Goldenboy (Alyson Classics Library) [Paperback]

Michael Nava (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Nava is the author of seven Henry Rios novels, five of which (Goldenboy, Howtown, The Hidden Law, The Death of Friends, and Rag and Bone) have been Lambda Literary Award winners. He is an attorney in private practice in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555833667
• ISBN-13: 978-1555833664
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,514,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Nava is a lawyer and novelist. His Henry Rios novels, published between 1988 and 2000, followed the life and cases of a gay criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles during the tumultous period of the AIDS epidemic and the movement for gay rights. In 2000, he was awarded the Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement in LGBT literature. Previously he was awarded six Lambda literary prizes. He is at work on an historical novel set before and during the Mexican Revolution.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As It Gets, July 20, 2001

By 

H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goldenboy (Alyson Classics Library) (Paperback)

This novel is as good as any mystery I have read, as good as anything Joseph Hansen, a master of the genre, ever wrote. Mr. Nava's narrative is seamless, his style sparse; but we know with brief descriptions everything we need to know about his characters. Mr. Nava never adds superfluous verbage to show off his knowledge of other novels, poetry and literature in general, something that many mystery writers seem not to be able to avoid-- they often want to show off their English degrees.Additionally, there are no cardboard characters here. Mr. Nava makes statements about homophobia, gay relationships, coming out issues, self-hatred and AIDS without preaching. A friend who is a therapist swears that the scene when Henry meets his new, younger lover's parents for the first time is totally accurate. When Henry tells Larry goodbye as he leaves for Paris for treatment for HIV-- shades of Rock Hudson?-- we are treated to writing both as poignant and good-- and often better-- as anything writers who attempt to write serious gay literature have accomplished. With the right cast, this novel would make a great movie.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The second, and perhaps best, book in a terrific series, June 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Goldenboy (Alyson Classics Library) (Paperback)

This is my favorite so far in the Nava cycle of Henry Rios mysteries, and I've read them all except the last one. It's a pleasure watching Nava get to know Henry better and present him to the readers in all his very real complexity, dignity, and self-doubt. Many of the supporting characters are also well-drawn. Finally there is Henry's budding romance with young Josh, as exquisite a treatment of male love as one's likely to find in popular fiction. Goldenboy is pure enjoyment all the way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Follow-Up, November 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Goldenboy (Alyson Classics Library) (Paperback)

When Nava's hero, attorney Henry Rios, is called upon by a friend to defend a young man accused of murder, even the reader is surprised by the ensuing unfolding drama. All the evidence supports the young man's guilt; supposedly, the youth was driven to the act by a blackmailing colleague who threatened to expose the youth's homosexuality. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Seemingly inocuous characters soon reveal their predatory and sinister natures. Good. This compiles a logical and completely plausible pool of possible suspects.

On the plus side, Henry falls in love (in REAL love) with a young man named Josh, who simply accepts Henry for being Henry, and goes to bat for him in every situation. Isn't that we all want? Regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or orientation, it's a sweet love story played out in real time, and is not overtly sexual or pejorative. It's just a part of their lives.
First-rate storytelling, good dialogue, and an actual interest in determining who committed the crime makes this novel a worthy and compelling read.