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Herren
Not too many novels can lay claim to a men's restroom as their primary setting, but in the case of Warwick Collins's novel, Gents, a lavatory is an educational place. The hero of this slim volume is Ez Murphy, a Jamaican immigrant to London who finds work cleaning a public restroom. He soon becomes wise to the ways of a certain faction of the world--those who have romantic rendezvous in the toilet stalls. Ez might be naive, but he's not close-minded; when he discovers that his own son prefers hair-styling to soccer, he decides to investigate this alternative lifestyle before making up his mind. Like Ez himself, Gents is charming, honest, and willing to explore different points of view about homosexuality with compassion and humor.
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First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 15, 2007
Work as a subject is sorely neglected by fiction; few writers, with the notable exception of Magnus Mills who does almost nothing else, draw inspiration from the mundane tasks we perform or have performed for us on a daily basis. Gents, though, describes with lyricism and precision the working lives of the three men running a municipal public lavatory in London. The men, all three originally from Jamaica, have different attitudes to the use of the place by cruising homosexuals – or, as they refer to them, ‘reptiles’. Jason the Rastafarian disapproves, but sees the problem in racial terms. Reptiles, for him, are white men:
“Whitey cold,” Jason said. “Cold inside.” He began to utter the dark poetry in his soul. “Colder than reptile. Don’ have no emotions. Come to de Gents for de sex wid another reptile. Don’ come for the wife, don’ wan family, maybe don’ even want de other man. Come. Afterwards go.”
The supervisor, Reynolds, is less judgemental. His main concern is that the council doesn’t decide to close the place down and put all three of them out of work. As he says: “We don’t keep their conscience, we only keeping order.” Later, he comments: “Reptile not dangerous. Danger come from man who hate reptile.”
The third man, Ez, who provides the novel’s main focus, is initially incredulous that such things happen, then, despite himself, curious and, finally, thoughtful. Talking to his wife, Martha, - and the relationship between Ez and Martha is one of the subtlest things in the book - he distinguishes between gay behaviour and what the reptiles get up to.
“Maybe these people not gay. Gay men mostly don’t have to come to dis place. Go to other places. Dese men family men, lonely men.”
As the novel develops, the interdependent relationship between the two groups, each, in its way, oppressed and at risk, becomes more evident. When the ecological balance that enables the attendants and the ‘reptiles’ to survive is threatened by bureaucracy in the form of the implacable Mrs Steerhouse, something needs to be done. The solution the three men find – and I won’t reveal it here - is both humane and practical.
This short novel says more about racial tension, the economics of labour and sexual politics than many books ten times its length. It could have been anti-gay but contrives to have a grace and lightness of touch that distinguish it from more widely-known books. I loved it.
“Whitey cold,” Jason said. “Cold inside.” He began to utter the dark poetry in his soul. “Colder than reptile. Don’ have no emotions. Come to de Gents for de sex wid another reptile. Don’ come for the wife, don’ wan family, maybe don’ even want de other man. Come. Afterwards go.”
The supervisor, Reynolds, is less judgemental. His main concern is that the council doesn’t decide to close the place down and put all three of them out of work. As he says: “We don’t keep their conscience, we only keeping order.” Later, he comments: “Reptile not dangerous. Danger come from man who hate reptile.”
The third man, Ez, who provides the novel’s main focus, is initially incredulous that such things happen, then, despite himself, curious and, finally, thoughtful. Talking to his wife, Martha, - and the relationship between Ez and Martha is one of the subtlest things in the book - he distinguishes between gay behaviour and what the reptiles get up to.
“Maybe these people not gay. Gay men mostly don’t have to come to dis place. Go to other places. Dese men family men, lonely men.”
As the novel develops, the interdependent relationship between the two groups, each, in its way, oppressed and at risk, becomes more evident. When the ecological balance that enables the attendants and the ‘reptiles’ to survive is threatened by bureaucracy in the form of the implacable Mrs Steerhouse, something needs to be done. The solution the three men find – and I won’t reveal it here - is both humane and practical.
This short novel says more about racial tension, the economics of labour and sexual politics than many books ten times its length. It could have been anti-gay but contrives to have a grace and lightness of touch that distinguish it from more widely-known books. I loved it.
June 7, 2012
Every now and then, you read a book that takes you completely unawares, challenges what you think, and completely surprises you in the pure joy of it, and this is such a book! If I hadn't been given this book to read, I don't think I ever would have, I'd have read the blurb, decided it really wasn't for me, and passed on by! However, friends passed it on, and several comments suggested that they had all read the blurb and thought the same thing, but thoroughly enjoyed it, so on that recommendation, I gave it the benefit, and I'm so glad I did, what a lovely little tale it is!
It's only a short little story, I read it in one day, but in that short time you come to really like Ez, the lead character and all he stands for!
I don't really want to say too much, for fear of ruining the sweet surprise this book is for anyone else, but if it comes your way, don't take it on face value, just read it, you won't regret it!
It's only a short little story, I read it in one day, but in that short time you come to really like Ez, the lead character and all he stands for!
I don't really want to say too much, for fear of ruining the sweet surprise this book is for anyone else, but if it comes your way, don't take it on face value, just read it, you won't regret it!
January 30, 2009
My advice to you would be to not read this book....until you are able to treat yourself to a slice of time which will allow you the luxury of reading it from cover to cover in one sitting.
The main characters in this book reach out from the pages to welcome you into their world. The dialogue is exquisite, crafted in such a way that it burns into your mind. It left me incapable of putting the book down for more than a few minutes without burning with desire to find out what happened next.
Between the covers of this absorbing book resides an opportunity to observe another world, one that many of us will never enter and that some of us wish they did not have to. It is a tale of strong contrasts. The reader is presented with vicarious experiences such as the sensation of being held at knife point. Yet there is an underlying message of good love and hope, of the potential for realisation of dreams by overcoming fears and looking beyond the situations that threaten to overwhelm. I read the last page with a smile on my face and a feeling of lightness shimmering inside.
The main characters in this book reach out from the pages to welcome you into their world. The dialogue is exquisite, crafted in such a way that it burns into your mind. It left me incapable of putting the book down for more than a few minutes without burning with desire to find out what happened next.
Between the covers of this absorbing book resides an opportunity to observe another world, one that many of us will never enter and that some of us wish they did not have to. It is a tale of strong contrasts. The reader is presented with vicarious experiences such as the sensation of being held at knife point. Yet there is an underlying message of good love and hope, of the potential for realisation of dreams by overcoming fears and looking beyond the situations that threaten to overwhelm. I read the last page with a smile on my face and a feeling of lightness shimmering inside.
December 30, 2016
A sweet and fun little tale of morality on the themes of prejudice and acceptance.
January 16, 2021
A short fictional story about three West Indian men working at a public urinal in London frequented by gay men. More than just tales from a workplace, this book is a beautiful and fun clash of cultures and morals.
Canvassing many big topics with more nuance and heart than a lot of books twice its size, it delves into racial, economic and sexual politics with deftly lyrical prose.
I would recommend sitting down to read it with a cup of tea and some bikkies, and going in with no expectations!
Canvassing many big topics with more nuance and heart than a lot of books twice its size, it delves into racial, economic and sexual politics with deftly lyrical prose.
I would recommend sitting down to read it with a cup of tea and some bikkies, and going in with no expectations!
April 10, 2017
A very enjoyable, light and quick read. I'd be inclined to give it 4 stars, but am deducting one as this book is so short it can hardly be termed a novella, let alone a novel - it will take 2 hours maximum to read.
The author was an early member of Margaret Thatcher's Privatisation think tank, and the novel can be viewed as a charming political parable. Originally published 20 years ago when the benefits of privatisation could possibly be taken on trust, now the book's conclusions are pure fantasy - nevertheless, this does not detract from the overall charm of the story, as the author pays great attention to characterisation and construction. A lot is very ingeniously and economically packed in to its brief pages. Vastly superior as libertarian agit-prop to the likes of Ayn Rand.
London is full of these privatised ex-council public toilets. In my experience, most of them are now cocktail bars or art galleries, with a few popping up occasionally as desirable residential conversions in upmarket interiors magazines. Not a single one is run as a privately owned public toilet.
The author was an early member of Margaret Thatcher's Privatisation think tank, and the novel can be viewed as a charming political parable. Originally published 20 years ago when the benefits of privatisation could possibly be taken on trust, now the book's conclusions are pure fantasy - nevertheless, this does not detract from the overall charm of the story, as the author pays great attention to characterisation and construction. A lot is very ingeniously and economically packed in to its brief pages. Vastly superior as libertarian agit-prop to the likes of Ayn Rand.
London is full of these privatised ex-council public toilets. In my experience, most of them are now cocktail bars or art galleries, with a few popping up occasionally as desirable residential conversions in upmarket interiors magazines. Not a single one is run as a privately owned public toilet.
September 6, 2024
This novel managed to say a lot in very few pages. It shows someone gradually moving from prejudice to tolerance and maybe, eventually, acceptance - which is what we need more of in the world right now. It’s also the only book I’ve ever read set entirely in a men’s urinal, so there’s that too.
July 14, 2012
This is a short tale in what might seem an unsalubrious setting, but it's a small gem of a book that's well worth reading. It was first published in 1997, but went out of print, before being republished in 2007 by The Friday Project. The republication is well deserved.[return][return]Gents is the tale of Ezekiel Murphy, a West Indian immigrant, and the job he takes as an attendant in a public lavatory in London. The supervisor, Josiah Reynolds, and the other cleaner, Jason, teach him the job, which includes more than he had expected. As Ez soon discovers, the facility is popular with cottagers -- men using the cubicles for fast, anonymous sex with other men. The attendants discourage it as best they can, but tolerate a certain amount of activity, because as Reynolds points out, the 'reptiles' are no threat to anyone. [return][return]There are still complaints to the council about the goings-on, and the crew are told that they must clamp down on the cottaging or the facility will be shut. Alas, they're too successful for their own good, and takings from the small cover charge that covers the facility's running costs drop precipitously, leading to renewed threats of job cuts, and a dilemma for the attendants...[return][return]Gents is a gentle, funny and subtle parable about tolerance, on more levels and subjects than the obvious one. The characters and situations are sketched lightly but deftly, in a lovely display of showing rather than telling, and I wasn't surprised to learn that Collins originally conceived the story as a screenplay. The three West Indian attendants have much in common through their common background, but are still very different people with different attitudes and prejudices. They have an outsider's view of the society they live in, and see it from underneath. Through Ez the book touches on issues of race, class, homophobia, religion and culture, without ever being heavy-handed or one-sided.[return][return]There are stunningly good descriptive passages about the men and their world, and the characters are likeable and sympathetic, without being unbelievable saints. The main characters are the three men, but they also all have wives (two in Jason's case), and Ez's wife Martha and his relationship with her is a particular strength of the book.[return][return]One minor problem for some readers will be the Jamaican patois in the dialogue, which does take a few pages to get used to if you're not familiar with it. But it's appropriate for the characters and not pushed to the point where it's hard to follow.[return][return]This is a much shorter read than its 172 pages might suggest, as a large font and plenty of white space mean that there aren't many words per page. At 25,000 words or so, this is a novella rather than a full-length novel, and you get around an hour's reading for your eight pounds. But it's beautifully written and a joy to read. It may be short but there's plenty of depth, and it will stand up well to re-reading. Even if you feel that the book is too pricy for the word count, it's well worth checking it out from your library.
March 18, 2021
Three West Indian men take centre stage in this engaging short novel; Reynolds, the long standing boss; Jason, his young Rasta assistant of six years, and new man Ez. As Ez joins the staff at the public convenience complaints about cottaging, (men in twos, threes or more are using the cubicles for their dubious pleasures), threaten to close the public toilet. The three men use their own ingenuity to bring the problem under control, with considerable success. In fact so successful are they that takings drop markedly, and so three men are no longer needed to maintain the toilets, one of them may have to go. Again, they come up with an ingenious solution.
The real joy of the book however is the characters. Although Reynolds, whose life revolves around managing the conveniences, appears constantly to jibe Jason, he is in fact very fond of the lad and regards him like a son. While Jason might seem sullen and self-absorbed, and as Reynolds often accuses, "bad", events prove him to be principled, proactive and imaginative. Ez, is a gentle, loving and tolerant man. Their mild Jamaican patois is well captured, and their interactions and activities prove quite comic.
This is a very gentle story with a message, a touch of irony, likeable characters, plenty of humour and a positive outcome.
The real joy of the book however is the characters. Although Reynolds, whose life revolves around managing the conveniences, appears constantly to jibe Jason, he is in fact very fond of the lad and regards him like a son. While Jason might seem sullen and self-absorbed, and as Reynolds often accuses, "bad", events prove him to be principled, proactive and imaginative. Ez, is a gentle, loving and tolerant man. Their mild Jamaican patois is well captured, and their interactions and activities prove quite comic.
This is a very gentle story with a message, a touch of irony, likeable characters, plenty of humour and a positive outcome.
January 13, 2020
What an oddity - certainly one I won’t forget in a while. Three Jamaican/West Indian immigrants working as toilet attendants at an underground public toilet in London find their establishment falls into disrepute when it becomes known for cottaging. On demands from the local council, they resort to humorous measures to dissuade men from their clandestine acts, which turn out to be quite effective. However, when they discover that the toilets will close due to poor revenue, they discover that the cottagers were the only ones keeping it financially afloat, with their turnstile fees. So, as you can guess, they end up getting over their homophobic hang-ups and embracing what their toilets were known for in the first place. And, yes, they end up making a fortune from their visitors. Utterly bizarre, very funny with some beautiful turns of phrase, yes, but it’s hard to judge where the author stands on the issue. At least it was easy to swallow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2009
A quick, enjoyable read.
This took me under two hours to read, but they were two highly enjoyable hours.
Beautifully written with humour and wit, this book relates the dilemma of a gents public toilet in London; if the toilet attendants clear the facility of the unsavoury element ("reptiles"), the place becomes uneconomical.
I loved the Jamaican characters, all three of them beautifully drawn, and the way they cleaned the place so thouroughly that it didn't feel like an unsavoury setting at all!
This sparse book was spot-on, highly recommended.
This took me under two hours to read, but they were two highly enjoyable hours.
Beautifully written with humour and wit, this book relates the dilemma of a gents public toilet in London; if the toilet attendants clear the facility of the unsavoury element ("reptiles"), the place becomes uneconomical.
I loved the Jamaican characters, all three of them beautifully drawn, and the way they cleaned the place so thouroughly that it didn't feel like an unsavoury setting at all!
This sparse book was spot-on, highly recommended.
September 2, 2024
Utterly simple, charming and brilliant, this is an absolute delight of a novel, I am glad not only that I read it but that I bought a copy. There are plenty of excellent reviews for this novel but they all say too much, give too much away. I recommend you know no more than the basic facts of the story and then dive into the novel itself. It is sharp, witty, amazing - I always say I have more difficulty with the books I love than those I hate. This is a book I love and treasure. It is perfect in its own small way. Treat yourself to a rare and special pleasure and read this short novel.
October 17, 2012
Clever, surprising, compact but very satisfying read.
July 29, 2025
I really liked this book. The speech and mannerisms of the three main West Indian protagonists are so authentic it is amazing the novel was written by a white man. The tale is thought-provoking and beautifully written. It also destroys the myth of stereotyping. Halfway through, Ez tells his wife he is worried about the friends their son, Stevie, is hanging round with. Myself, the Whitey, immediately thinks, drug dealers but it turns out that young Stevie works as a hairdresser and many of his friends are gay. I would have given this wonderful book 4 and a half stars but I couldn't work out how to put in the 'half,'
April 8, 2023
Es una novela con tenues toques de homoerotismo. Narra la historia de tres jamaiquinos que radican en Inglaterra atendiendo urinarios/baños y que descubren espacios de sociabilidad bastante comunes.
La verdad me pareció interesante y de fácil lectura. La recomendaría para alguien que busca lecturas llevaderas.
La verdad me pareció interesante y de fácil lectura. La recomendaría para alguien que busca lecturas llevaderas.
June 1, 2023
Novela corta sobre la tolerancia. Ed, Jason y Reynolds, son tres inmigrantes jamaicanos que trabajan en unos baños públicos de Londres. A diario observan como los "reptiles", se deslizan en sus inodoros/madrigueras para llevar a cabo prácticas sexuales a escondidas.
February 28, 2026
Bajo el olor a orina y a heces, al cloro del agua, a desinfectantes y abrillantadores del suelo, a detergentes y estropajos, estaba el tenue olor de los otros que compartían el territorio, el olor a miedo y represión.
December 14, 2018
Se lit vite et bien, un bon p'tit bouquin.
October 9, 2022
Different. Open library won't load up on any of my devices on my wi-fi or my work's wi-fi anymore. Just found a local restaurant where it will load up so finally finished reading this novella.
April 25, 2024
Someone write a book with a more iconic setting and plot that this one. I’ll wait.
November 10, 2025
Muy fácil de leer y entretenido; me ha servido para desbloqueo lector entre las novelas que tenía pendientes.
February 4, 2009
Meet Ezekiel Murphy.
Needing work, he takes a job working as a toilet attendant at a men’s washroom in the London Underground. Working with two other men, Reynolds and Jason, he figures this will be just one more run of the mill job.
He is mistaken.
One day while cleaning the bathroom, he watches as two men leave a cubicle together. Another time, he watches as someone kneels on the ground while the other man stays standing.
Appalled, he asks Reynolds and Jason what is going on. “It’s the reptiles.” Jason says. Apparently the bathroom in which they work in is a popular spot for “cottaging” or gay sex. Many men cruise the washroom looking to get off.
What shocks Ez the most is that these are seemingly normal men. He observes one gentleman he saw in a cubicle with another meet up with his family. “Took your time,” the wife observes. He wonders if he should say anything; wonders if it’s his place.
The three men are dealt a further blow when they are given an ultimatum: cut down on the amount of gay cursing in the washroom or the London council will shut it down. Suddenly, the three men find themselves in between a rock and a hard place having to confront an enemy they know nothing about.
They decide to take matters into their own hands. They start to observe the “reptiles” and their habits; they start to fight back. But what are they fighting most?
Their own prejudices or the rights of others?
Gents may be a small novel but it packs a mean wallop. Clocking in at only 172 pages, many would under estimate the power of this slim volume. They would be unwise to do so. Gents take an in your face look at many issues that other writers would cheerfully avoid: homosexuality, washroom sex, cruising, races, culture, prejudice and racism.
Gents has so much power because it looks at all these issues and more in such brutal, unashamed honesty. You never feel for an instant that you are reading something that should be shocking or scandalous; though, looked at separately, many of the books subjects do indeed cause scandal.
Collins has also created some of the most likeable, wonderful characters I’ve ever encountered in literature today: Ezekiel, a West Indian immigrant worried about providing for his wife and son. Jason, the Rastafarian who has two wives. Reynolds, their supervisor, who tries to remain distant from their situation but can’t help getting drawn in.
These people breathe. I don’t think I can say it clearer than that; they are people I know, people I talk to every day. They are real and honest and true people. It takes a talented writer to create characters with such finesse; characters that I feel I’ve known for years. It takes not only a writer but a magician to create with such simplicity.
Gents is written in simple, precise words. You won’t find any purple prose here; because of the writing style, the issue is right there, out in the open, waiting for you to acknowledge it. Though the language is simple, the words have power. The book doesn’t take a political or social stance. It sets everything on the table for you to read and makes no judgments.
Though many would argue that this is a book about homosexuality, it isn’t. This is a book about people who are forced to confront something within themselves and make a decision that affects others. It’s not about gay cruising. It’s about the power of the human heart when you are asked to confront something you don’t understand.
Gents is a treat, a joy and a pleasure. I am reading it again for the second time. I was moved, swayed and held by the power of Collins words and Gents is a novel that will haunt me for some time to come.
Needing work, he takes a job working as a toilet attendant at a men’s washroom in the London Underground. Working with two other men, Reynolds and Jason, he figures this will be just one more run of the mill job.
He is mistaken.
One day while cleaning the bathroom, he watches as two men leave a cubicle together. Another time, he watches as someone kneels on the ground while the other man stays standing.
Appalled, he asks Reynolds and Jason what is going on. “It’s the reptiles.” Jason says. Apparently the bathroom in which they work in is a popular spot for “cottaging” or gay sex. Many men cruise the washroom looking to get off.
What shocks Ez the most is that these are seemingly normal men. He observes one gentleman he saw in a cubicle with another meet up with his family. “Took your time,” the wife observes. He wonders if he should say anything; wonders if it’s his place.
The three men are dealt a further blow when they are given an ultimatum: cut down on the amount of gay cursing in the washroom or the London council will shut it down. Suddenly, the three men find themselves in between a rock and a hard place having to confront an enemy they know nothing about.
They decide to take matters into their own hands. They start to observe the “reptiles” and their habits; they start to fight back. But what are they fighting most?
Their own prejudices or the rights of others?
Gents may be a small novel but it packs a mean wallop. Clocking in at only 172 pages, many would under estimate the power of this slim volume. They would be unwise to do so. Gents take an in your face look at many issues that other writers would cheerfully avoid: homosexuality, washroom sex, cruising, races, culture, prejudice and racism.
Gents has so much power because it looks at all these issues and more in such brutal, unashamed honesty. You never feel for an instant that you are reading something that should be shocking or scandalous; though, looked at separately, many of the books subjects do indeed cause scandal.
Collins has also created some of the most likeable, wonderful characters I’ve ever encountered in literature today: Ezekiel, a West Indian immigrant worried about providing for his wife and son. Jason, the Rastafarian who has two wives. Reynolds, their supervisor, who tries to remain distant from their situation but can’t help getting drawn in.
These people breathe. I don’t think I can say it clearer than that; they are people I know, people I talk to every day. They are real and honest and true people. It takes a talented writer to create characters with such finesse; characters that I feel I’ve known for years. It takes not only a writer but a magician to create with such simplicity.
Gents is written in simple, precise words. You won’t find any purple prose here; because of the writing style, the issue is right there, out in the open, waiting for you to acknowledge it. Though the language is simple, the words have power. The book doesn’t take a political or social stance. It sets everything on the table for you to read and makes no judgments.
Though many would argue that this is a book about homosexuality, it isn’t. This is a book about people who are forced to confront something within themselves and make a decision that affects others. It’s not about gay cruising. It’s about the power of the human heart when you are asked to confront something you don’t understand.
Gents is a treat, a joy and a pleasure. I am reading it again for the second time. I was moved, swayed and held by the power of Collins words and Gents is a novel that will haunt me for some time to come.
October 5, 2024
Brilliant short book about the shenanigans at a London public convenience from perspective of the attendants.
January 18, 2023
Citaat : Reynolds, Jason en hij waren de inwoners van een aparte republiek. Onderling werd hun patois versterkt. Het was niet zozeer een communicatiemiddel voor hen, maar een band die anderen uitsloot. Door die te benadrukken drong de kracht van hun woorden niet bij anderen door. De tijd leek stil te staan. Gedrieën bewogen zij zich tussen openings -en sluitingstijd in een merkwaardige, door hen zelf afgebakende ruimte.
Review : Ezekiel Murphy, een immigrant uit Jamaica, vindt een baan bij een groot ondergronds openbaar toilet in Londen. De baas, Josia Reynolds, en Jason, een derde Westindiër die daar werkt, leggen hem uit dat ze veel last hebben van vluchtige sekszoekers bij de Heren. Onder druk van de gemeente moeten ze dat tegengaan, en ze verwachten van Ez dat hij hen helpt 'de boel schoon te vegen'.
Maar wanneer de boel schoon is loopt het aantal bezoekers zodanig terug, dat de gemeente besluit het toilet te sluiten. Eén van de mannen besluit het toilet te kopen zodat ze hun werk kunnen behouden.
Humoribstisch, vlot geschreven verhaal, waarin de drie karakters prachtig beschreven worden: de pragmatische Reynolds, de rastafari Jason met zijn uitgesproken mening over blanken en Murphy de nieuwkomer, die dankzij zijn vrouw een andere kijk krijgt op zichzelf en zijn werk.
Een luchthartig maar wel diepzinnig werk dat ook vlot leest omdat het boeiend en met een humoristische knipoog geschreven is.
Review : Ezekiel Murphy, een immigrant uit Jamaica, vindt een baan bij een groot ondergronds openbaar toilet in Londen. De baas, Josia Reynolds, en Jason, een derde Westindiër die daar werkt, leggen hem uit dat ze veel last hebben van vluchtige sekszoekers bij de Heren. Onder druk van de gemeente moeten ze dat tegengaan, en ze verwachten van Ez dat hij hen helpt 'de boel schoon te vegen'.
Maar wanneer de boel schoon is loopt het aantal bezoekers zodanig terug, dat de gemeente besluit het toilet te sluiten. Eén van de mannen besluit het toilet te kopen zodat ze hun werk kunnen behouden.
Humoribstisch, vlot geschreven verhaal, waarin de drie karakters prachtig beschreven worden: de pragmatische Reynolds, de rastafari Jason met zijn uitgesproken mening over blanken en Murphy de nieuwkomer, die dankzij zijn vrouw een andere kijk krijgt op zichzelf en zijn werk.
Een luchthartig maar wel diepzinnig werk dat ook vlot leest omdat het boeiend en met een humoristische knipoog geschreven is.
October 1, 2012
Un tema que de otra forma no sería fácil conocer a fondo; Collins trabaja para publicar este libro con respeto y de una manera inteligente y moral.
Son 3 personajes perfectamente definidos: Ezekiel Murphy, Reynolds y Jason. Los tres jamaicanos y heterosexuales. Sortean con buen humor las dificultades de la vida y de su trabajo como intendentes de un baño Londinense para hombres, que ya contaba con cierta fama de encuentros homosexuales. La historia se centra en estos baños, en las historias que se engarzan ahi mismo. De sus encuentros casuales. -No hay conocimiento previo entre ellos. En muchos casos una mirada es suficiente. Los llaman Reptiles-.
Las instrucciones del juego cambian y tentarán su buen humor, y llegará una de estas instrucciones en particular que pondrá a prueba sus prejuicios y su tolerancia.
Con marcadas diferencias casi antagónicas de los protagonistas con este grupo de Londinenses (como su preferencia sexual y el color de su piel), encontrarán poco a poco aquellas cosas que los unen y los hacen semejantes.
Esta escrito con toda la sencillez posible y con mucho ingenio, pues aún con el tema controversial, no se deja llevar por juicios innecesarios ni por la tentación del voyerismo. AJB
Son 3 personajes perfectamente definidos: Ezekiel Murphy, Reynolds y Jason. Los tres jamaicanos y heterosexuales. Sortean con buen humor las dificultades de la vida y de su trabajo como intendentes de un baño Londinense para hombres, que ya contaba con cierta fama de encuentros homosexuales. La historia se centra en estos baños, en las historias que se engarzan ahi mismo. De sus encuentros casuales. -No hay conocimiento previo entre ellos. En muchos casos una mirada es suficiente. Los llaman Reptiles-.
Las instrucciones del juego cambian y tentarán su buen humor, y llegará una de estas instrucciones en particular que pondrá a prueba sus prejuicios y su tolerancia.
Con marcadas diferencias casi antagónicas de los protagonistas con este grupo de Londinenses (como su preferencia sexual y el color de su piel), encontrarán poco a poco aquellas cosas que los unen y los hacen semejantes.
Esta escrito con toda la sencillez posible y con mucho ingenio, pues aún con el tema controversial, no se deja llevar por juicios innecesarios ni por la tentación del voyerismo. AJB
September 16, 2012
I enjoyed this unexpected little tale of goings-on in a men's public toilets in London. The story follows middle-aged Ez as he starts work alongside two other Jamaican-born Londoners cleaning the Gents'. The innocent Ez cannot imagine what can be going on when he spots two men leaving the same cubicle. He is enlightened by his workmates but soon they are having to take action because the Council is embarrassed by the place being such a well-known venue for 'cottaging' and is threatening with closure and redundancy.
This is very entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny in places. I was a little uncomfortable with the way that the three staff call the cottaging men 'reptiles'. There's a suggestion that the men are mostly not gay (on the assumption that openly gay men would have better places to go) so it's stigmatising the activity rather than the orientation but I wasn't entirely convinced by that. But the three main characters are very convincingly portrayed and Ez is lovely.
This is very entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny in places. I was a little uncomfortable with the way that the three staff call the cottaging men 'reptiles'. There's a suggestion that the men are mostly not gay (on the assumption that openly gay men would have better places to go) so it's stigmatising the activity rather than the orientation but I wasn't entirely convinced by that. But the three main characters are very convincingly portrayed and Ez is lovely.
November 23, 2011
I didn't like this book.
I read a Norwegian translation and I thought the language pretty tepid. It switches from objective to subjective third person sometimes, seemingly by a mistake. The protagonist is like a vapid ghost drifting through the story. The other two main characters also seem pretty empty. Maybe if it was longer...? It was a fast read though, and I got it for free.
The main source of conflict are gays and them doing horrible, unchristian things in the public bathroom where most of the story takes place. It starts out from a place of unconvincing naïveté and ends up settling for mild-mannered acceptance (never mind that it's ambiguous whether this acceptance is genuine or fiscally motivated). In the periphery there's also some cliché about the dreaded Gay Son who wants to be a hairdresser instead of a soccer player. Yes.
I read a Norwegian translation and I thought the language pretty tepid. It switches from objective to subjective third person sometimes, seemingly by a mistake. The protagonist is like a vapid ghost drifting through the story. The other two main characters also seem pretty empty. Maybe if it was longer...? It was a fast read though, and I got it for free.
The main source of conflict are gays and them doing horrible, unchristian things in the public bathroom where most of the story takes place. It starts out from a place of unconvincing naïveté and ends up settling for mild-mannered acceptance (never mind that it's ambiguous whether this acceptance is genuine or fiscally motivated). In the periphery there's also some cliché about the dreaded Gay Son who wants to be a hairdresser instead of a soccer player. Yes.
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June 12, 2020Gents is a short novel and easy to read. The writing is fluid and straight forward and the characters are believable, although their development is limited due to the length of the book.
The plot is a more a vehicle to the delivery of the moral than anything else. A man begins working in a public urinal and is shocked to find it is used for casual sex. At first the book seems to have very judgmental, almost intolerant overtones. It is worth progressing with to see how the interaction of the characters - and circumstances of fate - affect the protoganist and his views.
All the same, I cannot give the book more than three stars. It put me in mind of a book for young-adults (apart from the subject matter). It is short and therefore holds your concentration for the required period and has a very clear point to make. But it isn't a gripping story or a 'must-read' 'can't put down' choice.
The plot is a more a vehicle to the delivery of the moral than anything else. A man begins working in a public urinal and is shocked to find it is used for casual sex. At first the book seems to have very judgmental, almost intolerant overtones. It is worth progressing with to see how the interaction of the characters - and circumstances of fate - affect the protoganist and his views.
All the same, I cannot give the book more than three stars. It put me in mind of a book for young-adults (apart from the subject matter). It is short and therefore holds your concentration for the required period and has a very clear point to make. But it isn't a gripping story or a 'must-read' 'can't put down' choice.
September 20, 2011
Short book about 3 West Indians working in a London underground convenience. Quite a quick and enjoyable read with the main moral dilemma surrounding 'cottagers' causing problems for the council and also for the 3 Jamaican workers. Ingenious denouement to this problem but also as a sideline it looks at the morality of one of the main protagonists who is a rastafarian who can not 'keep it in his pants' and has two wives - I felt as though this could have been looked at more but I suppose it was included as a contrast between what society will accept and what it will not.
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September 16, 2012I was disappointed with this. I thought it was going to be funny at the beginning but it became quite homophobic. It's about three staff of a London men's public toilets who are told by the Council that they have to reduce the amount of cottaging that goes on. The men having sex in cubicles are chased out with sticks and are referred to as 'reptiles' by all three staff, including the MC who is otherwise a sweet and sympathetic character. It's suggested that the cottaging men are not gay which I think is an attempt by the author to deflect criticism but it doesn't work for me.
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