A Smile in His Lifetime

Whit Miller is a struggling author in a misguided marriage that is far from conventional. Married young to Del, she thought he would outgrow his attraction to other men despite Whit's denials; now she tolerates his nights spent with his lovers. But when Whit finally meets with success as an author everything else falls apart, and he finds no consolation in the abundant material wealth he acquires. With a life that is now beset by loneliness, a combination of one night stands, shaky relationships and love unrequited, he is tempted to take drastic measures. Told with Hansen's familiar attention to detail and in his typical dry voice A Smile in His Lifetime is a compelling story, a wry observation of the times and a society which force men like Whit into an unhappy and desperate life. Hansen creates some memorable and often appealing characters: Burr, the strong black who wants Whit for himself, Jamie, the beautiful young man who becomes an obsession for Whit, and Kenny, the half-Indian boy next door who never stays around long enough; along with many others. It is a moving but far from sentimental tale, it is also a very convincing story; its open ended conclusion will undoubtedly have you pondering the consequences.

Occasionally, but, unfortunately not often, I run across a book that is totally, absolutely wonderful. A book that completely captivates me...that takes over my life and changes it. It happened once upon a time when I first read "The Catcher in the Rye"...and then again when I read "Shogun" and again with "Sophie's Choice". I wasn't particularly interested in reading Joseph Hansen's "A Smile in His Lifetime," and certainly didn't expect a classic. But I had finished all of Mr. Hansen's Dave Brandstetter mysteries and his novels, "Living Upstairs," and "Jack of Hearts," so I decided to have a go at "A Smile." For me, this book is an indescribable joy. It's a compendium of gay and bisexual feelings and urges and needs and desires - and a dead-on description of what it's like to be gay in a straight society. It's.... well......it's just an incredible treasure. Thank you, Josh Thomas, for your review of "A Smile in His Lifetime." It caused me to read this outstanding book, and for that, I'm very grateful.

Josh Thomas wrote an excellent review of this book. I can only add: Amen! I have read just about everything that Joseph Hansen has written, and in "A Smile in His Lifetime" you will find this wonderful author at his absolute best. I highly recommend it! (And while you are at it, also check out Josh Thomas' "Murder at Willow Slough" - it's a great book).

I am reviewing this book because, to date, no one else has done so. That is a crime. "A Smile in His Lifetime" may be the best Gay book ever written.It is certainly the best Bisexual one. It is a story of obsession, as sensitive, married, impoverished writer Whit Miller goes off the deep end for his down-canyon neighbor, a seldom-available ne'er-do-well with "stud" written all over him. Whit's wife Dell makes ends meet, simultaneously emasculating him and supporting him in his writing. He mustn't do physical labor around their dilapidated house, she warns; he must protect his hands so he can type.So he types, sometimes, but no one cares; very few people, anyway. Whit knows he'd spend his days better patching the roof, but Dell insists he come down; so he does. She eventually runs off with a "real" man Whit envies and despises, then a second tragedy strikes: Whit sells a book. Not only does it sell, it's a huge hit. He gets totally disoriented. Success makes it even harder for him to connect with another person. A sudden bigshot, he gets involved with a bunch of hippies, has a heterosexual tryst under a pier, but the only creature who really cares for him is his cat.What makes this a great novel? That's a lot to claim, and I don't tout books lightly. This is art, in my opinion, because Mr. Hansen has captured the quintessence of Gay men: we are lovers. More than dickhounds or drag queens, we want to be husbands. To my knowledge, this is the first book to point that out. As throbbing and insistent as the sexual impulse is, our need and ability to love is stronger than sex. Whit is often foolish; he is never insincere. He thinks constantly of the best interests of others, and wears his heart on his sleeve, knowing it will be broken repeatedly. He's not a masochist, he just wants someone to belong to.You can't help thinking, he deserves that. He succeeds in his work, but wanders clueless in life. Sometimes success is worse than failure, especially in California. Have you ever known a happy movie star?I've read "Smile" half a dozen times; my most recent reaction was more critical than before, as I finally got tired of all the anti-Gay epithets the author uses. But then, internalized homophobia is the Gay man's biggest problem, and Mr. Hansen seems to recognize that, without solving it. What would Whit's life have been if he hadn't gotten married, but found an emotionally open, available Gay guy to love? Maybe he'd have constantly lusted after the elusive rough trade; or maybe he'd have discovered something masculine in his lover, the decorator.Stereotypes aside, love is a tricky and tragic business; for all Whit's talent, he succumbs like the rest of us. His heart not only gets broken, it stays that way. At least he's always got his cat--until a storm blows up...Read this book with your highlighter pen nearby, as Hansen's phrase-making will put you in awe. He is a stylist of the first magnitude, who has never received the recognition he deserves from