11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Those Glorious 80's, July 4, 2008
This review is from: Band Fags! (Paperback)
For those of us Gen Xer's, the 80's, a much maligned area, played a significant role in our development ... Reagan, AIDS, Madonna, Dallas, and the premiere of MTV. It's a wonder any of us survived this decade, much less thrived in it. But somehow we did, such as the characters did in Frank Polito's new book, the appropriately titled "Band Fags".
Polito takes us on a journey in what appears to be a semi-autobiographical journey through his adolescence in the Detroit suburbs. He writes about Jack, a top-notch student, lead trumpet player, and questioning homosexual, and a bevy of friends that accompany Jack through his school years. His first and foremost friend is Brad, whom he meets almost casually, but then develops a quickly close relationship that somehow only teens seem to be able to pull off. Brad, discovering his sexuality and accepting it quickly , poses an unspoken threat to Jack, who seems to exhibit signs of "gayness" but is ultimately unsure of his path. The duo form an interesting pair, and it's their story that really drives you through the book.
True to high school, Polito throws in a bevy of friends, characters that sometimes get confused, despite his attempt to clarify them through Jack reminding you of who was who. Soon, however, the important ones bubble to the surface, as Jack goes through different events that shape his social standing with the groups. As Jack reunites with a former best friend Joey, and develops a crush on him, the "am I" or "am I not?" question rears its ugly head in an all too familiar and painful way. Ditto with another guy he develops a crush on, Tom. How many of us developing homosexuals fell in love with our best friends who were straight? The pain was intense, and captured well by Polito.
The 80s feature prominently in the book, but I felt sometimes it was too much. Especially at the beginning, Polito had 80s cultural references on nearly every page. At first, it was a fun walk down memory lane, but then it became a little too much. Fortunately, Polito eases up a bit with them as he allows his story to progress. Also, not being familiar with suburban Detroit, Polito's insistence on including driving routes around the area, and specific place names, made the reading drag a bit; although I imagine that people from that area love that aspect!
Overall, Band Fags was a easy, and very enjoyable read. You find yourself rooting for Jack, even in his less positive moments, because overall, anyone who was gay has been in his situation before. And as you turn the last page of the book, you find yourself wondering what happened to Jack in college ... and what happened to Brad ... and you realize this book is absolutely begging for a sequel.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 1/2 stars, August 27, 2009
I agree that the book is overly long and doesn't really seem to have a cohesive theme. However, "Jack Paterno" graduated from high school one year after I did, and it brought back a lot of memories of high school, some painful, some tremedously happy. If you went to school in the 80's, there are so many wonderful references to popular culture from the banal to the famous. So I give this book a mixed review: more than "it's ok", perhaps a hair on either side of "i like it".
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Band Fags of the world unite!, May 30, 2008
This review is from: Band Fags! (Paperback)
Hilarious and angst-ridden, "Band Fags" is a wonderful trip down memory lane for those of us who came of age in the eighties, sort of a gay version of that fantastic television show
Freaks and Geeks - The Complete Series. Especially if you came out and enjoyed / endured high school band - and the stigma that goes along with it, you'll love this. Am I, or am I not? All the intense soul-searching - Frank captures it in a funny way, with wit and charm. He's also a superb writer and I whipped through the pages in mere hours, wanting "Jack" to hurry up and make the right choice! Whether you were a teen in the eighties, the sixties or the two thousands, you'll relate to these emotions, as they're universal. Read and be entertained.
Rich Merritt, author of
Code of Conduct and
Secrets Of A Gay Marine Porn Star
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