The Way Things Ought to Be

by Gregory Hinton

Set in the 1970s, a provocative coming-of-age novel follows King James, a gorgeous gay writer, as he takes care of his dysfunctional family and his pregnant, bohemian best friend, while embarking on his own journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening that forever changes his life. 12,000 first printing.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[PaperMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a gay young adult stepping fresh into University life in Boulder, Colorado back in the 1970s? Well – Greg Hinton weaves a richly complex tale of one amazingly named King James … who steps tentatively into the sexual freedom and liberal lifestyle as epitomised by Ginsberg and Burroughs (yes they actually make an appearance in this novel as secondary characters). Sensitive, intelligent, cute as a button King runs into a series of boyfriends and lovers who seem incapable of or unwilling to provide the love and connection he wants. More fascinating for readers like myself who grew up in the 80’s and came out even later in life, Hinton manages to outline the developing gay-rights, evolving gay male socio-relationship expectations, women’s rights, freedom of speech and thought, carefree pre-AIDs disco era gay sexuality as backdrop to King’s brave venturing into a series of sexual encounters and failed relationships.

Not all doom and gloom, King finds support from remarkable accepting (for that era IMO) but flawed parents, Jennifer - the rich gal bohemian best gal-pal who wants King as surrogate father to her illegitimate and un-yet born baby, a couple of older gay mentor types who aren’t after King just to get into his pants, and yes – even Alan Ginsberg himself! Somehow through friendship betrayals and academic rejection, through heart-ache from losing the object of one’s desire, through the pain of getting together with a deeply closeted hunk, through a brutal act of physical and sexual violence upon his self … somehow, our young protagonist manages to stagger through to find his voice and identity as a potential writer with postgraduate opportunities. Hinton’s book covers four seasons, spread over the course of four years whereby young King James develops a clearer understanding of who he can count upon, and what love and loyalty means with parents, friends, academic staff and gay lovers. And with a name like King James - of course there has to be a Bible involved in the plot somewhere!

I’ve always enjoyed Greg Hinton’s characters both gay and straight, male and female, old and young, of different nationalities and ethno-cultural backgrounds – complex, flawed, bravely tragic who sometimes find the inner strength to do selfless deeds of love and sacrifice. Like Cathedral City and Desperate Hearts, The Way Things Ought To Be lives up to my expectations for Hinton’s best writing.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review here:

https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...

I think King is kind of Shakespearean in his own way, I'm sure more than a few readers can identify with his struggles with love and sex, and how the two, while separate, intertwine.