The Jane Loop

by Graham Jackson

For the suburbanites of 1960s Toronto, the Jane Loop streetcar terminal is the gateway to the vibrant and uninhibited city. For Neil Bennett, it is also an escape - escape from his father's sadistic pranks, the taunts of childhood bullies, and the rigid propriety of his Islington neighbourhood. The summer before Neil's seventeenth birthday, the façade of respectability is shattered when a vigilante begins to break into nearby homes, exposing the transgressions of his neighbours. The break-ins, along with the arrival of an alluring new bread delivery man and a visit from his aunt Sylvia from Hollywood, embolden him to finally explore the possibilities that exist beyond his own street. With evocative writing and engaging dialogue, Graham Jackson masterfully explores the subtle complexities of life in 1960s suburban Toronto in this provocative coming-of-age journey to self-discovery.

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2016

Reviews

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart wrenching, deeply erotic, gay coming-of-age story, as good or better than any by White, Baldwin, or Leavitt. Also an amazingly vivid evocation of early 1960s WASP suburban Toronto, beautifully written and skillfully paced.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Jane Loop and I wish there was more of it to read.  I could not put it down.  What a fabulous book!  I loved watched Neil evolve as well as l bread man becoming Jack.  The portrayal of Toronto was so detailed, as much a character as Neil, Jack or Edsel man.  I have visited Toronto a couple of times but don’t really know it at all.  I feel like I know it a lot better now.  I identified with Neil but I sure wasn’t that strong when I was turning 17. Evocative writing and engaging dialogue Graham Jackson masterfully explores the subtle complexities of life in 1960s suburban Toronto in this provocative coming-of-age journey to self-discovery.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just one of those novels that will leave you emotionally exhausted...and bereft at the final page, realizing there aren't any more to read. Provocative, sensual, angry, tragic, intimate and uplifting, this is one of the finest pieces of Canadian literature I've read in some time. Truly magnificent work.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling and beautiful story of a gay boy’s coming of age, with lots of 1960’s Toronto detail. The portrait of a dysfunctional marriage and an emotionally abusive father is detailed and unusual enough to ring totally true. Very satisfying!

[Peggy Voth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a very good story, and the writing is excellent. I came to care so much for the protagonist that I sometimes ached on his behalf, sometimes felt fear for him, and gasped with joy when he made a choice that brought him into a more clear definition as a person in relation to those around him. I loved his Aunt Sylva, and Miss Fairfield. So many of the characters were easy for me to visualize…they were real to me. The father shocked me and appalled me, and at the end, I was very disappointed in the mother. This book educated me about some of the challenges gay adolescents may face.

[Marg McGrath-Chong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson has written a character for whom it is easy to have empathy. The descriptions of Toronto are enjoyably familiar. This was an entertaining read.

[Dna · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE JANE LOOP by Graham Jackson
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I didn't feel all the feelings for this #Canadian #bildungsroman, but appreciate the #writing and familiar #Toronto setting. I connected to #GrahamJackson's sense of urban milieu and sympathized with the #gay male protagonist's plight against the backdrop of the buttoned-up 1960s and a psychologically abusive parent (who I thought was really just a closeted asshole). Some intriguing character development had me excited in the first half, but it all fell flat as the story progressed and the characters *remained* flat. I wanted more insight into the parents: first, the passive, damaging mother figure and second, the antagonistic and sadistic father.
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I don't enjoy star-rating #books on #Goodreads, but if I had to, this would be a solid two-star affair.
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#hamont #denareads #reading #novels #canadianfiction #canlit #Canada #GLBT #LGBT #literature #literaryfiction #thejaneloop #JaneSt #JaneandFinch