Review of Stolid
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Jennifer Anderson 12
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Review of Stolid
[Following is a volunteer review of "Stolid" by Aaron D Key.]
Stolid by Aaron D. Key is an intimate and eye-opening look into the world of a homosexual man in 1980’s UK. When we meet the main character, Stolid, he is hitchhiking to an unknown destination and is picked up by a kind stranger. Then things begin to take a dark turn. Instead of heading into London as they agreed on, the stranger stops in a secluded area and suggests going for a walk. For reasons unknown, even to Stolid, he agrees to the walk and soon the stranger hints that he knows Stolid from several points in the past and challenges Stolid to identify where they have crossed paths before. Stolid begins to reminisce with the stranger over the course of the night and comes to a startling conclusion.
One of the positive things about this book is that the author was able to show intimacy between the characters without any explicit sex scenes. Another is that the author did a superb job of showing the reader what it was like to be a homosexual man in the 1980’s in the UK. The reader gets an intimate look into the mind, thoughts and feelings that Stolid goes through on his journey of self-reflection. Aaron D. Key writes Stolid’s scenes of self-reflection with heartbreaking poeticism that makes the reader weep for him.
The author did an excellent job using subtlety to show scenes of intimacy and violence, as well as disguising the true nature of the young man that accompanies Stolid on his journey of self-reflection. That being said the subtlety combined with the incredibly poetic nature of Key’s writing made sections of Stolid difficult to read and I found myself rereading sections due to finding myself skimming over the slower parts.
I give Stolid by Aaron D. Key a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Stolid is a reflection of what it is like to be a homosexual in a society that does not accept differences. It is sad, romantic, horrifying and hopeful, all at the same time.
I recommend Stolid for readers who are interested in understanding the negative mental effects of open homophobia from the perspective of an individual who is forced to live through it. If you have a family member that has recently had the courage to come out of the closet, this is a great book to understand how difficult it is for someone to come to that decision. It has none of the sordid details that would make for graphic scenes, but it does show the intimacy involved that is identical in many ways to straight intimacy. Stolid also lays bare the mental anguish a person goes through during the process of becoming comfortable with themselves as they are, despite the entire world telling them that they way they love is sinful, unnatural and repugnant.
******
Stolid
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Stolid by Aaron D. Key is an intimate and eye-opening look into the world of a homosexual man in 1980’s UK. When we meet the main character, Stolid, he is hitchhiking to an unknown destination and is picked up by a kind stranger. Then things begin to take a dark turn. Instead of heading into London as they agreed on, the stranger stops in a secluded area and suggests going for a walk. For reasons unknown, even to Stolid, he agrees to the walk and soon the stranger hints that he knows Stolid from several points in the past and challenges Stolid to identify where they have crossed paths before. Stolid begins to reminisce with the stranger over the course of the night and comes to a startling conclusion.
One of the positive things about this book is that the author was able to show intimacy between the characters without any explicit sex scenes. Another is that the author did a superb job of showing the reader what it was like to be a homosexual man in the 1980’s in the UK. The reader gets an intimate look into the mind, thoughts and feelings that Stolid goes through on his journey of self-reflection. Aaron D. Key writes Stolid’s scenes of self-reflection with heartbreaking poeticism that makes the reader weep for him.
The author did an excellent job using subtlety to show scenes of intimacy and violence, as well as disguising the true nature of the young man that accompanies Stolid on his journey of self-reflection. That being said the subtlety combined with the incredibly poetic nature of Key’s writing made sections of Stolid difficult to read and I found myself rereading sections due to finding myself skimming over the slower parts.
I give Stolid by Aaron D. Key a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Stolid is a reflection of what it is like to be a homosexual in a society that does not accept differences. It is sad, romantic, horrifying and hopeful, all at the same time.
I recommend Stolid for readers who are interested in understanding the negative mental effects of open homophobia from the perspective of an individual who is forced to live through it. If you have a family member that has recently had the courage to come out of the closet, this is a great book to understand how difficult it is for someone to come to that decision. It has none of the sordid details that would make for graphic scenes, but it does show the intimacy involved that is identical in many ways to straight intimacy. Stolid also lays bare the mental anguish a person goes through during the process of becoming comfortable with themselves as they are, despite the entire world telling them that they way they love is sinful, unnatural and repugnant.
******
Stolid
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Twisted Threads by Kaylin McFarren
