Monthly Archives: March, 2012
“A Tale of Two Summers” by Brian Sloan— A Beautiful Little Book
Sloan, Brian. “A Tale of Two Summers”, Simon and Shuster, 2006. A Beautiful Little Book Amos Lassen This is young adult fiction about two very different guys who happen to fall in love with each other. Chuck and Hal have been best friends for ten years. When they are separated for the first time one …
“Chemistry” by Lewis DeSimone— Love and Mental Illness
DeSimone, Lewis. “Chemistry”, Harrington Park Press, 2006. Love and Mental Illness Amos Lassen “Chemistry” is a love story that is both bittersweet and lovely and deals with attraction and repulsion. I found it impossible to close the covers. Ask yourself this question, “What happens when the person you love wakes up as a completely different …
“Virginia Bedfellows” by Gavin Morris— Gay in Colonial America
Morris, Gavin. “Virginia Bedfellows”, The Haworth Press, 2006. Gay in Colonial America Amos Lassen If you like historical fiction, “Virginia Bedfellows” is a book for you. It is the story of two men in 18th century America who live as lovers and face hared, fear, prejudice and are threatened with death. Lance Morely and Adam …
“When General Grant Expelled he Jews” by Jonathan D. Sarna— A Forgotten Episode of American History
Sarna, Jonathan D. “When General Grant Expelled he Jews”, Nextbook, 2012. A Forgotten Episode of American History Amos Lassen I do not know why I had never heard about this episode in our history as it is fascinating. In the middle of the Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered the expulsion of all Jews …
“Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas: How a Bedroom Arrest Decriminalized Gay Americans” by Dale Carpenter— It Takes a Court
Carpenter, Dale. “Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas: How a Bedroom Arrest Decriminalized Gay Americans”, Norton, 2012. It Takes a Court Amos Lassen Texas and homosexuals do not mix and this is something that we have learned through time. The behavior of the Texas court system with regards to cases involving homosexuals has …
“A Sweet Passover” by Leslea Newman, illustrated by David Slonim— A Special Book for a Special Holiday
Newman, Leslea. “A Sweet Passover”, illustrated by David Slonim, Abrams, 2012. A Special Book for a Special Holiday Amos Lassen Passover is the Jewish holiday that is observed by Jews the world over and for many, including myself; it is a very special day that reminds us of having been slaves in Egypt. There are …
“Tush” by Jaffe Cohen— Side=Splitting Humor
Cohen, Jaffe. “Tush”, Carroll and Graf, 2006. Side-Splitting Humor Amos Lassen Have you ever read a book that had you laughing and crying at the same time? If you have then you know what I am talking about. “Tush” by Jaffe Cohen is that kind of book. Cohen was one of the founding members of …
“TEEN A GOGO”— Rocking the Sixties
“Teen a Go Go” “A Little Film About Rock and Roll” Rocking the ‘60’s Amos Lassen In the 60’s almost every major city had a teen band scene and there were clubs where they could play. There was musical talent everywhere and that’s one way to remember that period. The local bands began recording covers …
“The Taos Truth Game” by Earl Ganz— Gay Out West
Ganz, Earl. “The Taos Truth Game”, The University of New Mexico Press, 2006. Gay Out West Amos Lassen In his first novel, Earl Ganz writes about the truth behind art and reveals the life of a forgotten writer, Myron Brinig who came to Taos in 1933, nursing hangover and ready to attempt to see the …
“Straight Talk About Crooked Teeth” by Ken Lauson, DDS— Let’s Get Straight (Teeth)
Lauson, Ken, DDS. “Straight Talk About Crooked Teeth”, Adams Publishing, 2012. Let’s Get Straight (Teeth) Amos Lassen Undoubtedly you, my dear readers, are wondering why am I reviewing a book about teeth when I usually only review LGBT and Judaica titles (or something else that might be important). The reason is simple—we make a first …
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