Member: Bembo

Hello Benjamin,

How have you been? We haven't emailed in a long time. I had a great trip to Paris last month where I bought way too many books. I did get some rare things.

I recently became the chair of the Library Committee at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh. If you are ever in the mood to weed your library we'd like to have any of your items that might be of GLBT interest. We're looking for books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, directories, etc. If you send us duplicate items we'll put them in our book sale. We're also starting a lending collection of adult (XXX) DVDs and video. Send those to us if you are so inclined.

We'll reimburse you for your costs if you ship via UPS. We'll also send you a letter acknowledging the value of your contribution for tax purposes.

Check out the GLCC Library here on LT and become a fan of the GLCC Library on FaceBook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/GLCC-of-Pi...

I hope you'll consider donating to the GLCC Library of Pittsburgh.

Thanks.

Dan

PS

If you can't donate to us please donate to your local GLBT Library. I'm sure they need your help too.

posted by e-zReader at 5:33 pm (EST) on Nov 21, 2009

Hi Benjamin,

You may not remember too much of Paul Russell's 'Sea of Tranquillity' as it's more than two years since you reviewed it here on LT (Dec 10, 2006).

I finished this book yesterday and it's been a long, long time since I've been so moved by a book: I had tears running down my face while reading the last few chapters. It was a truly remarkable and emotional reading experience (even more so than 'A Map of the Harbor Islands'). By the end of the novel I almost felt as though Jonathan and Stayton were lifelong friends.

Paul Russell definitely has to be right up there on my list of favourite authors writing 'gay interest' novels. I've now read all of his novels (some for the second or third time) in the last few weeks and I look forward to his next one which I hope is not too far away. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a website for Mr Russell.

Thank you for the reviews you write here on LT as they have helped me choose books to buy and read.

Regards,
Ron

posted by Murmurs at 6:29 pm (EST) on Feb 16, 2009

Thanks, Benjamin, you saved me some money as now I won't have to buy both of the books.

Cheers,
Ron

posted by Murmurs at 3:53 pm (EST) on Jan 8, 2009

Hello Benjamin,

I was reading some of your reviews and I'm wondering if you could help me out on a couple of books that you own by Michael Carson - 'Sucking Sherbet Lemons' and 'Brothers in Arms'.

From what I've been able to gather these are the same books with different titles. Is this correct?

As I would have to buy them from overseas used book dealers with added extravagant postage costs, I don't want to waste my money if they are same.

Regards,
Ron

posted by Murmurs at 7:37 pm (EST) on Jan 7, 2009

Dear Bembo,

I would like to both thank you and congratulate you for your review on 'A Map of the Harbor Islands' (J.G. Hayes).

I bought the book a year or two ago and had started it a couple of times but gave up after a few pages: I just wasn't in the mood for the small amount of effort needed to get used to Hayes' style (that unique Irish way with words). Looking for something new to read I came across the book again on my shelves and decided to check it out on LT and, of course, I found your review and started reading the book again.

Once I got started I couldn't put it down; it's right up there with one of the best books I've ever read and I can see myself reading it many more times in the future. Like you, it's been a LONG time since I've "been so moved by a book, my heart ached for the boys, frequently I had to fight back the tears."

It's a shame to see that the book is now apparently out-of-print and unobtainable new from major bookstores (Amazon US is currently showing this - 2 new from $911.79, 5 used from $47.99, 1 collectible from $69.30). I've tried to find references to J.G. Hayes on Google without success.

This book should not only be thought of as a 'gay classic', but also as an outstanding work of English literature.

I've now ordered Hayes' two books of short stories and, as a result of your review, Michael Chabon’s "The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay".

All the best for a Happy New Year of reading in 2009.

Cheers,
Ron

posted by Murmurs at 5:50 pm (EST) on Jan 6, 2009

Hey Benjamin,

Wow, that is so cool, being part of the Amazon Vine Program! Then your reviews for Amazon must be good.

I did not know that Netherland is nominated for the Booker Prize. I thought O'Neill would be considered an American writer, but he belongs to the British literature after all. Well, Netherland is tremendously well written, I was captivated from the first page on.
I looked up Gone Away World, which seems like a good book by what I read about it. Part SF, part literary, is that correct? So you like it?
Maybe I'll place it on my Amazon wish list.

I read the first book of Eddings' Begariad series, but the writing did not appeal that much too me, I agree with you in that. When it comes to this genre, authors like Tad Williams or Robin Hobb are favorites of mine.

Nice to read that you live in the south of England. I am planning to travel to Bath, Lyme Regis (2nd part of the Jane Austen journey), and then on to Cornwall, probably in May 2009. It's very accessible now, via the Channel tunnel.

Greetz, Leo

posted by Leosbooks at 8:30 am (EST) on Aug 1, 2008

Hi Benjamin,

Take a second look at my reviews: they are written both in Dutch and English. First the Dutch text, followed by the English one. Good to read that you liked Lawnboy, beautiful isn't it?

What are you reading right now?

And we have more in common: jazz and classical music. Both my favorite kinds of music too.

Do you live in England? I've been there only last April, a few days in Hampshire, Jane Austen country. Beautiful!

Tale care, Leo

posted by Leosbooks at 4:07 pm (EST) on Jul 25, 2008

Hi,

Thanks for accepting the invite. I see that we like the same kind of novels, you rated authors like Paul Russell, Michael Cunningham and Jim Grimsley with 5 stars, and that's how I feel about their books too!

And I see some really great books on your to read list, like "Lawnboy" by Paul Lisicky or Brian Malloy's "The year of ice". I loved those. And especially Aaron Krach's "Half-Life"! I read it twice over, so beautiful.

Bye,
Leo

posted by Leosbooks at 7:50 am (EST) on Jul 25, 2008

I'm hoping, because I've had a range of stuff that it might not affect my choices that much. Will pop over to Vine and have a look later.

posted by SmithSJ01 at 5:16 am (EST) on Jul 20, 2008

Hi Benjamin

I'm afraid I couldn't finish 'The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabel'. It was awful! I struggled from word one and managed to tolerate 70 pages and I just couldn't face any more. For me, there was nothing likeable about it. Luckily, the only other Vine item I haven't reviewed is 'The Invention of Everything Else' by Samantha Hunt so I'm still within my limits.

Sam

posted by SmithSJ01 at 10:04 am (EST) on Jul 19, 2008

As soon as I've read it I'll let you know - I always post my reviews on here as well. If I can spot you on Amazon (making an assumption your username is the same as here) I'll give you a HV.

posted by SmithSJ01 at 1:10 am (EST) on Jul 17, 2008

That's how I got mine aswell Benjamin. I had noticed that there was a tag for it for Amazon Vine but as I also have that I didn't want to presume. I love Vine and enjoy the new opportunities to try out stuff, however I've had a one or two dreadful items though! Well, I thought they were dreadful, doesn't mean others do! A few from my reading group are registered for Vine and occasionally we have swapped items before if we've requested different things.

posted by SmithSJ01 at 3:24 pm (EST) on Jul 14, 2008

Hi

I always get intrigued when only one or two other people have a book I have. I've just added 'The Last Days of The Lacuna Cabal' to my catalogue and came across just one other person with it. You! ;)

posted by SmithSJ01 at 11:32 am (EST) on Jul 13, 2008

Thanks for the accept, Bembo - and the kind comments too! I just had to add someone who's got "The Charioteer" and "The First Verse" in their library - two of my utter favourite books.

:))

A
xxx

posted by AnneBrooke at 4:06 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2008

Oh thanks! Not sure about the professional bit though. Just love reading and then yaking about it. Your reviews are very good and have been enjoying perusing through them. :o)

posted by sharrow at 6:05 pm (EST) on Jun 27, 2008

Thanks! I have a couple of books I want to read first, but I will read Clawed Back after them. If it's good, I may order and read the first book too. Good to know it mostly stands alone. I'll post a review once I read it.

posted by jshillingford at 9:26 pm (EST) on May 28, 2008

Hi Bembo!

I noticed you reviewed "Clawed Back from the Dead" by John Rooney. This is a sequel and I was wondering if you read the first book, or if this stands alone without it. I plan on reading this, but wasn't sure if I needed to buy "Nine Lives Too Many" first? Thanks! Jem

posted by jshillingford at 2:27 pm (EST) on May 27, 2008

Hi Benjamin,

Thanks for your reply on Mark Behr's Kings of the Water. I have put it into my 'saved' folder at The Book Depository and hopefully it will turn up one day.

There's not a great deal of information about Behr on the 'Net but if I come across the reason for the non-publication, I'll let you know.

Cheers,
Ron.

posted by Murmurs at 7:45 pm (EST) on Jan 20, 2008

Hi Bembo,

I'm a fan of Mark Behr and I notice that you are the only LT'er who lists Mark Behr's Kings of the Water albeit with the tag 'on order'.

Some of the online bookshops show the book as having been published 31/12/2006 yet my searching shows no copies of the available new or secondhand.

Did the book actually get published or did something happen to delay it?

Cheers,
Ron

posted by Murmurs at 3:44 pm (EST) on Jan 20, 2008

Thanks for the add, Bembo. Happy New Year! Val

posted by ObsidianBookshelf at 11:29 am (EST) on Dec 31, 2007

Hello Benjamin,

Sorry to hear that your health problems prevent you from traveling. What ever the problem is I hope it's not too debilitating.

You're a painter! Is it for fun or profit or both? I have several artist friends here in Pittsburgh who do lovely work. Pittsburgh has dozens of galleries and many good venues for artists to show their work. One could easily go broke supporting these guys. I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler but I really admire those who can draw and paint.

As much as I travel I've never had the chance to see much of England or any of the British Isles. I've been to London but that's about it. I work with several performing arts groups here and 2 of them have performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. The next time one of them goes there I'm going with them!

Have you read Three Junes by Julia Glass? It's a wonderful book set in Scotland and New York. I finished it last month and I'm recommending it to everyone.

As for your fear of flying; isn't that why they built the Chunnel? It's the best (and fastest) way to get from London to Paris. I highly recommend it.

What aare you reading now?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Dan

posted by e-zReader at 12:08 pm (EST) on Dec 16, 2007

Hi Bembo (Benjamin),

I'm delighted I hit on your user name.

Sorry to hear that you don't travel much. Is there a reason? I go somewhere in Europe about once a year and have a terrific time. You would love it. I'm planning to go to the Frankfurt book fair in October 08. Let me know if you think about traveling sometime. I have lot's of travel books and I'm always looking for travel companions. Dan

posted by e-zReader at 11:07 pm (EST) on Dec 13, 2007

Hello Bembo,

I love your username. How / why do you use it? I stayed at the Palazzo Bembo in Venice last year. I was a great small place (6 rooms I think) on the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge. By coincidence one of the books I bought in Venice was set in Bembo type. The book was [The Polysyllabic Spree] by [[Nick Hornby]].

The book has nothing to do with Venice or Italy but I buy books everywhere I go and list the place and date in my comments field. I love that list because it reminds me of where I was when.

If you're interested I have pictures of the Palazzo.

Dan

posted by e-zReader at 10:50 am (EST) on Dec 8, 2007

Hi Bembo,

Just stopping by to say that I think your review for The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon was fantastic. I really enjoyed the book and I think your review captures it much better than mine does.

Cheers!

posted by PhoenixTerran at 9:44 pm (EST) on Nov 26, 2007

That's Scion's Blood, you cad! LOL. Anyway, this collection I'm listing is my third. I have previously divested myself of two huge collections, only to inherit another from a friend who passed. I have been building on that ever since. That is the reason I have not read many of the books in this present collection. At he rate I am able to read, it will take me years to finish it, and yet I keep collecting. Face it Grenville, we have the book bug. We will always have more than we are able to read. It is the nature of the infection.

Cheerio,
Patrick

posted by patnelsonchilds at 10:07 am (EST) on Nov 25, 2007

Ha! I think our comments crossed one another. I'm only about a quarter of the way through listing my library. I work on it as much as I can, but it really is a Herculean task. I notice as I'm listing them though that we have many of the same titles. I'll be sure and consult your listings when I'm in need of something new to read. I've just ordered The Phoenix by Ruth Sims because I've heard some wonderful things about it. It's hard to find reading time while working on two books (I've also started writing a new SF series), but I need to make the time because I've really gotten out of touch with what's out there these days in Fantasy/SF. Anyway, I'll chat with you soon! Glad you're enjoying SB.

Cheers,
Patrick

posted by patnelsonchilds at 4:50 pm (EST) on Nov 24, 2007

Hi Bembo!

Thanks so much for your wonderful review of Orphan's Quest. I hope you're also enjoying Scion's Blood. I'm hard at work on the third intallment, Numen's Trust, and hope to have it ready by this spring. I'm glad to have you among my LT friends.

Warmest regards,
Patrick

posted by patnelsonchilds at 4:40 pm (EST) on Nov 24, 2007

Hi Benjamin,

Thanks for your intelligent and thoughtful review of Private Nation.

Nikos.

posted by NADiaman at 3:47 am (EST) on Nov 22, 2007

Hi Benjamin,
I've just joined the LT family and I noticed we have a lot of titles in common. I wasn't surprized because I see your reviews on Amazon alot when I'm browsing Gay fiction. I noticed you have the Cap Iversen westerns (Arson!, Silver Saddles, and Rattler!) but haven't read them yet. You really should! They're just great. Much better, in my opinion, than another 5-book gay western series that you rated quite highly.

Mark

posted by markprobst at 8:58 pm (EST) on Nov 5, 2007

Hi, I stumbled upon your library because we share similar taste in books. I enjoyed browsing through your list.

posted by hansel714 at 4:04 am (EST) on Oct 22, 2007

...I pulled it off the shelf and had a look. I'm sure I must have read it at some point, but I don't remember it at all. From a quick browse through, it seems to be a fairly generic gay coming-of-age novel. Written in 1983, rather pedestrian style, only obviously interesting thing is that it's set partly in Glasgow and partly in New Zealand. A few passing mentions of Gay Lib in the Scottish part, and it looks as though it goes into NZ politics a bit in the last few chapters. Classic awful GMP cover art.

posted by thorold at 1:20 pm (EST) on Oct 18, 2007

I see you have That Other Realm of Freedom, Barry Nonweiler, in your library. If you have read it and can remember it I would be very pleased to hear your opinion.

Hi,

I don't remember it offhand, although the cover image looks vaguely familiar - I'll dig it out and see if it rings any bells. I suspect that it must be a long time since I read it. I assume it's a novel and the "poetry" tag is a mistake from when I bulk-imported my library into LT...

posted by thorold at 7:43 am (EST) on Oct 18, 2007

Hi,

Glad you like my reviews. I can definitely relate to your book-buying getting ahead of your book-reading. I'm the same way.

-Matt

posted by mattrutherford at 8:46 pm (EST) on Aug 24, 2007

I just finished reading [Troll: A love Story] and wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your review of this highly unusual book.

posted by SqueakyChu at 8:33 am (EST) on Aug 4, 2007

Thanks for the welcome! I was excited to find other people I know here (from LJ). It's a long process but I've been slowly adding my collection. I haven't even considered adding books I've read and don't own. That would be another 2000 books at least! LOL! I try to add my reviews and tags when I add the book. That way I don't have to go back. I appreciate reviews, so I try to return the favor. Once I get mine up, I intend to browse everyone else's libraries. Smiles, J'

posted by jshillingford at 3:42 pm (EST) on Jun 24, 2007

Hi Bembo

Thanks for the reply. Thats great news about a planned continuation of the series. And I will look out for his other new book later in the year. I stumbled across 50 ways to say good bye by accident - Amazon recommended it to me. Always on the lookout for new good authors. Had pleasent experiences reading the writings of Robert Rodi in the past, though he seems to have stopped writing. Read 50 ways on the plane flying out to cyprus last year and loved it. Went beack immediately to amazon for Sottopassagio - loevd that too. He has a superb writing style. And his novels are endearing. (If you have contact with Nick Alexander, feel free to forward my comments!).

Jules

posted by sexysheff at 10:14 am (EST) on Apr 8, 2007

How can we be the only ones who have read Good Thing Bad Thing? OK - I only read it a week ago - but its a great book

posted by sexysheff at 6:52 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2007

Bejamin:

Unfortunately, you've caught my library before it was ready for its official "coming out" party! Not everything's uploaded yet and I haven't tagged even half of it. Pluswhich, I need to fix the existing tags as I'm not happy with them.

Stay tuned and it'll be done in the next day or so. Once my library is complete, that's when I'll be peeking at everyone else's!

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Blake

posted by blakefraina at 7:19 am (EST) on Feb 5, 2007

Thanks for your message. It's good to have you on the Radio 3 Group. I hope that you will contribute from time to time. Happy listening!

posted by antimuzak at 2:56 am (EST) on Feb 1, 2007

hey!

i got back from montréal last thursday. things went very well. the meetings with my supervisors went more smoothly than i had expected. we're all excited about the topic that i want to pursue for my dissertation.

while there, i finished perry brass' angel lust. there really isn't much to recommend it, apart from the sexy front cover. the sexual spirituality or spiritual sexuality--i'm still trying to decide which it is--that brass writes about in his book is somewhat sketchy, i thought. and then, you put time travel on top of that, well, i think i'd rather go read a linguistics article for a bit.

it's kind of disappointing, really. the only reason why i started reading perry brass' books was because of the harvest, which, at the time, i really enjoyed reading. i suppose, i'll have to go back to that book and see if i still like it.

anyway, since montréal, i've finished three books, all of which i recommend to you:

- m. j. pearson's discreet young gentleman was a silly piece of fluff that i totally enjoyed. it was cute, uncomplicated and left me with warm fuzzies in my tummy.

- james lear's the back passage was fun, in the one-handed sort of way. despite my general preference for non-erotica, i do make exceptions to erotica written by james lear. yes, there are explicit sex scenes in his novels. however, he has for the most part also been able to write novels with plots that are somewhat whimsical and goofy.

- salvatore sapienza's seventy times seven was great. i think i finished reading it in about five or six hours. i had just finished the james lear book and wanted to start another one right away. i decided to pick this one up and didn't put it down until i was done. the only thing that i thought didn't follow was the protagonist's contention that choosing celibacy for religious reasons was denying life and one's self. it seemed to me that the protagonist was choosing celibacy and religious orders for the wrong reasons to begin with (i.e. to get away from the crazy benders that he got himself into when he was in the gay scene). apart from that, it was really a nice book with a nice, well-paced, very romantic story in it.

currently, i'm flip-flopping between eric swanson's the boy in the lake and michael holloway perronne's a time before me. neither are particularly promising but i've read a bit more of the former. i'll tell you how it goes when i'm done with both.

merry christmas!

raph

posted by raphinou at 2:28 am (EST) on Dec 20, 2006

Hi Benjamin~
I'm just checking in here since the last message and really appreciate the dialog that we've begun. It would be great if we could continue (if only I'd follow up more frequently!).
I will make some time soon to get those titles I promised, I promise .
One thing that's so exciting about this site is connecting with other obsessive readers (that is NOT pejorative!) and finding out that we keep several books going at the same time, etc. Frankly there's no place I sit in the house that doesn't have some books by it. And, of course, there are some wonderful recorded books so my car seat carries 2 or 3 of those at any one time.
I just finished Mark Roeder's A Better Place and would not recommend it though I was compelled to finish it (that isn't always the case). Good premise, irritatingly handled.
OK, sir, I'll get back with you soon.
~ reed

posted by rcoats at 7:02 am (EST) on Dec 11, 2006

hi benjamin!

apologies for the late response. i'm currently in montreal because i have to meet up with my dissertation supervisors.

anyway, there's something to be said about reading these books that leave us very emotionally wrung-out. perhaps, it's cathartic.

currently, i'm reading perry brass' angel lust. it's okay, i suppose. it's all about sex and spirituality on top of municipal political intrigue. sometimes, i wonder what perry brass is thinking when he writes (the same way that anne rice made me wonder what was going on through her head after she found God in her later vampire books).

i'll write more later since i'm using a friend's laptop to type out this message.

raph

posted by raphinou at 2:32 pm (EST) on Dec 9, 2006

hey benjamin!

it took me a few days to get over the brothers bishop. it does wring you out. but, it's such a good book and i haven't read one like it in quite a while. even bart yates' first book, leave myself behind, wasn't as good. it was okay, but the characters in that book weren't as engaging as nathan, tommy and simon.

i've recently finished mel smith's sweet lips, which you can find in my catalogue. it was a really fluffy novel about the affair between a cowboy and the son of a rancher that the cowboy worked for. in spite of the plot (cowboy falls in love with the rancher's son, the rancher finds out and doesn't like it, cowboy and son run off, rancher sends people out to go hunt them down, etc. etc.), it was more about the sex between the two than anything else. but, i have to admit that there were some very cute moments like when they chase the jackrabbit in the desert.

currently, i'm reading alexander chee's edinburgh, which is about a choirboy who is molested by his choirmaster and how years later, the choirboy, now a man, finds himself in a position of authority--i forget if he too becomes a choirmaster, i haven't gotten that far yet--over the son of the choirmaster who had originally molested him. it's an interesting premise and, when i first bought it, i was intrigued by the kinds of conflicts that the protagonist would have to face in his situation (would he break the cycle and leave the choirmaster's son alone? would he also become a child molester to get back at the choirmaster who had so affected him as a child? and so on.). however, maybe i'm too superficial and can't get over the fact that the author has this thing about not using quotation marks to signal dialogue in his novel. it's okay enough, but i find that it leaves me a bit cold and somewhat uninterested. it doesn't capture my imagination as much as, say, the brothers bishop did. when i finish it, i'll tell you what i think.

ciao!

raph

posted by raphinou at 10:25 am (EST) on Nov 27, 2006

hey!

i see that you have bart yates' the brothers bishop. have you read it yet? if so, did you like it? i've just finished reading it a few days ago and absolutely loved it! there's nothing like being upset by a good book! (^__^)

raph

posted by raphinou at 2:09 pm (EST) on Nov 21, 2006

Hi Benjamin,
Thanks for writing (I'm a little late in picking up) and I am truly amazed that we have so many titles in common! Especially when I consider the eclectic nature -- and I thought I was the only one that had heard of a few of these!
You can tell I'm in to YA/coming of age titles (books and movies) -- maybe I never left my adolescence. So . . . I just finished David Levithan's Wide Awake and he writes with his typical insight into the teenage mind. This one has a very interesting premise [a presidential election has a gay, Jewish candidate, along with his husband. hmmm. . .] I'll have to think of some other, more recent titles, but I don't have time right at the moment I do wish the public library kept a list of all I've checked out in instances like these (I know, I know, there's a privacy issue).
Also, like the guy above, I just don't think I'll be able to write reviews. I am glad that I've added tags though! I usually use on-line reviewing sites to get some idea of what a book is about (amazon, insightout, public library catalog, etc).
OK, sorry this is so long but I'm a talker .
Please get back in touch if you have other questions or would just like to chat.
Reed

posted by rcoats at 2:04 pm (EST) on Nov 12, 2006

hey there!

here are my recommendations to you, given the books that we share:

the winter of our discotheque by andrew w. m. beierle
the god in flight by laura argiri
three fortunes in one cookie by cochrane lambert
as meat loves salt by maria mccann
one of these things is not like the other by traves scott
troll by johanna sinisalo

and also the books by timothy james beck, by steven cooper, by michael thomas ford and by paul monette.

cheers!

posted by raphinou at 3:17 am (EST) on Nov 4, 2006

i don't think i'll be tagging them or leaving reviews/comments. i should have probably done so when i first entered them into my catalogue. however, given that i have so many books already, it would just take too much time. sorry! (^__^)

posted by raphinou at 2:48 pm (EST) on Sep 13, 2006