Looking For It is Michael Thomas Ford’s second novel. My overall opinion of the first, Last Summer, was less than glowing…but secretly I hoped that maybe Ford’s subsequent efforts would prove more believable. Well that’s what happened…this second effort is in several ways superior to the first.
The plot circles around a diverse group of gay men living in Cold Falls, NY a small upstate town which surprisingly seems to be able to support a gay bar, The Engine Room.
The characters, like Last Summer’s, seem initially drawn from “central casting” sort of generic stereotypes. Unlike the earlier novel, however, these guys break out of their two-dimensional shackles and by book’s end seem like real people…somewhat oversimplified perhaps but believable.
Three of the characters in this ensemble plot are especially interesting.
Thomas, an Episcopal priest, early on deals only minimally with past fleeting feelings of sexual love. He’d rejected a friend (and potential lover) in his youth and has lived with regret and guilt since, blaming himself for his friend’s promiscuity, subsequent AIDS infection and death. Thomas meets Mike, the bartender at The Engine Room, under circumstances which smack of synchronicity if not outright pre-destination. Their friendship moves from platonic to sexual in a gradual seamless way. By way of establishing Thomas’ career and psychological credentials the author takes us early on through an Episcopal service. Although I enjoyed this passage I wonder how important it is to include in the plot line. Thomas’ character is well enough developed without watching him do his job.
Pete Thayer, auto mechanic and super homophobe, is perhaps the best-developed character and is, for me, the most interesting. We are all fascinated by the pathological and Pete offers us a great example. Pete first approaches Stephen, timid and closeted, in a porn theater, hits on him, leads him to semi privacy, quasi-rapes him then beats the stuffing out of him. Stephen, traumatized and hospitalized, goes into denial then withdrawal, ultimately attempting suicide. Pete is completely able to rationalize his hostile aggressive behavior while all the time knowing that he, himself, is homosexual. Later Pete meets Greg, another character, on-line, goes to Greg’s apartment, starts sex, gets rough, and again beats Greg badly hospitalizing him. The description of his second rationalization and his double-think at the time of his arrest is the most riveting part of the plot line.
Simon, the aging “queen”, is pleasantly developed. Early in the book we learn that Simon had lost his long time partner a year earlier. He has passed through the initial grief and is now trying, somewhat lethargically, to move on. Understandable, he has tough time identifying what, exactly, “moving on” means. He is encouraged by his younger friends to get involved…maybe even date. His first attempt, sadly, is a failure; he ends up approaching a simpatico guy who turns out to be straight with a wife and presumably kids. Happily, his second attempt runs a bit more smoothly, and involves the choirmaster at Thomas’ (see above) church. (Reviewer note: we Episcopalians seem to be every ready and available so long as the right buttons are pushed.)
The plot line may not be especially believable but it is far more realistic than Last Summer’s made-for-TV story. Looking For It would be a good made-for-TV story as well, but with more substance.
Ford’s title, Looking For It, is intentionally ambiguous and implies a cruisy, porn-like story. In fact Looking For It is about a cast of gay characters seeking to find themselves, connections, self-esteem, friendship, and love. The sex is secondary.
I’m happy to say that I liked this story. It has some drawbacks and is sometimes shallow and insubstantial, but overall is a good (and fast) read. If you liked Last Summer you’ll really like this. If you hated Last Summer you’ll probably like this.
Buy, or borrow, a copy soon!