American Studies
December 25th, 2002by Mark Merlis
ISBN: 0140250905
This first novel is an imagined exploration of pre-Stonewall gay life in America. It is set in the late eighties, but the story centers around 62 year old Reeve and his memories of forty years ago.
The story begins with Reeve in the hospital, filled with unspeakable shame after a trick has beaten him up in his own apartment. His friend brings him a book to read as he recuperates, a book that was written by his mentor/platonic affair/professor Tom Slater that he was never able to bring himself to read. All the elements of the story are now set, and the book switches from the present day and Reeve’s attraction to the boy in the next hospital bed, to his past as barfly and Tom’s protege, and to his imagination filling in the gaps in Tom’s story.
While this book has been praised and won awards, I didn’t find it that fabulous. Tom’s being caught up the inquisition of the times, Reeve’s memory and imagination — they all play out predictable stories. I suppose that is the point: we are all suppose to know how these pre-Stonewall stories end, and it isn’t well.
So there isn’t a liberated voice to be found here; there isn’t a serious exploration of stereotypes, only their faithful recreation. What Merlis does provide is an honest-feeling explanation for the incredible shame and fear that gay men lived with in the forties and fifties, and how they simply (and sadly) could not let go of this worldview as times changed around them.
