A Boy's Own Story / The Beautiful Room Is Empty

by Edmund White

A Boy's Own Story; The Beautiful Room Is Empty

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Edmund Valentine White III was an American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer, and essayist. He was the recipient of Lambda Literary's Visionary Award, the National Book Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction. France made him Chevalier (and later Officier) de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993.
White was known as a groundbreaking writer of gay literature and a major influence on gay American literature and has been called "the first major queer novelist to champion a new generation of writers."

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A semi-autobiographical novel of a man trying to cope with his homosexuality in the 1950's and 60's. Very well written, though a tough book to read. The protagonist is conflicted, having been taught that he has a disease, and that's a tough skin to inhabit for a week.

[Michael Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Father: My father was a bit of a sissy. He crossed his legs the wrong way. He was fussy about his nails, in fact, too fussy about his nails. He liked classical music. He was nervous, not at all laid back, calm, recollected. He did however pass muster. He could fight, he was strong, and he was an athlete. He had volcanic rages. He was assertive. He was able to lose money at the gambling table without regret. He was smiling without thought of identifying himself as a loser over such nonsense.

The Son: I was not like any of my idols. I was not vigorous or competitive. My hands were always in the air. My only technique for swimming was the sidestroke. I was a sissy. We wore togas and marched according to Schubert's Unfinished symphony. I flunked all the popularity tests for masculinity. I was unable to place damn it and hell in a sentence.

Why we need Our Heavenly Father.

There is no book quite like this one to show our endless need for the Eternal Father. How would anyone survive in this world without Him?

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I had read "A Boy's Own Story" previously but don't remember reading his follow-up. This is a great edition that has both novels (clearly). The writing is good as is the story. It can be a bit of a difficult read at times due to subject matter (so much self-hatred). However it is set in a very specific time/place - pre-Stonewall - so it makes sense. I love the way White writes and am slowly working my way through his catalog. I'm looking forward to the "follow-up" to these two.