Almost History

From Publishers Weekly
While earnest and sometimes insightful, Bram's effort to trace a homosexual American foreign-service officer's 35-year career in the Philippines lacks the wit and charm of his previous offerings.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Bram has described himself as "a gay novelist . . . who tries to treat gayness as just one strand in a life that has more similarities with 'mainstream' life than dissimilarities, without denying the similarities." His latest novel provides a good example of this approach. Its protagonist happens to be a gay foreign service officer who only begins to come to terms with his sexuality when he reaches his mid-40s. But while his awakening is undeniably a show more significant (and sometimes a bit forced) thread within the story, it is not the main thrust. Rather, Bram is concerned with the moral and political complications inherent in diplomatic life: personal integrity versus truth and "nation al interest." The Marcos-era Philippines with its glitter, corruption, and human rights abridgements provides the ideal setting for this thought-provoking story. Without its gay thread it might even have had a shot at best-sellerdom--maybe someday this will not matter but probably not yet. Still, this is an excellent choice for most public libraries.
- David W. Henderson, Eckerd Coll. Lib., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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