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An American Memory
From the discovery and acceptance of our queer selves within the purely American landscape of the ‘50s, from the Big Party engendered by Stonewall, to the scourge of AIDS and on to present day, the heroes of these stories are ourselves, still robust after all these years, still understanding the truths gathered from our pasts. If Denver in the ‘50s was awash in mediocrity, Hollywood became in the ‘70s a phastasmagoria of licentiousness. If the ‘80s and ‘90s became the boogieman’s haunt, the resulting enforced discovery of the worth of love and commitment of each of us to the other became the new reality of our lives.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 8, 2014
Narrated in the first person, one man recounts life for homosexuals in a Denver community. The orator is a people-watcher who chronicles places, as well as his social encounters from 1969 through 1982.
Though the characters are mainly gay men, the idiosyncrasies exhibited are human traits not restricted to any sexual category. For example, the first narrative illustrates a talented character named Michael who hears voices in his head. Creativity or living in his own reality? The origin of reality is an individual perception rather than a standardized opinion of the general public.
The stories begin with the adult gay man and descend into his coming of age teenage years when he was first subjected to the painful actions of bigots. After two years in the Army, the narrator realized he could no longer live the heterosexual lie society expected. At the age of twenty four, he steps out of the closet to live the life nature intended. However, the deadly disease sweeping through the nation brings the freedom of casual sex amongst the gay men to an abrupt halt. The loss of so many to AIDS blanketed the whole community with apprehension.
George Seaton’s An American Memory is a captivating very enjoyable blend of observations, descriptive settings along with a touch of humor. This was the era when the majority of society regarded homosexuals as part of the small clans of outcast inhabiting the less desirable sections of the city. Labels like Gay, Flower Child, Hippies as well as the Political Rebels were all lumped together in the conceited mentality of America. The era was considered a temporary misguided phase, not part of their civilized religious lifestyle. That is until noteworthy men started dying from AIDS. Suddenly, everyone became aware of the secret lives of friends and neighbors. Homosexuals had become the untouchables, sub-humans that did not deserve fair treatment or equal rights.
Though the characters are mainly gay men, the idiosyncrasies exhibited are human traits not restricted to any sexual category. For example, the first narrative illustrates a talented character named Michael who hears voices in his head. Creativity or living in his own reality? The origin of reality is an individual perception rather than a standardized opinion of the general public.
The stories begin with the adult gay man and descend into his coming of age teenage years when he was first subjected to the painful actions of bigots. After two years in the Army, the narrator realized he could no longer live the heterosexual lie society expected. At the age of twenty four, he steps out of the closet to live the life nature intended. However, the deadly disease sweeping through the nation brings the freedom of casual sex amongst the gay men to an abrupt halt. The loss of so many to AIDS blanketed the whole community with apprehension.
George Seaton’s An American Memory is a captivating very enjoyable blend of observations, descriptive settings along with a touch of humor. This was the era when the majority of society regarded homosexuals as part of the small clans of outcast inhabiting the less desirable sections of the city. Labels like Gay, Flower Child, Hippies as well as the Political Rebels were all lumped together in the conceited mentality of America. The era was considered a temporary misguided phase, not part of their civilized religious lifestyle. That is until noteworthy men started dying from AIDS. Suddenly, everyone became aware of the secret lives of friends and neighbors. Homosexuals had become the untouchables, sub-humans that did not deserve fair treatment or equal rights.
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February 28, 2014Although I've done it in the past, I've kind of developed a thing about rating my own books. So I won't. I'll just provide a blurb.
From the discovery and acceptance of our queer selves within the purely American landscape of the ‘50s, from the Big Party engendered by Stonewall, to the scourge of AIDS and on to present day, the heroes of these stories are ourselves, still robust after all these years, still understanding the truths gathered from our pasts. If Denver in the ‘50s was awash in mediocrity, Hollywood became in the ‘70s a phantasmagoria of licentiousness. If the ‘80s and ‘90s became the boogieman’s haunt, the resulting enforced discovery of the worth of love and commitment of each of us to the other became the new reality of our lives.
From the discovery and acceptance of our queer selves within the purely American landscape of the ‘50s, from the Big Party engendered by Stonewall, to the scourge of AIDS and on to present day, the heroes of these stories are ourselves, still robust after all these years, still understanding the truths gathered from our pasts. If Denver in the ‘50s was awash in mediocrity, Hollywood became in the ‘70s a phantasmagoria of licentiousness. If the ‘80s and ‘90s became the boogieman’s haunt, the resulting enforced discovery of the worth of love and commitment of each of us to the other became the new reality of our lives.
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews