The Perils of Praline or The Amorous Adventures of a Southern Gentleman in Hollywood by M. Thornton

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Like in those XVIII century novels (Moll Flanders? The title remembers a little that novel), where a young woman with no means of support if not her beauty and wit, manages to climb the society levels, here Praline arrives from the southern state of Georgia to Hollywood, following the dream to be the same-sex celebrity spouse of Dave G., a wannabe actor who was in a reality. Praline doesn’t really know Dave G., and actually he doesn’t even know if Dave G. is gay, but he has clear in mind the advice of a bestselling book, The Key (a book that Praline has not read but he is sure the advertisement for it is enough to understand the concept): all you had to do to succeed in love was imagine down to the tiniest detail exactly what and exactly who you wanted to love you and it would come true.

That is basically Praline, a mix of sex and naiveté, a young man that is generous until his core, with all he has, body included. For Praline having sex is like sharing happiness, he likes to do it, and he doesn’t see why he hasn’t to enjoy it with someone else. Praline is not a prostitute, even if he is mistaken for one, all right, he has considered the idea to use his body to pay the bills, but indeed, most of the time, Praline is having sex with men since he pretty much likes everyone, old or young, pretty or not so much. True, Praline is a bit vain, he will never admit he is not physically perfect, even if he well knows he has a “huge” fault (well, Praline’s best asset is his… bottom), but he is not discriminate with his possible lovers.

As soon as he arrives in Hollywood, West Hollywood of course, he meets Jason: Jason is young, nice, the perfect boyfriend, but he is not Dave G.; and while everyone seems intent in getting into Praline’s pants, better bikini or thong, Jason stubbornly refuses to have sex with Praline, even when Praline, in a kind and very noble way, suggest it.

I don’t want to ruin the immensely funny experience that will be to read this book, let me only know that Praline will become in less than one week a gay celebrity, always maintaining his true self, being the naïve, but sincere guy he is, and in the end, managing to find his true love. Praline is like many modern boy, brought up with candies and television, they sometime have no idea how the real world works, since they always believe there is the good in everything. Most of the time they are disillusioned by life, but sometime, like for Praline, this attitude leads them to the true happiness that only someone with a pure heart can find, and trust me, maybe nothing else in Praline is pure, but his heart is.

http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=MTPERIL1

Amazon: The Perils of Praline
Amazon Kindle: The Perils of Praline
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (October 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 160820233X
ISBN-13: 978-1608202331

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