K.Z. Snow ~ InDescent
From: Liquid Silver Books
Love it or hate it, InDescent is the book closest to my heart. It’s a combination urban fantasy and the delayed coming-of-age tale of a complex 40-year-old man who’s been blindsided (and forced out of the closet) by his passion for a close friend ten years his junior. This is the pivotal book in a relationship arc (not a series) that so far spans five novels and novellas, beginning with Plagued from Ellora’s Cave and moving through To Be Where You Are, recently released by Liquid Silver. I doubt it’s over yet.
In chronological order:
5. D.H. Lawrence ~ Lady Chatterly’s Lover (1928) As over the top as Lawrence is, his book opened my virginal eyes to the glories of dick. Ah, what warm memories I have of reading LCL when I was a sophomore in high school and infuriating my English teacher/gym instructor, Ms. Armbruster. “Who’s reading list is that on?” she asked me in a snotty huff. “Mine,” I said, affecting a hauteur I didn’t actually possess. She had no further comment. Quaking, I considered myself triumphant and read on between swoons. ***Teddypig ~ Links will download zip file of eBook from Project Gutenberg Australia***
4. Mart Crowley ~ The Boys In The Band (1968) I’m cheating here. I didn’t actually read the play. In fact, I didn’t know it existed until I came upon the film version (1970), probably on public television. This bleak comedy-drama, a groundbreaker, is chockfull of acerbic wit and angst, and well worth seeing. (I know a lot of the lines by heart.) The film’s director was William Friedkin, better known for The Exorcist. Hmm. ***Teddypig ~ No eBook. I actually find it still relevant Gay social commentary and not a bummer.***
3. Anne Rice ~ Cry To Heaven (1982) Well before Ms. Rice took a ride on her personal Tilt-a-Whirl, she wrote this breathtaking novel about 18th-century castrati in Italy. While her depictions of sexual desire, and fulfillment of that desire, between castrated men are not the focus of the book, they’re fascinating and moving. The meticulous research, lush prose, abundant plot twists, and fully realized characters totally engaged me. ***Teddypig ~ Crazy Lady… Not In eBook.***
2. Annie Proulx ~ Close Range: Wyoming Stories (1997) “Brokeback Mountain” Why pretend? The story and movie together were the tipping point for me, as they probably were for a lot of M/M romance writers. Happy endings for gay couples, here we come!
1.Frank Tuttle ~ The Mister Trophy I don’t feel comfortable naming favorites among my e-published peers ***Teddypig ~ I do!***, so I’ll leave them out of this. Let’s just say I’m a real sucker for highly imaginative fiction written by natural prose stylists ***Teddypig ~ I was thinking cover art, but OK***. I want to lie down in it and wiggle around like a dog on a cow pie. Some contemporary work that’s affected me this way have been R. W. Day’s A Strong and Sudden Thaw, the stories of Manna Francis, Ginn Hale’s Wicked Gentlemen, the stories of Jesse Sandoval in Blind Eye Books’ anthologies, and (not m/m, but I love this guy’s writing, in part due to his portrayals of male characters) Frank Tuttle’s Markhat novels ***Teddypig ~ Some of the best cover art found on Samhain.***.
Thanks so much for the invitation, TeddyP, and may everybody have a safe, sane, and joyful holiday season!
Tags: Five Faves, K.Z. Snow
Chris wrote,
I had forgotten all about Cry to Heaven – I loved that book. Ah, back before the crazies, that woman wrote the sexiest, most amazing damn books. And Mister Trophy has a completely fabulous Samhain “warning”.
Link | December 16th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
K. Z. Snow wrote,
Damn, Chris, you beat me here! I’m glad I’m not the only reader who was impressed by Cry to Heaven. You tell people nowadays how much you admire an Anne Rice novel, and they automatically think you’re mentally deficient. :-)
Teddypig, thanks so much for providing links. I am in awe of your tech skills in general — seriously — because I’m pathetically ignorant in that department. And yes, Tuttle’s Samhain books do have fabulous covers. Lordy, I love that man’s writing, though. Just love it.
Link | December 16th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Chris wrote,
Oh, those first Vampire Chronicles books were completely hot and amazing. And her A. N. Roquelare books were very, VERY educational for me. ;)
Link | December 16th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Jenre wrote,
Interesting list, KZ.
I’ve only read LCL out of the them, which I read at about aged 20 and couldn’t understand what all the fuss had been about! I suppose after years of reading romance it all seemed rather tame and I was expecting it to be very shocking. I did like the BBC adaptation of it with the delicious Sean Bean getting his kit off.
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Wave wrote,
KZ
First off – what a great list. I love Anne Rice’s Cry to Heaven which was written around the same time as her books written as A.N. Roquelaure – Tle Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty’s Punishment and Beauty’s Release that are among my favourite BDSM series.
Frank Tuttle is an author whose work I admire and I loved Dead Man’s Rain and plan to get The Cadaver Client. Brokeback Mountain – nuff said.
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 3:45 am
LBea wrote,
Lawrence. Now there was some arty loving. LOVED that book.
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 5:35 am
K. Z. Snow wrote,
Chris ~ Agreed on the Vampire Chronicles. Interview was far and away the best.
Jenre ~ Since I’m somewhat older than you (*ahem*), I found LCL satisfyingly racy as well as romantic. Back when I first read it, a 15-year-old girl was considerably more innocent than a 15-year-old girl is today. Now excuse me while I return to my rocking chair before it gets cold.
Hi, Wave! Y’know, I’ve always meant to read Rice’s erotica. Never got around to it. Now, I’m not inclined to read much of anything containing lady bits. ;-)
You like DHL, LB? Cool! A lot of contemporary readers scoff at his prose, which can be rather scoff-worthy, but he was a courageous writer.
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 7:29 am
LBea wrote,
I would say that DH influenced my own writing because the rhythmic quality of that love scene in the woods makes it one of the most beautiful sex ever written–IMHO. Admittedly I read it well over twenty years ago and am basing this comment on memory alone.
I refer to this book in my next work. I should pro’lly give it a quick read through again, you think? LOL.
So. Er. Yes. I did like DHL. A smidge.
LB
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Jeanne Barrack wrote,
“Cry to Heaven” was the only Rice book other than her first vampire ones that I enjoyed.
Great faves, KZ.
BTW, if you guys want a great review of Brokeback Mountain hustle on over to wave’s review site to read Victor Banis’s insightful words.
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Tam wrote,
I must live in a cave. Never read any of those but saw LCL the movie. :-) And of course I’ve heard of Brokeback Mountain and to be honest lately I’m having my teen’s reaction to excessive book swooning, makes me want to stay clear. I don’t read sad anyway. Kudos for actually coming up with 5, I doubt I could even start.
Link | December 17th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Frank Tuttle wrote,
Hey, thanks fior the kind words about my Markhat series! Glad you liked them, and hope you enjoy the new ones coming out too. Rock on!
Link | December 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm