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The Unmentionables
1950s Washington, DC. James has just accepted a teaching position for the State Department. But after too many drinks at his own housewarming party, he meets Henry, a doctor and his neighbor. Their connection is immediate, but after a drunken kiss they end up parting ways with alarm.
That's just beginning of a story that spans two a story of a secret relationship, strained marriages, crumbling lives, and ultimately a love strong enough to withstand all of it.
That's just beginning of a story that spans two a story of a secret relationship, strained marriages, crumbling lives, and ultimately a love strong enough to withstand all of it.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2017
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Val Prozorova
18 books53 followersVal Prozorova (or Velvl Ryder) is a transgender writer based in New Zealand, who makes a habit of challenging gender stereotypes and bringing queer lives to the forefront of his writing.
Outside of his writing, Vel is studying to be a dog trainer, hoping to work with police canines and promoting animal interaction for those with mental health issues.
You can find Vel on his website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon, and in a number of anthologies and journals. He welcomes all messages and reviews, and loves to connect with his readers. Send along a message; Vel promises not to bite.
Outside of his writing, Vel is studying to be a dog trainer, hoping to work with police canines and promoting animal interaction for those with mental health issues.
You can find Vel on his website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon, and in a number of anthologies and journals. He welcomes all messages and reviews, and loves to connect with his readers. Send along a message; Vel promises not to bite.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 30, 2021
Henry and James (and their wives Clara and Kitty) are neighbors in DC in the early 1950's; Henry is a doctor and James is a lecturer at FBI headquarters in Quantico. A glance across a crowded room, and one drunken kiss in the garage, and Henry and James fall in love, starting an affair full of stolen moments and one heart-achingly tender weekend away at a cabin. When they are together, they talk of those mundane everyday moments married couples take for granted - making coffee every morning for the one you love, quiet evenings together, the joy of sleeping next to each other. But in the early 1950's when homosexuality was illegal, having the chance to realize those dreams seems impossible.
As an emigrant from Lithuania in post WWII America, Henry is used to the suspicions of being un-American. But when Eisenhower signs Executive Order 10450 allowing federal employees to be investigated to determine whether they posed security risks, i.e. "Any criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, habitual use of intoxicants to excess, drug addiction, or sexual perversion" suddenly James finds himself under investigation.
After a perfect storm of problems (James has been asked to resign and Kitty tells him something that will change their lives forever), James checks himself into St. Elizabeth's hospital in an effort to rid himself of this "sickness." Google "Doctor Walter Freeman" if you want to be horrified, disgusted and sick to your soul about what was done in the guise of "curing" homosexuality.
I don't want to spoil too much of this story for you, but ... have faith. This story is not one of loss and sorrow, but one of joy, reconciliation and incredible love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (I Corinthans 13:7). And I love how Clara and Kitty are full-realized characters; Pragmatic Clara and Kitty who wanted to become a poet. The writing is simply beautiful throughout, but I particularly love this image of Kitty:
The Unmentionables is beautifully written, horrifyingly sad at points and ultimately so very satisfying. This story has haunted me since I read it. I highly recommend it and would give it "all the stars."
Visit my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
As an emigrant from Lithuania in post WWII America, Henry is used to the suspicions of being un-American. But when Eisenhower signs Executive Order 10450 allowing federal employees to be investigated to determine whether they posed security risks, i.e. "Any criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, habitual use of intoxicants to excess, drug addiction, or sexual perversion" suddenly James finds himself under investigation.
After a perfect storm of problems (James has been asked to resign and Kitty tells him something that will change their lives forever), James checks himself into St. Elizabeth's hospital in an effort to rid himself of this "sickness." Google "Doctor Walter Freeman" if you want to be horrified, disgusted and sick to your soul about what was done in the guise of "curing" homosexuality.
I don't want to spoil too much of this story for you, but ... have faith. This story is not one of loss and sorrow, but one of joy, reconciliation and incredible love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (I Corinthans 13:7). And I love how Clara and Kitty are full-realized characters; Pragmatic Clara and Kitty who wanted to become a poet. The writing is simply beautiful throughout, but I particularly love this image of Kitty:
Henry stands in kind, watching as Kitty settles back into the self she presents to the world to satisfy what it wishes to see in her. A housewife, a caretaker, well-kept and put-together, unharried and unstressed, rather than a poet, a friend, whose insights and curiosities span far beyond clipping coupons and cleaning house.I've done it - proclaimed "I loved this book" when a story hits my funny bone just right, or after reading the perfect book for that particular moment. And then when a truly amazing book comes along, I want to say "wait, wait ... yes, okay, yes, that other book was 5 stars, but this one is ten stars, a hundred stars, heck, all the stars!"
The Unmentionables is beautifully written, horrifyingly sad at points and ultimately so very satisfying. This story has haunted me since I read it. I highly recommend it and would give it "all the stars."
This is no perversity, James tells himself, not this. This is no depravity. No crime. This is a gift that they were lucky to find in themselves and in each other, to share and to enjoy without the guilt that the world around them would shame them into feeling, to force into them if given the opportunity.Edited to say that I just reread this book and it ended up being my final book of 2017. It was fitting to end the year with this book - it is beautifully written and was perhaps my favorite book read during 2017. A second read only highlighted the richness of this story and I'll probably read it again during 2018!
Visit my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
November 5, 2017
This is a beautifully written book - painful, challenging and heartbreaking at times, however a love of the ages. Set in the 50s this story is about James and Henry. James is hiding in a marriage he doesn’t want to be in and is fearful of being removed from his job at the FBI if they ever work out he’s queer. Henry lives in a marriage of convenience and works as a doctor. His love for James is beautiful and he will go to any lengths to protect him. As James falls apart, life throws horrific curveballs. What these guys go through is so damn sad - not the best era to be gay. Their story is a gentle and romantic one. There are no hot or steamy scenes here, it’s all just in the background. This is about true connections- sometimes you just can’t let go.
September 24, 2017
This is not a comfortable read. There, I said it. But it's a pretty incredible love story and day-um, did it ever grab me.
This takes place in the 1950 in the US and it's a gay love story in the shadow of the McCarthy era. That alone should indicate that there are few hearts and flowers in the story itself because that was a dark, dark age for gay people. It has more than a few heart-stopping moments but succeeds on the strength of its characters.
Firstly, the MCs are deeply, helplessly in love and it is quite heart-wrenching to watch them survive on the few stolen moments they get together in the beginning. At first I was a bit sceptical because the sort of make-believe world they sometimes create for themselves seems almost child-like but as we enter the grim reality of their lives, it becomes apparent how necessary these fantasies are. This is all the more chilling as the authors did their research and do not indulge in the magically-gay-ok a lot of other writers of historicals indulge in. Their situation is bleak but ultimately they get to a place where hope is possible and giving up is not an option. I'm not sure I would call it a HEA but then again I'm not sure I would call this book a romance. It's a love story, that much is very, very true but it is also queer history.
Secondly, there are the wives. Yep. The wives because both MCs are married when they meet but lo and behold! They are not harpies! They are not harridans! They are highly intelligent, fully fleshed characters who are complex in their reactions. This is so wonderful because all the participants in this tale are in one way or the other victims of circumstance but still agents of their own lives. Hooray!
The writing has a certain old-fashioned feeling to it which may, or may not sometimes stumble into purplish territory but that's fine. It fits the mood and it fits the book.
So. This book is not ending up on my comfort-reads shelf any time soon but it's very highly recommended.
This takes place in the 1950 in the US and it's a gay love story in the shadow of the McCarthy era. That alone should indicate that there are few hearts and flowers in the story itself because that was a dark, dark age for gay people. It has more than a few heart-stopping moments but succeeds on the strength of its characters.
Firstly, the MCs are deeply, helplessly in love and it is quite heart-wrenching to watch them survive on the few stolen moments they get together in the beginning. At first I was a bit sceptical because the sort of make-believe world they sometimes create for themselves seems almost child-like but as we enter the grim reality of their lives, it becomes apparent how necessary these fantasies are. This is all the more chilling as the authors did their research and do not indulge in the magically-gay-ok a lot of other writers of historicals indulge in. Their situation is bleak but ultimately they get to a place where hope is possible and giving up is not an option. I'm not sure I would call it a HEA but then again I'm not sure I would call this book a romance. It's a love story, that much is very, very true but it is also queer history.
Secondly, there are the wives. Yep. The wives because both MCs are married when they meet but lo and behold! They are not harpies! They are not harridans! They are highly intelligent, fully fleshed characters who are complex in their reactions. This is so wonderful because all the participants in this tale are in one way or the other victims of circumstance but still agents of their own lives. Hooray!
The writing has a certain old-fashioned feeling to it which may, or may not sometimes stumble into purplish territory but that's fine. It fits the mood and it fits the book.
So. This book is not ending up on my comfort-reads shelf any time soon but it's very highly recommended.
August 27, 2017
While avoiding any kind of spoilers beyond basic dust-jacket information, this book as an absolute treat to read.
The story takes place in 1950’s Washington DC, and centers around the relationship between James and Henry, both trapped in loveless, social-facade marriages and both struggling to find safety, intimacy, and fulfillment in a country which wants to take their every chance at happiness away from them. Needless to say, it’s not particularly light reading.
Despite that, the romance between the two main characters absolutely shines. Their interactions are the heart and soul of this book and if you’re looking for a heartbreakingly beautiful romance full of the elegant turns of phrase that Prozorova and McFerren are so skilled at, you’ll find it here.
I was also very impressed with its willingness to explore the consequences that affairs have on marriages, rather than resorting to the old fanfic trope of “Oh, they have wives? Let’s just . . . scoot those wives off to the side. Into the fridge, yeah, lets put them there.” Both of the wives are fully fleshed-out as characters, something which I would be downright shocked to see in most “illicit affair” novels, and both become just as compelling as Henry and James.
The Unmentionables is also very well done as a historical novel, taking place as it does during the rarely discussed Lavender Scare in the 1950’s, an equivalent to the Red Scare, in which the US government was systematically purging its branches of lesbians and gay men. Anyone not considered “reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and of complete and unswerving loyalty to the United States,” was dismissed.
In the end, I really don’t have enough good things to say about this book. While making an effort not to spoil anything, I’ll say it definitely wrapped up in a satisfying way.
It makes for heavy reading at times, (most of the time,) and delves into some of the horrific elements of 1950’s America that some people would prefer to have swept under the rug. But if you’re looking for an intensely romantic novel with a pair of unforgettable main characters and a good dose of angst, you really can’t go wrong with this one.
This review was written after I received an ARC of the book.
The story takes place in 1950’s Washington DC, and centers around the relationship between James and Henry, both trapped in loveless, social-facade marriages and both struggling to find safety, intimacy, and fulfillment in a country which wants to take their every chance at happiness away from them. Needless to say, it’s not particularly light reading.
Despite that, the romance between the two main characters absolutely shines. Their interactions are the heart and soul of this book and if you’re looking for a heartbreakingly beautiful romance full of the elegant turns of phrase that Prozorova and McFerren are so skilled at, you’ll find it here.
I was also very impressed with its willingness to explore the consequences that affairs have on marriages, rather than resorting to the old fanfic trope of “Oh, they have wives? Let’s just . . . scoot those wives off to the side. Into the fridge, yeah, lets put them there.” Both of the wives are fully fleshed-out as characters, something which I would be downright shocked to see in most “illicit affair” novels, and both become just as compelling as Henry and James.
The Unmentionables is also very well done as a historical novel, taking place as it does during the rarely discussed Lavender Scare in the 1950’s, an equivalent to the Red Scare, in which the US government was systematically purging its branches of lesbians and gay men. Anyone not considered “reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and of complete and unswerving loyalty to the United States,” was dismissed.
In the end, I really don’t have enough good things to say about this book. While making an effort not to spoil anything, I’ll say it definitely wrapped up in a satisfying way.
It makes for heavy reading at times, (most of the time,) and delves into some of the horrific elements of 1950’s America that some people would prefer to have swept under the rug. But if you’re looking for an intensely romantic novel with a pair of unforgettable main characters and a good dose of angst, you really can’t go wrong with this one.
This review was written after I received an ARC of the book.
October 5, 2024
A heartfelt look at life for gay men - married men - in the 1950s. These are guys with few options so if cheating on a spouse is a hard no for you, don’t bother with this book. This is a beautiful love story and the writing is very good. But it was also very Douglas Sirk, which keeps me from rating it a full 5 stars. I love his movies and that heightened emotional style in some strange way helped to create the period feel of the book, but it can also come off a little sappy and undercut the feeling of authenticity.
These guys suffer through some dark times and the authors kept me on edge, turning pages to see if they were going to survive - literally - and as a couple. But this is ultimately a hopeful tale so don’t let the perils of the period keep you from reading this. I’m glad I did.
These guys suffer through some dark times and the authors kept me on edge, turning pages to see if they were going to survive - literally - and as a couple. But this is ultimately a hopeful tale so don’t let the perils of the period keep you from reading this. I’m glad I did.
read-sample-didn-t-buy
November 11, 2018Note to self: 3rd person POV + present tense = le sigh. These two do not mesh well for me.
January 3, 2018
Loved it. Gorgeous writing. Beautifully written characters.
October 4, 2017
Wow! What an emotional roller coaster. Set in the 1950's during the era of McCarthyism, James and Henry, fall in love. Both are married but live for the times they can be together. Henry is under suspicion by the government because he is an immigrant. James works for the FBI but when they decide they must interview all their employees, the stress becomes too much for James and he has a breakdown and ends up in a psych hospital. When Henry finds out, he does what he must to get James out before permanent damage is done. As James heals, things come to a head with their wives and the men are left with only each other.
This was one fantastic story. Tightly written, the tension of that time comes through as you did not know who to trust. I was on the edge of my seat caught up in the story. I loved Henry and James. They are opposites of each other but devoted to one another. Their futures were different than what they ever anticipated but they were pioneers at that time. Courageous, strong, devoted men. I wanted everything to turn out well. I would also like to see more into their futures to see how their story ends. Well done!
This was one fantastic story. Tightly written, the tension of that time comes through as you did not know who to trust. I was on the edge of my seat caught up in the story. I loved Henry and James. They are opposites of each other but devoted to one another. Their futures were different than what they ever anticipated but they were pioneers at that time. Courageous, strong, devoted men. I wanted everything to turn out well. I would also like to see more into their futures to see how their story ends. Well done!
November 29, 2017
It was a compelling tale from the first to the last chapter. You can’t help but feel for every character in it. This is an enthralling love story between two men in an age where being homosexual was not only frowned upon, but it could get you arrested, and worse, too. I recommend reading this book if you’re looking for an intensely emotional read. I loved every word of this.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews