Looking Glass Lives: A Novel [Hardcover]

Felice Picano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

A haunting tale of love through the ages by the bestselling author of "Like People in History". "Picano is the doyen of the American gay literary scene".--"The Guardian".

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Before he began writing fiction primarily marketed to a gay readership, Felice Picano was a noted author of suspense and supernatural tales. Smart as the Devil and Eyes were critical and popular successes when they were released in the mid-'70s, and Picano returns to the genre with Looking Glass Lives, a contemporary gothic thriller that draws upon such diverse sources as Robert Nathan's classic novel Portrait of Jennie and Kenneth Branagh's film Dead Again. As with all of Picano's fiction (especially his bestselling 1994 novel, Like People in History), Looking Glass Lives is compulsively readable and always surprising. Roger Lynch, his wife, Karen, and his cousin Chas are caught in a dangerous, sexually fraught emotional ménage è trois, but only when Roger begins to unearth the deep, tormented secrets of their small New England town's history does he comprehend the real crux--and horror--of their relationship. Picano understands his characters and is unafraid to explore and expose their most intimate emotional and sexual needs. But he is also a master of suspense, and as Looking Glass Lives hurtles towards its shocking climax, we are both disturbed and terribly pleased to have been on the trip. --Michael Bronski

From Publishers Weekly

"He tells me that we are bound to each other by bonds greater and more lasting than any he has known?immortal ties. And I?fool that I am?I believe him." Immortal ties entangle lovers a century apart in Picano's (Like People in History) vaguely karmic, mercifully brief tale of love, betrayal and reincarnation. A Civil War-era love triangle between Amity Pritchard, her lover and her sister plays out to a deadly conclusion?and is then replayed in the present day when 30-year-old narrator Roger Lynch and his new wife, Karen, buy the old Pritchard house and Roger's childhood (and still childish) lover, Chas, shows up at the door, ready to wreak sexual havoc. Hampered by prose more suitable to YA romance than to adult fiction, the story lacks the emotional power of a good gothic romance, the suspense of a decent ghost story and the wit or grace to bridge the gap between the genres. Ten amateurish, coyly erotic illustrations do nothing to flesh out these wooden characters or their silly exploits d'outre tombe. Excerpted in Genre magazine; author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555834817
• ISBN-13: 978-1555834814
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,304,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well crafted diversion, April 22, 2001

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Looking Glass Lives: A Novel (Hardcover)

LOOKING GLASS LIVES may take Picano readers by surprise in that it is not his usual foray into the world of Men with Men. This is a marvelous short book that would satisfy even the most finicky of Romance/Mystery/Intrigue lovers. Once Picano seduces you into knowing the inner thinking of these interesting people and their crossing of lines/lives, he has you to the end of the story. Little is said of the artwork included (illustrations, if you will), but for me they recall the look of the old fashioned Romance novels of the 40's and add signifcantly to the success of this delicious little book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Remarkable Story Bridging Two Centuries", March 11, 2001

By 

Joseph J. Hanssen "Joe" (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Looking Glass Lives: A Novel (Hardcover)

When I first starting reading this book I was a little confused but by the time I got to Chapter 2 everything fell into place and I was hooked. What a remarkable story that bridges two centuries in a small seaside town. I couldn't stop reading it. I was so eager to find out what was going to happen. I was really shocked and pleasantly surprised with the ending and how the story took a turn so that it was entirely different than what I had expected. This is a spell-binding story that concerns the sexually triangled affair of Roger Lynch, his wife, Karen, and Roger's cousin, Chas. They are all brought together in a cycle of passion that is hard to break. Will Roger be able to uncover the long-hidden secret of this small town? And what inescapable destiny does it hold for all of them? If I were to tell you anymore about the story it would certainly ruin the surprise of this well-crafted novel.

I think this is one of Felice Picano's best books that he has ever written. Remember what I said in the beginning, everything falls into place after Chapter 2. It may seem a little confusing before that. As an added bonus to Felice's story there are wonderful illustrations by Ron Fowler (fowlergallery) that go along with the story. Just take a look at the two page black & white drawings on Page 188-189, of the horse-drawn carriage and rural surroundings. It is just simply beautiful. The illustrations really help to bring the story to life. I wish I could give this book more than five stars. Find out for yourself. My best recommendation!

4.0 out of 5 stars Page turning gothic chiller, January 2, 2002

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Get What We Give (Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Looking Glass Lives: A Novel (Hardcover)

Looking Glass Lives is not the book I imagined it would be. It was better.

I don't know how to identify the topic of the book. It isn't really a gothic horror tale, but it has some of those elements. It isn't a thriller, though it has some of those elements too. And it isn't a romance, though it certainly has some of those elements.

I do know that this book is a page turner. It takes place in three different eras, woven together seamlessly by Picano. First we are introduced to our narrator, Roger, and his world as a youth of twelve. We walk through his shoes for a summer and then are transported to his 30's, where we alternatively ease into the mid- 1900's via a spinster's journal. Sound confusing? It isn't.

Looking Glass lives treats us to an engaging set of characters who are quite real and mysterious. The setting is sultry, frightening, and often romantic. Picano allows us to wander along through this story without rushing and in doing so allows us to become part of the laid-back beachside community in which this story is set.

I confess that I'm a huge Picano fan. Though he doesn't always have hits, this is definitely one of them.