Latter Days: A Novel by C. Jay Cox, T. Fabris
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Book Reviews of Latter Days: A Novel
Book Review: Latter Days by C. Jay Cox & T. Fabris
Summary: 5 Stars
Latter Days is basically the screenplay of the movie by the same title, directed by C. Jay Cox, who also wrote it. T. Fabris adapted the screenplay into a novels: usually the process is not simple, and not always the result is good. I loved the movie and so I tried to read the novel without playing too much the scenes in my mind as I saw them in the movie. I tried to understand if the book was good despite the movie, if the story could appeal someone that maybe hasn't seen the movie and pick up the book. I think it's good, the story is basically good and it's a nice romance. It's not an overtly erotic book, it's almost a sweet romance.
Christian is a very handsome gay guy... he is young, probably barely 20 years old, and he is doing nothing much than enjoy his life. I have the feeling that Christian has not money trouble, he has not a supporting family from a loving point of view, but I believe that he knows where to find an help if he needs it. He supports himself working as a waiter in an upperclass restaurant, owned by a former movie star, and his life style is up to his work. in the end, Christian is living in a perennial night party, changing partner every night and enjoying every minute of it.
Then in the apartment near him moves a Mormon congregation, 4 young guys. One of them is Aaron, All American good boy type of guy but with a secret... he enjoys life! He has a deep faith but he doesn't believe that loving God means judging other people, he actually likes his proselytism mission since he allows him to meet new people, but he would like to also listen to other people not only to tell them "their" story. Aaron also loves the old black and white movies and the cute boys... yes, Aaron is gay, even if he has never had the chance to "test" his preferences. And when he is thrown in the middle of a gay friendly neighborhood, he has many of them, the nearer of which represented by Christian.
Scorned when he brought the first friendly neighborly gift, Christian bets with his friends that he will seduce one of the young mormon boys, and obviously Aaron is the most likely candidate, since not only he is probably willing, but also since he is the only who talks with Christian. And here he proves how different he is from all the other guys Christian met, Aaron actually talks with him, he sees something other in Christian than a pretty boy [...] (one of Christian's friend tells him, you don't need to be deep, you are pretty! to give you an example of how was Christian's life before Aaron). The bet is soon forgotten and Christian starts to wonder if his life has a meaning, when, on the other side, Aaron start to question his faith, or better, the interpretation of faith that was taught to him.
Actually of the two men, Christian is the one that has more chance to come out from the page of the book. I have the strong feeling to have listened to Christian's mind, to his reason, and instead Aaron was a little more undertone. Maybe it's right like that, it's in their character, Christian is the butterfly and instead Aaron is the thinker; it's Christian's character that has to develop, Aaron is almost already at the end of his discovery path. And I found quite interesting that Christian did a sprint to reach Aaron in that journey and in the end, it was him that reach the finishing line as first, while Aaron practically withdraw from the "competition".
When I said that this is almost a sweet romance, I was referring to the fact that the sex is not the main purpose of the story. Christian lets aside his bet to really try to conquer Aaron, and they are basically the main characters of the story, but there are also a good parade of supporting characters and also a fairy godmother in the guise of Lila, the restaurant owner.
Book Review: Incredible love story
Summary: 5 Stars
Later Days by T Fabris, Based on the screenplay by C. J. Cox
This is the love story between Christian William Markelli, a West Hollywood pretty boy who takes a special pride in bending straight boys, and a Mormon man, Aaron Davis.
When a colony of four Mormons moves to Christian`s apartment complex, Christian notices that one of the Mormon boys is most likely a closeted gay. So Christian, his roommate, Julie Taylor, and his coworkers Andrew and Traci Levine; make a bet that Christian will/or will not get one of the Mormon boys in the sack. To prove his accomplishment Christian needs to produce their long Mormon underwear.
As their relationship progresses, Christian discovers that indeed Aaron is a closeted homosexual. But when Christian cuts himself gardening, Aaron has to take him inside the house because Christian faints at the site of blood. Their body proximity is intolerable for Aaron is outed by Christian. Unfortunately Aaron stops himself because Christian says that sex "does not have to mean anything." So Aaron insults Christian by asking him if he "believes in anything?" Christian can't answer the question and for the first time in his life Christian is confronted with the shallowness of his life and Aaron escapes unharmed, but wounded. He struggles with his feelings and finds comfort in the fact that "nothing happened."
To prove that he is not shallow, Christian starts volunteering feeding AIDS/HIV patients and meets Kevin who starts shaping a moral core in Christian. However, Aaron has a bicycle accident and Christian takes him inside and they finally kiss. Unfortunately this is witnessed by the other Mormons and Aaron is shipped home.
Christian feels terrible to the point that his patient, Kevin tells him that Christian looks worst than him. So Christian goes through the phone and find Aaron's home number. Christian talks to Gladys, Aaron's mother but she tells Christian that Aaron will never speak to him again. Aaron's father excommunicates his son and Gladys makes things worse by telling Aaron that Christian slept with him for a bet. This breaks Aaron and he tries to kill himself landing him in a clinic.
Meanwhile Julie has succeeded and is now a recorded singer. She gets into Christian's diary and copies Christian sorrowful verses as her new song.
Aaron had comforted Lila Montagne, who owned the establishment where Christian and all his friends worked as waiters, and Lila offers Aaron her card with a free meal. So when Aaron leaves the clinic and can't find Christian in L. A., he goes to Lila's where the final encounter occurs and the lover boys finally embrace and live happily ever after.
The movie was amazing--Later Days is a story about connection, romance, self discovery--revealing the desperate and sometimes heroic--things people do for love. The book is an easy great read.
Book Review: Sweet, sensitive story of self discovery and romance
Summary: 5 Stars
Christian Markelli is the stereotypical West Hollywood gay "party boy" hunk, with a reputation for seducing even young men who claim to be straight. So it is not so strange when his coworkers at Lillys (a restaurant owned by a former movie star) bet him $50 he can't seduce a young Mormon missionary who recently moved in (along with three other missionaries) into his apartment complex. Along the way, Christian falls in love with the shy, frustrated Aaron Davis, who also finds himself attracted to Christian, in contrary to his strong religious upbringing and beliefs. He also makes Christian realize something about himself, and the story becomes a compelling story of connection and self-discovery as well as romance. It also realistically depicts the plight of gay members of the LDS church, as Aaron is discovered by a roommate and sent home from his mission in disgrace. The novel is based on a screenplay for the film, which has recently been released in several major US cities, and broke all records for gay movies in its opening weekend. I have not seen the film, so my review is based solely on the book. Nor has the book spoiled me from wanting to see the film, since the story - while somewhat simplistic and predictable in its revelations - is told masterfully and sensitively. I'd rate the book 5 stars out of 5, and look forward to the DVD release of the film.
Book Review: Deeper insights into the characters
Summary: 5 Stars
This book will appeal mostly to those who have seen the film and are interested in finding more information out about the characters. Hopefully, however, people around the world who can't see this film or can't wait for the DVD release will take a chance and read this faithful novelization that provides more backstory to some of the characters. The novelization is solidly written with the same great depth that screenwriter C. Jay Cox gave his characters. Those of you who read this book will find it enjoyable and an outstanding companion to the film. If you haven't seen the movie yet, the book gives an overall better feel for the time that passes between beginning and end.You will fall for these characters. You'll laugh, cry and cheer. I recommend this book HIGHLY and hope it's message of love is heard around the world, just as I hope the film gets the rewards (and awards) it so rightly deserves.
Book Review: Great story, fun characters, fine writing
Summary: 5 Stars
Some German exchange student in my high school class (oh yes, years ago) was obsessively reading the literary adaptation of the film "Fatal Attraction", as well as other adaptations. I was flirting, so I feigned interest in borrowing the books...all of them. And, much like the guy, I found them to be a real snoozefest.Writers generally let a script sloppily carry them through writing a literary adaptation. It's usually a pasteurized view of what happens in the movie. It usually sucks. But T. Fabris really pulled one off, here. Fabris gives layers to the characters. Fabris unveils things with subtlety and grace. And while the purpose of this literary adaptation may have been to garner attention for the film it was based on, I have much more interest in the future works of T. Fabris than I have in seeing the film version of "Latter Days". It might just ruin it for me.