Latter Days: A Novel by C. Jay Cox, T. Fabris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Latter Days: A Novel
Book Review: A Page Turner
Summary: 5 Stars
The story is touching. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. The book was well-written, and there were times when I really felt the emotions of the characters. I also found myself worked up with my own strong feelings in certain situations. Throughout the reading I also learned a great deal about the Morman culture, and their views on different issues. This was a great book and I strongly reccommend reading it.Book Review: A Review of Latter Days the Book and the Movie by Cheri
Summary: 5 Stars
"Latter Days" the book and the movieWould you risk being ex-communicated by your church, shunned by your peers, and turned away by your parents, for the one you love? How desperate would you be if you were denied the freedom to love, to be with the person of your dreams? The one person who makes you feel complete. This is portrayed in the all too familiar story of boy meets boy, boy falls in love with boy, and boy has to choose between boy and family. Latter Days the book, written from the screenplay, is a replica of the movie except for a few minor details. C. Jay Cox wrote the screenplay. The book, adapted by T. Fabris, won the Audience Award as the Outstanding First Narrative Feature, Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss), a 19 year-old Morman, has never been away from home. He is called to serve as a missionary for his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His assignment is in Hollywood, California where he will spend two years. He makes the pilgrimage from Pocatello, Idaho to California, full of hope and promise that he will make his church and family proud. He studies the Bible and its teachings diligently. He loves the church and the feeling of belonging, but there is one big problem--he is gay. He falls in love with another boy, Christian. His church insists Aaron repent for his sins and forever deny who he is. Living as a homosexual is not an option. The church forces Aaron to choose between Christian and his religion.
Christian Markelli (Wes Ramsey) is a vivacious, gorgeous, party animal. His claim to fame is his ability to get straight boys to have sex with him. He works as a waiter and bus boy at Lila's Restaurant-so does his roommate and best friend, Julie. His other friends are co-workers, Andrew and Traci. When Aaron and three other young Mormons move into Christian and Julie's apartment complex, Andrew, Traci, Julie and Chris make a $50 bet to see if Chris can get one of the missionaries to sleep with him. Chris and Julie bet he could do it; Andrew and Traci bet he could not. Christian had no idea that he was going to fall in love with Aaron, or that Aaron would return his love.
Julie (Rebekah Jordan) is an aspiring singer. Through a connection, she gets Clive Davis to listen to her demo album. Chris and Julie are more than roommates; they support and love one another like family.
Andrew (Khary Payton), the bartender at Lila's, has wisdom beyond his years because he has been HIV positive from a very young age. He convinces Christian to volunteer to help deliver food to housebound AIDS victims. Chris takes him up on his offer after Aaron tells him he is shallow and compares him to a "marshmallow peep"-a perfect analogy. Chris wants to prove to Aaron that he is not just a pretty face who only cares about getting laid.
Traci (Amber Benson) is an aspiring actress whose parents are not too crazy about her career choice.
Lila (Jacqueline Bisset) owns Lila's Restaurant and is the epitome of culture, grace, and poise. She is a mother figure to Christian and Aaron when their own parents are not willing to fulfill their roles. One of her best lines to Aaron is, "Your church doesn't like alcohol or homosexuals. I am definitely not joining." Aaron was there for Lila in her time of need and Lila returns the favor to Aaron. They were each others' angel.
Aaron is kicked out of the missionary program and sent home after getting caught kissing Christian. Christian does not want to let him go that easily and tries to get him back.
The set design is amazing and meaningful, as we see when Aaron returns home. His father is disappointed and his mother is cold. By contrast, the house is colorful and bright; even the kitchen cabinets are cheery. The house was decorated before Aaron shamed his family by admitting he is gay-designed when Aaron showed promise and potential to follow his father's example and become a church leader. The cheerful design makes Aaron's mother seem that much harsher by comparison.
I loved Latter Days, the movie and the book, for many reasons but most of all for the important story it tells and the lesson it teaches. The lesson being that love comes in all forms and no person or church should have the right to condemn love between two people of the same sex. Many tragedies and near disasters could be avoided.
Book Review: A breath of fresh air in modern gay literature!
Summary: 4 Stars
First of all, it is so commendable for the writer of Sweet Home Alabama to come out and write this gay film. It must have been a risky career choice, but I hope this movie (book) has proven that it was worth it.
Since the book is an adaption from the movie (i.e. from movie to book), one cannot expect beautiful sentences a la Michael Cunningham's A Home At The End Of The World. Nevertheless, the story is very sweet. It is definitely worth the read for those interested in exploring books in this genre. (For me, I was personally relieved to find a book with gay characters that does not merely involve drugs, clubs, and a plethora of one-night-stands)
My own interpretation of the story is that it is about finding love in the most unexpected situation. The best kind of romantic connection can be found between the most unlikely candidates, which is what made me cheering for Christian and Aaron all the way. If an erstwhile whorish party boy who is jaded about love and a mind-Freaked yet innocent Mormom missionary could find comfort and love in each other's arms, then it is possible for us all.
Without being a plot ruiner, I will just say that as corny as the plot sometimes seems to be, the characters are well developed. Major characters branch out into their own subplots to build more credibilities into the construction of their personalities. I am so glad finally there is a gay love story that has some dramatic substances other than the usual cheating-forgiving that has been made so blase by basically every other gay romantic book I have read.
I believe this book really is 3-star material. However, based on the fact that there rarely are gay books with "actual" characters and "real-life" plots, I am going to give this book a special "affirmative action" rating of a 4-star. (Not to mention the very commendable inclusion of African-American characters in the book, kudos to the writers! We don't live in Scandanavia, for crying out loud; this book shows the reality)
Buy it; support the writers! That is how more quality gay literature and films can come about! Remember what Martina Navartilova says of our dollars being assets in our campaign for equality, freedom, and visibility. Well, supporting well composed gay arts (movies and books) is as good a way to spend our dollars as any. I also recommend A Home At The End Of The World (Cunningham), and Dream Boy (Grimsley) within the genre.
Book Review: A delicious slice of a young male's acceptance of reality!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderfully easy, stimulating, and captivating read for a beach goer, Palm Springs sun worshipper, airline passenger, or any other gay male willing to delve into others' realities and be captivated by a smoothly-flowing writing style which, via cool, consistent plot development, concludes with an emotional wallop that had me tearing. I've not seen the movie, but the book has stimulated a very strong desire to see it on my home surround system with my same-sex mate with whom I bonded in 1977 and have maintained an outstanding monogamous relationship since then. Bravo to Cox!!!Book Review: An Engaging Story
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read the book, but not seen the movie. Other reviews have indicated that it's mostly a print version of the movie, which I don't doubt(see below).It's a compelling story that's pretty well put together. There are some plot developments that are improbable, and in a couple of places the characters behave in ways that aren't readily believable, but are possible. There are some fairly heavy scenes, too; any book that can make me cry has definitely made an emotional impact.
I'm not entirely sure that someone who's straight would react the same way, though... I'm gay, and from a church that basically everyone considers to be fundamentalist (though not the Mormons). So some of the things that I thought were most moving might roll right by someone who doesn't have the same cultural background. I plan to give it to some straight friends (including one or two from church) to test my hypothesis. And, FWIW, I thought that what was in the book about how the Mormons go about setting up their mission teams and evangelizing was very interesting. Given that C. Jay Cox grew up in the church, I assume they're accurate. I'll definitely be more sympathetic the next time I see them out and about somewhere.
If the book itself has a failing, it's that it goes by very fast. There may be more character development than in the movie, but there's room for still more. To some degree, however, that can probably be said of any story. Oh, one other thing: if you haven't seen the movie, the trailer available on the film's Web site has a spoiler or two in it... that's relevant for either the movie or the book.