Cheap Where the Boys Are (Book) (William J. Mann) Price

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Customer Reviews of Where the Boys Are

Pros: Mann makes some wonderful observations about the gay lifestyle in relation to AIDS in this era, the self destructiveness of certain behavior, etc. But that's about it.

Cons: 1) Wow. There is a "mystery" that runs almost to the very last page of the novel. A mystery that any reader will solve a few pages into the setup. I mean it is ridiculous to believe that ANY gay man wouldn't have thought out the angle to that story - never mind a character who is an educated, writer. It becomes REALLY torturous as we keep waiting for him to figure it out.
2) The other main character has become almost too new-agey spritual. To the point where some dialogue is really annoying and makes you almost cringe. 3) Eva. Hello? Really - yeah, we'd all put up with that. 4) I guess these two great characters now just seem ... dumb.

Flip side: if you haven't read the first book, it does have it's fun moments and some good social observations. But as a sequel it is a letdown. It's like Mann wanted to write a sequel but didn't have a real story so he concocted this strange platform for the boys return.

This Book Touched Me
After reading this book in one sitting I was left with the feeling of being understood. To often in my life I have been misunderstood, to often I have been placed in stereotypes that did not quite fit who I was. The characters in this book are not stereotypical, the dialogue is not stereotypical. William J Mann has a mastery of dialogue that brings forth seven very different very unique characters. I have since purchased copies for my mother, and other good friends telling them "This is the world I belong to!" They too have been surprised at how enjoyable this book is to read. This is a definate must in anyone's library gay, straight, bi, transgender, or questioning. When it comes down to it 'Where the Boys Are' is simply a fun read.

A cheap soap opera, yet somehow deeply moving
The Men from the Boys is a poorly written book. Very little happens, there is an enormous amount of repetition, the characters' choices seem utterly implausible, and, overall, the characters seem grossly unselfaware. Besides that, the book is humorless, without any trace of irony. Still, I found myself crying every couple of pages. Even though the novel as a whole is weak, scene after scene is deeply affecting. That makes for a very provocative read.