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Clicking Beat on the Brink of Nada by Keith Hale
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Keith Hale Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published) Published: 2007-02-19 ISBN: 141965991X Number of pages: 190 Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Book Reviews of Clicking Beat on the Brink of NadaBook Review: The depth of true love Summary: 4 StarsThe narrator, seventeen year old Steven Trottingham Taylor lives with his mother Helen, his father having been killed just before he was born, and his fourteen year old half brother Freddy. His father was an active socialist, and his mother still holds to these ideals, Steven was named Trottingham with the intention he be called Trotsky in homage to these beliefs. Used to moving home frequently and the family has recently moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where Helen Taylor has taken a teaching position at the local university.
Trotsky is pretty sure he is gay, especially following a failed attempt at seduction by Sarah whom he first met at the State Employment Service. At his new school Trotsky becomes aware of Cody, a charismatic and striking looking well built youth with soulful blue eyes and intriguing orange/blond long flopping hair, with whom he shares some classes. When they eventually meet face to face it is the start of a friendship that eventually develops in to something very special.
Trotsky is no ordinary lad; he has a good open relationship with his mother, and is especially fond of his half brother and takes a positive interest in him and his well being. In turn Freddy holds Trotsky in very high esteem, looking upon him as protective older brother and a father figure. He is socially aware and is interested in politics, poetry and literature, and is prone to exchanging poems with his friends including Cody.
The friendship between Trotsky is Cody becomes an especially close one, such that they can almost communicate on a spiritual level, yet it becomes clear to them both that while Trotsky would like to enjoy a physical relationship, Cody being straight claims he cannot reciprocate. Yet their love for one another becomes such that eventually Cody does make a move. By that time Trotsky is already enjoying a loving relationship with Freddy's best friend Mark.
Eventually tragedy strikes with profound consequences.
This is a very enjoyable story about friendship, love and understanding. It is also a story with a definite socialist leaning, and happily makes political point. The main characters come over as positive and appealing, and it is particularly pleasing that the account avoids some of the clich?s found in many young gay love stories.
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