Glove Puppet

by Neal Drinnan

Book Overview

Vaslav is a boy with a sordid past and tenuous future. Born Johnny to a drug-addicted prostitute, Johnny becomes Vaslav when, at age seven, his mother dies of a drug overdose and a passing stranger... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312192711
• ISBN13: 9780312192716
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Only for the mature gay reader

This book deals with some very explicit, down-to-the-bone areas of tawdry adult gay experiences. It is neither a pleasant, nor uplifting book. However, it is very well written and completely honest in the scenes that it describes. Think of a gay "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and I think you get the point. Should you read it? Yes, if you are a mature gay man who is not easily shocked and who realizes that this is but a slice of a very large, diverse gay pie.

An Excellent Read from the Land downunder

Nothing but good things to say about this debut novel by Drinnan, engaging plot, crisp, fluid prose and characters whose struggles with a life of excess leads them to destructive behaviors; the consequences of which proves to be fatal. In terms of ones sexual orientation, the author seems to leave the question of environment versus genetics open to the reader's interpretation. Did Vas' life unfold as it did because of his early environment consisting of a drug addicted prostitute mother, and later, a gay father figure whose life lacked social or moral boundaries? Or was his life predetermined, having inherited the genes of addiction, compounded with the over active hormones of adolescence? Glove Puppet blurs the line of love and desire in a way that demonstrates the necessity that each of us come to a place where we're able to distinguish between the two; for there's nothing more harmful to the individual spirit than misplaced love or unhealthy desire. Kudos to Drinnan for a first novel that's delivers its characters in a raw, truthful, manner that reminds us that limits are necessary to life enrichment and excess is just that . . . more than necessary.

Great Australian novel -- gay-oriented subjet matter

When we think of good adult movies we should think of the brilliant acting of Burton and Taylor, or of the directing of Billy Wilder or Mike Nichols. When we think of good adult books we should think of Nabokov ("Lolita") or Neal Drinnan ("Glove Puppet").For such a short novel the plot goes in so many ways, yet stays entirely coherent. Written in the first person by a 20-year-old, the boy's mood changes with his age and with the story. The writing, however, is consistent from cover to cover.The story is fascinating and will take the reader through a whole range of emotions. It makes one wish the author had been paid by the word, so the novel would infill every detail.Australians have been turning out great stuff for decades. Here's another outstanding novel. Since it's short everyone should take the time to read it. Neal Drinnan was in his early 30s when he wrote "Glove Puppet." We can all hope he has many more excellent novels to write.

Astounding first novel

One of the best books I've ever read - engaging characters - crisp insight into their lives. Drinnan has a new book coming out this winter check this one out first

best gay novel of the year

All I can say is that the great Aussie gay-themed novel has finally appeared. Jonny/Vas is a wonderfully drawn character, thoroughly manipulative, suitably sleazy but with a great street cred about him. One can feel for the foster father placed in a horrible situation by his charge, but the narrative is so good, one can't put the thing down. Glad to see its being published in the US and in hardcover to boot. Take the time to read it . ENJOY!!

Excellent reading

From the moment I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. Set mainly in Sydney, Glove Puppet is the story of love between and man and boy and the tragic events that surround it. It demonstrates how the media, the law, and the public can totally misinterpret people's circumstances. Order it now for when it is published in the U.S. - in fact order two copies - one for yourself and one for a friend because this is one book you'll want to keep and read again.