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Matches in the Dark: 13 Tales of Gay Men
An emotionally charged friendship between co-workers in a provincial theatre company threatens to de-rail a long-term relationship...
… Two neighbours, one gay, one straight, find their assumptions about each other destroyed one drunken Saturday night...
…While a chance re-encounter between young cousins leads to a partnership they hope will last for life.
In these and the ten other stories in this wide-ranging collection - from sexy to thoughtful, wry to macabre, from heart-break to enduring love - Anthony McDonald explores a spectrum of universal experience as lived through by 13 men – and a few more besides.
… Two neighbours, one gay, one straight, find their assumptions about each other destroyed one drunken Saturday night...
…While a chance re-encounter between young cousins leads to a partnership they hope will last for life.
In these and the ten other stories in this wide-ranging collection - from sexy to thoughtful, wry to macabre, from heart-break to enduring love - Anthony McDonald explores a spectrum of universal experience as lived through by 13 men – and a few more besides.
- GenresAnthologiesM M Romance
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2013
6 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Anthony McDonald
68 books107 followersAnthony McDonald studied history at Durham University. He worked very briefly as a musical instrument maker and as a farm labourer before moving into the theatre, where he has worked in almost every capacity except those of Director and Electrician.
His first novel, Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet, was published in 2001 and his second, Adam, in 2003.
Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet became the first book in a Seville trilogy that also comprises Along The Stars and Woodcock Flight.
Other books include the sequel to Adam, - Blue Sky Adam - and the stand-alone adventure story, Getting Orlando.
Ivor's Ghosts, a psychological thriller, was published in April 2014.
The Dog In The Chapel, and Ralph: Diary of a Gay Teen, both appeared in 2014. Anthony is the also the author of the Gay Romance series, which comprises ten short novels.
Anthony McDonald's short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic
He has also written the scripts for several Words and Music events, based around the lives and works of composers including Schubert and Brahms, which have been performed in Britain and in Portugal.
His travel writing has appeared in the Independent newspaper.
After several years of living and teaching English in France McDonald is now based based in rural East Sussex.
His first novel, Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet, was published in 2001 and his second, Adam, in 2003.
Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet became the first book in a Seville trilogy that also comprises Along The Stars and Woodcock Flight.
Other books include the sequel to Adam, - Blue Sky Adam - and the stand-alone adventure story, Getting Orlando.
Ivor's Ghosts, a psychological thriller, was published in April 2014.
The Dog In The Chapel, and Ralph: Diary of a Gay Teen, both appeared in 2014. Anthony is the also the author of the Gay Romance series, which comprises ten short novels.
Anthony McDonald's short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic
He has also written the scripts for several Words and Music events, based around the lives and works of composers including Schubert and Brahms, which have been performed in Britain and in Portugal.
His travel writing has appeared in the Independent newspaper.
After several years of living and teaching English in France McDonald is now based based in rural East Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2013
4.5 Stars:
Short story compilations are not usually my favourite fare, but this collection is outstanding, and there is some connection between three of the thirteen. One, Sailor Boys may be familiar as a recent inclusion in the 2013 Love Knows No Boundaries. McDonald's writing tone—always a smooth, highly readable prose—ranges from wistful to elegiac, robustly explicit to gentle, and always somehow nostalgic, even when there's a mean sting in the tail. The yearning for the past comes through strongly in many of the tales, usually connected to a first sexual awakening experience that leaves the memory of the other boy indelibly burned into the memory's pathways, sensitively brought to fruit, for just one instance, in the warm story Tiffer (one of the best nicknames for a boy called Christopher ever!).
I should say that the tone and atmosphere is very English, and I mean the nation, not the language, and yet this is handled in such a way that it shouldn't put off or confuse American readers, rather more add to the enjoyment. And certainly everyone will learn a little more about picking fruit and veg and loads of interesting insights to working in the theatre, including the real reason for a piled-high curtain store tucked away beneath the stage…
You would have to be possessed of a very hard heart not to fall for each and every one of these stories, and that goes for the final, and longest, Sundays, in which McDonald plays with the reader's desire for consummation like a master fiddle-player.
Short story compilations are not usually my favourite fare, but this collection is outstanding, and there is some connection between three of the thirteen. One, Sailor Boys may be familiar as a recent inclusion in the 2013 Love Knows No Boundaries. McDonald's writing tone—always a smooth, highly readable prose—ranges from wistful to elegiac, robustly explicit to gentle, and always somehow nostalgic, even when there's a mean sting in the tail. The yearning for the past comes through strongly in many of the tales, usually connected to a first sexual awakening experience that leaves the memory of the other boy indelibly burned into the memory's pathways, sensitively brought to fruit, for just one instance, in the warm story Tiffer (one of the best nicknames for a boy called Christopher ever!).
I should say that the tone and atmosphere is very English, and I mean the nation, not the language, and yet this is handled in such a way that it shouldn't put off or confuse American readers, rather more add to the enjoyment. And certainly everyone will learn a little more about picking fruit and veg and loads of interesting insights to working in the theatre, including the real reason for a piled-high curtain store tucked away beneath the stage…
You would have to be possessed of a very hard heart not to fall for each and every one of these stories, and that goes for the final, and longest, Sundays, in which McDonald plays with the reader's desire for consummation like a master fiddle-player.
on-hold
November 7, 2013A great collection of stories from one of my now favourite authors.
I will update as I go along.
One Funeral And... 5* A lovely story about two cousins who meet up for a funeral and fall in love. Beautifully written, and despite the fact that there's not that much explicit sex in it, very erotic indeed. Loved it.
Mercutio's Romeo 3* A story about a love affair between two actors. Nicely written, but the characters weren't really my bag.
Luc, The Fabulous Bakers' Boy 10* Oh my! Anthony McDonald crept into my mind at some point and stole one of my bestest fantasies. A cute blond boy in itty bitty white shorts - hello!!! And if that wasn't enough This story couldn't have been more perfect for me if I had commissioned it myself. Oh, and a lol quote too
I will update as I go along.
One Funeral And... 5* A lovely story about two cousins who meet up for a funeral and fall in love. Beautifully written, and despite the fact that there's not that much explicit sex in it, very erotic indeed. Loved it.
Mercutio's Romeo 3* A story about a love affair between two actors. Nicely written, but the characters weren't really my bag.
Luc, The Fabulous Bakers' Boy 10* Oh my! Anthony McDonald crept into my mind at some point and stole one of my bestest fantasies. A cute blond boy in itty bitty white shorts - hello!!! And if that wasn't enough This story couldn't have been more perfect for me if I had commissioned it myself. Oh, and a lol quote too
June 3, 2013
If I could I would give it six stars.
June 6, 2013
A charming collection of tales exploring the highs and lows of gay life. From unrequited love in Sundays to unexpected love in One Funeral and... These stories are beautifully written and in many cases could very well be based on real events. The author manages to capture a great variety of situations that reflect the diverse lives lived by gay men. Everything from casual sex to life long relationships is covered with the characters and their flaws treated in a sympathetic way.
March 15, 2016
An engaging collection of short stories.
I will read more from Anthony McDonald.
I will read more from Anthony McDonald.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews