Member: blakefraina

Thank you for taking a chance on my book, and I do hope you will enjoy my writing even more than that which has already piqued your interest. I have it ready to go and if you like I will inscribe it for you, before I ship it out.

Merci,

KJ

posted by K.J. at 5:49 am (EST) on Nov 4, 2009

Hi Blake,

I finally got my review up for King of Cats (both here on LibraryThing and on my blog). Sorry it took me so long! I enjoyed the book and found it very compelling and rather intense. Thank you again for participating in the Member Giveaway program; I hope it has been working out well for you. Are you still working on Mephitisme?

Cheers!

posted by PhoenixTerran at 12:46 pm (EST) on Jul 22, 2009

Blake, what a wonderful and persuasive review of "The Unit"! Ninni Holmqvist was previously unknown to me, and I'm now adding this fascinating sounding book to my wish list.

Thanks,
RMD

posted by richardderus at 4:11 pm (EST) on Jun 8, 2009

Hello, just to let you know I took up one of your recommendations from the Gay Fiction post and I'm reading The Easy Way Out by Stephen McCauley at the moment, so cheers for the recommendation. James

posted by withwill at 4:57 pm (EST) on May 22, 2009

Anyone with Buckaroo Banzai in their library is alright with me! Cheers, Allan

posted by abealy at 1:51 pm (EST) on May 19, 2009

You're welcome! It was a great book! XD

posted by TerriV at 12:56 pm (EST) on May 8, 2009

Hi,

Saw you liked Trainspotting, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in reading my new novel and posting your comments here (as well as on a few other book-related sites). Thought you might like my novel since it's also about a group of disturbed kids and a bit dark. I could e-mail you the novel in an e-book format if you'd like. Let me know if you're interested. Here's a link to a summary in case you're interested:

http://christophertusa.com/

Thanks,

Chris

posted by cmtusa at 6:54 pm (EST) on Apr 6, 2009

I have no problem with the subject matter in your book "King of Cats". I also look forward to reading it!

*Have a Fantastic Day!*
~Jenna

posted by jennaveek at 5:51 pm (EST) on Apr 3, 2009

I have no problem in reading your book, "King of Cats"=-looking forward to reading it!!
Thanks, Kristin Fierman

posted by KWoman at 7:07 pm (EST) on Apr 2, 2009

Dr. Dimwit has figured out how to post a review at Amazon, duh, and has done so at last.

I really feel like, some days, my IQ is in the double digits. *sigh*

Now hurry up and give us another book!

Cheers
RMD

posted by richardderus at 2:45 pm (EST) on Mar 26, 2009

I just received the notice that I should expect King of Cats in the mail. Thanks for participating in the Member Giveaway; I'm looking forward to reading the book. Cheers, and Happy Reading!

posted by PhoenixTerran at 2:55 pm (EST) on Mar 24, 2009

Hi Blake, guess what I got? It's at the top of Mt. TBR.

Thanks and cheers!

RMD

posted by richardderus at 8:27 pm (EST) on Mar 18, 2009

Hi Blake! I got a copy of "Tim and Pete" yesterday and read it until 4a. Your review of it made me get it in the first place, so it's no surprise that I liked it and further no surprise that I agree with you about the secondary characters lacking a spark of vitality that, from an author who can invest his leads with such stark reality, I would have taken as a given.

Thanks for turning me on to it.

Cheers
RMD

posted by richardderus at 6:11 pm (EST) on Jan 28, 2009

Hello Blake,

I agree about Mike Kaspar's novel needing a good, wide audience. I hope you'll be word-of-mouthing it...and don't forget to ask your public library to get a copy. They are pretty responsive to such, at least out here in the sticks of Long Island.

I see we share one of my favorite oddball books: Light Metres by Felicia Lamport. "The quahog cried "Damme!"
Because of the whammy
Imposed on that chamois-soft clam..."

I've found something new to chortle over in that book since the darn thing came out!

Cheers
RMD

posted by richardderus at 1:30 pm (EST) on Oct 21, 2008

I know - I'm desperately waiting for her to write something else, it's been years!!!

And I love the look of your 5 linked novellas - will have to peek back for sure.

:))

A
xxx

posted by AnneBrooke at 2:07 pm (EST) on Jul 10, 2008

Thanks for the accept, Blake - lovely to meet another author who writes in the same type of genre as me! And I loved McCann's and McCrea's novels - they're amazing.

:))

A
xxx

posted by AnneBrooke at 1:12 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2008

I'll take a look at "A Push and a Shove" I prefer happy endings, but they aren't required. It just depends on my expectations going in. If it's a romance, I expect it. Otherwise, I just want it to be an appropriate ending. Hopefully the creative buzz will sting you again. If not, KoC is not a bad way to close a writing streak! Have a nice weekend!

posted by jshillingford at 3:13 pm (EST) on May 29, 2008

Hi Blake!

just checking to see if you were working on another book. King of Cats was very well done, and the world can always use more good books!

Jem

posted by jshillingford at 2:52 pm (EST) on May 27, 2008

Hi back. :) To be honest though, I wasn't that impressed by Wicked Gentlmen. I mean ... I liked it. I liked it quite a bit. It was pretty and readable and touching, and I'd give it a 4.5/5, but it felt kind of ... distant, detached. So it never really drew me in. The books that I truly love, like Brethren and Matelots and The God Eaters and Almost Like Being In Love and Temeraire and The Dresden Files and Covenants, I want to go on and on and on without ever ending, and when they do end I feel all lost and sad and like I still need more more more and I don't want it to be over dammit! Wicked Gentlemen left me feeling content and satisfied. Which is a good thing, obviously; just not the best? ^_^; It's funny, but I think my mom actually liked it more than I did. :S

posted by theotherdigit at 9:18 pm (EST) on Oct 17, 2007

I have to agree after looking at the reviews on Amazon that many missed the reason for the book's structure. The last novella would not have been so intense if not for coming last. And, what we learn about people sometimes forces us to reevaluate our opinion of them, as I think happens here. It was well done, and thanks again!

posted by jshillingford at 7:52 am (EST) on Oct 4, 2007

Hey Blake. Good to hear from you.
You commented that we share some of the more obscure gay stuff.
Yeh, right; I was really surprised when I started cataloging to find that I have more gay stuff than English lit. Didn't expect that, don't know what conclusion to draw ... maybe level of interest/enthusiasm ?
Of the other obscure gay stuff on my shelves you might like to check out and keep an eye open for:
"Pulp friction"
"Min ven Thomas"
(Danish young men discovering themselves - learn Danish or find a translation)
Kingdome 19 stuff (pretty heavy, but I like it)
"Min bror och hans bror"
(Swedish young men discovering themselves - learn Swedish or find a translation)
"The art of George Quaintance" (if you're interested in slightly fetish-oriented graphics; not nearly as explicit as Tom of Finland)
Locker room nudes

posted by DouglasAtEik at 1:25 pm (EST) on Aug 26, 2007

I think Brethren and Matelots by WA Hoffman are my favorite M/M relationships. Mainly because it is just such a powerful story beyond the two men. I also enjoyed Details of the Hunt by Laura Baumbach very much. Very explicit with a wonderful science fiction/futuristic tale. And I've recently had a new book recommended to me that sounds great, Wicked Gentlemen, which I immediately ordered.

posted by jshillingford at 5:08 pm (EST) on Jul 23, 2007

Just saw that you have a book in print...I'm going to check it out.

posted by jshillingford at 2:51 pm (EST) on Jul 20, 2007

Do you like erotic romance M/M (lots of sex!) or books that just feature M/M relationships? I like both...

posted by jshillingford at 2:43 pm (EST) on Jul 20, 2007

Thanks! Yes we are an LGBT library - I'm the summer intern and I'm cataloging the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center's entire lending library. It's kind of a daunting task, and it really hasn't left me a lot of free time to explore other people's libraries, but one of the cool things about LibraryThing.com is that you can at least see how many other people share the same book when you enter it. Well it's back to work for me, I hope to get a chance to check out your library sometime! -Jeneil

posted by KzooLGBT at 11:27 am (EST) on Jul 19, 2007

As it was given to me for free because, I think, I paid too much money for the Lovecraft, it sat around unread for about a year and a half. It does come off as a tad overreaching, the work of someone trying a little too hard for an effect he doesn't get. Reminds me of a book I read years ago called "Gothique" by a guy named Kyle Marffin. He just seemed to be writing for a certain crowd, and put everything in there he could to appeal to them. Although, in general, most of the Goths I grew up around were actually pretty discerning about what they read.
I noticed that you have one Patrick McGrath in your library-Asylum. I love him; highly recommend anything else by him, especially Spider. (Just don't see the movie first if you haven't already)
You mentioned Jonathan Carroll; I just read Bones of the Moon; Land of Laughs is next. I get good feedback on Marriage of Sticks as well. Let me know if there's one in particular you find the best of the lot.
One other quick thing--I went to your MySpace page, but it's very faded...Is this supposed to be?

Off to work,
Michele

posted by annwyn at 9:19 am (EST) on May 21, 2007

Hi Blake

First off, your library is very impressive.
I checked you out because you have "A Very Fast Descent Into Hell" by Simon Drax. You're the only other person I've ever encountered who has ever even heard of it, much less owns it. How did you come across it? Mine was given to me years ago at a Sci-Fi/Fantasy book expo in NYC when I bought an Arkham Press Lovecraft collection. It's just the last book I would have thought would have a "One and Only" statistic attached to it...

posted by annwyn at 9:42 am (EST) on May 19, 2007

I too read the book many years ago (sometime in college-- I'd guess 1994) so while I remember enjoying the book, and binging on all of the Rebecca Brown I could find at the time-- I really can't remember any specifics at all.

You know, I'm not sure if I've read any of Rebecca Brown's work since around that time. I really should go back to her. Any recommendations of more recent books of hers (from the past decade)?

posted by mollymolo at 6:07 pm (EST) on Mar 29, 2007

Hello - yes, I have read The Children's Crusade, but unfortunately such a long time ago (1990 - which was when I bought it) that I can't remember anything about it. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

posted by artymiss at 9:11 am (EST) on Mar 3, 2007

Thanks for commenting about Carroll and Richard Bowes. I do indeed know of Minions of the Moon...I have a copy but haven't yet even finished my mass market paperback entries, nevermind trade paper and hardcover. If you haven't read it, he also has an unusual novel out from Golden Gryphon entitled From the Files of the Time Rangers....good stuff. On the non-GLBT side, you may also enjoy Sean Stewart if you like Carroll, and perhaps Lisa Goldstein as well.

Cheers,
- Rob

posted by RobGatesDC at 7:22 pm (EST) on Feb 27, 2007

I first read Glove Puppet when it was published. I read it again about a year ago. This has to be one of my favorite books. I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys GLBT fiction. Glove Puppet is not fluff.

posted by thomasgirke at 5:07 pm (EST) on Feb 26, 2007

Hi. I've started Glove Puppet once, but didn't get too far. I don't know if that's a reflection on Drinnan or on my sometimes too-short attention span. I love Mel Keegan's stuff: the best are Death's Head and Equinox, with Fortunes of War right up there. Good trashy stuff, very entertaining.

posted by jimodo at 10:35 pm (EST) on Feb 22, 2007

I'm having a good time browsing yours, also. Just wait until I get to my Beat section, the Dennis Cooper, and the versions of Alice--then we'll be passing for each other!

posted by BellyandKill at 5:12 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2007

hey!

i've read god in flight numerous times. i really enjoyed it but it can get melodramatic.

as for the dog, he belonged to my family. but unfortunately, he passed away last month. (sorry to leave this on a sad note.)

raph

posted by raphinou at 12:15 pm (EST) on Feb 11, 2007

hello! your book collection is AMAZING.

posted by andtheshoreline at 10:56 am (EST) on Feb 8, 2007

hi Blake and welcome to LibraryThing! i'm all about sharing the lurve and i'm glad you could make it over here.

yep, the user pic is my "baby" when she was a pup. she's 10 now, but i still love that picture. one of these days i might get around to changing it but... dang. that's one of the few photos i've taken that ended up looking half-ways decent.

posted by whatever1013 at 9:21 am (EST) on Feb 8, 2007

Hi Blake

Welcome from one of your Amazon friends!

It is good to see you on Librarything, I shall look through your listed books with interest. I'm pleased to see that you have tagged your books too; I have discovered a number of enjoyable and worthwhile books from such tags. Any chance you might in time be adding reviews, or at least rating the books that you have read?

Best wishes
Benjamin
UK

posted by Bembo at 7:42 am (EST) on Feb 4, 2007