"The Sluts"

[Okliehomo]

Just finished reading Dennis Cooper's latest. "The Sluts". Don't really know what to think. I was very surprised to see how prominently this site figured in the narrartive..to the point that the first part of the novel is written in submitted reviews that look just like the ones on this site. And I didn't find it a very flattering depiction. And there is a Message Center, too, on which clients wax endlessly about "Brad"....and somehow build up a mystique and a mystery that has nothing to do with the reality of the situation. It's very dark and more than a little disturbing, graphic depiction of what duplicity and deceit can accomplish when all parties are cloaked in anonymity and hidden behind screen names. Every lie can be the truth depending on what you want to believe...and the clients look like pathetic liars who build street trade into icons whose "asses can cure cancer"....who elevate these boys because we don't have lives of our own.

 

I am not saying that I think that is true, but that is exactly how the book made me feel. And some of it might be a little true, because I know that I can get obsessed and have to have a certain guy...and I read these reviews religiously, obsessively and believe it when a review says that a guys has a "gorgeous face...model looks" but no posted face pic. I have believed that more than once and booked them anyway and ended up the only handsome one in the room. So, I know how our own narratives can build a guy up way beyond what is true.

 

Sorry for the rant. Anybody else read the book? Thoughts?

 

Okie

[Lookin]

No. But I will. Thanks.

[Guest alanm]

It's very dark and more than a little disturbing .......

 

To me, most of Dennis Cooper's writing is dark and a little disturbing,

but it appears that he has used this site well, while taking some

obsessions about "star" escorts to an extreme. The obsessions on the

message center are real and often disturbing. In the past, Cooper

has taken similar obsessions and overplayed his hand. While he may

have done that again in "The Sluts," I really appreciate you mentioning

the book. I look forward to reading it.

[Rick Munroe]

Wow, I've never had a whole book written about me before.

[Txpaytoplay]

Where can I find this book?

[Karl-G]

Amazon and Abe

 

Every book in the world, now and from the past, new and used, can be found at amazon.com or abe.com. Every used book store in the U.S. is connected by computer to these two and so you can tap the stock of small bookstores in New Hampshire and Nevada and the other 48 states, as well as brand new books. The books usually arrive in three or four days. Try to order several at a time and save postage. Wonderful resources!

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: Amazon and Abe

 

Karl G I agree with you on your sources.However I have ordered out of print books,either through these sources or exlibris.com or barnesandnoble.com,and the individual booksellers put a s&h charge on each book-even if the order surmounts the minimum for free shipping.

[+ deej]

RE: Amazon and Abe

 

I'm an amazon.com frequent flyer too.

 

One of the options they recently introduced lets you pay a small annual fee to have ALL orders shipped 2-day for no extra charge. My first 3 orders covered the annual fee, and I probably order from them every other week. It's worth checking into if you use them a lot.

 

And you can buy just about anything through them, too. They're not just about books any more.

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: Amazon and Abe

 

If only I could get FF miles from amazon ;(

That is why I usually order from B&N,exlibris,or-and this is a dirty little secret-overstock.com as all of these give me miles or hotel points.

[+ deej]

RE: Amazon and Abe

 

Well, I get points from Citi when I buy from Amazon (or anyone else). :-)

 

I think Amazon offers their own card which last time I looked had a pretty good rewards program.

 

But to be honest, I don't buy there for points. It's sheer convenience and not having to face some brainless clerk in a crowded store, wade through out-of-control ankle biters, and deal with the clueless in parking lots. :7

 

Convenience wins, hands down!

[Hamlet]

RE: Amazon and Abe

 

>One of the options they recently introduced lets you pay a

>small annual fee to have ALL orders shipped 2-day for no extra

>charge.

 

Deej, I think it should be clarified for people who don't know all the ins and outs of Amazon, that the yearly charge (it's around $70 as I recall) that entitles you to 2nd day shipping on all orders only applies to orders of new books that come directly from Amazon. All second-hand or out of print books ordered on the Amazon site are suppled by smaller book dealers, and these dealers will add their own normal shipping charge to the cost of the order, regardless of whatever your regular shipping arrangement is with Amazon itself.

[+ deej]

RE: Amazon and Abe

 

That's true and thanks for pointing it out, Hamlet!

 

When shopping on Amazon, it's not always obvious when you've selected something to be shipped by a third party and they'll have their own shipping charges.

 

For someone who buys enough new merchandise, the "free" shipping thing can make sense. Buyer beware and read the fine print, as always.