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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read, May 6, 2007
This review is from: Fellow Travelers: A Novel (Hardcover)
For anyone who lived through the Joe McCarthy era and followed politics, this book is a wonderful read. The characters, real and imaginary, are
described in vivid detail, from the McCarthy committee and entourage to gay journalist Joe Alsop, to LBJ. The political and social aspects of this part of the plot seem very authentic. It reminds me of that other chronicler of Washington politics in the 50s, Allen Drury.
All of this hangs on a gay love story between a polished older aristocratic Protestant State Department official, the love object, and a young Catholic man who falls head over heels; the story has many twists and turns, but the older official at State is not emotionally available to reciprocate this unconditional and passionate love; he is instead into casual sex with pickups in bars and alleys. If the ending seems sad, that is what the 50s were like in America for many gay men who lacked any conception of an equal loving gay relationship.
There are many truly funny moments, including a D.C. law which says that a man cannot cruise a gay bar with drink in hand; stationary cruising was apparently ok.
The third theme in the books is the younger man's attempt to reconcile his
Catholicism with being gay; this is quite a struggle in the 1950s Church,
and is no more successful than the younger man's attempt to love a sophisticated older man who cannot reciprocate. Indeed, the parallels between the young man's relationship with the older man and his relationship with the Catholic Church run throughout the story.
I intend to read more Thomas Mallon books.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Historical, Poignant & Fun, July 1, 2007
This review is from: Fellow Travelers: A Novel (Hardcover)
This is the first book I've read by Thomas Mallon, even though I already own "Bandbox". I will be certain to read it now and probably all the rest. I was very young during the time this novel covers; but I find it fascinating. The novel has peaked my interest in Washington as a city. I've been there before; but now I really want to visit again to delve into the city. Even though it would probably be impossible to separate government totally from the city, this novel reminds us that Washington has and always will be a place to live as well.
An amazing amount of research was put into this novel. An unbelievable number of references to actual living persons during this period and actual events related to them add a touch of authenticity. Other individuals are woven into the story in minor ways to add an even greater feel of the 1950's. During a weekend visit to New Orleans, Tim even meets Clay Shaw at a time long before the Kennedy assassination and it's aftermath in New Orleans. Whether this meeting was based on an actual event or simply a narrative invention is not known; but the novel is full of these sidelines.
The story of Tim & Hawk was absolutely wonderful and so true to life as it was then. For the reviewer who gave the novel one star because he/she thought it would be impossible for two men to carry on a relationship right under the nose of all their associates without actually coming out, I just want to ask this person when he/she plans to remove the blinders. Men have always done this, especially then. In addition, it would be true to say that in most cases, they weren't fooling anyone except themselves in believing that no one knew. I guess it was a sort of 50's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" kind of mentality. Believe me it existed; it still does.
It is heartbreaking and yet so nostalgic to read about Tim's thoughts and feelings regarding Hawk and how he obsesses over the meaning of every word or gesture from his somewhat older and more experienced love object. It is heartbreaking and sad in a different way to look at things from Hawk's perspective because he was, in a way, less qualified as a candidate to lead a double life since he doesn't know restraint nearly as intimately as Tim. Yet Hawk becomes the one to lead that double life, placing himself out of reach of true happiness forever.
After reading this novel, I long to find others with similar themes with stories from the 1950's. Not since "Jeb and Dash: A Diary of Gay Life 1918-1945" has there been such an intimate look at the lives of gay individuals during a period of time long ago. I really recommend "Fellow Travelers" to anyone, gay or straight. There is much within it's covers for all of us.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Travel Well, Travel Sad, May 4, 2007
This review is from: Fellow Travelers: A Novel (Hardcover)
This is a story of love in the time of McCarthyism. Anyone who loves history and gay relationships will appreciate this book, although the ending is quite sad. Hawkins is a State Department up-and-comer who meets and assists Fordham-novice Tim. From both of their jobs they are intimately involved in the McCarthy hearings of the 50's which author Mallon details with authentic but not overwhelming detail. What works best is the authentic and painstaking detail of Washington at the time: a beflowered floorwalker at Hecht's, Garfinckle's, Pennsylvania Avenue streetcars, WRC, Eastern Airlines, et al. The emotion is raw and the ending is depressing, but the writing is superb, just superb. This reviewer has not read any of the other works of this author, but tomorrow I'm off to the book store to find them.
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