Mercedes General: Stories by Jerry L. Wheeler at Rebel Satori Press
Genre | Gay / Historical / Recent (1990s) / Recent (1980s) / Recent (1970s) / Drama / Fiction |
Reviewed by | Bob-O-Link on 19-August-2024 |
Genre | Gay / Historical / Recent (1990s) / Recent (1980s) / Recent (1970s) / Drama / Fiction |
Reviewed by | Bob-O-Link on 19-August-2024 |
Mercedes General is a series of linked short stories following the exploits of writer Kent Mortenson and his husband, architect Spencer Michalek as they negotiate a life together from their first meeting as boys. Defying anyone who steps between them, they take on the challenges of growing up a couple—including battles with their families, pedophiles, protestors at their senior prom, and unwanted attention for starting an AIDS hospice during the early part of the epidemic.
As the blurb, not surprisingly, contains most favorable recommendations from successful authors, it is with some trepidation that I present my own comments – but gratuitous opinions frequently may be worth their price.
This is a collection of related short stories presenting a revolution in two children’s relationships – to family, for a while, and to each other as they mature into a loving couple. Been done before? But seldom as well. And they are related to a familiar time frame, starting in the 1970s when “gay” stopped describing a mood and reflected a change of identification.
The focus is on two young Southern boys, Kent and Spencer, and to some degree also on Kent’s domineering older sister, Suey, and their marvellously unique and independent-minded grandmother, Miss Lee. A collection of related stories has choices: a continuing plot in episodic form, a presentation of overall mood, or perhaps a development of characters – author Wheeler chooses all, and does it so very well. The time and place offer a largo-like softness, a genial background to times which were changing. Yet these young boys, quite different from each other, strike up an immediate and durable friendship.
Character Spencer quickly takes on unpleasant (unhappy?) Suey and “(a)s short and skinny as he was, he stood more immovable, more imperturbable than any enemy I’d seen her encounter before.” The author thus delineates two characters in one shot.
Where are Kent and Spencer going? Kent is pretty much being raised by Miss Lee, his grandmother; Spencer lives with his alcoholic mother. And we get to know much about their time, place and attitude. When these thirteen-year-olds are being asked how they were doing by the driver of a car in which they are back-seat passengers, Kent silently acknowledges to himself: “We didn’t have our hands down each other’s pants the way we usually did.” Ah, yes. It may shock many, but kids can discover their sexual bent at such an early age and, given the right, tolerant milieu, grow into good, healthy citizens. The stories prove that point. “Like any fourteen and fifteen-year old boy, Spence and I were driven by dicks – endlessly fascinated by them, both ours and anyone else’s we could see. Our wanking bordered on fanaticism, both separately and with each other.” When caught by Suey, reflective of the developing times, they opted for the truth. Yet the difficulties of social change are exposed by the narrative.
Plot seems important only as reflective of the changes evinced by Spencer and Kent, until we become enmeshed in their lives and focal points of the passage of time. Given the relative dates, yes, AIDS also plays its inevitable part, together with reflective anti-gay attitudes and confrontations. Aside: As a gay survivor of the 80s, with current tears I well remember so much fear and ignorance, often metamorphosing into religious fury and hatred. Among the healthy, so many acted with the best and worst intentions – as people usually do in crises. Author Wheeler has finely memorialized the travail often borne by the innocent, and may their memories be a blessing to us!
The final section of ‘Mercedes General’ concerns an unlicensed AIDS hospice run by Kent and Spencer in their New York City home, and the public issues generated by it. As reading this tale is more important than being told about it, I’ll refrain from quoting directly or addressing any more of its substance. Just get out a box of tissues and read it! And prepare for the return of glorious Miss Lee.
I can’t get into author Wheeler’s head to determine what he intended as he created our heroes and recreated to times, but he sure did it well. The book is a great satisfaction to read.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook and print |
Length | Novel, 175 pages |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 20-March-2024 |
Price | $9.99 ebook, $16.95 paperback |
Buy Link | https://www.amazon.com/Mercedes-General-Jerry-L-Wheeler-ebook/dp/B0CYQVGYR5 |