Identify Regarding Books Arkansas: Three Novellas
Title | : | Arkansas: Three Novellas |
Author | : | David Leavitt |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | First Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 208 pages |
Published | : | April 3rd 1998 by Mariner Books (first published 1997) |
Categories | : | Fiction. LGBT. Gay. GLBT. Queer. Short Stories. Gay Fiction |
David Leavitt
Paperback | Pages: 208 pages Rating: 3.73 | 753 Users | 43 Reviews
Relation During Books Arkansas: Three Novellas
Here are three novellas of escape and exile, touching and funny and at times calculatedly outrageous.In "Saturn Street," a disaffected L.A. screenwriter delivers lunches to homebound AIDS patients, only to find himself falling in love with one of them.
In "The Wooden Anniversary," Nathan and Celia - familiar characters from Leavitt's story collections - reunite after a five-year separation.
And in "The Term-Paper Artist," a writer named David Leavitt, hiding out at his father's house in the aftermath of a publishing scandal, experiences literary rejuvenation when he agrees to write term papers for UCLA undergraduates in exchange for sex.
Itemize Books To Arkansas: Three Novellas
Original Title: | Arkansas: Three Novellas |
ISBN: | 0395901286 (ISBN13: 9780395901281) |
Edition Language: | English |
Rating Regarding Books Arkansas: Three Novellas
Ratings: 3.73 From 753 Users | 43 ReviewsColumn Regarding Books Arkansas: Three Novellas
While raunchy, the series of novellas is touching and uplifting.David Leavitt is a master of the form of short fiction. These three novellas are at times touching and at times shocking. Gay men will certainly understand the feelings of desperation in Saturn Street, but anyone can enjoy the raunchiness and playfulness of 'The Term Paper Artist'.
Since I research Wilde and plagiarism, this book kept popping up in my library searches--so, naturally, I had to eventually crack it open. It was a fairly fun read--I enjoyed the prose style and wry observations. Another reviewer here compared it to Paul Auster and I can can definitely see this in the voice and bits of magical realism in the second story. It was, however, uncomfortably confessional. I'm not sure that this is truly a detriment as it did push the narratives along and had an
Three fine novellasmore like what Leavitt is capable of (unlike The Page Turner). Quite good.
I picked this up immediately after reading While England Sleeps, and unfortunately, it's not even close. The novella ranged wildly; the first a three, the second a one, the third a four. Which should make it closer to three stars, but really, it wasn't. I didn't particularly enjoy it, and the second is pretty much awful, so. Two stars.
I really enjoyed reading this collection, and it reinforced my faith in David Leavitt as a writer. The first novella, The Term Paper Artist, is one of those stories that's held up by its premise. It has an interesting take on gay for pay. These guys are gay for research papers. Once the premise has been explored, the story is allowed to slowly wind down. I wouldn't call this a fault. I think that's just the story taking its natural shape.The high points of The Wooden Anniversary are the
Novellas can be strange animals. And, as in any collection of fiction, you tend to like some more than others. David Leavitt brings all his writing chops to bear on these three distinctly themed stories. The first, "The Term Paper Artist," is on the surface quite funny and absurd. Yet, underneath the narrator's hard shell lies a sensitive, vulnerable and ultimately lonely soul. If you know a little about Leavitt's publishing history, this story screams with self-effacing honesty. I really liked
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