Greyhound Tai Chi

The novel that I'm reading right now is Exiles in America, by Christopher Bram. It appears (from halfway through) to be a story about 2 couples composed of 3 men and 1 women, and how they all react when the two men who were not originally a couple have an affair with each other. Both are artists. The mixed-gender couple are Iranians in the US for a brief working period; the same-gender couple are a pair of white Americans.

This little bit of scene happened after Daniel and Abbas had sex together for the first time, in Abbas' art studio at the university where they both teach. Abbas paints large canvases, which he works on as they are lying on the floor, hence the image of Abbas hovering over his canvas:

He [Daniel] glanced over now and then to watch Abbas at work. The man looked quite beautiful stretched over his canvas, one leg extended back, half his weight resting on a locked arm–like a greyhound doing tai chi.

[Christopher Bram, Exiles in America, p. 98]

No doubt because we live with two greyhounds, I found this analogy funny and memorable and rich in associations. We've been trying all day to interest our boys in trying greyhound tai chi, but they show little interest.

So far, this is an excellent novel. I've enjoyed a couple of other of Bram's novels so far — notably Gods and Monsters* — and I have a couple left to read someday, plus whatever else he writes in the future.

Reading this book reminds me that I actually read rather few "plain" novels, usually choosing crime fiction / mystery novels for my fiction reading. I don't really know why that is, — I don't think I dislike non-mystery novels so much as I have a harder time finding reasons to choose to read one over another.

Regardless, Bram is one author I readily choose to read when I happen upon a new title at the library. I know that his stories will be engaging and nourishing and his language will be beautiful and satisfying.
———
*Corrected later: "Gods and Monsters" is the name of the movie written and directed by Bill Condon, from the book The Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram. Both are excellent.

Posted on January 16, 2007 at 21.02 by jns · Permalink
In: All, Books, Such Language!, Writing

3 Responses

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  1. Written by Bill Morrison
    on Wednesday, 17 January 2007 at 01.04
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    I have enjoyed all the Christopher Bram novels I've read, though it's been a while. Surprising Myself, In Memory of Angel Clare, Hold Tight, Almost History (my favourite), Father of Frankenstein, and Gossip, are the ones I have on my bookshelf. Gossip was the last one I read, and that was in 1997. I DID say it had been a while; and Bram is high on my list of books to re-read.
    I see that the public library has In Memory of Angel Clare and Hold Tight, as well as Lives of the Circus Animals, The Notorious Dr. August, and Exiles in America. Are there others?

    Of the novelists in my "gay fiction" section I think he's the best. Best 'gay mystery' writer is, of course, Richard Stevenson.

  2. Written by jns
    on Wednesday, 17 January 2007 at 01.55
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    You remind me — I'm a bit embarrassed that I forgot — that the name of his book that was made into the film called "Gods and Monsters" was "The Father of Frankenstein". It was an excellent film and in my mind because just last week we watched the film "Kinsey", which was also excellent. Looking at its credits was the first I'd known that the writer and director of "Kinsey" (Bill Condon) was the writer and director who had made "Gods and Monsters". Clearly I like his work!

    According to the list inside Exiles in America, you've covered all the extant Bram titles, Bill.

  3. Written by Bill Morrison
    on Wednesday, 17 January 2007 at 02.34
    Permalink

    I KNEW there was a connection between Father of Frankenstein and Gods and Monsters, but wasn't sure what it was. Thanks.

    I haven't seen Gods and Monsters; but I liked Kinsey a lot.

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