Bear Like Me: A Novel
I was glad to come across this book at a gay bookstore a few years ago.
Bear Like Me
I'm a fan of bear erotica and bearish romances when I find them, so Bear Like Me by Jonathan Cohen, an amusing, light tale about a man who becomes part of the bear community, through let's say the back door, is right up my alley. Cohen weaves this bearish story around Peter Mallory, a journalist and self-proclaimed twink who becomes obsessed with getting revenge after he's fired from his job at Phag magazine. In the meantime he needs to make a living and at his friend Mac's suggestion Peter decid I'm a fan of bear erotica and bearish romances when I find them, so Bear Like Me by Jonathan Cohen, an amusing, light tale about a man who becomes part of the bear community, through let's say the back door, is right up my alley.
In the meantime he needs to make a living and at his friend Mac's suggestion Peter decides to write a novel about the bear community. Unfortunately, he is clueless. He's part of the mainstream gay community and lives in what he refers to as the "gay ghetto," but Peter doesn't even know what a bear is! Mac suggests Peter go undercover to research his novel. To blend in he grows a beard, stops waxing his body hair, and gains heft by eating like food is going out of style. And in some of the most amusing moments in the story, his wardrobe undergoes a dramatic change as Peter sheds his trendy suits and ties for flannel.
Of course there's more to the experience than growing fur, changing wardrobe or gaining weight. What you find attractive, what you find acceptable, what you deem important, all changes. In a way you become an outsider, but in a way you become part of a small, select private group. Usually this is a long process that accompanies repeated exposure to the bear community. I didn't, however, have the luxury of time.
This takes time, however even as he clings to the belief that inside he is still a twink and that his foray into to bear community is temporary Peter falls for Ben, a big teddy bear of man who sees the bear and other qualities in him that Peter doesn't see in himself. Unfortunately Peter doesn't know when to stop lying and scheming, so that by the time he comes to his senses it might be too late to keep the friends who welcomed him with opened arms, or his man. There are over-the-top moments Peter loves and attracts drama like a magnet , and since this book was first published in , a rather dated back story.
But I like that through all the mayhem Cohen sneaks in slight critical views of both the mainstream gay and bear communities from an insider and an outsider's point of view. Additionally, the pace of the novel is quick as lightning and it makes this story not only entertaining, but a super fast read.
In Bear Like Me, Cohen presents an overview of the bear community with all its rules and bearish family atmosphere. Peter's second coming out story as a bear is entertaining with an intentionally campy style, outrageous moments, and a surprisingly sweet romance.
Kassa said: Bear Like Me is a satirical look at the gay bear community. When his best friend suggests writing a book about the bear community - and using his . bahana-line.com: Bear Like Me (Audible Audio Edition): Wes Smith, Jonathan Cohen , Lethe Press: Books. Listen to this book for FREE when you try Audible.
Jun 21, Lil' Grogan rated it liked it Shelves: An entertaining satirical romp about gay bear culture and media commercialization of subcultures, if you will. Peter, our hapless doltish leader, is inspired to transform from twink to bear for his own book. The plot is split between his attempt to infiltrate the bear community and his obsessive need for revenge on his former boss at Phag magazine. The latter plot line became a bit tiresome, but provides the The secondary characters were great barometers for exactly how out-of An entertaining satirical romp about gay bear culture and media commercialization of subcultures, if you will.
The secondary characters were great barometers for exactly how out-of-step Peter was in his journey. The book kept me laughing, from the sly, deadpan statements to larger comic sequences. Jun 23, Lin rated it it was ok. The book is a quick and mostly a delightful read, if you enjoy reading about gay bears.
The humor is campy if one is allowed to be campy in a bear world and fun. In a world where many books are overly wordy and in need of editing, this book needs to bulk up a bit, like its hero.
See a Problem?
I found myself wanting a little more in-depth character writing given the identity crisis the hero was going through. The overall feel was a made-for-TV script that had been fleshed out a bit. But I hope that Jonathan The book is a quick and mostly a delightful read, if you enjoy reading about gay bears.
But I hope that Jonathan Cohen continues to try his hand at writing about the bear community.
Now in Print: Bear Like Me
Nov 25, Dave Radtke rated it liked it Shelves: I enjoyed the silly romp with the bears. While the book feels a bit dated, I enjoyed it enough to hope there is a sequel someday. Jay Moseley rated it liked it Aug 23, Malcolm Travers rated it it was amazing Jul 11, David rated it liked it Jan 03, Mark rated it liked it Dec 05, Julie Norris rated it liked it May 26, Sean rated it really liked it Feb 09, Larry Adams rated it it was amazing Mar 18, Graeme rated it it was amazing Mar 12, Joe Yellin rated it it was amazing Aug 10, Lethe Press rated it it was amazing Aug 17, Ron Suresha rated it it was amazing Aug 18, Jim rated it liked it Dec 22, Borin Chep rated it liked it Jun 21, Chris rated it it was ok Jul 17, Joseph Crooks rated it it was amazing Sep 18, Erik rated it did not like it Mar 07, Blaize rated it liked it Nov 11, Abena Poku rated it did not like it Aug 03, The book was Engel's fifth novel, and her sixth piece of published writing.
She was awarded a Canada Council grant on the strength of the book, but had difficulty finding a publisher for her second novel, The Honeyman Festival.
Paddington arrives as a stowaway coming from "Darkest Peru", sent by his Aunt Lucy one of only a few known relatives aside from an Uncle Pastuzo who gave Paddington his hat [11] who has gone to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima. That I would find very odd". Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here The story tells of a lonely librarian in northern Ontario who enters into a sexual relationship with a bear. Thanks for this useful introduction to Bear. Cohen weaves this bearish story around Peter Mallory, a journalist and self-proclaimed twink who becomes obsessed with getting revenge after he's fired from his job at Phag magazine.
The book was published in by the new Toronto company House of Anansi Press , which would also put out another novel, Monodronos , and a collection of short stories, Inside the Easter Egg. The novel was written in a busy and tumultuous period in the author's life, a "very crazy time" as described by Engel. She took regular psychotherapy sessions, and worried about her mental health.
Engel would end up dedicating the book to John Rich, her therapist. Engel started writing the novel to contribute to a W. Engel kept with her page draft, and developed it into the page novel. The story was suggested to the writer by the Haida artist Bill Reid. An editor with Harcourt Brace wrote in a rejection letter: The first printing was released in Toronto in May The book takes place in the district of Algoma in northeastern Ontario. The area is heavily wooded, with a mix of deciduous and conifer forests.
Part of the Canadian Shield , the district has many lakes and rivers. Almost all of the story takes place in or around an old, octagonal house on a small island on a remote lake. The location, "Cary's Island" is fictitious, located north of Highway 17 , past "Fisher's Falls" and near a village called "Brody".
The house and estate, previously belonging to the Cary family, whose patriarch fought in the Napoleonic Wars , is called "Pennarth" Welsh for "Bear's head". Its octagonal layout was inspired by the writings of Orson Squire Fowler , which dates the building to the s [10].
The house is well-ordered and elaborate, and houses an extensive library of nineteenth century books. Outside are several outbuildings, including a shed that houses a large, semi-tame bear.
The novel centers on Lou, a year-old librarian given the task of documenting the house and library of Colonel Cary, which has been donated to her employer, the Heritage Institute. Escaping a dreary and unfulfilling life in Toronto, Lou revels in the opportunity to work in the solitude of Cary's Island. She studies and catalogues the library.
Lou struggles with her emotional balance, and her relationship with her work. She slowly begins to approach the island's resident bear, who was a pet of the late Colonel.
- Arctic Transitions!
- Preventing Youth Problems (Issues in Childrens and Families Lives).
- What The F*ck Is Up With That Novel ‘Bear’? Let me tell you.
- Paddington Bear;
- .
- BattleTech: Trial Under Fire.
- .
Lonely and isolated, Lou enters into a sporadic sexual relationship with the estate's caretaker, Homer Campbell. She becomes closer to the bear, aided by an elder First Nations woman, Lucy Leroy. Lucy advises Lou on how to gain the animal's confidence. As she delves deeper into the library, she finds scraps of bear folklore and studies collected by the Colonel.
Her relationship with the bear becomes sexual, as well as spiritual. As her work comes to a finish, the bear scratches her deeply in the back. Her bond with the bear is altered, and Lou leaves the island with a sense of renewal. The Canadian Encyclopedia notes that the book has been called "the most controversial novel ever written in Canada," [1] and the notoriety around its subject matter brought Engel to national attention for the first time.
Engel's writing craft was admired, with The Globe and Mail noting her "fine use of understatement, control, and economy. Atheneum Books released the first American edition.