Homosapien… a fantasy about pro wrestling by Julie Bozza

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I have to confess that I underestimated this novel due to the title, Homosapien; without even opening it (and this is an important detail), I thought it was some of that brainic novels about some obscure theory… but when I finally (and I regret it took me so long) opened the book I was soon corrected: “a fantasy about pro wrestling”! this surely cannot be too brainic. And actually it was not, without loosing it’s worth to be a “classy” novel, probably a step or two above the ordinary production of this time.

Homosapien is the nickname of Adam, a pro-wrestling athlete who is also gay; this is a bit of a coming out/outing story in the sport field, but it’s not the dramatic story that I’m used to read. Adam is gay and of course he is not flaunting it around with his coworkers and boss, but he is not even in the closet; his best friend, a female wrestler, knows about it and probably some other of his colleague as well.

In any case Adam arrives to a point when he probably wants, or needs, to have a social life, and of course he searches “contact” in a gay bookstore… all right, Adam is true to his nickname, “Homosapien”. David is the owner of the bookstore and he is not really welcoming with Adam, mistaking his professional figure (a wrestler) with the man; Patrick, David’s friend and employee, will help him to understand his mistake, and Adam and David will slowly start a relationship, not overtly erotic, but really romantic.

Advice to the readers: if you are searching for a smushy novel, with your heroes that can’t get enough of each other, well, this is not exactly your book; Adam and David have indeed an active sexual relationship, but what you read is their “public” life, what Patrick (the narrator) can actually see or know through Adam or David’s words. So not, no behind closed door narration, and when David takes Adam home, what happens between them is their own business. You can imagine since David comes back to work with dark circles under his eyes, or maybe since he has a different sprint on his steps… but nothing more.

As I told Adam and David’s love story starts slowly but goes deep; I really like for once to not read about sudden passion that deflates soon after; I had the impression that both Adam than David are quite reserved men and as such, they don’t jump into a relationship, but once they do, that relationship is fated to be long-term.

I also like the approach the author had with the “outing” of Adam to the public opinion; true, it was not an easy one, and for sure it had consequences for Adam both with his fans than colleagues, but that was to be expected and in the end it was the only logical solution for Adam.

Good subplot for Patrick, narrator and supporting characting, that I wouldn't mind to see having his own story.

http://s317925213.e-shop.info/shop/category_7-6-3/Homosapien-by-Julie-Bozza.html?shop_param=cid%3D%26

Reading List:



http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Comments

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

I have to say that I was a little put off by the combination of the cover and title. Neither of them really pinged me so, I've passed this book over, oh, a few times already.

In truth, I didn't know you had reviewed it already (somehow I thought your review was coming up) or else I'd have made up my mind much sooner. *g*

Will be buying this book soon since it looks like something slightly different from the same old, same old I've been reading lately. What attracted to me, from your review, was that the story's told from an outsider's POV (outsider because Patrick's not in the relationship).

Thanks for the review, Elisa. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I think this is quite an original novel, and indeed the "outside" point of view, even if forbid the reader to witness everything in the story, gives it even more originality