Danny’s Comments (group member since Feb 10, 2009)

Danny’s comments from the LGBTQA Group Books group.

Hey Troy,

As it turns out I may be moving in May, so I am going to pass on this selection. I am enjoying "Two Boys at Swim", how did you find this book? Anyway I will post my comments of the other sections soon.

Thanks,
Danny

In chapter eight, this book really came alive for me. The introduction of the inner life of Anthony MacMurrough and his relationship to Dr. Scrotes is a complex relationship. The whole inner dialog put together with the actual history of their imprisonment adds a lot of layers to this character. The subtle character revels also help this novel:

“He watched him read the note like a morning paper”

"No eyes are truly black, but this boy's seemed to be. Like rain on a laid road, rain on a road in the moonlight."

“MacMurrough said, “Actually, I was caught.” The boy stooped on the gravel. “You was?” MacMurrough ambled on. “It’s all right. They never catch you twice.” Why wouldn’t they?” “They never release you the first time.”

This exchange spotlights the shame and mistrust of his family finding out he was a homosexual in a very subtle way. I am not the familiar with Joyce, but for me it rings of Faulkner’s character descriptions.

.Lincoln and Whitman Parallel Lives in Civil War Washington

An interesting look at Whitman service as a nurse in the Civil War, includes an excerpt from "Drum Taps"

I am up to Chapter 4. I like the subtle style of Mr. O'Neill. It has that Sound and Fury kind of stream of consciousness. Some of my favorite sentences:

"When for lack of his own he shared a schoolbook, they goosed him, chiming,"For the scholarship boy is a needy boy." He mentioned it once to his father, and his father said,"What is it they call their own fathers?" Jim shrugged. "Papa, I think." That's easy fixed so. You call me Papa in future, then you'll be equal with your fellows."

Mr. Mack let a grunt. The bellows, the bronicals, any shift you choose. If work was in a bed, that man would sleep on the floor. Consumption, my eye."

But when he looked up again, his eyes were shining, and the hint of smile took the ape off his back. "I didn;t want you thinking me a thief." "I wouldn't have told." "You'd be thinking it all the same."

I like his character development, O'Neil gives these little reveals to who we are meeting.

I would like it if we extended the reading per selection to two months. I also think picking a selection for May now would be good. In terms of women writers, Patricia Nell Warren's "The Front Runner", would be my pick.

Hi All,

I would like to suggest "The Portrait of Mr. W.H." by Oscar Wilde.

Thanks,
Danny