Customer Reviews

Surprising Myself

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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.

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.

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!