Closing Distance [Paperback]

Jim Oliver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

Facing forty, shrewd and successful entrepreneur and long-distance runner Pete Flowers uses the stark reality of his mother's cancer to reexamine his life and his relationships with his siblings. QPB. BOMC Alt.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

By the time readers realize that virtually nothing happens in Oliver's memorable first novel, they will be much too caught up with his singular characters--and dexterous prose--to mind. This witty, thoughtful story opens with the four Flowers offspring being summoned to dinner at their parents' Main Line Philadelphia home. ("Something is up," muses son Pete, a gay man facing 40--and the ever-present threat of AIDS--with no little trepidation.) Indeed, matriarch Liz--a scintillating combination of Auntie Mame and General Schwarzkopf--is about to undergo a mastectomy. Pete is prompted to reexamine his life and his values; the other siblings' many and varied domestic difficulties also enliven Oliver's engrossing, highly literate narrative. The scene in which Liz--languishing after surgery with a "medicinal Scotch"--questions Pete about his amatory affairs is a triumph: Oliver elicits laughter and a lump in the throat with equal finesse. Reflective vignettes are self-contained gems, and concise character delineations speak volumes: brother Stu, for example, is "rarely seen out of his. . . heavy business brogues (the same model in four colors)." Oliver's commingling of humor and drama makes for a sterling debut. BOMC alternate; QPB selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Oliver's first novel tells the story of a not-so-young man who has to come to grips with--take a guess--mortality, as it invades his life through his mother's fight with cancer and his own fear of AIDS. Pete Flowers is a rather staid Philadelphia florist whose homosexuality is the only thing that sets him apart from his prodigiously conventional Main Line family. (Actually, there's also his wardrobe: Pete likes to dress well, and we hear a lot about layering and color-coordination when he's on the scene.) Pete's dad runs a big company that none of the children wants to take over; Pete's mom has breast cancer and becomes incoherent now and then. His sisters and brothers and in-laws are into all kinds of stuff. Everyone makes a lot of money and enjoys good restaurants and talks about sex and how they really ought to have it more often. There's so little time, see? Here's Pete on the cusp of 40, and he hasn't even come out to his mom yet--and she could die any minute now, or lose her marbles for good. Plus there's the AIDS thing: Pete's been pretty careful lately, but you never can tell--and wouldn't it be awful. But he can't work up the nerve to get tested. Eventually Pete's old boyfriend--very hot, and absolutely loaded--drops in and helps him sort things out. He breaks the news to mom and dad (they knew!), decides to join the family firm (it's what he's always wanted to do, apparently), and, at story's close, goes off for his test. We never learn the results, but at least Pete has figured out the important thing--to be true to himself and look life (and death) straight in the eye. He'll manage fine. Utterly moronic, and very likely to succeed. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555833764
• ISBN-13: 978-1555833763
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,882,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters who stick with you for the rest of your life., October 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Closing Distance (Paperback)

Closing Distance is one powerful book. Like life itself, it's full of loose ends. It leaves you wanting more. While Oliver's use of the present tense is immediately inviting (reminiscent of the Greek of Mark's Gospel!), Oliver's true gift is in his ability to create characters. His characterization is simply second to none. Unlike so many authors who devote a novel to unfolding one character and giving short shrift to the rest, Oliver in an economy of words is able to introduce us to people who will live with us the rest of our lives. Who, having once met them, can ever forget the likes of LidaJean, Rose and Lennie, Alexa, Anthony, or Bea? And that is to say nothing about Pete, his mom or Bill. Read the book, folks! This man has the GIFT.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A celebration and acceptance of gay life, January 5, 2001

By 

T. Gabrielli "Thomas R Gabrielli" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Closing Distance (Paperback)

How many times have you borrowed a book and then went out to buy it AFTER you read it? This book is a keeper, probably one of the best books of gay fiction I've read. While it was indeed tough to get into the book at first, as one reviewer commented, it was well worth the read. Once past the first few chapters, I wasn't able to put it down. It made me smile, and there were chapters in there (particularly when describing his brother-in-law poolside) that you wondered why it was in the book at all. But, afterward, the payoff was such that you were even tempted to reread these chapters over again, hoping to get the point once more. What I liked about this book was its celebration and acceptance of gay life from various perspectives, all not necessarily gay (for instance, from his Mother's point of view). This book will have you smiling, and wanting to remember particular lines, and jumping for joy. And maybe even give you a few good, happy tears at points. I would most assuredly recommend this book to anyone. A must read!

4.0 out of 5 stars a great read!, June 19, 2010

By 

Zhanna Sarkisyan "Mary" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Closing Distance (Paperback)

Yes the book is open ended (which I usually dislike), but it gives enough clues where one can put the pieces together and come up with an answer for themselves.