Customer Reviews

Perfect Mondays

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Greg Fine is a 56 year old gay, Jewish advertising copy writer who lives alone (except for his feisty 17 year old male cat, Rolf) - and likes it that way - in New York City. But a well-meaning cousin is concerned about Greg's pattern of backroom sex and seeming inability - even as he enters his senior years - to commit to a man (or woman) for anything more (such as a second date, let alone taking on a live-in lover), and talks him into joining an existing group therapy session on Monday evenings.

Greg agrees with some reservations, most related to the fact that he is the only gay person among the three women and other man already in the group. His personality immediately conflicts with the "structure" of the group, the fact that the psychologist who is present in the group (and decides when the group will meet and what weeks it will take off, and bills all enrolled even if they skip a week) rarely gives any input into the group dynamics, the fact that group participants are forbidden to meet socially outside of the group (not that he would want to, since his first few meetings with them are borderline antagonistic, but he resents the fact that he can't anyway.) and the weekly battle among the participants for "time" to talk about their own problems, which bring out attacks from the others that they are "monopolizing" the group. He relates his basic history, his attraction to mostly younger men (including one trainer at his health club he has a crush on) and his history of brief, anonymous "backroom" sexual encounters, which the rest of the group obviously cannot relate to. But as the next seven months unfold, Greg becomes more intergrated into the group, giving and receiving valuable insight, somewhat paving the way for a later addition, who is openly lesbian. In the interim, he works on things he decides he wants to change in his life, reconciling with his estranged father (who had several small strokes and isn't well), finishing up a play about an older and younger gay man, and quits smoking. His best friend Norman, not a fan of the group, helps him get a reading of his play, through which Greg meets a single gay man his own age as well as gets closer to Frank, the young trainer at his health club (and coach in the non-smoking program he joined) who turns out to be an amateur actor. In time, Greg concludes his time in the group, not really sure if it helped him directly, but realizing the time frame has allowed him to become more attuned to what he wants out of life.

The novel is written with dry humor and wit, and will be especially appreciated by cat lovers (One of the chapters is from the perspective of Greg's cat). The fact that the author and several other characters are Jewish is not really relevant to the book, and should not deter someone who may think the book is "too ethnic" in that context. The situations and humor can likely be appreciated by anyone who can relate to getting older in the youth-obsessed gay male society, taking a second look at parents who are also quickly aging, and following one's heart and head (rather than what others do) in finding what makes you happy.

I thoroughly enjoyed perfect Mondays. The author's choice of 'lite' popular fiction as the best way to tell this story is just right; the plot lends itself well to an appealing and increasingly polular genre- the fictional memoir- this one with more than a touch of irony and dry humor. The writing style engages one from the beginning, and it certainly held my interest throughout.

At the same time, whether because of its realism; the complete belivability of its characters- most especially its protagonist; or my own identification with him, the book takes its place in my library among (non-fictional) memoir peices that tell stories of authors' experinces in psychotherapy. This is a proud and important genre, and the story- albeit fictional- of one man's detailed odyssey of his experiences in group therapy adds welcomed variety to my growing collection. As both therapist and client, this subject area holds great interest to me. For myriad reasons, this is a book that will speak to anyone with interest in the themes and experiences contained in this one or two sitting read.