Customer Reviews

Kept Boy

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

 

 

Robert Rodi's KEPT BOY is a fun novel to read. This is a book one could read before bed. The story is funny, the characters are interesting, and the read is easy. The ending is a tad perdictable, but who cares. It's hard to believe that this book is Rodi's lastest (which came out about around 1998). I hope Mr. Rodi would come out with a new novel soon enough.

OK - It's my turn!! Here I was stuck for a month in some ridiculous backwater business assignment so I took a chance and bought all the Rodi books to keep me company. The GayMuse of Entertainment was watching over me! This guy is literate, amusing, profound, and definitely has the ear of his audience. I could go on and on about all his books: comparing & contrasting & up-thumbing and down-thumbing... but the bottom line is that this man WRITES with a wit and wisdom that is oh! so rare in Gay Fiction today. Now do a little 'search' here at amazon.com on 'rodi' and pluck up anything that pops up. I guarantee you that you will be pleased... if not just a little bit moved!

A delightful book worth reading twice. Which I did in order to see the scenes from a different perspective. How cleverly Rodi manages to let us be misinformed.And what a surprise to discover the truth. I don't often stay up reading til 3 a.m. but I did with this one. There are numerous facical scenes that will have you not just giggling, but laughing outloud; and clever insight into characters one enjoys being with. I wish there was a sequel. Since there isn't I'll just have to read other Rodi books!

I could not put this book down. I spent the whole weekend in bed with this fascinating reading. Rodi possesses a delightful vocabulary with which he artfully and engagingly spins a web of vivd imagery and powerful metaphors in this coming of age story that took me through the entire emotional spectrum all the way down to its unpredictable end. A must read.

Kept boy is a wonderful novel about a 30-something pampered "companion" to a over fifty very rich Chicagoian. To keep his lover's attention he must compete with the pool boy who has youth on his side and at the same time find a job. (The last time he was on the job market he was 15 and ran a cash box). It's enough to give him nightmeres and GOD not wrinkles! Completely wonderful and a delight to read

Dennis Racine, a 31 y/o "companion" to a very rich Chicago theatrical impresario, Farleigh Nock finds himself in a big bind--his sugar daddy has asked him to "find a job".

Not only is Dennis unemployable, but the aging boy toy discovers that Farleigh's new sexy "boy toy" is no other than their old pool boy, Jasper.

Enlisting the help of his two best friends--the kept man of a gossip columnist, and the kept woman of a sadomasochist member of Congress for Illinois, Dennis hatches a plan for revenge, romance, and re-seduction so daring that it has to work. His career depends on it.

The plan takes the parties to Mykonos and Santorini and to a comedy of errors that is quite enjoyable.

Robert Rodi writes about Chicago and Chicago always is a character of his books. He is also known for stereotypes in the gay world, and "kept boy" is just another (Like Drag Queen, and Fag Hag).

The books are light, fun and a very easy and enjoyable read.

...but if you're looking for literary merit, find it elsewhere. I enjoyed reading this book immensely. The dialogue is funny and the plot is enjoyable even if it's a tad predictable. The plot twist is a surprise, however, and it's actually what turned me off the most. I think the ending could have used some more creative imagination.

Overall, I have enjoyed Robert Rodi's novels tremendously. I've read them all except for the Birdcage novelization, and I will continue to read his works. My favorite is probably Closet Case, but they're all good. Of all of them, I enjoyed Kept Boy the least. If you've read any of Rodi's other novels, Kept Boy basically delivers the same type of thing. I think what killed Kept Boy for me is the main character. For the story to succeed, the protagonist needs to be likeable, and Rodi never manages to make this happen - at least in my opinion. As a result, I had to read about someone I didn't care for, and I even had to put up with this person receiving a very undeserved happy ending. Anyway, I don't mean to sound as if I flat-out disliked the book. Even the least of Rodi's works is still pretty good, and if you liked the others, you'll probably like this one (though perhaps not as much).

This book in some ways is a fun fast paced read but in others it made me feel a bit sad for the main character.
This book starts off with the main character sitting out by the pool, he is a very attractive early 30 year old man living with his wealthy older boyfriend. The precarious situation of his life is revealed when he mentions to his boyfriend that "we" should redo the pool this year. His boyfriend sarcastically responds, oh WE should, should WE? And then gives some subtle jabs about how the other makes no money. This starts the ball rolling and leads us to the next plot turn of his older boyfriend becoming distant, working late and finally telling him he has to get a job. Start with the panic and the phone calls to friends asking for advice. The fan really gets hit when the pool boy is then hired by the older boyfriend and put into a job way beyond his skills. Can divorce be far behinde??

This book is a fast reading novel that is interesting, but has anything but a complex plot.... California Screaming is much better...