Jay Quinn

This was another novel that i found remarkable because of the author's ability to write about a dysfunctional family and to respect and honor each of the family members stories without judging. This author has written several gay-themed novels, all worth reading. But this book was a particular "gay" story from the perspective of the older and straight brother. The book, much like First Person Plural, takes on in a very significant way, a homophobic elderly father who at the end of his life show more must reconcile his anger and hate with his dying wife. The entire family come together one weekend and a lifetime of truth telling occurs. And each character is as vibrant and multi-dimensional, the villains and the heroes alike. Fabulous read! show less

Not the best writing, but the subject matter is so deliciously rare it's well worth the read. There are so few books written about mature gay men and alternative family arrangements. This book stands out as the story of a man (already 48) figuring out that no traditional labels could define him. Through dissolution of a 22-year relationship and the rebuilding of his life, he learns that he is who he is, that he likes who he is, and that he brings great value to the lives of others because he show more is who he is. In the end, the labels don't matter. It's the effect he has on others, even as they struggle to find words to describe their relationship with him. show less

"The same thing with surfing. If you had a tan, and walked around going "Dude" all the time, you were just another cartoon, like gay people on television. No, being a surfer meant you got out, faced your own fears and lack of expertise, and did it. It was like being queer. The rush came from getting better at it." -Matthew, 18
Indeed Matt has gone through an adolescence that is drastically different from many of his peers, one that is filled with fears, temptations, and heartbreaking show more relationships. At 18, few months away from his high school graduation, Matt recounts with his uncle Tiger, who is merely 8 years older than he, at his grandmother's funeral. Matt only vaguely remembers his uncle and is always haunted by the incident when he caught Tiger making out with a brawny air force officer in the dark empty theater balcony. Not only did Matt's aunts begrudge with Tiger, they did not bother to notify him of the funeral. Parting with his boyfriend Chris who has gone off to college, Matt realizes the need for a change in his life. He loves his mother but whose self-righteousness has shunned him and made his life around the house difficult. Tiger has graciously offered Matt to stay with him and his partner Mark at the beach and teaches him surveying. Aside from work and school, Matt is taught how to surf by Tiger and Mark who get him a surfing board, a wet suit, and a leash and a nose guard as graduation gift.

This novel is a very quick and relaxing read. I finish it in one sitting. It's almost like an armchair travel book of the North Carolina coast. Matt tells the story and he flips back and forth on his life before and after moving to the beach. So you will see parallel stories running concurrently, particularly reminiscence of Chris and his novel gay adventures with a married man Tillett, who only uses him for pleasure. Aside from the erotic and graphic prose (which is inevitable and steamy), the book also explores the role of Tiger on Matt. Under the mentorship of Tiger and Mark, along with his own trials and errors, Matt comes to establish the metes and bounds of relationships. He realizes he cannot "look for himself in other people". The secret (I will not give it away) that accounts for the family grudge against Tiger has only drawn Matt closer to his uncle ever. For Matt, learning about his uncle (and his past and his relationship with Mark who divorces his wife) has always been a part of learning about himself. Tiger has blazed the trail Matt wishes to go. He has taught Matt how good and difficult it is to have a lover and a life together. When Matt reunions with his friend Jeep and finds out about his secret crush on him, Matt is shocked but approaches his best friend with passion. In a sense, the book is very "real" in capturing the fear, the helplessness, the love, the naivete, the innocence, the stupidity, the jealousy, and the sorry-but-I-cannot-help-it feeling of an 18 year old who ventures out into the queer life. show less

"On a sunny block inside the exclusive neighborhood of Venetian Vistas, Rory Fallon is walking his dog when he notices activity at the house next door. New neighbors are moving in, namely the Hardens - Austin and his wife, Meg, along with their two kids. Rory introduces himself, and can't help but notice how intrigued Austin is when it's mentioned just who Rory lives with: his partner of many years, handsome Bruno Griffin. Indeed, the last thing Austin expected in this small Florida enclave show more was having a gay couple for neighbors." "But life has more surprises in store, for both Rory and Bruno, and Austin and Meg. As the two couples form a strange, sometimes symbiotic relationship, questions arise about love and about marriage, and how their own roles help define - and alter - the people around them. Jay Quinn's The Good Neighbor not only reflects our changing social fabric, but sheds light on the fact that fences exist for a reason, and that when you cross over them the consequences can often have confounding results."--BOOK JACKET. A decent, if slightly amoral, read. show less