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The Giddy Death of the Gays & the Strange Demise of Straights

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The Giddy Death of the Gays & the Strange Demise of Straights

By: Redfern Jon Barrett
Narrated by: Fiona Thraille
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About this listen

Redfern Jon Barrett's novel is a satirical romp through the lives of 20-something queer ne'er-do-wells in Wales. Caroline and her Dom live out their normal lives among the poverty, alcoholics, and street preachers of Swansea. But when Dom and his straight roommate fall in love - a passionate, secret, nonsexual love - their lives are transformed into a queer chaos of cross-dressing, gender bending, and free love. Will Dom hold on to his relationship? Can religious fundamentalists be adopted as pets? And just what are the lesbians up to? The battle between preachers and drag queens, skinheads and sex workers, boyfriend and girlfriend, is set to change the city forever in an inventive story that embraces queer life today.

©2015 Redfern Jon Barrett (P)2015 Redfern Jon Barrett Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Comedy Witty Queer
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Surprisingly enough I enjoyed this book a lot. I listened to it on a sunny day in the Peak District (no, not in South Wales) and I had a few laugh-out-loud moments. First I thought it might be one of those 'gay' books but it's not actually. The book is about this random bunch of gay and straight people, and one who can't decide. It's about friendship, love, social acceptance of homosexuality and everyday life in South Wales. Plus I learned about the difference between homosexual and gay as well as heterosexual and straight (who knew there was a difference??). It's a pretty funny listen and I loved Fiona Thraille's narration in a genuine Welsh accent.

Gay? Straight? What now??

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I love this book! I really appreciate the juxtaposition of the grittiness and dinginess of Swansea and its surroundings with the vibrance and vulnerability of the characters. For me it was these kind of juxtapositions that made the novel so real and moving, it felt very much like a literary landscape, harsh, bleak and beautiful. I also enjoyed the little nuggets of philosophy that were thrown in at intervals within the story. I've done Wales and I've done polyamory so to find a book where these two things are so closely linked, it was almost untrue!

You are never too old for a peptalk

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