The New Masculinity
I’m currently reading a book that features a gay FBI agent as one of two heroes.The character’s bravery, handsome features, masculinity and devotion to the FBI is clear. I loved the characterization, and the respect the author shows to the agent’s life style choice. It’s one of those situations where the character is near perfect, and every female in the room will sigh with disappointment when it’s revealed he’s gay. Who ever wins his heart is a lucky guy. (Sigh.)Admittedly, I sort of went, ooh, when I realized what I had picked up. I bought this book from the hospital gift shop, (not much of a selection) when my daughter had her baby recently. I desperately needed something to occupy me. After I got over the ‘ick’ factor, I fell in love with the character and became intrigued with his struggles with relationships. I really shouldn’t have felt that way, since over the years in law enforcement, I have had several excellent partners who happened to be gay. Still, it wasn’t what I was expecting, and I wasn’t completely sure I could continue. It didn’t take much or long, and I was hooked, and have been reading it in-between my other reads ever sense.What adds to the scenario is what a gay man goes through in the public eye to establish a relationship. The two love interests in the book really can’t come out. One is a Marine officer and another actor, who is on the edge of incredible fame. If they reveal their sexual orientation, they’ll be ruined; even in today’s more open society.It’s not that I ever avoided books featuring a gay hero. They just never fell into my lap like this one did. I haven’t finished the book yet, but hope by the end that he finds love. Question of the Day: How do you feel about a gay leading man?
September 5th, 2008
Lee 
in
Lee's Columns |
Everyone loves a good hero, but what do readers, agents, editors, and writers love most? Join us as we delve under the covers and find out!
September 5th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I’m guessing you’re reading the Troubleshooters series, by Suzanne Brockmann. I like her writing and the way she handles her characters, they’re very fleshed-out, very rarely flat and boring.
I never sought out any gay romance stories, but picked up this one as it followed the series and I liked the characters and, as you say, once you’re past the knee-jerk ick factor, it’s another romance - just two people finding their way to each other, getting past obstacles to find happiness - and that’s what it’s all about, right?
September 5th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I know that book too, I’ve read the series and that came with it. Love her characters, love how she handles difficult things, and it’s never boring.
I like reading gay/lesbian romance, because you rarely trip over a book where the main characters are uneven. I have found that when you have two persons of the same gender, it is easier to balance the characters and the story. It happens often in m-f romance that the author has put more thought in one of the characters, and the other falls a bit flat, or that it feels like that. In m-m or f-f romances you can skip gender politics and focus on the characters, and that gives you a more truly equal relationship.
I have found that I tend to skip stories with a Dominant and a submissive in heterosexual relationships, but I don’t mind reading gay D/s stories, because the strength of the submissive comes through so much more.
I read romance, and I don’t care if the leading man/woman is straight, gay or bi, I just care about a good balanced story with a happy ending.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Interesting post, Lee. This is a hot sub-genre now, but not one I’ve read in. I definitely wouldn’t seek a book like this out, and I can’t say or know how I’d feel if I started reading one and realized it was m/m or f/f. My reaction now is that, while I know that it is just two people finding their way to each other and falling in love, it’s not my cup of tea. That being said, I enjoyed and felt deep emotion from Brokeback Mountain [the short story and the movie], so while I won’t go out of my way to read a book that has this romantic dynamic, it definitely has a place in the literary realm and it fills a need.
I remember reading a comment on a post about this same subject recently that said something to the effect of the reader picturing herself falling in love with the hero. I think for a lot of readers, that’s what we do…imagine ourselves as the heroine. This particular person said at first she was taken aback when she realized it was a m/m love story, but soon she imagined herself falling for the hero [one of them, anyway!] and so it worked for her.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I agree with Misa, so long as the author can make the reader, male or female, fall in love with one of the love interests, the book is going to work. My first exposure to “gay” romance was reading Jade Buchannan’s “GI Joe” shorts on her website. They hooked me in right away.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:18 am
The book has to be interesting and well written. That said, if the romance is the main focus of the story, I probably wouldn’t read it. Just not what I care to read.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Your right Victoria this is one of the Brockmann series. Everyone has such positive repsonses, and interesting to find out what everyone thinks. As I continue to read this story, I find it very compelling. I love the characters, and its so well writen I’ve forgotten they’re gay…I just hope the Jules finds happiness. I think for this type of book, I think the quality of the story telling is everything.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I’m in the ‘fall for the hero’ camp and it would be hard for me to know I’d lose him to a guy. It would be like if I rooted for the hero/heroine to get together and at the end he chose another woman. I would feel cheated in the story.