Beneath the Skin: The Collected Essays [Paperback]

John Rechy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2005

When John Rechy broke out in 1963 as the bestselling author of City of Night, his novel about the underworld of gay male prostitution, he became a source for provocative commentary on sex, homosexuality, and culturally transgressive literature for publications as varied as the New York Times, The Nation, the Advocate, and Forum. Beneath the Skin collects more than four decades of the author's outspoken essays—many never before reprinted and almost none ever appearing previously in book form. Rechy holds forth on topics ranging from the birth of the sexual liberation movement, the rise of Anita Bryant, and the emergence of AIDS to sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and last year's repeal of sodomy laws. Beneath the Skin also includes pieces on gay and lesbian authors such as Gore Vidal, Jack Kerouac, Christopher Isherwood, Carson McCullers, and Elizabeth Bowen, and non-gay figures like Philip Roth, William T. Vollman, and Joyce Carol Oates, as well as essays on Madonna, Tom Cruise, Eminem, Liberace, Marilyn Monroe, and the gay silent film star Ramon Novarro.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A boost in Rechy's literary visibility following the 2002 biography Outlaw makes the time ripe for this career-spanning collection of essays. Broken into four sections, the anthology organizes its pieces generally by decade (though the first section covers the period 1958 to 1979) with occasional afterthoughts. Though one of the goals is to demonstrate Rechy's versatility beyond the homosexual themes (from AIDS to homosexuality in film) that made him famous, too many of the wider-ranging pieces are not especially noteworthy. Eminent exceptions include reportage from 1970 on the army's battle against soldiers protesting the Vietnam War and a 2003 tribute to the late Kathleen Winsor (Forever Amber), while the opening chapter on Rechy's childhood roots in the Mexican immigrant culture of El Paso illuminates a milieu that has shaped his writing. Rechy tends to be more energetic and persuasive when he turns to queer subjects; one prominent homophobic attack on his first novel, City of Night, still rankles 40 years later and is the subject of two articles. This isn't an ideal introduction to Rechy—his fiction better serves that purpose—but it will give those familiar with him much to think about and to feel, including perhaps regret that he hasn't done more of the journalistic writing that, at its best, highlights his powers of observation. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786714050
• ISBN-13: 978-0786714056
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,967,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, June 14, 2005

By 

A reviewer (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beneath the Skin: The Collected Essays (Paperback)

This is a terrific collection of essays that offer tremendous insights into a wide range of topics, all of which are analyzed and evaluated in masterful prose, full of wit and sagacity. Subjects include Tom Cruise, Marilyn Monroe, Liberace, homophobia, 9/11, Gore Vidal, Joyce Carol Oates, racism, literary critics, William Friedkin, and Paul Schrader. One can't help walk away from this book feeling great admiration for Rechy's studied convictions, his honesty, and his immense talents as a writer, social historian, and activist.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Compliment, March 16, 2005

By 

karah (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beneath the Skin: The Collected Essays (Paperback)

Regardless of your familiarity with John Rechy, you need to read this book. It provides a level of insight into Rechy's work that fans and critics alike deserve to consider. The collection includes a broad range of materials and each piece features a candid postscript from Rechy himself.

For any of you still naive enough to imagine that Rechy's levels of intellect, style, wit, and charm are somehow so minor they suit only a single genre or historical period, this book provides ample evidence to the contrary. These essays are proof positive that he is now as he has always been -- a passionate and profound writer whose talents are boundless.

If, like me, you find Rechy a constant source of inspiration, then this volume is a delight. Locating copies of Rechy's essays, (especially those from 1958-1980) can be quite a task, even for an experienced researcher. This collection simplifies the efforts needed to generate a fuller picture of his life and career. *Beneath the Skin* will enhance not only your library, but also your appreciation for one of America's greatest writers.