Joseph Olshan

Many books are written by talented and capable people who have not personally had the experiences about which they write. War stories, for example, are often written by historians, writers of historical fiction and others whose research and imagination combine to create plausible and interesting stories. John Steinbeck had not been a refugee from the Dust Bowl when he wrote The Grapes of Wrath nor had Margaret Mitchell even been a slave holder or participant in the Civil War, yet each wrote show more powerful novels, conveying wonderful truths and ideas.
In Nightswimmer, I felt a level of authenticity that was subtle but undeniable. Olshan knew what it was like to face the AIDS epidemic, to experience love and yet be betrayed, to feel hurt so deeply that it became difficult to smile, to recover and to be vulnerable to another.
Good writers portray these feelings and portray them well, but writers who are writing from their souls, from their deepest pains or most ecstatic joys are able to tell a story in a way that leaves readers with absolute knowledge that the author bared his soul, shared his pain and created his art not from conjecture but from experience.
Often the reader shares nothing in common with the writer nor even his characters and storyline and yet still experiences something mystical and ethereal that reveals the truth within the fiction. And this is exactly why books need to be written and readers need to read widely, because only from seeing into the journeys of others can we develop the empathy that makes us better human beings.
Nightswimmer is a good book for anyone to read, straight or gay. It’s story is about love, caring, vulnerability, fear, trust, betrayal and other emotions. Are these confined only to those of one orientation or the other? Good books portray universal themes and when those themes are set in non-traditional situations, they help readers gain insights into those themes they would not get otherwise. The gay readers of this book will identify with its theme, perhaps thinking more deeply about their own vulnerabilities or frustrations with those of others. Straight readers with deepen insight, perhaps examining their own vulnerability after a tragic experience. It is a worthwhile read. show less

In rural Vermont, Catherine, a 41-year old ex-newswoman recovering from a haunting relationship, comes across a dead woman, apparently the most recent victim of a serial killer. She gets drawn into the investigation because one of her neighbors, a forensic psychiatrist, wants to use her and her investigative skills as a sounding board. Along the way we meet various other locals, including an elderly world-renowned artist and his adopted son, who is the town tax collector and an early show more suspect. Gradually, Catherine’s past lover, as well as Catherine’s Wilkie Collins expertise, get drawn into the investigation, bringing back memories she was hoping to escape and putting her in increased danger. Fans of Louise Penny will love this. show less

Many books are written by talented and capable people who have not personally had the experiences about which they write. War stories, for example, are often written by historians, writers of historical fiction and others whose research and imagination combine to create plausible and interesting stories. John Steinbeck had not been a refugee from the Dust Bowl when he wrote The Grapes of Wrath nor had Margaret Mitchell even been a slave holder or participant in the Civil War, yet each wrote show more powerful novels, conveying wonderful truths and ideas.
In Nightswimmer, I felt a level of authenticity that was subtle but undeniable. Olshan knew what it was like to face the AIDS epidemic, to experience love and yet be betrayed, to feel hurt so deeply that it became difficult to smile, to recover and to be vulnerable to another.
Good writers portray these feelings and portray them well, but writers who are writing from their souls, from their deepest pains or most ecstatic joys are able to tell a story in a way that leaves readers with absolute knowledge that the author bared his soul, shared his pain and created his art not from conjecture but from experience.
Often the reader shares nothing in common with the writer nor even his characters and storyline and yet still experiences something mystical and ethereal that reveals the truth within the fiction. And this is exactly why books need to be written and readers need to read widely, because only from seeing into the journeys of others can we develop the empathy that makes us better human beings.
Nightswimmer is a good book for anyone to read, straight or gay. It’s story is about love, caring, vulnerability, fear, trust, betrayal and other emotions. Are these confined only to those of one orientation or the other? Good books portray universal themes and when those themes are set in non-traditional situations, they help readers gain insights into those themes they would not get otherwise. The gay readers of this book will identify with its theme, perhaps thinking more deeply about their own vulnerabilities or frustrations with those of others. Straight readers with deepen insight, perhaps examining their own vulnerability after a tragic experience. It is a worthwhile read. show less

Many books are written by talented and capable people who have not personally had the experiences about which they write. War stories, for example, are often written by historians, writers of historical fiction and others whose research and imagination combine to create plausible and interesting stories. John Steinbeck had not been a refugee from the Dust Bowl when he wrote The Grapes of Wrath nor had Margaret Mitchell even been a slave holder or participant in the Civil War, yet each wrote show more powerful novels, conveying wonderful truths and ideas.
In Nightswimmer, I felt a level of authenticity that was subtle but undeniable. Olshan knew what it was like to face the AIDS epidemic, to experience love and yet be betrayed, to feel hurt so deeply that it became difficult to smile, to recover and to be vulnerable to another.
Good writers portray these feelings and portray them well, but writers who are writing from their souls, from their deepest pains or most ecstatic joys are able to tell a story in a way that leaves readers with absolute knowledge that the author bared his soul, shared his pain and created his art not from conjecture but from experience.
Often the reader shares nothing in common with the writer nor even his characters and storyline and yet still experiences something mystical and ethereal that reveals the truth within the fiction. And this is exactly why books need to be written and readers need to read widely, because only from seeing into the journeys of others can we develop the empathy that makes us better human beings.
Nightswimmer is a good book for anyone to read, straight or gay. It’s story is about love, caring, vulnerability, fear, trust, betrayal and other emotions. Are these confined only to those of one orientation or the other? Good books portray universal themes and when those themes are set in non-traditional situations, they help readers gain insights into those themes they would not get otherwise. The gay readers of this book will identify with its theme, perhaps thinking more deeply about their own vulnerabilities or frustrations with those of others. Straight readers with deepen insight, perhaps examining their own vulnerability after a tragic experience. It is a worthwhile read. show less