The author is a classics scholar, and perhaps it is too much to expect him to address more than a handful of Greek literary or mythic works. But when reading his careful and perceptive analyses of myths such as Narcissus, plays such as Sophocles' Oedipus and Antigone, Euripides' Hippolytus and Ion, I found myself wondering if he would ever go further to Achilles and Patroclus, warrior-lovers in Homer's Iliad, or to the many dialogues of Plato about love. This would be particularly appropriate for this work; one of the author's points is that part of the "nature" of erotic attraction is contradiction and antithesis. In Plato's dialogues, love is sometimes a cruel master that must be avoided or somehow subjugated (Republic), sometimes a "divine mystery" to be celebrated (Symposium), sometimes a force to be tamed (Phaedrus).

Mendelsohn's writing is excellent for an academician--it is sometimes confusing in his descriptions of his family and the intricate and complicated relationships. I found myself wishing that there were a family tree in the text somewhere.

That brings me to an outright complaint. This is the second recent work of non-fiction I have read, by a scholarly writer on a serious subject, published by a prestigious house, that could have been much better, with just a little more work. How about an illustration of any of the mythology, literature, or even family matters related by the author? How about an index? (See my Amazon review of A Traitor's Kiss, biography of Richard Sheridan)

But the book is definitely worth reading, and would probably be great for one of those gay reading groups. I found myself wondering, about the author, if he came to a book signing or lecture, would he be cruising the crowd for sex partners while discussing or defending some of this theories? His "defense" of promiscuity and casual sex is the most provocative thing in this book--and bound to stimulate discussion.

The book is personally challenging, persuasive, honest and totally non-judgemental. He writes with the somewhat detached manner of a critical and curious observer, but the words really become like a song that seem to transcend a "gay" identity and illuminates a broader "male" identity in all its flattering as well as unflattering aspects.

I definitely recommend this book as a "must read". In my estimation, it joins the ranks of Paul Monette's "Becoming a Man" as innovative, honest reflection, both men who tell it like it is for them and provide us with self-revelations along the way.