Cold Hands

by Joseph Pintauro

Cello witnessed his mother's suicide; Tato was punished by his father's sadistic stupidity. The intense relationship the two boys form shields them from their savage life. Just as their aunt Zia enters their life and begins to show them the world as it can be, Cello is sent to school in Europe. He studies for the priesthood, but begins to question his faith. Two weeks before his ordination he returns home to ponder that final step. He seeks out Tato, fresh from a failed marriage. Cello decides against the priesthood. Their sexuality threatens to explode, and Cello flees. In an auto accident, Cello's suffers a strange, repression of identity. He marries, raises a family, and settles into an unhappy life. Ten years after later, they meet again, unleashing an whirlpool of remembrance and a final dramatic resolution.

Genres: Fiction, Gay

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Pbnray · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great dramatic read... about a boy struggling with coming to terms with his sexuality...wehther it be gay straight of bi! ha ha who knows... i dont even know if he does ha ha...

joseph pintauro writes beautifully and can paint pictures with his words... its a beautiful read... and a great book that will make you think about the character when the book is down... i HAD to know what was going to happen next.

[Ellen Sears · Rating 5 out of 5]

joe sugg fainting.jpg
oh the pain oh the pleasure
the main character's rationality and straightforwardness: love
the whole cousins thing: do not love
the urn! the identity crises! the birds!

some weird misogyny but i'm chalking it up to symbolizing toxic masculinity

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild, somewhat dated, ride.

[Wrengie · Rating 5 out of 5]

found this in the dumpster of the thrift store I used to work at. I'm very glad I found it bc it's insane and remarkably beautiful

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare are the novels I can't put down, but this was one of them: Pintauro's prose is lyrical and the book is a page-turner. The love that dare not speak it's name between two star-crossed Latin cousins shares some of the melodramatic structure, and exotic characterizations of the pulpy Gordon Merrick novels of that era (Cold Hands was published in 1979); unlike the Merrick novels, Cold Hands is compulsively readable. It would make a helluva film--I couldn't help wondering if Pintauro has ever adapted it for the screen? Loved it.