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Billy #1
Billy: A Gay Trilogy: Book One: In the Beginning
Meet Billy Butler. He's been safely guarded from the evils (fun) of life by his overprotective parents, thereby spending his first 18 years on the planet moldering on the line of goodness and virtue. Meet Mirna, Billy's older sister who, now that her brother is out of school, wants to rectify that situation by introducing him to wine, women and song. Meet Sue, the girl who can't wait to sink her roots into the young flower that is Billy Butler and sprout some weeds! Meet Billy's nemesis, Smith (high school bully extraordinaire), who has been a thorn in Billy's side for so long that the daily dose of verbal abuse just seems natural. But Billy is ready for his life to begin now, for some excitement and romance--there's just one teeny little hitch in this plan that even Billy isn't prepared for. Now meet the Greg, Billy's soon-to-be boyfriend…
- GenresM M Romance
342 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2006
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 21, 2016
Thank god it is over. If I was not OCD about finishing a book once I have started reading it, I would have tossed this aside at least 10 ten times. Billy is as dense as a rock, and as flakey as breakfast cereal. As Billy suggested to Abraham (unknowingly about himself) I would "dump his sorry ass" as a friend far less as a lover.
The one and only redeeming aspect of this book is the relationship between Billy and his sister Mirna. Only when Billy and Mirna are interacting with each other are they, or any other character in this exhaustingly unexciting story, full colour, 3D, animated, believable people. In one or two places I even laughed out loud over the ribbing they give each other.
I enjoy science fiction and fantasy novels so I have no problems with authors throwing implausible ideas into a story; however, the story world has to be internally consistent. For me, in this story, the disconnects occur between the characters, what we know about them up to that point in the story and their subsequent actions at that point in the story. Perhaps it is because Timothy Lee's characters are so poorly developed, but often I found myself disbelieving that a character would do the things he has them do.
For example, Greg goes to an abandoned bowling ally parking lot for anonymous sex and picks up oblivious Billy who shoots his wad and runs away. They both feel a much deeper connection than one would typically expect as a result of such an encounter and both wish they had an opportunity to pursue something deeper. Believable. Billy, confused dolt that he is, is a complete asshole to Greg the next few times they cross paths. Believable. Greg is still interested but cautious when Billy finally accepts that he is gay. Billy must have one nice penis, but ok I'll buy it. They promptly move in together. Uhhh... unlikely. A few passionate weeks later Greg shouts angry nonsence at Billy and leaves never to be heard from again. WTF? OK, Billy is self-centered and clueless but as the reader nothing has happened in the story to explain Greg's actions.
Abraham is a 26 year old college educated Architect. Billy is one week shy of his 18th birthday with no ambition or direction. We are told Billy has a sweet disposition, but he usually treats Abraham like Kleenex: cries his eyes out to him and then tosses him aside until the next time he has the sniffles. We are told that Abraham and Billy have a close friendship. Why? They have nothing in common. Well, the friendship did developed before the start of the story, so ok, I'll buy it. We are told Abraham is secretly in love with Billy. Ah... we are verging close to pedophile territory here. Billy is repeatedly a prick, disappears for two years, and does not call Abraham even after he returns to 'the city' yet Abraham is still madly in love with him. In a typical romance novel I would buy this story arc because the author would provide reasons for such love to stay true. Here Timothy Lee does not even hint that he has even thought about such things far less include them in the novel.
Unless this novel is printed on the toilet paper and you forgot your own book with you I do not recommend you read this. And I only suggest it in that situation because it will end up where it belongs.
The one and only redeeming aspect of this book is the relationship between Billy and his sister Mirna. Only when Billy and Mirna are interacting with each other are they, or any other character in this exhaustingly unexciting story, full colour, 3D, animated, believable people. In one or two places I even laughed out loud over the ribbing they give each other.
I enjoy science fiction and fantasy novels so I have no problems with authors throwing implausible ideas into a story; however, the story world has to be internally consistent. For me, in this story, the disconnects occur between the characters, what we know about them up to that point in the story and their subsequent actions at that point in the story. Perhaps it is because Timothy Lee's characters are so poorly developed, but often I found myself disbelieving that a character would do the things he has them do.
For example, Greg goes to an abandoned bowling ally parking lot for anonymous sex and picks up oblivious Billy who shoots his wad and runs away. They both feel a much deeper connection than one would typically expect as a result of such an encounter and both wish they had an opportunity to pursue something deeper. Believable. Billy, confused dolt that he is, is a complete asshole to Greg the next few times they cross paths. Believable. Greg is still interested but cautious when Billy finally accepts that he is gay. Billy must have one nice penis, but ok I'll buy it. They promptly move in together. Uhhh... unlikely. A few passionate weeks later Greg shouts angry nonsence at Billy and leaves never to be heard from again. WTF? OK, Billy is self-centered and clueless but as the reader nothing has happened in the story to explain Greg's actions.
Abraham is a 26 year old college educated Architect. Billy is one week shy of his 18th birthday with no ambition or direction. We are told Billy has a sweet disposition, but he usually treats Abraham like Kleenex: cries his eyes out to him and then tosses him aside until the next time he has the sniffles. We are told that Abraham and Billy have a close friendship. Why? They have nothing in common. Well, the friendship did developed before the start of the story, so ok, I'll buy it. We are told Abraham is secretly in love with Billy. Ah... we are verging close to pedophile territory here. Billy is repeatedly a prick, disappears for two years, and does not call Abraham even after he returns to 'the city' yet Abraham is still madly in love with him. In a typical romance novel I would buy this story arc because the author would provide reasons for such love to stay true. Here Timothy Lee does not even hint that he has even thought about such things far less include them in the novel.
Unless this novel is printed on the toilet paper and you forgot your own book with you I do not recommend you read this. And I only suggest it in that situation because it will end up where it belongs.
November 17, 2008
I whish there was more gay fiction like this, funny and insightful, focusing more on what the characters feel, think and do than on how many "tricks" they go trough before the first chapter. You may or may not sympathise (not sure if that's how you spell it:)) or not with billy;s experiences, but you'll sure as hell wish you did.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews