Gentle Cage by You Shizaki

Itsuki and Tokiwa were friend when Tokiwa was still a struggling artist. Even if young and without money, Tokiwa was a proud man and also a persistent one; his interested for Itsuki went beyond friendship and he told so to the boy. He was gently wooing the man when sudden and serious family issue forced Itsuki to accept the proposition of an older artist, Yamabe, to become his personal assistant in all for all, almost a pet for the man to play as he please. Itsuki was forced to stop to seeing Tokiwa without giving the man a reason.

Years later Itsuki knocks to Tokiwa's door: Yamabe is dying and the old man wants to make Tokiwa the full recipient of all his possession. Tokiwa includes in them also Itsuki, and with the help of an injury who forces Itsuki to accept Tokiwa's hospitality, Tokiwa takes Itsuki in captivity. Day after day Tokiwa destroys the doll image that Yamabe built for Itsuki, but at the same time treats the man no more than an object, arriving also to rape him.

The rape is dealt as always in the japanese yaoi world, Itsuki protests vehemently against Tokiwa forced seduction, but in the end his body betrays him, arriving to crave Tokiwa's touch. In this novel maybe the contrast is more heavy, since Itsuki's mind doesn't accept Tokiwa, and almost till the end Itsuki continues to refuse Tokiwa's attention.

The book is pretty interesting, I don't know how much realistic... the idea of an adult man who is treated like a doll only for the pleasure of eyes is quite unbelievable; plus Itsuki's behavior is a bit too submissive, first with Yamabe and then with Tokiwa, sometime it makes me want to scroll the boy and push him to react in some way.

There is a lot of sex, Tokiwa and Itsuki's relationship is very intimate, above all since Tokiwa is forced to take care of Itsuki in all the most intimate moment when he is injured; but even if a lot, the sex is almost detached, not very graphic. Maybe also for this reason, when Tokiwa forced Itsuki, it is even more strong and unsettling.

Amazon: Gentle Cage (Yaoi Novel) (Yaoi Manga)

Reading List:

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

Gentle Cage by You Shizaki

Itsuki and Tokiwa were friend when Tokiwa was still a struggling artist. Even if young and without money, Tokiwa was a proud man and also a persistent one; his interested for Itsuki went beyond friendship and he told so to the boy. He was gently wooing the man when sudden and serious family issue forced Itsuki to accept the proposition of an older artist, Yamabe, to become his personal assistant in all for all, almost a pet for the man to play as he please. Itsuki was forced to stop to seeing Tokiwa without giving the man a reason.

Years later Itsuki knocks to Tokiwa's door: Yamabe is dying and the old man wants to make Tokiwa the full recipient of all his possession. Tokiwa includes in them also Itsuki, and with the help of an injury who forces Itsuki to accept Tokiwa's hospitality, Tokiwa takes Itsuki in captivity. Day after day Tokiwa destroys the doll image that Yamabe built for Itsuki, but at the same time treats the man no more than an object, arriving also to rape him.

The rape is dealt as always in the japanese yaoi world, Itsuki protests vehemently against Tokiwa forced seduction, but in the end his body betrays him, arriving to crave Tokiwa's touch. In this novel maybe the contrast is more heavy, since Itsuki's mind doesn't accept Tokiwa, and almost till the end Itsuki continues to refuse Tokiwa's attention.

The book is pretty interesting, I don't know how much realistic... the idea of an adult man who is treated like a doll only for the pleasure of eyes is quite unbelievable; plus Itsuki's behavior is a bit too submissive, first with Yamabe and then with Tokiwa, sometime it makes me want to scroll the boy and push him to react in some way.

There is a lot of sex, Tokiwa and Itsuki's relationship is very intimate, above all since Tokiwa is forced to take care of Itsuki in all the most intimate moment when he is injured; but even if a lot, the sex is almost detached, not very graphic. Maybe also for this reason, when Tokiwa forced Itsuki, it is even more strong and unsettling.

Amazon: Gentle Cage (Yaoi Novel) (Yaoi Manga)

Reading List:

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

Love Most Inconvenient by D.J. Manly

In a way the three stories in this anthology are very related, other than being by the same author. All the three couples are made by a small in body but with a sparkly behavior man and by a strong man but with a gentle heart.

No Vacancy: Manuel is an undercover cop that one night comes back home after some week to find his room sub-letting to a stranger. John is a wanna-to-be actor who didn't know the romm he was renting was not free from his former occupying. When he awakes at night to find a man intruding in his room, he thinks first at a thief and then at a molester. After the shock, John is quite ready to arrive at some pact with the handsome big man... even more when he discovers that Manuel is a cop, and so a good man. Manuel is not the classical tough cop, he is a big man but with a gentle soul, and he just had a bad experience in love, with another actor. So he is not so ready to be involved with another man in the category, even more when John behaves like a man with a very small brain. But John is not so bad, he is quite innocent, if not in body, in mind: he is friendly and sensitive, he also tries to put a patch between Manuel and his former lover, and only when Manuel makes clear that he is not interested in his ex boyfriend, only then John makes a move on him.
 
Right Before My Eyes: Paul is a young man who is dreaming Mr Right. The first time he meets Mario, he thinks to have found him, but then a stupid event makes him think that Mario is a man-eater, and so Paul has not the courage to bring their relationship to a next level. Mario remains on the side and Paul moves on the next Mr Right, Phil. Phil is not so handsome like Mario, he is more like Paul, an average man who Paul thinks has the same idea on life. But when Phil reveals to be a cheater of the worst breed, Mario is right there to support and comfort Paul, but Paul again has not the force to take his chance on him. In this story Paul, with his stubbornness in finding Mr Right and always ending with nothing in hands, is only lucky to have a man like Mario. Mario is true and sincere, he maybe suffers of the sentence to be too handsome, and so people think that he can't suffer for love, since he can't being real in love.

My Name is Dane: Mark is the only "straight" man of his family... straight in the meaning that he always behaves according the law, and instead his father and brother are at the edge of it. When his little sister accuses her boss to be the father of her unborn child, Mark's brother kidnaps the culprit... a very handsome and big man. But Dane, this is the name of the hunk, claims that he is not the right man, that he can't be Julie's baby's father  since he is gay! And Mark is quite interested in that information, since he is pretty drawn by the man, even if he doesn't believe to his sincerity. But Dane not only is not the man Mark's believes he is, he is not even the man he pretends to be... this short story is a play of hidden cards that come out at the most unexpected moment.

A very enjoyable anthology, with three stories one better than the other, even if, to me, Mario and Paul's pair is the best. Another common event in all the stories, is that the sex is joyous and easy, without complications.

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&cart_id=2999427.20053&product_name=Love+Most+Inconvenient&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by April Martinez

Love Most Inconvenient by D.J. Manly

In a way the three stories in this anthology are very related, other than being by the same author. All the three couples are made by a small in body but with a sparkly behavior man and by a strong man but with a gentle heart.

No Vacancy: Manuel is an undercover cop that one night comes back home after some week to find his room sub-letting to a stranger. John is a wanna-to-be actor who didn't know the romm he was renting was not free from his former occupying. When he awakes at night to find a man intruding in his room, he thinks first at a thief and then at a molester. After the shock, John is quite ready to arrive at some pact with the handsome big man... even more when he discovers that Manuel is a cop, and so a good man. Manuel is not the classical tough cop, he is a big man but with a gentle soul, and he just had a bad experience in love, with another actor. So he is not so ready to be involved with another man in the category, even more when John behaves like a man with a very small brain. But John is not so bad, he is quite innocent, if not in body, in mind: he is friendly and sensitive, he also tries to put a patch between Manuel and his former lover, and only when Manuel makes clear that he is not interested in his ex boyfriend, only then John makes a move on him.
 
Right Before My Eyes: Paul is a young man who is dreaming Mr Right. The first time he meets Mario, he thinks to have found him, but then a stupid event makes him think that Mario is a man-eater, and so Paul has not the courage to bring their relationship to a next level. Mario remains on the side and Paul moves on the next Mr Right, Phil. Phil is not so handsome like Mario, he is more like Paul, an average man who Paul thinks has the same idea on life. But when Phil reveals to be a cheater of the worst breed, Mario is right there to support and comfort Paul, but Paul again has not the force to take his chance on him. In this story Paul, with his stubbornness in finding Mr Right and always ending with nothing in hands, is only lucky to have a man like Mario. Mario is true and sincere, he maybe suffers of the sentence to be too handsome, and so people think that he can't suffer for love, since he can't being real in love.

My Name is Dane: Mark is the only "straight" man of his family... straight in the meaning that he always behaves according the law, and instead his father and brother are at the edge of it. When his little sister accuses her boss to be the father of her unborn child, Mark's brother kidnaps the culprit... a very handsome and big man. But Dane, this is the name of the hunk, claims that he is not the right man, that he can't be Julie's baby's father  since he is gay! And Mark is quite interested in that information, since he is pretty drawn by the man, even if he doesn't believe to his sincerity. But Dane not only is not the man Mark's believes he is, he is not even the man he pretends to be... this short story is a play of hidden cards that come out at the most unexpected moment.

A very enjoyable anthology, with three stories one better than the other, even if, to me, Mario and Paul's pair is the best. Another common event in all the stories, is that the sex is joyous and easy, without complications.

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&cart_id=2999427.20053&product_name=Love+Most+Inconvenient&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by April Martinez

The Curiosity of Chance (2006) directed by Russell P. Marleau

Director: Russell P. Marleau

Writer (WGA): Russell P. Marleau (written by)

Genre: Comedy

Tagline: The only way he could fit in was to stand out.

Plot: It's the 80s once again, and the John Hughes-styled high school comedy gets a fresh twist in this touching, coming-of-age tale. New wave angst and gender-bending fashion are all the rage, but the new kid at school, Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrinck of American Pie Presents: Band Camp) is trying to find new ways to stand out. Being an odd and somewhat awkward teenager makes him the target of the school bully. To deal with this dilemma, Chance turns to the opposite ends of the high school spectrum for help. On one side is the flamboyant drag queen and on the other, the varsity jock, Levi Sparks (Brett Chukerman of Eating Out 2) with whom Chance develops a unique friendship. Chock-full of the comic conventions of the high school genre the idiot faculty, the good-hearted but delusional parents, the fairy tale reversal of popularity The Curiosity of Chance is a frothy bit of nostalgic filmmaking. But knowing the genre doesn t mean its story won t also touch your heart, as Chance battles the bigots to make high school the diverse utopia it should have always been.

The Curiosity of Chance by director Russell P. Marleau is an excellent coming-of-age film perfect for the inner teenager in all of us. Think of it as a queer Pretty in Pink The Curiosity of Chance gets my vote for a GLAAD Media Award and should be required viewing in high schools everywhere, for the tolerance and fun of it. --Advocate.com

Like all good 80s movies, The Curiosity of Chance dabbles in clichés, but its humanity makes the film a pleasure to watch. --Washington Blade

Awards: Best Feature Film at 2007 Chigaco Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival

Best Director (Russell P. Marleau) at 2006 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: The Curiosity of Chance
@Netflix
@TLA Releasing
@Wolfe Video 

 

( more pics )

Cast (in credits order)
Tad Hilgenbrink ... Chance Marquis (as Tad Hilgenbrinck)
Brett Chukerman ... Levi Sparks
Aldevina Da Silva ... Twyla Tiller
Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze ... Hank Hudson
Chris Mulkey ... Sir
Maxim Maes ... Brad Harden
Colleen Cameron ... Sienna Marquis
Magali Uytterhaegen ... Ophelia Smelker
Tony Beck ... Lawrence Sparks
Danny Calander ... Claire Vuoyant
( rest of the cast )

The Curiosity of Chance (2006) directed by Russell P. Marleau

Director: Russell P. Marleau

Writer (WGA): Russell P. Marleau (written by)

Genre: Comedy

Tagline: The only way he could fit in was to stand out.

Plot: It's the 80s once again, and the John Hughes-styled high school comedy gets a fresh twist in this touching, coming-of-age tale. New wave angst and gender-bending fashion are all the rage, but the new kid at school, Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrinck of American Pie Presents: Band Camp) is trying to find new ways to stand out. Being an odd and somewhat awkward teenager makes him the target of the school bully. To deal with this dilemma, Chance turns to the opposite ends of the high school spectrum for help. On one side is the flamboyant drag queen and on the other, the varsity jock, Levi Sparks (Brett Chukerman of Eating Out 2) with whom Chance develops a unique friendship. Chock-full of the comic conventions of the high school genre the idiot faculty, the good-hearted but delusional parents, the fairy tale reversal of popularity The Curiosity of Chance is a frothy bit of nostalgic filmmaking. But knowing the genre doesn t mean its story won t also touch your heart, as Chance battles the bigots to make high school the diverse utopia it should have always been.

The Curiosity of Chance by director Russell P. Marleau is an excellent coming-of-age film perfect for the inner teenager in all of us. Think of it as a queer Pretty in Pink The Curiosity of Chance gets my vote for a GLAAD Media Award and should be required viewing in high schools everywhere, for the tolerance and fun of it. --Advocate.com

Like all good 80s movies, The Curiosity of Chance dabbles in clichés, but its humanity makes the film a pleasure to watch. --Washington Blade

Awards: Best Feature Film at 2007 Chigaco Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival

Best Director (Russell P. Marleau) at 2006 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: The Curiosity of Chance
@Netflix
@TLA Releasing
@Wolfe Video 

 

( more pics )

Cast (in credits order)
Tad Hilgenbrink ... Chance Marquis (as Tad Hilgenbrinck)
Brett Chukerman ... Levi Sparks
Aldevina Da Silva ... Twyla Tiller
Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze ... Hank Hudson
Chris Mulkey ... Sir
Maxim Maes ... Brad Harden
Colleen Cameron ... Sienna Marquis
Magali Uytterhaegen ... Ophelia Smelker
Tony Beck ... Lawrence Sparks
Danny Calander ... Claire Vuoyant
( rest of the cast )