Rushes

"Rushes" tells the stoyr of one night spent at a seddy leather/uniform night club in an unspecified warehouse district along the waterfront. It's a dark place, filled with sexual odors, drugs, hidden faces and lusts, and dark corners wherre anything and everything could be happening. Four friends - Endore, Chas, Bill and Don - spend the evening trying to find the one person to go home with. Endore is a columnist who writes about the gay lifestyle and his belief that there is no such thing as love in the gay world; Chas views the rushes as his hunting grounds, where he is the ultimate prize; Bill wants to see how many men he can connect with but his pickiness sometimes cluds his own judgement of people; and Don is the oldest of the group, feeling his age everytime he invites himself to join his friends at the Rushes. Each has his own insecurities which come out in full force on this particular evening. Sides are taken when a woman named Lyndy - a fashion designer - is grudginly allowed into their macho, all-male domain. Her appearance and her banter act as a catalyst between Chas and Endore, alternately setting them against on another or forcing them to join the same side. Later, a drag queen and her female companion cause a stir near the entrance to the Rushes which forces Endore to take a closer look at how gay men have been forced to find places where they can be themselves, and any intrusion into that world is angrily looked down upon. This novel also touches on ageism and the fear of the gay community with the character of Don - who feels that no one wants anything to do with him because he's slightly older; he remembers the days before clubowners put up signs such as "Under 35s Only" when everyone went out to have fun and to enjoy each others company. Sure, everyone had to keep their sexual preferences hidden for fear of the police, but nowadays, you had to creep around to avoid the violent, name-calling youths would would very easily bash in your head with fist or pipes. To get the feel of spending the night with this group in the Rushes, author John Rechy tells the story in present time, allowing the reader to feel and to see what each character does as if he/she were with them. Also, the chapters jump from character to character, almost giving the reader a sense of the darkness, the confusion and the electric atmosphere of the place. A dark and engrossing look into the leather bar scene.

A novel of grandeur in style, structure, and substance. Theatrical, ritualistic, and elegant! Filled with insight, rage, power, and beauty, _Rushes_ is a novel that deserves high praise, even among its brilliant predecessors. Rechy's other literary works deserve elevation to a class by themselves, and this novel is no exception. From the careful highlighting of a bar's most subtle nuances, to a sophisticated social critique that remains unmatched and unanswered even today, _Rushes_ exhibits a complexity and depth that allows it to remain both contemporary and classic. Drenched in metaphor, symbolism, wit, and charm, _Rushes_ is a sensual, exotic delight of a novel. Even as the politics and passion may challenge you, the atmosphere will seduce you. Face your desires, fears, friends, and enemies. Breathe deep and indulge yourself. _Ruhes_ is a novel worthy of your consideration and admiration.

John Rechy has been around for years and written many novels relating to life on the fringe. In Rushes he creates a dark forbidding and harsh world that repelled and excited this reader at various times. The characters are slightly cliche and generally not very nice. It is still a good read charged with high sexual tension and what now could be regarded as a histoical account of life in the late 1970's.

Late 70's.Four men.Gay sex bar;Rushes.John Rechy approachs them brutaly,cooly,but gently.Yes,gently than amyl.And Rechy will leave readers feel unsubstantial.