A beautifully written novel exploring, among other things, what it was to be gay when Aids emerged in the 1980s. As teenagers, Ellis and Michael were lovers, but Ellis´s marriage to Annie drew a line under all that. Now Annie has died and Ellis, a frustrated artist who paints panels in a car plant, is left alone with his memories. He´s a repressed Lawrentian figure, complete with encouraging mum and brutish dad. The other half of the book concerns Michael, a joyous, upbeat character despite the misery of his lovers and friends dying around him. Michael, at least, has the courage of his convictions. It´s all terribly sad and poignant; full of grief and what-might-have-beens. Loot.co.za (R235)...
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