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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOOKER: The Title Suggests a Kaleidoscope of Meanings in this Enthralling Novel, April 11, 2007
This review is from: Looker: A Novel (Paperback)
Stanley Bennett Clay takes chances: he knows he takes them and unlike Captain Scott's diaries from 1912 as he lay dying in the Antarctic in which he admits the chances turned out against him, the chances Clay takes work very much in his favor. Now with this third novel Stanley Bennett Clay shows a maturity of style and focus without a loss of the chancy topics he embraces. LOOKER simply works!
Clay introduces a huge cast of characters so rapidly yet so well defined that for a few chapters the novel seems as though it will be a series of short stories; we meet Brando, an entertainment lawyer whose celibacy is linked to his past lost love Collier; Selma Fant, the alcoholic wife of a councilman whose only child Earl-Anthony responded to his misunderstood childhood by transforming into a popular transgender singer Miss Zara; successful writer Omar who despite his longing for a relationship with Brando after his leaving the demanding Shane is a lothario `chickenhawk' unable to forego his desires despite his nearing middle age; Jeanette Bell and her lesbian lover, highly successful novelist Clymenthia Teager; Vanessa Ellerbee and her downlow husband William who craves Brando; recently divorced Dee Dempsey whose bruised heart embraces those in need; Ramon Alexander and his abused wife Charlene; and Senior Father Lacey Cannon who holds court for all the pretty gay men in his community. And yes, there are more!
The story is too fine to condense in a review. Suffice it to say that Clay connects all the dots by a central story of a murder trial over a heinous event that occurred between Ramon and Jeanette, a climactic situation steered by Brando that alters the lives of each of the characters and brings about closure to the many open wounds and secrets and lusts and stories of each of the novel's cast.
Clay has the ability to write some of the most sensuous prose about lovemaking and just plain sex between men as anyone out there: his situations and recreations of scenes are erotic and electrically charged. At the same time he is able to enter the courtroom with some of the better banter between lawyers and some pungent political and social commentary that is eloquent and deeply moving. Clay again explores the `on the downlow' particles that pepper the wealthy black community of Los Angeles (his setting for his novel), but he also dips deeply into the crises of relationships in the 21st century - finding that the concept of monogamy still rings clearly and preferably, the goal of the struggling of wandering eyes of the lookers.
And so Stanley Bennett Clay's title LOOKER could mean `handsome looking men', `stunning women', voyeurs, or those searching for that nebulous lifelong love - it all depends on the part of this kaleidoscopic novel the reader wishes to emphasize. But in the end Clay once again proves that he is capable of spinning tales both bizarre and tender, and he succeeds in every direction. This is yet another tasty novel from a writer of distinction. Grady Harp, May 07
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Looking for Love, July 28, 2007
This review is from: Looker: A Novel (Paperback)
Brando Heywood has a comfortable, peaceful existence. As an entertainment attorney, he has a good job, nice home, and lives a celibate life. The only thing; he is not happy. Having broken up with his lover of ten years, he has decided to remain celibate until he finds the happiness he wants. The happiness that eludes him happened one day years ago, but he refuses to allow it into his subconscious because it shouldn't have happened. As a result he takes a more careful, balanced approach to life.
Omar Stevens, Brando's best friend, is the complete opposite. He lives his life everyday as if it may be his last. Often he carries on two to three relationships at a time; stringing along each partner. Although he is getting plenty of attention and loving, Omar is still unhappy. What he wants may cause him to lose a lot more. It appears he is always on the outside looking in and he is afraid to give voice to what would truly make him happy.
In LOOKER, Stanley Bennett Clay takes readers on an erotic, drama-filled journey in search of love. Along the way there is much self-recrimination and self-loathing that needs healing, as well as more careful reflections on the important things in life. The two main characters reach the conclusion many have and that is sometimes the search for love often needs to start right under our nose because it is a lot closer than we think. I applaud this author for an intense look into a world I would not otherwise think about. I think his writing style lends a unique flavor to the literary world.
Reviewed by Brenda Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In a class by himself ..., March 8, 2010
This review is from: Looker: A Novel (Paperback)
My love affair with Stanley Bennett Clay began with In Search of Pretty Young Black Men--his steamy tale of a beautiful hustler driving the residents of a wealthy black enclave to murderous distraction.
His latest novel, Looker, has all the raw eroticism of its predecessor, with even more heart.
Brandon Heywood and Omar Stevens were the best of friends since childhood. Brando is a handsome, popular, and successful entertainment lawyer; a man whose seemingly idyllic life lacks passion. Choosing to remain celibate for 2 years after the end of a long term relationship, he goes through life quietly on the sidelines. Omar, a showbiz writer and journalist thrashes through life and love, all the while hiding the romantic feelings he has for Brando that he has kept hidden since they were teenagers. Soon, murder allegations throw Brando and Omar up against some harsh realities which may make them see what's been there all along.
Stanley Bennett Clay once again proves to be a master, lyrical storyteller who other writers aspire to emulate. `Looker' deserves five and one half stars, but there is no category for that - which is appropriate, because Clay is in a class by himself. ~ Taylor Siluwé, author of Dancing With The Devil
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