Jeremy Thrane

Kate Christensen's 'Jeremy Thrane' is crisp, fresh, full of beautiful metaphors and right on the money when depicting the lives and loves of gay men. It's amazing that (I'm assuming) a straight woman could write so eloquently from a gay man's point of view. As a gay man I found myself laughing aloud at certian situations, identifying wholeheartedly with a lot of Jeremy's viewpoints and gasping at the incredible similarities of Jeremy's friends to some of my own.I lent a friend my copy when she took a trip to New York City and not only did she love it and was amazed at how right on Christensen is during the Jewish family scene (my friend is Jewish) but also she had the pleasure of meeting an aquaintance of Christensen's at an editors convention who essentially sang the same praises for her novel as I. I won't go into the particulars of 'Jeremy Thrane' as other reviewers have already done so. However, I highly recommend this novel for anyone in search of a fresh take on gay fiction that goes beyond the nightclub/sex & drugs/kept boy mentality of most gay fiction.

You'll enjoy this book - great dialogue, exacting descriptions of situations, moods, scenery. She does the job we all wish we could do slamming some of the types we all love to hate (the nosy neighbor, the snooty 20-somethings who think they run the world.) One of the most interesting aspects of this story are the descriptions of good food and drink that are integral to the main character's life, not matter what else is going on. He's all boy, that's for sure. Christensen implies that he's guite a stud, but never comes out and says it, which adds to the intrigue.

I read In the Drink when it first came out and really liked it. I thought the writing was clear and detailed, and the characters were well-developed. Jeremy Thrane was no different. I think it's amazing how a female author can write so well from the point of view of a gay male--amazing! She did such a good job, I was beginning to wonder if she had a gay male ghostwriter! I loved all of the characters and how Jeremy really grew and became stronger over the course of the novel. I was sorry to see it end.

I enjoyed this novel immensely. I found Christensen's ability to write in the voice of a middle-class, urban gay man quite authentic, and what a pleasure to spend so much time with a witty, erudite, yet vulnerable and human narrator. Contrary to what another reader said, I did find development in Jeremy's character--and development in satisfying and realistic ways. I was sorry to say good-bye to Jeremy, but felt confident that he was heading towards happiness. I'd almost say I want a sequel, but perhaps this is one of those novels where it's better to leave the reader imagining a life for its hero beyond the novel.Given the accomplishments of this novel and Jane Hamilton's "Short History of a Prince," we must continue to rethink what makes a "gay novel." One other note: given that there is an author photo on the dust jacket and the photo is clearly that of a woman, the author would have to be laboring long, hard, and unnecessarily deceptively, if he were a man. Is the implication that a woman could not write this well in a gay man's voice?

Yes its timely and incisive, but most of all I laughed throughout and was completely engrossed.