2
comments
|
Monday, January 05, 2009
Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris is starting 2009 off with a bang as he delivers his eleventh novel on January 27th. "Basketball Jones" is the follow up to Harris' successful 2008 novel "Just Too Good To Be True", a literary effort that broke new ground for the author as he explored the lives of heterosexual characters. Basketball Jones is a return to Harris' roots and the formula that has made his work a must read.
Aldridge James “AJ” Richardson is living the good life. He has a gorgeous town house in always-flavorful New Orleans, plenty of frequent-flier miles from jet-setting around the country on a whim, and an MBA—but he’s never had to work a regular job. He owes it all to his longtime lover, Dray Jones- the rich and famous NBA star. They fell in love in college when AJ was hired to tutor Dray, a freshman on the basketball team. But Dray knew if he wanted to make it to the big time, he must juggle his public image and his private desires. Built on a deep, abiding love, their hidden relationship sustains them both, but when Dray’s teammates begin to ask insinuating questions about AJ, Dray puts their doubts to rest by marrying Judi, a beautiful and ambitious woman. Judi knows nothing about Dray’s “other life.” Or does she?
Basketball Jones is sure to be another hit for Harris' and a tool for discussion around homophobia in sports and the crippling effect of not being able to live life authentically.
Word has it that Basketball Jones was inspired after the author was asked to counsel a current NBA player who was contemplating coming out but decided against it. Hmmm...I wonder who he could be?
Get into an audio preview of the book here. And if you're in Atlanta on January 27th come and meet E. Lynn Harris as he reads from his new novel at Outwrite Bookstore. You can pre-order your copy here.
2 Comments:
I'm glad E. Lynn Harris has returned to his tried and true formula. I wonder if he will have the same success with it that he's had in the past? JL King put a new and dangerous spin on the down-low in 2004. Harris' mostly black female audience now looks at the DL in a more hostile way than before King exploded on the scene.
By the way, a new book is out called "Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South" by Dr. E. Patrick Johnson. Johnson interviews dozens of southern black gay men of all ages about their lives. The reviews I've read have been very favorable. I wonder why I haven't seen this book mentioned on any of the black gay blogs I follow?
January 05, 2009 7:45 AM
Sweet Tea is a treat. And as for Harris, I'm really excited to see if The new characters cross paths with AJ and Dray. I've always enjoyed the interplay in his early novels.
January 05, 2009 8:56 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home