Bart Yates (born December 13, 1962)

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Bart Yates (born December 13, 1962) is an American novelist. His books include The Brothers Bishop, The Distance Between Us, and the 2004 Alex Award winning novel, Leave Myself Behind. He currently lives in Iowa City, Iowa.

His most recent novel, written under the pen name of Noah Bly, is The Third Hill North Of Town.

Leave Myself Behind (2004) is included in my Best XXI century Gay Novels (2000-2009).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Yates

Further Readings:

Leave Myself Behind by Bart Yates
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Kensington; Reprint edition (April 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758203497
ISBN-13: 978-0758203496
Amazon: Leave Myself Behind
Amazon Kindle: Leave Myself Behind

Meet seventeen-year-old Noah York, the hilariously profane, searingly honest, completely engaging narrator of Bart Yates’s astonishing debut novel. With a mouth like a truck driver and eyes that see through the lies of the world, Noah is heading into a life that’s only getting more complicated by the day.

His dead father is fading into a snapshot memory. His mother, the famous psycho-poet, has relocated them from Chicago to a rural New England town that looks like an advertisement for small-town America—a bad advertisement. He can’t seem to start a sentence without using the “f” word. And now, the very house he lives in is coming apart at the seams—literally—torn down bit by bit as he and his mother renovate the old Victorian. But deep within the walls lie secrets from a previous life—mason jars stuffed with bits of clothing, scraps of writing, old photographs—disturbing clues to the mysterious existence of a woman who disappeared decades before. While his mother grows more obsessed and unsettled by the discovery of these homemade reliquaries, Noah fights his own troubling obsession with the boy next door, the enigmatic J.D. It is J.D. who begins to quietly anchor Noah to his new life. J.D., who is hiding terrible, haunting pain behind an easy smile and a carefree attitude.

Part Portnoy, part Holden Caufield, never less than truthful, and always fully human, Noah York is a touching and unforgettable character. His story is one of hope and heartbreak, love and redemption, of holding on to old wounds when new skin is what’s needed, and of the power of growing up whole once every secret has been set free.

More Spotlights at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Lists/Gay Novels

Comments

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

Leaving Myself Behind is one of my favourite books. As the review states, Noah is a memorable character - another young man growing into his true self.

I really enjoy Mr. Yates' writing style and note he has a third novel now available.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I'm very tempted to buy this one. Elisa

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

Elisa,
I think you will like this novel. It's not a greatly romantic story, but it is a very good story and Noah and J.D.'s romance is sweet.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

If so, I will put it on my next order :-)

Elisa