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Dancing with Panthers
When you're queer, what's the point in having dreams?When tall, fair, good looking but lonely Mark Martin living in northern England is offered a lot of money in 1961, aged just fourteen, it sets him off in a whole new direction as a rent boy.
At the same time he becomes labelled a hero so his public profile is raised at a time when he wants to keep certain things very private. How does he balance these two?
Highly respected and destined for success, he then finds that the dark world of the under-age, gay sex worker is more complex and dangerous than he thought. He is later forced to escape across the world on a wild adventure with his protector and lover but finds himself in even more danger.
Not suitable for under 18s or the faint-hearted.
At the same time he becomes labelled a hero so his public profile is raised at a time when he wants to keep certain things very private. How does he balance these two?
Highly respected and destined for success, he then finds that the dark world of the under-age, gay sex worker is more complex and dangerous than he thought. He is later forced to escape across the world on a wild adventure with his protector and lover but finds himself in even more danger.
Not suitable for under 18s or the faint-hearted.
398 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2024
21 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Patrick C. Notchtree
17 books114 followersPatrick now lives in the north of England with his wife and has his son and granddaughters nearby. Much of his life is reflected in the biographical trilogy "The Clouds Still Hang", so to repeat too many biographical details here would be something of a 'spoiler'!
The memoir was my first book. My fifth book is now out on Kindle and paperback, called "Maxym".
The memoir was my first book. My fifth book is now out on Kindle and paperback, called "Maxym".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2025
No spoilers.
I was drawn in by the sample on Amazon, and just had to read the book. The sample is clever enough not to reveal the complexity of this fine novel.
The writing draws three dimensional characters, even the major side characters are more than ciphers, and the plot moves at a heady pace, the flow never easing until past the final words. This is about a young teenager's journey navigating his homosexuality until young adulthood, but in the era when homosexuality was unlawful between people of any age. The story is crafted to let us understand the era, to live in the era, to imagine ourselves in the repressive times post Wolfenden report of 1957 and pre legalisation in 1967.
As our hero moves through his school career into the world of work, we watch him mature into a responsible adult, perhaps mature beyond his years, perhaps still a child. As work takes over the author reminded me of Jospeh Conrad coupled with Douglas Reeman.
Not a standard erotic gay romp, we are shown how penetrative sex is a loving, comfortable, comforting act, but we don't descend into the nitty gritty of erotica.
This is a high octane high quality, well crafted novel, well worth reading. Highly recommended.
I was drawn in by the sample on Amazon, and just had to read the book. The sample is clever enough not to reveal the complexity of this fine novel.
The writing draws three dimensional characters, even the major side characters are more than ciphers, and the plot moves at a heady pace, the flow never easing until past the final words. This is about a young teenager's journey navigating his homosexuality until young adulthood, but in the era when homosexuality was unlawful between people of any age. The story is crafted to let us understand the era, to live in the era, to imagine ourselves in the repressive times post Wolfenden report of 1957 and pre legalisation in 1967.
As our hero moves through his school career into the world of work, we watch him mature into a responsible adult, perhaps mature beyond his years, perhaps still a child. As work takes over the author reminded me of Jospeh Conrad coupled with Douglas Reeman.
Not a standard erotic gay romp, we are shown how penetrative sex is a loving, comfortable, comforting act, but we don't descend into the nitty gritty of erotica.
This is a high octane high quality, well crafted novel, well worth reading. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2024
Read this twice and enjoyed it so much. Very sad ending and would very much like a follow up.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews