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.

Ann's picture

I came out to a friend

I came out of the closet to a friend, Robert. I almost chickened out, but he said “Bullshit, tell me what’s bothering you”. It was great! He said he didn’t care, and asked if I wanted to know some pick up lines. I asked him not to tell anybody, and he said he wouldn’t. Of course he asked some questions, like how do I know if I haven’t date anybody and who do I see myself marrying. Then he asked if I liked anybody, and before I said anything he guessed from my face that I do. He tried to guess a few names, and then I just told him Beth.

Mike07's picture

Madly confused about a boy!:S

So me and this boy called Matthew have been speaking for a few months now; see Matthew is bisexual like me and its like hes me in another life because he goes through everything I go/have gone through!

Mike07's picture

My coming out story.. so far :P

Ive not made a journal entry in quiet a while so i have a lot of updating to do!

Let me start by saying Im a 14 year old boy and im bisexual, A few month ago i would of choked on those words but now im much more comfortable with myself although Im still learning about my sexuality I can deal with it better because of my personal acceptence.

MacAvity's picture

ahjg;oaihga;lsdhg;akshdgljbreatheavitybreathe

Hmm yeah so I was just getting ready to make a whiny scary journal entry about gendershit and this girl I met and how gendershit gets in the way of stuff

and then

she just asked me out

and yeah words are not doing well with me right now so 'bye. Back elsetime with more stuff yeah.

MaddieJoy's picture

Help please

What does it mean when a girl you barely know says you look adorable? It was the day of silence & we were both wearing ribbons, and she came up to talk to a guy friend of mine while I was putting on my cold-weather garb. As I pulled on my hat she said, "You look adorable!" and I said "Thanks!" and ducked my head and ran away to get home and look in the mirror.
It's true, I did look adorable. ;)
But do straight girls often say things like that? We've never spoken before that. I'd definitely go out with her if she was interested, but how do I know based on so little field research?

emilikee's picture

Should i Say hi?

The girl that i have been talking about is still on my mind. I wanna talk to her. Should i just message her on Facebook? I don't have the guts to talk to her in real life. Should i just say hi? Should i just tell her about my crush? What do i do?

emilikee's picture

4/27/2013

It is 12:12. i can't sleep so i am going to write.
As the weekend dawns, so does the longing for someone who knows and understands me. Every weekend, i get that loneliness that eats away at me.
Sometimes, if it is nice, i will go into the pool area in my backyard and skateboard. I wouldnt dare skateboard in public, i'm not even remotely good at it. Sometimes, i'll go for a bike ride. Those always end quick. My bike is one of the oldest, heaviest things. I thought bicycles were made for transportation. My bike goes slower than a turtle.


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