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Individual, Group, Family & Couple Counseling Management Consulting & Staff Training Programs An Ongoing Commitment to Serving the Gay Community Dr. Fred's New Book - From A Land In Between Review - From A Land In Between
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Book
Review: From A Land in Between Reviewed by James A. Reeves September 2008 - The Word I read Lewis Fred Schloemer’s From A Land In Between on a cruise ship, basking in the majestic scenery of Alaska, and found myself weeping, laughing out loud and scratching my head in amazement at the authenticity of these well-drawn characters. Did Alaska's dramatic backdrop make me more vulnerable to the wonders lurking in Fred Schloemer's moving collection of poems and stories? Or did these pieces speak so powerfully to me because the author and I grew up around the same time, in the same town? I suspect the reasons I was so drawn to this collection are more universal than either of those possibilities. The stories and poems that make up From A Land In Between address the mysteries of the human heart in ways that transcend the quotidian while embracing the marvelous particulars of a precise moment. When I teach students how to improve their comprehension or writing skills, I strongly emphasize visualization. A good story provides the reader with vivid pictures, and these stories and poems are stunningly visual, full of cinematic imagery. Yet the tales themselves come from such an authentic place that the technique does not draw attention to itself. As a gay man "of a certain age," I was especially moved by the intricacies of the relationships between men in these stories: lovers, friends, strangers in the night, fathers and sons -- even fathers-in-law and estranged sons-in-law. In the most conflicted of these relationships, Schloemer never fails to reveal the humanity behind the connections that ultimately bind these men together. Throughout, there is such a sense of decency and respect for one another on display here. I suspect that people of all genders, ages and sexualities will find these surprising acts of kindness inspiring – and pertinent to their own lives. In several of these stories, the reader is given a glimpse into that adolescent moment which occurs for many of us when we first discover that we are "different" from the crowd. Some of the kids in these stories embrace their unique personalities in funny and clever ways; witness Tucker, the young hero of “Sick Day” who quickly realizes that the only way to save himself from the drunken lout his drunken mother has forced upon him is to outwit the lug -- which he does, most amusingly. Other young souls try to flee from the truth and get lost along the way, characters such as the haunting, heartbreaking Christy/Christopher in “Christy’s Awakening.” Love and sexuality figure heavily in these tales. The road to love is scary, full of dangers -- but the possibility of love makes the risks worthwhile. Just ask Ray Goodman, the widowed protagonist of “Picnic With A Stranger,” who chances upon a handsome young stranger on a country road. What might be the premise of a porn flick turns into something so lovely, so tender – yet titillating as well. The portrayal of sexuality in these stories is very naturalistic, a part of the book’s celebration of the joys to be found in nature. When the truth emerges, some relationships end and others begin. This collection hones its focus on new beginnings. Sandman, a homeless musician we meet in “Wasted Time,” probably says it best – he’d better; these are his last words: “You’re not alone,” he said. “We’re all just trying to get by in this world. We all just want to get back to the good place. Only thing is, we can’t forget about each other.” Order for $19.95 at most major book stores, or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, PublishAmerica, and Waldenbooks.
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