Playing the Market by Drew Zachary

[reviews_and_ramblings]

This is a nice tale above all since it's true to itself. It's the classical story about opposites attract, but for once no one of the two opposites has to change to meet the other at the end.

Lyle is a workaholic, but he likes his work. True, maybe he needs a bit of distraction, but all in all he has an happy life: what is better to consider the work as a play, and yourself as one of the best players? Lyle has three passion in his life work, money and clothes, and they are all related: work allows him to make money and money allows him to buy clothes... so everything is perfect.

Rupe is a free spirit; he works construction from may to september and then spend the money he gained to be free for the rest of the year. He has no home, no furniture, no owners: a bike and what he can stash in two saddlebags is all he needs.

When Rupe meets Lyle, they start a very easy relationship: sex is good and often, life is simple. They are good together and the story is also funny: both men are not judgmental, and open to new possibility; Lyle experimenting his first time at camping, in a not very comfortable setting, is something real fun, but Lyle is trying to not bitch, at least not too much... Lyle decides to find a little time for Rupe in his life, without upsetting his world, and Rupe begins something steady for him, at his own rules. No one of them really change a lot, and their life are still independent, but for a little bit they slide on parallel path.

The story is not very long, less than 120 pages, but what I really like is that sense of easiness; there are no really crash in the story, Lyle and Rupe love each other in a very complementary way, but they know that they are two different men, both of them with their need. The philosophy of the story is letting go to really hold.

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