Two from Spanbauer

Tom Spanbauer gained significant notice in the 80s with his debut novel, The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon. This was the warm and almost mythical story of a young gay man growing up in the old American West. His two more recent novels also deserve a read. These are: In the City of Shy Hunters and Now Is the Hour. The first follows the trials and triumphs of another gay young man, but this time he’s a bit older and learning about adulthood in the yeasty East Village of the late 1980s. The story is filled with interesting characters and events. Much of it would be hard to believe if it weren’t set in New York. At times the 670 page tome feels a little ponderous, but the ending is more than satisfying.

Now Is the Hour is told mostly in retrospect from the perspective of yet another young gay man coming age in the late 60s. This time, he’s from Idaho and headed to San Francisco. So while on the one hand, it would be nice if Spanbauer would try another set-up, on the other, he does a great job with the execution. The book is not a repeat of either of the two others and stands well on its own. Once again, Spanbauer's love for his characters shines through.