Apparently There is Something Wrong With That

So what does one MGF writer do when she decides to take her own advice and take a break from writing? Sink in and catch up on a couple of novels from one of her favorite authors, of course! And let me tell you, reading is the best salve for the soul of a creatively stuck writer.

Why? Because it provokes thought.

On Monday, I completed the sixth book in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Disappointed in this volume. In short: Bloated, but I still love the series). Coincidently, as I was making my way through the book, I discovered that the second book in Gabaldon’s Lord John series, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, had recently been released. I asked Lenny to pick me up a copy at Cost Co. because I am rather fond of Lord John Grey and was hungry for another book.

When we first meet Grey in the Outlander series, he is the governor of Ardsmuir Prison and had close friendship with one of the main characters, who was a prisoner. He pops up conveniently from time to time to aid the main characters in furthering their causes. A handsome man brought up in the tradition of soldiering, you’d never peg him as gay. But he definitely is and has more than a man crush on the hero of the series. But because has this upright sense of honor, restraint, and friendship, I found myself intrigued. Despite his regulation to cameo appearances in Outlander, I found myself happy whenever Lord John showed up.

Then Lord John got his own series. On his own – Gabaldon has fleshed out one of my favorite characters. At home amongst the gentry of London’s elite families, Lord John not only must solve mysteries in the space of the novel, but convey the intricacies of juggling his hidden side.

With all this in mind, I set into Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. Happily, I found out that Lord John hadn’t at all lost his wit and manners. The mystery and supporting characters have kept me interested. But as is my habit when reading a novel, once I hit the middle of the book (where I pause to write this blog now), I got the sudden urge to see what others thought of this effort. So, I hit the internet.

In general – most Gabaldon fans love Lord John as much as I do. Being the curious sort, I also took the time to read the not so favorable reviews. And I was quite surprised. When I hopped from Barnes and Noble to Amazon, I read two particular comments that got my mind thinking:

From Barnes and Noble Online: “The story was interesting, the book would have been very good, but the graphic sex descriptions took away from the story and made the book definitely adult reading.”

From Amazon.com: “I didn’t enjoy this as much as the ‘Outlander’ series. I like the Lord John character, but am not interested in the details of his sex life. I also missed the detailed descriptions of daily life that played such a big part in Diana’s other books…”

I was struck by the common theme of the sex scenes in relation to this particular series. I did a little more research online and found that complaints about the sex scenes were common. As a Gabaldon reader, I was a little confused. By no means, are any of her books vulgar or pornographic…but they aren’t exactly parochial school library material. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend the Lord John series to anyone that I can’t confirm has a broad thought process. I had said as much to someone today. I was asked me why I was selective. It hit me as I opened my mouth to answer.

“Because Lord John is gay.”

Could people have a hard time with this book because the love scenes aren’t the typical man and woman scheme? Even as we claim ourselves to be an advanced society, do we squirm at the thought of Lord John and his love interest because he wears breeches instead of petticoats? Are we so weirded out that we don't feel the character has real needs? And really…is that enough to shoot down a book? When I read the first book in the series, I was once chided by a friend (who I considered pretty open-minded) for reading “trashy gay literature.”

While I can’t vouch for the people who stated negative reviews on the book websites – I can’t help but wonder how deep in the subconscious do we harbor our personal preferences and how stealthily we bring them out.

I remember a few years back when Brokeback Mountain came to theatres. I was told by several people that if I wanted to watch it, don’t watch it with my husband. According to my friends, Lenny would have been scarred by the intimacies shared by the main characters. I finally saw the movie when it came out on HBO. Yeah, it was probably more graphic than any other mainstream film. And yes, I had never seen two men “together.” But overall, I didn’t see what everyone was fussing about. In fact, I went back to my friends and told them the same. AND THEN, I asked them what made them uncomfortable about it. They could only tell me it was because they were gay. Well for Pete’s sake, you knew what the movie was about when you paid $10 for the ticket!

If the story is good and strikes a chord – why should the orientation of the character matter? I sure hope it doesn’t.

After reading the reviews, I went back and reread the first “love scene” in Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. And I have to admit, I sped right through it on the first read. Maybe I’m still more uncomfortable with the thought than I first estimated. So I slowed down this time…I let Diana Gabaldon tell her story. I read it with one eye open.

You know what? When it comes down to it – it was about two people wanting each other. It’s the same feelings and tensions as when Jamie and Clair get it on in Outlander (and in their mid-fifties mind you!), just a different bodies. But there’s a story…a relationship, just like anyone else.

And that’s good enough for me to keep reading!