Huddle [Paperback]

Dan Boyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

Huddle, the first novel from author Dan Boyle, is the engaging account of a season in the life of the L.A. Quake, a ragtag collection of Hollywood types who drink too much, snort too much, and screw too much as they wage weekend seven-on-seven battles against the likes of the Culver City Centurions, the Santa Monica Seahawks, and their bitter rivals from the Gay Flag Football Winter League--the West Hollywood Warriors. For the nine gay men of the L.A. Quake, the season of sweat is about to end with a chance to win the West Los Angeles Flag Football Spring League championship. For some, it's a last hurrah; for others, a taste of gridiron glory they've only dreamed about. The Quake has struggled to compete on the field in a "straight" league, and struggled off the field with relationships, success (and its pitfalls), aging, and their own concepts of masculinity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dan Boyle is Surely A Writer to Watch.... Complex, compelling, three-dimensional characters, an interesting plot... beautiful use of language."

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Harrington Park Pr; 1 edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560234598
• ISBN-13: 978-1560234593
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JOCKS ON OUR TEAM, November 26, 2004

By 

Jak Klinikowski "justjak13" (El Paso, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Huddle (Paperback)

HUDDLE is more a series of interlocking vignettes than a traditional novel. Each chapter focuses on different members of the L.A. Quake's, a gay squad playing in the Los Angeles Flag Football League. Flag football is serious business to these gay men, and the progression of the playing season accommodates the individual stories. This is most definitely an ensemble piece.

Among the protagonists are Al and Curt, boyfriends living an open relationship. What a surprise for each when they discover that if they're going to fool around, they'd just as soon do it with each other. Also featured are Ed and Bill. These are two guys so afraid of messing up a wonderful four year friendship, that each is afraid to tell the other how he really feels for fear of ruining what they've already established. And then there is, Dave, a sweet kid new to the team and working hard to prove he's got what it takes. Dave is a guy trying to fit into his world, and looking for happiness but having a tough time finding it.

This is a story of gay jocks, living different lives but coming together once a week, bonding with each other playing flag football. They will win some and they will lose some, but they'll do it together.

I really got a kick out of this butch book. Every male character is a card carrying member of the gay letterman's club. These are gay men, confidant in their sexuality and not afraid to show it. They're proud to be an openly gay team and they're not about to take any crap about it. They don't always make the right decisions, on or off the field, but they try. I liked these guys, flaws and all. I think you will too.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars PAINFUL TO READ, October 17, 2005

By 

S. Dashiell "gengidashiell" (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Huddle (Paperback)

If you are a fan of trite gay fiction going absolutely nowhere, this book is for you. If you are a gay football fan, run from this book at top speed; the author's lack of knowledge of football is only matched by his less than stellar writing skill. If you are a fan of gay fiction; drop this book like it's hot. This book was very, very poorly written, and the author's desire to refer to his main character as 'Our Hero' grates on the nerves. Waste not the money on this; you can no doubt find billions of used copies of people who would rather never see this book again.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars FOUL PLAY, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Huddle (Paperback)

This book may be for you if you enjoy following chapter upon chapter of gay men playing football. The remainding chapters dive into the lives of the men off the field. It becomes very soapie very quick, and unless you want to follow a man pondering his last relationship while taking in a hike (for about 8 pages), skip this one.