Easier With Practice: DVD Review
By Jeff Walsh
Easier With Practice is one of those movies that is impossible to review on a gay site, especially for someone as spoiler-adverse as me.
Because the distributor sent me this with another title, and I didn't even bother to read about it in advance, I just converted it so that I could watch it on my iPad and review it on the plane to or from Hawaii. And, for 90 percent of the movie, my thought was "Why did they send me an interesting, albeit seemingly heterosexual movie?"
In the back of my mind, of course, I thought, "The only way this would be a gay movie is if..." and, of course, that is what ends up being the case. So, we have a gay movie that is sort of a twist gay movie, except to review it on a gay website almost requires you to tell people the twist, so that it actually seems like a gay story.
The question I have, of course, is... if you watch this movie based on knowing it will eventually be a gay movie, even though it doesn't seem like it for most of the film and, because of that knowledge, figure things out in advance that you otherwise wouldn't or shouldn't, is it still a satisfying movie?
And I don't know the answer to that question.
Contest: Win a copy of Strings Attached
"Strings Attached" by Nick Nolan is a great story of how a closeted teen's life changes and he becomes a man (see review below).
We have three copies of this book to give away. One grand prize winner will get a signed copy, and two others will win copies of the book, as well.
To enter, send me a private message with a subject line of Strings, before July 6, and you're entered. Only one entry per member. And, of course, if you enter, you have to be Ok receiving a gay book in the mail, obviously.
Good luck!
Strings Attached: Book Review
By Jeff Walsh
Nick Nolan's "Strings Attached" is a fun beach read of a book. I can safely say that, as I read it on a beach all day today. But seriously, this novel starts out like your typical gay young adult novel, but then adds a lot of additional layers and metaphors to make it an even more compelling read.
When the book starts, Jeremy has to call 911 for his drunk mother, who almost died... again. He ends up living with his aunt, with whom his mother had a falling out after the death of Jeremy's father. This aunt is incredibly rich, with butlers and a huge mansion overlooking the ocean. In short order, Jeremy goes from poverty to posh.
As you know is a gay young adult novel, you start lining up all the things that will likely happen, and most of them don't. Or few things happen as you initially suspect. If anything, I'd go as far as to say Jeremy's awakening about being gay, while integral to the story, is less dramatic than the family drama around which it is set.
Latest journal entries.
For The Two Decades
7 April, 2013 - 8:24pm — lonewolf678Things will probably be the same on the outside yet on the inside there is doubt and concern. Unfounded? perhaps, but it is also not out of the realm of possibility that there be founded doubt and concern. One's thoughts can keep one awake at night. Anxiety, stress, concern, lonelyness, struggle, wants, needs... All can keep one from sleep.
out
7 April, 2013 - 7:29am — MaddieJoyHas anyone else noticed that queer people just seem to gravitate to each other, even without knowing each others' sexualities?
My friendish thingy Aleksandra is pan, and her BFF is some variety of queer.
But more importantly, both my friends Katrina and Emily are pan/demi/bi (they're kind of fluid). Katrina came out first during conversation backstage at Puss in Boots today and Emily and I just kind of followed. It was nice to know I'm not alone, and have my secret out there so easily.
a verb
6 April, 2013 - 10:52pm — angel syndrome"to love", or to find the
the parts shattered
in you, yet
deciding to
touch that
broken
glass.
(see also: the voice within
that speaks inside me
at 3 AM, dreaming
of your body
replacing the
heating
unit.)
midnight rockers
6 April, 2013 - 9:51pm — LehcureThree things on my mind: my future with my girlfriend, my classes, and joints
Chaotic Dreamer
6 April, 2013 - 3:50am — poetic_star*inspired by Brian and Michael from Queer as Folk :P
The sun dies in your irises as you lie in bed,
clutching a joint between your fingers and
savoring the memory of a fight on your lips.
Friend, you start the evening off like a burst
of color and light brighter than a carousel,
but towards the end of the rave, you're
already bored and empty so you turn
to hospitals and dramatic suicidal promises,
threatening to jump if I don't hold your hand.
Manipulating the seasons in Pittsburgh,
my friend, you drive me wild.
But somehow, I'm always playing this game.
Fucking Around With Words, In Front Of An Internet Audience
5 April, 2013 - 1:07am — Perhaps We Shou...Sleep.
Walk.
Dream.
Talk.
Eat.
Sleep.
Walk.
Kick.
Think.
Eat.
Take.
Mean.
Love.
Care.
Hate.
Share.
Eat.
Ate.
Ale.
Nord.
Loki.
Thor.
Child.
Sky.
Star.
HAL.
Jove.
Cloud.
Sky.
Sleep.
Dream.
Love.
Troll.
Jotunn.
Eat.
Ginsberg.
Sleep.
Fuck.
Talk.
Fuck.
Fae.
Fairy.
Puck.
Oberon.
Gaiman.
Eat.
Sleep.
Sleep.
Sleep.
Dream.
Moloch.
Howl.
Castle.
Fire.
Calcifer.
Lucifer.
Devil.
Dante.
Milton.
Paradise.
Lost.
Television.
Once.
Snow.
East.
Nine.
March.
French.
Canada.
South.
Cake.
Lie.
Chel.
Skyrim.
Game.
Waste.
Sleep.
Sleep.
Moloch!- A tribute to Ginsberg
5 April, 2013 - 12:38am — Perhaps We Shou...My, My, Mister Moloch,
Take me in your arms.
Please make me a sick sinner-
Please, please, just you try.
My, My, Mister Moloch,
Hold me to your breast.
Bring me close, eat me up,
That's when I'll take you.
My, My, Mister Moloch,
How do you like that?
Stabbing you inside your throat;
Kill you in your gut.
My, My, Mister Moloch,
Didn't expect that
did you, bloated king of filth?
Guess I'll take my leave.
My, My, Mister Moloch,
bleeding on the ground.
How long's it been since Ginsberg?
Think he's smiling now?
My, My, Mister Moloch,
I'd love to stay and chat,
If you are not getting confirmation e-mails from Oasis to complete your membership, don't hesitate to e-mail jeff at oasismag dot com. Be sure to include your username.
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