By David Jay Collins, $3.99 ( e-book ); 243 pages
David Jay Collins weaves a suspensful—yet foreseeable—tale embodying all the classic components of a Chicago gay romance: unrequited lust, reliable female sidekicks, drinks at almost every bar in Boystown, rampant gossip, exceedingly dramatic exchanges about acceptance of oneself, veiny biceps and the shattered pieces of a broken heart. Gaybash is Collins' first attempt at penning a novel, and although the story lacks freshness and diversity in dialogue, there is potential for a future winner by the newbie author.
The protagonist, Matt Tompkins, is a grantwriter for a non-profit in the Loop. He recently moved into a new condo near Addison and Halsted streets, although none of his boxes are unpacked due to laziness. Matt lacks self-confidence and pities himself—truly a lost gay in the vast, mean world. The most interesting fact about him is that his best friend is Greg Walters. Greg is known throughout Boystown as a demigod, and no one understands why Matt and Greg are friends.
Unsurprisingly, Matt is in love with Greg, and Greg claims he has no idea throughout the story. The tale of how their friendship commenced is quite brutal. Four years prior, Greg convinced Matt to go home with him as a prank, snapping a picture of Matt at his own front door to prove it. Then, Greg sent the picture to friends who uploaded the humiliating photo to Facebook. This subplot is confusing and Collins only touches briefly on it; all I know is I could never be best friends with someone who is capable of such a vicious act of cyberbullying.
The plot mainly focuses on Matt being jealous of Greg, and Greg telling Matt he possesses everything Greg actually wants; however, the only example highlighted is Matt's loving parents, in comparison to Greg's deceased mother and cold father. Later, Greg is featured in a YouTube video in which he heroically defends himself against homphobes. Matt was next to him and did the same, but the footage only captures Greg. Instantly, Greg is bathed in glory and fame, and he does not tell anyone that Matt was an essential part of the situation as well until much later.
Nevertheless, Matt continues to allow Greg into his life, continuing to prefer victimization and often masturbating while thinking about Greg in various locker-room scenarios. Next, Matt is attacked in an ally by two men on his way home from a celebratory party at Sidetrack for Greg's bravery, and in an effort to defend himself and be more like Greg, Matt puts one of the men in a coma. The other man escapes and Matt is in the hospital for more than a week with trauma injuries.
After a visit from Matt's overbearing parents to nurse him back to health and Greg being humiliated by a radio station for his inflated ego after the YouTube video surfaced, Matt leaves the hospital, feeling happy to be alive. His life is starting to look up—even though Greg is still being a jerk—until the worst happens. The man who escaped and an accomplice stake out Matt's condo—and, eventually, tragedy follows.
Often, the dialogue is quite confusing to follow, and the theatrical scenes don't seem to match real emotions. Overall, however, it was interesting to delve into Collins' brain. There is a unique passion for storytelling hidden between the lines of Gaybash and I hope he continues to hone his craft.
