeah, THAT ^^^ was my face for the last 5% of the book. I found myself torn between wanting the book not to end and wishing it has stopped 50 pages ago.
This is my first from this author and I can't say if I will pick up another from him or not. This was a group read with my lovely ladies and given the books that we usually read together I went in with the assumption that this would be a M/M romance. It is not. Let me repeat that:
THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE OF ANY KIND
If you go into reading this book with that mind frame well I am sorry my dear soul you will be sadly disappointed.
The are some characters in this book that the term "I wish they would burn in hell" is a appropriate. I will not tell you who they are, that is for you to figure out on your own. Sorry not sorry.
This book left a hole in my soul and has had me questioning my morals for the past 24 hours that I have been done with this book. Well done Mr. Chin, WELL DONE. I want to take each one of your characters and hold them to my chest, sit them down in a chair, and give them some old school wall-to-wall counseling.
Except Miguel and Holly. I love them! I love them so much that I want to know their story before the Happy Poppy. I want to place them in the pocket of my skinny jeans and never let them out.
So dear poor unfortunate soul that thought they may get some spoilers from this review I am sorry, not going to happen. BUTTTTT if and when you finish this thought provoking, moral reestablishing, damn near made me cry book I will be here to hold you hand and help you through your feelings. :)
This book here....
[image error]
Yeah, THAT ^^^ was my face for the last 5% of the book. I found myself torn between wanting the book not to end and wishing it has stopped 50 pages ago.
This is my first from this author and I can't say if I will pick up another from him or not. This was a group read with my lovely ladies and given the books that we usually read together I went in with the assumption that this would be a M/M romance. It is not. Let me repeat that:
THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE OF ANY KIND
If you go into reading this book with that mind frame well I am sorry my dear soul you will be sadly disappointed.
The are some characters in this book that the term "I wish they would burn in hell" is a appropriate. I will not tell you who they are, that is for you to figure out on your own. Sorry not sorry.
This book left a hole in my soul and has had me questioning my morals for the past 24 hours that I have been done with this book. Well done Mr. Chin, WELL DONE. I want to take each one of your characters and hold them to my chest, sit them down in a chair, and give them some old school wall-to-wall counseling.
Except Miguel and Holly. I love them! I love them so much that I want to know their story before the Happy Poppy. I want to place them in the pocket of my skinny jeans and never let them out.
So dear poor unfortunate soul that thought they may get some spoilers from this review I am sorry, not going to happen. BUTTTTT if and when you finish this thought provoking, moral reestablishing, damn near made me cry book I will be here to hold you hand and help you through your feelings. :)
June 13, 2015
Mini Review. All kinds of awesome. Terrific characters, great storyline, hardly any sex (no need, the story is good enough to eat), just an amazing book and I will be after some more of Mr Chin's work. Thanks Honeybunch for the rec, and to my Buddy Read Ladies...Inge, Sofia and Rosa Really. 5 Ezra/Diamond sparkling stars for this one.
Thanks also to Bold Strokes Books for the ARC via Netgalley
November 24, 2014
I came across this quote recently “Beginnings hook readers, endings create fans”, I don't remember where I read it, but it came to mind as I started to write this review. I have been a big fan of Alan's work since reading the first chapter of 'Butterfly's Child'. Alan's writing always sits so well with me, I love his creative descriptions of the mundane to that of pure beauty. His words always flow so well on the pages, and his characters are not made to be unrealistically, hot or hideous. They're perfectly natural beings, with real emotions and flaws. Not one character is too perfect to be real or too mysterious to be anything other than human. You could pass one of Alan's characters in the street, meet them on your journey to work, work alongside them possibly or whilst hanging out with friends. Now it's not because these characters are boring that I'd associate them with everyday life, but because Alan has the ability to give them life in the pages of his books.
The characters in First Exposure are not just a photographer or a painter or a sailor. Alan's descriptions are expressed so well that you can almost hear the click of a camera, the flick of a paint brush and feel the crispness of a shirt. With each character all sides of their personalities are revealed, allowing you to know them intimately. A character you may feel uncomfortable with at the start could well be the one you fall in love with at the very end.
Petty Officer Second Class Skylar Thompson, is aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln supercarrier. Skylar is married to Rosa and they have a son, Hunter. Skylar questions his career choice as his family struggle to make ends meet on his pay from the Navy. This leads Skylar into turmoil over his actual career and that of his preferred, dreamed of vocation as an artist. Although he is popular and has friends on board his ship, he often feels uncomfortable in the company of the other men who are loud mouthed, shallow and crude. Skylar doesn’t like the sexual connotations made against some of his fellow crew members, especially one man, Dumphy. Skylar is a straight man but feels compassion and a little sorry for Dumphy, he admires Dumphy’s courage to stick it out.
Seaman Ezra Dumphy has had life pretty tough, he is a young gay man with a love of photography. Never without his camera, Ezra is fascinated by Skylar and craftily steals shots of the man. I really liked Ezra as he is a survivor, Ezra falls into terrible situations. Life has a habit of kicking him where it hurts, but he’s a toughy and despite his appearance he does his best to take care of himself. He wants to be loved, have friends but he doesn’t suffer fools gladly and he gives as good as he gets. With a father who beat him and a mother who doesn't appear to have protected him, he spent much of his teens living on the streets.
When Skylar and Ezra are brought together serving aboard the same ship they unexpectedly find themselves looking out for each other. Through this story their worlds collide leading them to new friends, new lives and sanctuary, but it’s not without tribulation. Fueled by resentment and revenge Skylar and Ezra have to first sail through some very rough seas.
If you love a gritty tale, true friendship and forgiveness you'll not be disappointed here.
Reviewed by Teddy
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
The characters in First Exposure are not just a photographer or a painter or a sailor. Alan's descriptions are expressed so well that you can almost hear the click of a camera, the flick of a paint brush and feel the crispness of a shirt. With each character all sides of their personalities are revealed, allowing you to know them intimately. A character you may feel uncomfortable with at the start could well be the one you fall in love with at the very end.
Petty Officer Second Class Skylar Thompson, is aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln supercarrier. Skylar is married to Rosa and they have a son, Hunter. Skylar questions his career choice as his family struggle to make ends meet on his pay from the Navy. This leads Skylar into turmoil over his actual career and that of his preferred, dreamed of vocation as an artist. Although he is popular and has friends on board his ship, he often feels uncomfortable in the company of the other men who are loud mouthed, shallow and crude. Skylar doesn’t like the sexual connotations made against some of his fellow crew members, especially one man, Dumphy. Skylar is a straight man but feels compassion and a little sorry for Dumphy, he admires Dumphy’s courage to stick it out.
Seaman Ezra Dumphy has had life pretty tough, he is a young gay man with a love of photography. Never without his camera, Ezra is fascinated by Skylar and craftily steals shots of the man. I really liked Ezra as he is a survivor, Ezra falls into terrible situations. Life has a habit of kicking him where it hurts, but he’s a toughy and despite his appearance he does his best to take care of himself. He wants to be loved, have friends but he doesn’t suffer fools gladly and he gives as good as he gets. With a father who beat him and a mother who doesn't appear to have protected him, he spent much of his teens living on the streets.
When Skylar and Ezra are brought together serving aboard the same ship they unexpectedly find themselves looking out for each other. Through this story their worlds collide leading them to new friends, new lives and sanctuary, but it’s not without tribulation. Fueled by resentment and revenge Skylar and Ezra have to first sail through some very rough seas.
If you love a gritty tale, true friendship and forgiveness you'll not be disappointed here.
Reviewed by Teddy
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
December 7, 2014
I was left feeling very strange at the end of this novel. I have lots of mixed feelings and I am not able to give five stars to this book. While I liked Skylar and Ezra I really did not like Skylar’s wife, Rosa. She abandoned him when he needed her most and seemed to generally care more about her peers’ opinions than what was best for her family. She seemed very manipulative and opportunistic to me. Skylar endured long hours and undesirable jobs to make her dreams come true, but she just seemed to complain.
I loved how Skylar always sticks up for Ezra and from the very beginning he recognizes that there is more to Ezra than his weight problem. This book shows how sometimes all you need is for one person to believe in you and give you a second chance for your life to completely turn around. In the end all the problems are solved and the characters get their happy ever after endings. While I was happy with the ending and the overall story my overwhelming disappointment in Rosa kind of soured the whole story for me.
I loved how Skylar always sticks up for Ezra and from the very beginning he recognizes that there is more to Ezra than his weight problem. This book shows how sometimes all you need is for one person to believe in you and give you a second chance for your life to completely turn around. In the end all the problems are solved and the characters get their happy ever after endings. While I was happy with the ending and the overall story my overwhelming disappointment in Rosa kind of soured the whole story for me.
September 13, 2014
The author has a wonderful command of language, and uses it to paint pictures, the same way one of his character's uses art and floral arranging. An interesting story that sucked me as I quickly wanted to find out what happened to these engaging, yet in some cases, tragic, characters. In a story about friendship, and love within friendship, the different perspectives were used well to show all sides.
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
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