Manuel Igrejas

The subtitle of Manuel Igrejas’ Imaginary Boyfriends could be “The Book of Failed Romances.” Each of the main characters in these eight stories is under some form of delusion or illusions about who the object of his affection really is. Most of the stories are set in and around New Jersey, with the lure and loathing of New York City hovering over them. Most of the protagonists are working class men, and the tone and voice in each piece varies little. At the center of the book, show more ‘Lovey’ and ‘Inside Chateau Arbogast’ for a two-part mini novella centering on the life of “Ribs,” a Bloomfield NY Department of Public Works employee and part-time cater-waiter. For me the strongest of Igrejas stories had some relationship with performing: ‘Madam Cluzet’ in which actor Brett works for the titular character who may also be a find of actor; and ‘Inside the Show Business’ where budding publicist Elijah falls for the irresistible pianist for a legendarily bad singer. Perhaps readers should have been prepared for this from the first story, where the oddness of the mysterious ‘Hassan and Sylvia’ and what they are up to – could they be acting in a production in their own minds? show less

Received this as an early review copy from Library Thing. Interesting collection of short stories. One has a gay man who is on a wild journey with a foreign man and his lady friend. Another has a trash collector who picks up a female manguein torso, with no arms and no hair. There's also one with a man a cop who falls in love with another man who hasn't gotten over his ex yet. A gay telemarketer who dinsa out his boss may not be who she seems and a few other stories. Was kind of a whirlwind show more of living in Manhattan. show less