Surprising Myself [Paperback]

Christopher Bram (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1988

A brilliant debut novel about the relationship between a boy and his homosexual friend.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A fresh tone, exuberance and light-handed humor mark this first novel about a homosexual's coming of age in Manhattan. We meet Joel Scherzenlieb at Boy Scout camp, where his CIA agent father has left him to work as a counselor for the summer. Joel doesn't yet know the nature of his sexuality, nor does he find out at camp, since his father soon whisks him off to live at his mother's farm in Virginia. With no money for college, Joel works the farm with his mother, maternal grandmother and sister Liza. Later, he runs into Corey, his only friend from camp days; finding their way to bed, they begin the relationship that's the heart of the book. At the same time, Liza is pursued by another former counselor, Bob. Eventually, Joel and Corey move to New York, where Joel begins to cruise the Village gay bars. One night Liza, who has left Bob, appears at their apartment with her baby; she turns to Joel and Corey for help and to confirm her belief in stable relationships. An irate Bob soon follows, precipitating the story's funny, riveting resolution, involving blackmail, issues of loyalty and considerable conversation about the nature and lastingness of love. Bram's novel is candid (often explicit), wise, humorous and affirmative, with compelling characters who are engagingly human first, and only then straight or gay. First serial to Christopher Street; paperback rights to Holt/Owl; major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

At the beginning, this story of two boys who meet and fall in love at summer camp has the feel of a teen "problem novel." However, the evolution of Joel Scherzenlieb's personality soon emerges as the book's driving force. From a family he describes as a "collection of solitaires"his father a spy, mother a back-to-the-earth nut, sister a failed feminist in a bad marriageJoel has few emotional resources and much training in both self-indulgence and self-criticism. In his feelings of inadequacy and aimlessness, Joel comes up against his lover Corey's seeming success and complacency; we leave the two just as they are learning to build off their differences. Joel is a character without particular talent or ambition made memorable through the skilled depiction of his coming of wisdom. This refreshingly unclaustrophobic gay novel is a mature first effort. Rob Schmieder, Boston
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st Owl book ed edition (June 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805006699
• ISBN-13: 978-0805006698
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book; experiences of a young man after coming out., January 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Surprising Myself (Paperback)

Christopher Bram's debut novel remains my favorite. It is in the category of books that would have changed my life if I'd read it at, say, 22. It's 1970 and Joel Scherzenlieb is a young straight man at summer camp, full of dreams of brokerage houses, and fantasies of hobnobbing with financiers. This dream all comes to a crashing halt when his father decides against his returning to the Swiss school he'd been attending. In short order his whole life comes crashing down. He has to live on his mother's farm and discovers he is in love with a guy. The book follows the twists and turns of his life and love throughout his 20's.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying and positive, October 14, 2009

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Surprising Myself (Paperback)

We first meet Joel Scherzenlieb when he is seventeen years old. He has been in the care of his father since his parents divorced. While working as a student at Scout Camp Joel learns that he will not be returning to his Swiss school, and with that go all his hopes of a college education and a secure career in finance. His father, who worked for the CIA has other plans, and Joel finds himself living with his mother and his older sister Lisa on a struggling farm.

But there are more shocks in store for Joel. He always considered himself heterosexual, yet a chance meeting with, Corey, an old friend from the Scout Camp leads to an intimate night spent together, and sets his mind in turmoil. He tries to deny his feelings, but eventually he must acknowledges that he must be gay.

Three years later we find Joel and Corey living together in New York. But When his sister along with child turn up, she having walked out on her husband, Joel and Corey become inextricably involved. But in trying to help Lisa their own relationship is put in jeopardy.

Joel tells his story with candour and frankness, and does not spare himself in the telling, for he reveals himself with all his faults. There are some very touching moments in the story, especially Joel's account of the occasion when he acknowledges to Corey that he does in fact love him. Surprisingly, and a little disappointingly, we are giving very little information about the first intimacy between Joel and Corey. However overall it is a most satisfying and positive tale, with a conclusion that leaves open any number of possibilities.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite Surprising..., November 18, 2003

By 

Michael J. Armijo (Marina Del Rey, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surprising Myself (Hardcover)

This is a worthy book to read. It awakens us to the weaknesses of human beings. There were a number of meaningful lines in this book. I'd highly recommend it. I had the opportunity to meet Christopher Bram at a recent booksigning in the Village for his new book, CIRCUS ANIMALS. He was a delight and a true gentleman. This was Christopher Brams' first book (Surprising Myself)...and I found THE NOTORIOUS DR AUGUST a more well written novel...however...
There were significant lines that will forever remain in my mind after enjoying this book... Better a letter than a silent, convenient forgetting.
Nobody's life is ruined until they're dead.
It's like Oscar Wilde says. We regret only those things we didn't do.
You must be out of your tree. THERE ARE MORE LINES...but I can't give it all away. Smiles!
We clearly all need to wake up periodically. I realized that I often wildly look around (in my own life) and 'at times' we MUST grab for something to prove that one really does control ones life. Surprise Yourself...by reading this real treat!