Gulliver Takes Manhattan [Paperback]

Justin Luke Zirilli (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 2012

Gulliver Takes Manhattan (first published as Gulliver Travels) is the tale of twenty-something Gulliver Leverenz, who abandons sunny L.A. for a fresh start in New York. He’s leaving behind his family, his friends—and one bastard ex-boyfriend who can’t take a hint. With no money, job, or direction, Gully gratefully accepts an invitation to crash with his former fraternity brother Todd. As luck would have it, Todd lives in Hell’s Kitchen, New York’s hottest “gayborhood,” and is a rising star in the gay nightlife scene, complete with a crew of incredibly hot friends. Not long after, Gully snags a job with a talent agent and even finds himself a new boyfriend. There’s just one catch: Gulliver knows this budding relationship could get him in a lot of trouble. And inevitably, it does just that. Gulliver’s streak of good fortune soon takes a turn for the miserable as his choices unleash an onslaught of catastrophes that leaves him in a tragic and seemingly hopeless situation beneath the skyscrapers. But Gully’s tougher than he realizes and is determined to prove, for once and for all, that he has what it takes to make it in New York. By turns exciting, sad, and hysterically funny, Gulliver Takes Manhattan is a refreshingly candid tale of one man’s quest to stake a place for himself in the greatest city in the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"New York is famous for its literary movements...[and] the Facebook generation has produced a number of unlikely breakout stars, including Justin Luke Zirilli." --Advocate.com

"[Zirilli] manages to give his characters depth, fluidity, composition, posture, and sets them all in a background that is believable and vivid. Above all, I didn't want to put the book down." --Garrett Frechette, Examiner.com

"There is a lot of observational humor...in this coming of age story. Good stuff." --Guerillabookworm.com

"Your beach bag isn't complete without this debut novel...comically divided into four 'rounds' that might also serve to remind you it's time to apply more sunscreen." --Donalevan Maines, Out Smart magazine

About the Author

Justin Luke Zirilli is the co-director and head promoter of BoiParty.com, a New York-based gay nightlife events company. He and his business partner, Alan Picus, throw weekly dance parties around New York City, and larger events across the United States. In addition to event planning, Justin feeds his addiction to social media as the creator of Gorgeous, Gay and Twenty-Something, a private international Facebook group, as the New York correspondent of the national gay talk show, The Swish Edition, and by moonlighting as a social media and new business consultant. When he isn’t glued to his computer screen, or traversing NYC’s gay party scene, he spends his time in Hell’s Kitchen, playing PlayStation and watching The West Wing with his boyfriend, Mash-up Mastermind DJ JoeRedHead. Gulliver Takes Manhattan is his first book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 426 pages
• Publisher: AmazonEncore (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612182097
• ISBN-13: 978-1612182094
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Justin Luke Zirilli is the co-director and head promoter of BoiParty.com, a New York-based gay nightlife events company. He and his business partner, Alan Picus, throw weekly dance parties around New York City, and larger events across the United States.

In addition to event planning, Justin feeds his addiction to social media as the creator of Gorgeous, Gay and Twenty-Something, a private international Facebook group, as the New York correspondent of the national gay talk show, The Swish Edition, and by moonlighting as a social media and new business consultant.

When he isn't glued to his computer screen, or traversing NYC's gay party scene, he spends his time in Hell's Kitchen, playing PlayStation and watching The West Wing with his boyfriend, Mash-up Mastermind DJ JoeRedHead. Gulliver Takes Manhattan is his first book.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining! March 30, 2012

By Phelps Gates VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I enjoyed reading this a lot. I remember the gay scene in New York from the early 1960's (yes, I'm 71) and other than the technology, things don't really seem to have changed much. This is definitely "gay ghetto" literature: the plot revolves around drama queens, b#tch fights, stolen boyfriends and other somewhat stereotypical situations. But it's well written and easy to read: the pages fly by! The protagonist is an interestingly flawed character, and somehow manages to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of each disaster to reach new heights: oh, that we could all be so fortunate! It's refreshing, and surprising, to read a book a book about gay life in which there's no drug use at all (other than alcohol, which sloshes freely through the pages, mostly in the form of exotic cocktails). I'm looking forward to reading more of Gulliver's adventures in the promised sequels.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging. Adventurous. Daring. So New York. May 26, 2012

By Alan Tyson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

First off, this book is so the nightlife of New York City for any gay boy/man, straight person (in different ways). All of us have had the experiences, the scares, the good times, the bad times that Gulliver has in the many pages of this wonderful, crazy, idiotic, yet loving, funny, but most of all heartwarming story of a young man trying to get his life on some normal (or at least next to normal) path. Although I would only recommend this book (due to the amount of sexual conduct and drinking described in the story) for ages 17 and up, it's still a nice little guide to the city and what to do and not to do here. Although Gulliver does have more advantages and opportunities then most who move to the city he still makes the same choices we all made in our first few months here which tend to not be the best. But all in all the story is so beautiful, engaging, adventurous, and a daring one for Justin Luke to write as it seems some of it may be a little true (maybe?). It's the New York that I know and have grown to love and it might as well be yours too. I definitley would get the book, I mean seriously it's only $10 (it's definitely worth more).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining and Reminiscent of My Own Life in Manhattan May 7, 2012

By Infinite Mind VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

It's been a while since I had the opportunity to enjoy a gay-themed book, so I jumped at the chance. I found this book to be highly entertaining and found myself laughing, smiling, and at times eagerly anticipating the next series of events. The only thing I did not feel was any strong sense of connection whether good or bad to any of the characters which is very important for storytelling.

I found such parallels with Gulliver and my own arrival in Manhattan nearly 15 years ago, from the arrival at JFK airport to the support system of friends I had in place. I smirked and nodded as he like the millions of other dreamy-eyed youngsters that have come to NYC with big dreams quickly find out that this city is not for the weak at heart and you will either get tough or find yourself out of here in a hurry. Furthermore I like the realistic portrayal of all the stuff one must go through to live in NYC from apartment hunting, to jobs, and money, money, money. Its not the fairy tale crap we've seen on Friends or some other television sitcoms.

Of course there are the parties, the sex, the money, the sex, the career, the sex, and just about every other gay cliche Manhattan/NYC is known for. New Yorkers that have done the scene will be quite familiar, while those outside of the city and the life might be intrigued and wonder whether these stories and or events are really true. I am here to tell you, affirmatively, YES.

I wished the characters had more depth so that I felt more invested in them. There are moments when the author is just on the cusp, but I feel he needs to push things in order to get me into the characters more, in other words he is too safe. Also there are times when I felt there was something missing from the tale of Gulliver and his Manhattan (mis)adventures. I want more besides surface level gay drama, shallowness, insecurities, and neuroses.

It seems like there might a series of books on this character and I hope so, since I think Justin, the author has potential to grown as a writer and build these characters, beyond the cookie-cutter shallow stuff we find in this story.

In closing I liked the book and would recommend, but advise the readers to be patient, the story builds up and then we get into some nitty-gritty, meat and potatoes type stuff.