Customer Reviews

Glove Puppet

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Glove Puppet" is obviously a first novel - a competent and often engaging foray into the bizarre relationship between a sexually precocious kid and his adopted stepfather. The first part of the novel seems a solid beginning about the coming of age of a child of the streets who by chance is adopted by a needy male dancer to replace his own lost son. Good start.

Part 2 deals primarily with an out and out gay porno theme capped by the development of a "father/son" tryst that ends in imprisonment of the "paedophilic" father. It is a downhill slide from there.

Part 3 is odd backtracking and reportage of the events and reactions of Australian society to the early demise of the imprisoned father - memorial service, predictions, reflections.

Three books: three writing styles - conflicted at best - all in a quck read format of just over 200 pages. But Drinnan does keep our attention. And if you want to delve into the seemy side of underground sex/drugs/etc in Australia, this is good entertainment. I wonder what he'll do next.........

Nothing but good things to say about this debut novel by Drinnan, engaging plot, crisp, fluid prose and characters whose struggles with a life of excess leads them to destructive behaviors; the consequences of which proves to be fatal. In terms of ones sexual orientation, the author seems to leave the question of environment versus genetics open to the reader's interpretation. Did Vas' life unfold as it did because of his early environment consisting of a drug addicted prostitute mother, and later, a gay father figure whose life lacked social or moral boundaries? Or was his life predetermined, having inherited the genes of addiction, compounded with the over active hormones of adolescence? Glove Puppet blurs the line of love and desire in a way that demonstrates the necessity that each of us come to a place where we're able to distinguish between the two; for there's nothing more harmful to the individual spirit than misplaced love or unhealthy desire. Kudos to Drinnan for a first novel that's delivers its characters in a raw, truthful, manner that reminds us that limits are necessary to life enrichment and excess is just that . . . more than necessary.

All I can say is that the great Aussie gay-themed novel has finally appeared. Jonny/Vas is a wonderfully drawn character, thoroughly manipulative, suitably sleazy but with a great street cred about him. One can feel for the foster father placed in a horrible situation by his charge, but the narrative is so good, one can't put the thing down. Glad to see its being published in the US and in hardcover to boot. Take the time to read it . ENJOY!!

From the moment I picked this book up I couldn't put it down.

Set mainly in Sydney, Glove Puppet is the story of love between and man and boy and the tragic events that surround it. It demonstrates how the media, the law, and the public can totally misinterpret people's circumstances.

Order it now for when it is published in the U.S. - in fact order two copies - one for yourself and one for a friend because this is one book you'll want to keep and read again.

One of the best books I've ever read - engaging characters - crisp insight into their lives. Drinnan has a new book coming out this winter check this one out first

This short novel is presented as an autobiographical work and has an intriguing cast of characters. Illicit love affairs replete this book. A well written effort which made for a brief but enjoyable read. An interesting story set in current day Sydney, Australia. The "autobiographical writer", Johnny/Vas, is not a particularly sympathic person and the troubles he accidently creates for his benefactor through his own inadvertent indiscretions condemn Johnny/Vas to reverting to the social condition (drugs/prostitution) into which he had been born. A neat turning of the wheel. Genetics win out!

When we think of good adult movies we should think of the brilliant acting of Burton and Taylor, or of the directing of Billy Wilder or Mike Nichols. When we think of good adult books we should think of Nabokov ("Lolita") or Neal Drinnan ("Glove Puppet").

For such a short novel the plot goes in so many ways, yet stays entirely coherent. Written in the first person by a 20-year-old, the boy's mood changes with his age and with the story. The writing, however, is consistent from cover to cover.

The story is fascinating and will take the reader through a whole range of emotions. It makes one wish the author had been paid by the word, so the novel would infill every detail.

Australians have been turning out great stuff for decades. Here's another outstanding novel. Since it's short everyone should take the time to read it. Neal Drinnan was in his early 30s when he wrote "Glove Puppet." We can all hope he has many more excellent novels to write.

This novel offers an insight into the gay underworld that exists in Sydney and no doubt many other western citys. The characters are complex and the events sometimes disturbing. This is not merely a 'gay novel' and will gain a wider support. Also keep a look-out for Neils second Novel - Pussys Bow.

"Glove Puppet" is an outstanding "autobiography" of a 20-year old man (Vas) who was raised in the theatre.

This book is everything that is good about true literature and every bit as racey as a great porn novel.

We start off the book with meeting our young Vas in a train station where his mother is dying from an OD.. Enter now our tragic hero (well that is how I saw him).. He picks the boy up and wisks him into a different life.

Well Vas reaches puberty and things begin to spiral down from there.. First he seduces his "father" then several of his fathers lovers.. and then there is the prostitution.. Drugs and men..

And all this goes on within a plot that is clear and well defined.

This may be a short book but, it is one(like many men before me) that you should own and read.

I bought this book early in 2001, read it on the beach in two days, and subsequently gave it to a friend to read. I've learned that it's gone through about four people who have all said that they think it's brilliant. It's racy. It's horrible. It's scary. It's even heartwarming at times.