Twentysix

by Jonathan Kemp

Crafted around twenty-six extraordinary erotic encounters, this highly charged work is a powerful meditation on the pursuit of pleasure. In each chapter, titled after a letter of the alphabet, an anonymous narrator details his experiences, travelling to cruising grounds and sex clubs, exploring the boundaries of sex, desire, pleasure, and the body, while reflecting on the limits of language and the act of writing. In the tradition of Georges Bataille, Kathy Acker and Jean Genet, these pieces take us to places language doesn't often go. Kemp powerfully stages a series of anonymous encounters, describing the relentless pursuit of sexual pleasure with luminous intensity, while at the same time facing the impossibility of capturing the moments he describes. This is a bold and challenging work, unashamedly sensual and searching. Kemp beautifully counterpoises explicit description with a searing interrogation of the extreme measures taken in the quest for sexual fulfillment.

Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Short Stories, Gay, Collections, Queer

107 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Emmanuelle Maupassant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kemp's series of 26 bittersweet vignettes are perfect slices of agony and ecstasy, 'visions of excess' burning brightly beyond the civility of language and manners, taking us on a journey of transcendence, of sexual gratification and drug-induced otherness.

Explicit and, often, disturbing, his scenes lead us into dark places in search of meaning, exploring our isolation and our need for connection, our yearning for intense physical experience and our desire for oblivion. Kemp celebrates the raw, terrifying beauty of sexuality, showing its capacity to 'make and unmake the world' and to 'speak a different tongue'.

He explores the hunger we cannot explain and draws with tenderness love unrequited, misplaced, and abandoned: 'The difference between what we want and what we are able to do emerges with the slow, poisonous crawl of grief.'

He gives us poignant fragments of lost love and intense eroticism, underpinned by the repeated theme of the limits of language to convey human feeling, and the role of the body in remembering its past. It is the pulsing archivist, memories 'rippling beneath the skin'.

'I wake to find your presence still alighting on my skin, a fragment of your warmth, the weight of you still pressing, and a blurred memory of the dream's end.'

Kemp shows us physical sensation as another language, our desire to tear open and 'release something monstrous and wild, from the other side of language'. He urges that language can only 'play games of hide and seek with what is really going on' and voices his longing for 'a new tongue that licks closer to the contour of bodies'.

Yet, amidst this despair at the inadequacy of language is Kemp's thread of richly satisfying poetic prose. His images and metaphors blaze.

'This is for when the blood turns black and burns you from the inside, for when you get the hunger - feel it unravelling within its long, dark spine of want… This is for then, for those crystalline moments when your body moulds to your desires, contoured by the red heat of longing...'

Kemp has created a masterpiece, haunting, unsettling and erotically compelling, moving the reader emotionally, intellectually and viscerally, our hearts captured and broken alongside those of his anonymous protagonists.

He gives us the night folding up like a sheet of paper, sliding itself into memory, 'to be unfolded and relived, recounted and treasured'. In '26', Kemp has created a book of night dreams, vivid imaginings and shadows, half-remembrances and images seared on the skin. These pages close but the emotions he stirs remain close-caught.

'There are places only the night knows, places only shadows can show us… I walk… looking for something, looking for something, looking for something... Forgive me for not having the words to describe it, this place in which I dwell. I have tried, I have tried. I have drenched myself in words and sensations, seeking a way to make them speak to one another. This is all I have to offer.'

How do you rate a book which has such power to manipulate the reader, to draw so deep from the well that you discover yourself anew? Five stars are inadequate.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, rather poetic vignettes that i found very thought-provoking. Some hilarious, some somber. A quick read that leads to long thoughts.

[George Ilsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of 26 fragments, flash fiction or prose poems, or intellectual wanking a la watered-down Genet (there is an excerpt from Jean Genet quoted in the text). There are 26 segments each labeled alphabetically with a letter of the alphabet. There is no correspondence between the letter and the text, so not sure if the form has a point, except to illustrate the endless potential of the alphabet. Perhaps it is meant to evoke randomness, the same messy randomness that provides today's sex partners.

All in all, this volume can be summed up with this sentence taken from the text: "A dance of desperation and avoidance."

Three stars rounded down because I was in a mood, and because I loved the historical novel London Triptych.

[Terrance Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The twenty-six very-short stories in this debut solo collection of m/m erotica are ostensibly arranged, as the title suggests, like a child’s alphabet, but with decidedly mature literary ambitions, and an undeniably grownup sexual sensibility. The language is beyond impressive, though author Jonathan Kemp consciously expends a great deal of it to lament the very inadequacies of language, the impotence of mere words confronting the sublime nexus of thought and sensation, as in this passage from ‘S’:

“There are places only the night knows, places only shadows can show us. The city wears a different face when darkness falls, a face I prefer. I walk the occluded streets looking for something, looking for something, looking for something. A knowledge of the shadow that eats away at logic, creating patterns far brighter than I can bear; patterns that burn at the temperature of wanting. It traces its way through my veins, this wanting, finding solace only when I fall and feast . . . This map I draw with the tip of my tongue takes refuge in a book of dreams. Forgive me for not having the words to describe it, this place in which I dwell. I have tried, I have tried. I have drenched myself in words and sensations, seeking a way to make them speak to one another. This is all I have to offer.”

“The body wants what it wants,” Kemp tells us. “The chaos of the body’s wants—as we know— will never surrender itself to language, can never succumb to reason, even if, even if, even if it wanted to—which it never will.”

Yet, the author is keenly aware of the limitations society itself imposes on language, and, by extension, on the expression of genuine emotion, muting the honest, full-throated cry of passion, love, lust, desire, joy.

Sex happens easily here. These pages teem with a deliciously explicit, celebratory sensuality, restless and unregretted. There’s a frank earthiness to Kemp’s descriptions. His characters are mostly urban, working class blokes, cruising dirty streets and cheap dives in search of connection, perpetually longing (as Freddy Mercury sang) to break free. Though the narrator may at times seem to channel Bataille and Barthes as he reflects on broad and lofty themes, he does not look away from the seamier vision of life as actually lived, embracing it in all its pungant banality and deep fractal chaos. Sometimes it feels like too much—as if we might choke on this wild surfeit of language, this sumptuous banquet of experience, and yet . . .

“twentysix” is a great book, emphatically, ardently, passionately recommended!

[Bastian Greshake Tzovaras · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I just picked this one up in my last trip to Gay's The Word because I found the cover so intriguing. So I had no idea of what to expect. Turns out it's pretty poetic and awesome m/m erotica!

[Sidharthan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry in prose form that extends the language and the alphabet to express something more, like it sets out to do! Sex in all its forms have never been as intensely beautiful as this..

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i got this book, i didn’t realize it was going to be a series of poetic shorts. having read and adored kemp’s london triptych i assumed this would be another narrative novel; and i was pleasantly surprised.

through 26 poems, named for each letter of the alphabet, kemp explores sexuality and how it is its own language and an exploration of how it’s an expression of self; particularly among queer people. i don’t think this sort of literature would work from a heterosexual perspective. there is something uniquely “forbidden” in our cultural view of sexuality when it comes to depictions of gay sex, especially with the explicit nature of the poems (explicit in both senses of the word).

ultimately, this is a book about exploring the self, our connection with others, and how we come to identify through sexual exploration. the prose is downright beautiful and evocative. lines such as the soul is made up of the same stuff as ghosts after all really stick out to me; and i’m sure i’ll mediate on a lot of this for a while.

[Simon Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s trying to poetic but at times, just feels abstract like throwing paint to a wall and hoping that someone finds meaning to it. I don’t understand the use of an alphabet to separate the stories. It doesn’t add any value or meaning. Each story is short and nothing is really gained. One might gain a spurt of excitement with some of the erotica but it ends as soon as it starts.

[Dave Vito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the concept and the idea; the vignettes organised alphabetically etc. etc. Sometimes sharp, usually explicit I think it's a pretty bold work, but overall I didn't connect with it anywhere near as much as I did with Kemp's other work.

[James Ephraim Stubbs · Rating 1 out of 5]

didn't enjoy this at all thought i was going to be something more

[Cosmo van Steenis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A shocking ode to avoidance and excess. Kemp's work of theory porn reads either like a depraved fantasy or an ill-informed love poem to Freud. The occasional well wrought metaphor is not enough to redeem this non-sensical attempt at a philosophical enquiry into lust. Kemp tries to link sex to knowledge (through Platonic pedagogy) to language but drastically fails to make this link clear or comprehensible. Occasional unintelligible theoretical outpours interrupt the increasingly aggressive sexual liaisons which make up the collections 26 short stories. Each is named after a letter of the alphabet which seems to have no relationship with the stories themselves. The point Kemp seems to be reaching for here is that language, like sex, can be freely created by the practitioner but this is poorly executed. Kemp's philosophical position is confused. In 'S' the body is responsible for lust ('the body wants what it wants') whereas in 'T' it is the unconscious ('I am no sensation, no consciousness, no ego. Pure Id'). His attempt to conceptualise the 'root' of the individual lacks clarity. But it is the helpless surrender to impulse which is the most infuriating part of the collection. Few characters engage in any form of psychological enquiry into their excess. When they do they instantly dive back into sexual ecstasy instead of confronting their issues. There is no sense of movement or transformation through the collection. Static one-dimensional characters engage in the same erotic acts without perspective or growth (well, psychological growth anyway). I'd say must try harder but judging by the stories I think Kemp could do with going soft for a while.

[Willow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh... this was Maggie Nelson at her worst. Sex as a transgressive act that opens one up to experience beyond language, etc etc-- this is true and a wonderful thing to explore in literature-- but I think this book takes on some of the worst artistic inclinations of older, sex-oriented gay male communities. Sex is transgressive and interesting but it's also rather numbing in and of itself, and after twenty six vignettes of mindless popper-filled voyages, I was like: yeah, I relate, and so? The best story was a random coupling that leads to an adventure of a night out, because I was like and HERE the pathos come in! Made me feel depressed much more than "liberated." I don't know. Maybe I haven't found the secrets of sex as compelling as some of my fellow queens, but I don't think that's true. I think there is a whole erotic world of secret-telling and languagelessness that comes with the tantric and absolutely unique sensation of fucking. But I don't think anyone who uses formulations like "his cock SLID (slid! come on! you can come up with something better than SLID) into my mouth" every other chapter is going to find themselves capable of capturing the messy subtlety and intricate knots desire forms for itself in practice and theory. Became a weird, pseudo-intellectual hybrid essay (he quotes Baudelaire and Marxists at the gloryhole) and while I got the point, I found it not very interesting.

[Brad Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what gay male sex erotica should be. Poetic, honest, lacerating, hopeful, devastating and unique.

I love this book. I think the exploration of how language describing our carnal encounters is often inadequate is spot on and beautifully navigated by Jonathan. Vignettes, prose poems, short stories, flash fiction... the stunning thing about these pieces is that I didn't feel like the author or the publisher had tried to crush them into any particular 'form' to be neatly categorised and made to behave. Each one is true to itself. 'J', 'D', 'F', 'Q' & 'X' were my absolute favourites. 'J' seemed to describe a thought that had been kicking around in my mind for years. The poetic movement of 'X' is stunning.

Thank you for writing this. Finally, I have a mentor.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book, Since reading the first of the 26 segments or stories I have wanted to pace my reading, to savour each page or two of writing, but at the same time every piece that was concluded led me on, like a drug, drink, stimulant were the act of relishing demands more and more. This is a book to reread. It is a gem, or a book of gems, certainly a book of delights, totally erotic - I said it in update but his description of the houses of a deaf and dumb man coming is one of the most beautiful and true descriptions of sex I have ever read and makes me ashamed I have not had the same experience. It made me feel inadequate in my life experience. It is still a wonderful book and Kemp is an incredible writer.

[Charlie Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read. Quick, erotic, emotionally intelligent and thought provoking in the manner in which it invites self exploration with respect to identity and needs for intimacy. I believe anyone of any sexuality can become very quickly immersed in this series of vignettes. Very much recommended.

[Kristina Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about language and its inability to convey sensation. The individual scenes are divided into chapters denoted by the letters of the alphabet which have no relevance to the imagery. And that is the point. Moments of pleasure are indescribable to anyone who has not experienced them.

[Jonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure what the purpose was of these 26 vignettes. A handful could have produced a decent short story. The rest were rambling prose that did not give any visual context to the characters, places, or events. I got the book free but still not sure it was worth the time.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book in a single sitting. Kemp's elegant, hypnotic prose perfectly conveys the poetry of desire.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to read on the tube.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gay erotica but with a violent focus on language and the way in which body and word connect to form meaning. Very Judith Butler, we love to see it.

[Sarah Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very repetitive in concept and story.

[Aaron Muldoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who knew that erotica could be so stale and lifeless? Jayne Eyre has more sex.

[r. fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Language makes the soul possible, yet every statement we make remains a betrayal. This is the way the world begins."

the contemporary english king of anal 🙏 love u sister

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

flasher fiction if you know what i mean…

[George Bower · Rating 4 out of 5]

😳

[Brave Muzamba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gay

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed his book “London Triptych”, but this…was not it for me. A book I would have normally finished in one sit turned into a prolonged 10 days. It felt like a collection of poetry/stories unfulfilling and the only thing it left to offer was a sour aftertaste.

[K-dizzle · Rating 2 out of 5]

While very poetic and raw, I had a hard time relating to this book. The concept is really cool; the author goes through the alphabet and tells 26 short stories/encounters all centred around some form of casual sex with vivid descriptions (many cringe worthy). It was a very quick read but not amazing.

[Tasos · Rating 3 out of 5]

O Jonathan Kemp ήθελε να γίνει Jean Genet όταν μεγαλώσει. Έν μέρει το κατάφερε.

[Finlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tbh I don't remember much, I just read it as a distraction.