Shorn: Toys to Men

by Dennis Milam Bensie

What shapes a man's life more? Being molested at age seven, having a gruff father ashamed of him for being effeminate, or being humiliated by school bullies for being a sissy? In the memoir, Toys to Men, author Dennis Milam Bensie chronicles his journey from damaged boy, self-medicating by cutting the hair of shoplifted Barbie dolls, to confused young man, paying hundreds of gay street hustlers to shave their heads. Bensie demonstrates how hair can be currency-a moral gauge for good and bad, male and female, lawful and unlawful. The world of theater is his backdrop, a sanctuary where he gradually spins fantasy into reality. After getting his start in community theater, Bensie moves up to professional houses throughout the United States, turning his private sexual conflict over haircutting into a successful career as a skilled theatrical wig designer. Humorous and honest, this book is a uniquely tangled love story, a triumphant quest for love, forgiveness and self-acceptance.

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2010

About the author

Dennis Milam Bensie’s poem “Eight Ball” was published in Greater National Society of Poets, Inc in 1980 when he was a freshman in high school. It was featured thirty years later in his memoir, Shorn: Toys to Men.

Short stories and poetry by Dennis have been featured in numerous publications and his essays have been seen in The Huffington Post, Boys on the Brink, and The Good Men Project. He currently writes a weekly column for Queen Mob’s Tea House called “30 Years a Dresser” about his career working backstage in professional theatre.

His second book, One Gay American, was chosen as a finalist in both the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Indie Excellence Book Awards.

In 2015, Bensie’s latest book Flit: A Poetry Mashup of Classic Literature was featured in Kolaj Magazine and was a part of Tribe Magazine’s “Anti-Shame Week”.

The author has been a presenter and panelist at the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans and at Montana’s very first gay pride festival.

Reviews

[Larry-bob Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this memoir and found it a quick read. I liked how he used offset italic section to replay the inner dialogues he had with himself at various ages. It has the kind of raw honesty of a recovery narrative. Although hair-cutting is not my particular fetish or obsession, I could do some "identify don't compare" with the book.

[Lizzie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine lent me this book and I will admit I'm not disappointed at all, this book throws a lot of different moods to the reader and makes you think and consider a lot of stuff. Insecurities, doubts, desires, this book exposes all of those feelings and more. The great thing about this book is that it isn't a predictable read, the ups and downs really keep you at the edge of your seat wanting to know if the dark moments will lighten up or get darker. In the end I'll admit that this book might not be for everyone but not giving it a try isn't an option, you'll either know that you like it or not at some point, but not before finishing reading it all, as the huge change in tones and environments will change your opinion quicker than what you can imagine. In short, give this book a try, if not for the main topic just for the chance at reflection on it or for appreciation of a person's bravery to bring an obscure topic such as the one discussed in this book into the light.

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard read of obsession that at times feels beyond belief--between the hair cuts, the hustlers and the shoplifting this story gets incredibly dark. There are points where I felt Dennis couldn't fall any further and yet he did.

It's a heavy story

But it is one worth reading if only to try and understand what it feels like to be so far beyond the normal. This book pushed me through the story at points because I needed to see where he could get and how he would do it. If you like non-fiction and stories with a bit of isolation sadness and the human spirit then give this book a shot.

[Robbie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!Many small town gays move off to the big city to find acceptance.  But Dennis' story is so enthralling that I couldn't put this book down.

[Victoria Brinius · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a memoir that made me want to go back in time and warn Dennis. I really hope that the world today is a lot more accepting of Young people and their sexual orientation. I can not believe some of the things that people have gone through in the past. I applaud Dennis for dealing with his issues, and do not know if I could be as positive as he seems to be now. I also feel as though the statue of limitations for certain crimes should be higher for instances like the one in this book. Dennis went through more things then most people will ever have to deal with. Never mind all of them together. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.

[Joe Comer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book about growing up in a small southeastern Illinois town where bigotry, prejudice and close mindedness is the rule. Dennis Milam Bensie speaks with great honesty about his life as a gay man and boy. The story is made fascinating by an obsession that adds a great deal of complexity to that life. He writes with a great deal of passion about a distant father and how it affected an already difficult childhood. Whether gay or straight you will find this book as compelling as any on the best seller list. It's a must read!!

[Carson hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish it. I actually really liked when he talked about school and his experiences, because I could relate to them, as well as his fantasy world, but I just couldn't deal with all the hair talk and I stopped reading once he started talking about cutting a stray cat. That was it, I closed it. I will never know if he went through with abusing the poor animal, and I don't want to know. There is nothing I hate more than animal abusers!

[Betsy Hover · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Read the One Gay American, which was such a hard read due to difficulties this young boy goes thru in his childhood of not feeling normal or belonging. This book deals with another set of difficult issues of being molested at age seven, and also finding out that he is adopted, between the haircuts, the hustlers and the shoplifting this story gets incredibly dark.

[Matty Lapointe-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I really enjoyed it. Not only a compelling, well told story of dealing with obsession and confusion, but one that finds success and happiness in a very thoughtful and emotional finale.

[Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://gilwilson.wordpress.com/2011/0...

link for full review.