Got myself a review copy off LibraryThing
Feb. 22nd, 2008 08:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
julesjonesLibraryThing has an Early Reviewers scheme, whereby members can sign up to ask for ARCs for review. What the publishers get out of it is a reasonable number of reviews from people who aren't paid reviewers but are deeply into reading, and who are likely to appreciate a particular book -- LibraryThing can pull up good matches between an ARC and people's existing book collections. I put in for a couple this month, and was allocated Gents
, from The Friday Project.
This one's actually a reprint of a book which was originally published in 1997. When I read the blurb for the book, it sounded vaguely familiar, and when I looked it up I realised I'd probably seen reviews of it back when it was first released. I'm fairly sure it was one that I thought at the time sounded interesting, but never got around to chasing down in the bookshop or library. It obviously got my interest then if it rang a bell even ten years on. So I'm looking forward to reading it when it arrives.
There were 30 review copies available, and 573 members requesting it. Blurb under the cut. See if you can guess why The Mighty Algorithm thought I was a good match for the book...
Ezekiel Murphy has been out of work for some time so starts up his new job as a toilet attendant with great optimism and enthusiasm. When his fellow workers have to explain to him why he will sometimes see two men leaving the same cubicle he is both shocked and bemused. And when the council clamp down on cottaging in the area they all support the campaign with gusto. However, one month later, with takings down alarmingly the three attendants find their jobs on the line, forcing a radical and quite surprising rethink.
Gents is a genuinely life-affirming novel which addresses the serious issues of race, sexuality and tolerance with skill and humour. Originally published in 1997, it deserves to be viewed as a modern classic.
About the Author: Warwick Collins is the author of 8 novels, all of which have been published to great acclaim across Europe but some of which have yet to be published in the UK. Gents has been a Top 3 bestseller in France and remains hugely popular over there as well as enjoying significant success in Germany, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. Collins is viewed by our European colleagues as a major British writer but is criminally ignored in his own country. Until now. In 2008, Collins and The Friday Project will embark upon one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by any author by publishing 12 novels in 12 months.
, from The Friday Project.This one's actually a reprint of a book which was originally published in 1997. When I read the blurb for the book, it sounded vaguely familiar, and when I looked it up I realised I'd probably seen reviews of it back when it was first released. I'm fairly sure it was one that I thought at the time sounded interesting, but never got around to chasing down in the bookshop or library. It obviously got my interest then if it rang a bell even ten years on. So I'm looking forward to reading it when it arrives.
There were 30 review copies available, and 573 members requesting it. Blurb under the cut. See if you can guess why The Mighty Algorithm thought I was a good match for the book...
Ezekiel Murphy has been out of work for some time so starts up his new job as a toilet attendant with great optimism and enthusiasm. When his fellow workers have to explain to him why he will sometimes see two men leaving the same cubicle he is both shocked and bemused. And when the council clamp down on cottaging in the area they all support the campaign with gusto. However, one month later, with takings down alarmingly the three attendants find their jobs on the line, forcing a radical and quite surprising rethink.
Gents is a genuinely life-affirming novel which addresses the serious issues of race, sexuality and tolerance with skill and humour. Originally published in 1997, it deserves to be viewed as a modern classic.
About the Author: Warwick Collins is the author of 8 novels, all of which have been published to great acclaim across Europe but some of which have yet to be published in the UK. Gents has been a Top 3 bestseller in France and remains hugely popular over there as well as enjoying significant success in Germany, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. Collins is viewed by our European colleagues as a major British writer but is criminally ignored in his own country. Until now. In 2008, Collins and The Friday Project will embark upon one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by any author by publishing 12 novels in 12 months.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 11:25 am (UTC)(Not just cottaging -- in the time the book's set in, it was to discourage drug users from using the toilets as somewhere private to shoot up, because the discarded syringes were a serious health hazard.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 04:28 pm (UTC)The book sounds like (dare I say it considering where it's set LOL) a breath of fresh air. I might consider buying it.