What do you think?
Rate this book
Welsh Boys Too
Inspired by the lives of gay men in Wales, this collection of stories is funny, poignant, and ultimately revealing.
- GenresGayShort Stories
91 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
49 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 6, 2025
"This award winning collection...presents eight charming and sensitively-written stories about young gay men and their experiences of Welsh life." from the back cover of the 2005 paperback edition from Parthian publishers. The front cover carries a strap-line "A joy to read. Contemporary, yet timeless...a vibrant collection. Treat yourselves." from Gay Times (a defunct UK print publication.
I provide the above quotes because they describe this collection of stories and their strengths so well. I have read many of John Sam Jones stories and novels over the past twenty years and have been delighted to discover they stand up to rereading again and again. Maybe it is the Welsh setting, though don't imagine that there are easy Celtic transferences to be made between my Irish, Celtic background and Mr. Jones' Welsh one. Welsh identity and language are tied together in ways that are alien to an Irish person even as a pious shibboleth.
Mr. Jones's voice is uniquely Welsh and completely gay, though I would prefer to say queer. It is the voice of non-metropolitan, non-urban gay life. His stories remind me of those of David Rees. They both share 'provincial' settings but are not in the least provincial. I like his voice, it has honesty that comes expressed from experiences learned in life, not a classroom. His is a voice that deserves to be more widely heard.
I provide the above quotes because they describe this collection of stories and their strengths so well. I have read many of John Sam Jones stories and novels over the past twenty years and have been delighted to discover they stand up to rereading again and again. Maybe it is the Welsh setting, though don't imagine that there are easy Celtic transferences to be made between my Irish, Celtic background and Mr. Jones' Welsh one. Welsh identity and language are tied together in ways that are alien to an Irish person even as a pious shibboleth.
Mr. Jones's voice is uniquely Welsh and completely gay, though I would prefer to say queer. It is the voice of non-metropolitan, non-urban gay life. His stories remind me of those of David Rees. They both share 'provincial' settings but are not in the least provincial. I like his voice, it has honesty that comes expressed from experiences learned in life, not a classroom. His is a voice that deserves to be more widely heard.
August 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Each discusses the life of a gay man in some way. However, more than that, many are simply stories of people; people living their everyday lives. One of the stories I found most moving was of two children's weekend with their uncles. A child view of a secure, loving relationship. Nothing alien or different here. Just a life being lived in love.
I really liked John Sam Jones' writing style, I read all 8 short stories in a weekend and I was disappointed when I got to the end. Always a sign of a good book. I'll be looking out for more of his work.
I really liked John Sam Jones' writing style, I read all 8 short stories in a weekend and I was disappointed when I got to the end. Always a sign of a good book. I'll be looking out for more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews