Summerabbacat

Their melodies and vocals are invariably spectacular. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were apparently big fans and wrote Bennie & The Jets to pay homage to the Philly soul sound. I dare say you have heard that song even though it was released in 1974/75 (depending where you lived), again well before your time. It is one of my favourite EJ songs. Unfortunately many of them are now deceased too James. Phyllis, two of the three Jones Girls, some of the members of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (including Teddy Pendergrass who was the lead singer and had a very successful solo career), Bunny Sigler and various members of the other named groups.

I hope his musical tastes extend to soul. If so, I would like to recommend he listen to some classic Philly soul from the 70's and early 80's. Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carn, The Jones Girls, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Stylistics, Dexter Wansel, Bunny Sigler, MFSB, The O'Jays, The Spinners (referred to as The Detroit Spinners in the UK), Teddy Pendergrass and The Three Degrees to name but a few, some of whom you may have heard of even though their careers had largely stalled before you were born.

I had to laugh @James Carnarvon when I read "Daniele was wearing a new, light blue denim jacket over his old lavender t-shirt." Before reading this chapter I had already written a nonsensical response to your impressive comments after the last chapter in which you named numerous PSB songs. One of the questions I was going to pose to you was: · Will you ever allow Giacomo’s passion for fashion to extend to him attending the theatre or a requiem in denim and leopardskin? I have to say the reference to leopardskin revolted me and I had not noticed it before, most likely reading it as a Requiem In Denim and Leopardprint.

Yes. I think you hit the nail on the head with your comment I have bolded @Mancunian. I surmise he has not been able to find a rich woman to live off and has smelt an opportunity to make money without any work. Given Donna was supposedly destitute he has hopefully wasted his time. I just hope he has not returned in an attempt to reclaim Caleb and/or Bryan. If so, I can only hope Steve puts his size to good use.

Apart from the rudeness of the hemorrhoidal priest and the shock of observing Giacomo keeping company with Cosmo, this was primarily a calm chapter conducted at a leisurely pace @James Carnarvon. Dare I say the quiet after the storm and perhaps the quiet before the storm too. We have witnessed the scraping of the cicadas on many an occasion in Ravello and on a more recent occasion they even droned, but I don't recall they have ever burred before. I cannot recall ever having read the words burr or burred before James, in fact, I had to check to make sure it was a word and not something you had misspelt (that would have been most unusual yes, but not an impossibility). An educational opportunity presented itself and was seized by me with the assistance of my good friend, Dr Google. Courtesy of Luca, whom I am finding quite amusing, a most befitting comment about Dani “Dani is the summer,” Luca remarked, glancing over at Daniele’s breezy yellow tie-dye t-shirt. “If the summer were a person, it would look just like him.” I don't know too many people of European lineage who can wear yellow and not appear as if they are "knocking on heaven's door". Seemingly, Dani is one who can. "Laura laughed. “Look who’s talking, soul boy.” “Soul boy?” Marco repeated incredulously. “Come on, guys,” Laura appealed to the rest of the group. “Check out these sad grey eyes. This boy is deep.” Marco gave an embarrassed laugh and turned away, clearly unused to being the centre of attention. “Quit it,” he protested, but he couldn’t quite hide his smile.". It was wonderful to witness Marco receiving some complimentary feedback, and from Laura of all people. It was even more wonderful to witness Marco accepting the compliment graciously. The "old" Marco would have likely protested such a remark, but not on this occasion. The emergence of Michele the philosopher “Welcome to teenage life, Dani,” Michele sighed. “A world built on endlessly shifting sands.” He is already offering profound and sage advice; he does not need to go to university. It was wonderful to welcome Claudia back, with comments like "You’ve grown,” she whispered in Daniele’s ear. “Be still my heart.” She released Daniele with a wink. He offered her a smile in return, but she seemed thrown for a moment by his understated reaction. Claudia smiled. “Of course, if you’d only come to your senses and marry me, I could save you from all of these problems.” Toto snickered. “As if, Claudia.” “A girl can dream.” she demonstrated her uplifting persona yet again. She is as sassy as ever; just what Dani needs in his time of despair. And now for the most profound, uplifting and surprising comment of this chapter, if not the whole book "Nothing,” Marco sighed. “Just the shortest-lived boyfriends in Ravello history, with an unbroken record of two disastrous kisses.” Laura still looked a little mystified. “It’s good that you’re able to laugh about it, I guess.” Marco sobered up a little. “Maybe I cried over it a bit at first,” he said, “but I learned my lesson last year.” “What do you mean?” Marco shrugged. “You don’t always get what you want. What’s the point in losing all your friends over it?”. My little mouse roared, not in the circumstances I hoped he would, but he has displayed exponential growth in this book, in fact exponential growth since his ill-fated second kiss with Dani. For this I thank you (exponentially) @James Carnarvon. Gianni and Angelo have worked wonders with him.

Although I have no sympathy for Donna in life or death, I felt very sorry for Bryan and Caleb, especially the latter, that no one from her family cared she was dead. I suspect if she had any family still living e.g. parents and/or siblings, she likely made their lives as miserable as that of her sons. What a day of drama for the boys. Attendance at their incubator's funeral at which their sperm donor shows up. That can only mean one thing. Trouble. I will be very interested @John Henry to see what his motivation is for returning. Whatever it is, I am sure it has something to do with money. I have made the comment before and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Calvin did a "good" thing by abandoning the boys into Diego's care. Bryan and Caleb have the opportunity of making a good life for themselves, an opportunity they would have been denied if they had remained in the care of their incubator and/or sperm donor.

@James Carnarvon your literary talents and the pleasure they bring to your readers are such that they promote discussion not just of your work, but the "arts” in general. Music, film, books and soft porn; you have that in common with Kate (I hope you have seen the video for Babooshka, even gay boys find that video “arousing”, much like the video @raven1 has kindly brought to my attention). And you are bilingual too, English and Italian. One could say it’s a sin to be so talented but as you are British being humble (not being boring) is fundamental to your character as it brings you closer to heaven. I shall refrain from writing any further nonsense if it's alright as tomorrow when I look back at what I have written I shall gasp with horror and the only excuse I will have is that yesterday when I was mad i wrote from the heart what was always on my mind. Either that, or I could use the excuse I'm with stupid.

I have never seen it @James Carnarvon. I shall have to watch it. For many years, including 1996, I did not own a TV. Even now, I have one but very rarely turn it on. I doubt I have turned it on this year, unless to watch the odd DVD. The last time I turned it on I had to think for a moment how to change it from TV to DVD (technology and I are not on speaking terms much of the time).

OMG the little emoji in your comment could almost be Neil wearing the helmet-like hat he wore in the video for Go West. I like both versions of the song, but have to agree PSB really honed-in on its message, or perhaps it is because they are PSB the message was expected and was therefore received loud and clear. I think you and I have made the comment before about their work, but like much of the Very album their version is almost "regal" in its splendour.

I liked them too @raven1. They were enormously popular in Australia both before and after their star waned in the USA. Can't Stop The Music was rubbished by the critics, but we did not care. The title song and the soundtrack album sold by the truck load in Australia (both went to number 1 for many weeks on the music charts) and the movie was enormously popular. I have it on DVD; it is one of my "guilty pleasures". It is a ridiculous movie, but that for me is part of its charm. I also have five of their albums on CD, including Cruisin' which I also have on vinyl. Speaking of gay people, I saw them live in the late 90's (I think) as a support act for Cher. You can only but imagine what the audience was like. They were great, even if most of them were not the original members.

I am an Aussie @raven1 and we spell as the British do. Colour, flavour, rumour and humour. We also pronounce the 'h' in herb and usually use a 's' in place of a 'z' in words such as finalised, prioritised, homogenised and revitalised. Like the British we embrace all the quirky (annoying to non-English speakers) idiosyncrasies of the English language. And, unlike the Americans, we love Kate Bush (LOL @James Carnarvon, the perfect opportunity to slip in a reference to Kate). Going west for me could just mean from the Eastern seaboard to the Western seaboard of Australia or to Madagascar which is the closest nation west.

I am sure a super-hero like Dani would catch it all and perhaps Marco too. He has been lurking in the shadows to some extent in prior books, but has really found his voice in this book. He has shown himself to be very astute in his observations, even if at times the observations have been "coloured" by his own feelings. He and Dani are putting me to shame. Clearly, if left to my own devices everything is so hard that I will resort to what have I done to deserve this, living in denial that I am not absolutely fabulous. Perhaps I need to go west @James Carnarvon to a place where the streets have no name.

It has not been a good day today and reading this chapter was one of the few highlights of the day. I completely missed the intent of Giacomo's statement @James Carnarvon in that I did not realise he was referring to the departure of her husband having destroyed Elena. I have re-read the comment and if honest I think I still would have missed it, but with your able assistance it is obvious. I have not thought of Elena as such in the past, but with your able assistance again, it is so apparent this is exactly what she is like. I am clearly not as observant as I have led myself to believe.

Yes indeed @raven1. Patrizia and Paolo are extraordinary parents, which I think Dani is well aware of.

“After you get abandoned like that, you sort of learn to present your best face to people and take what you can from them before they’re gone. Either that, or you let it destroy you.” He turned his attention back to the rug, adding in a mumble, “I guess I did what Mamma couldn’t.” This comment makes Giacomo appear a little more calculating than what even I think he is @James Carnarvon. I am not sure what he meant by the second part of this comment though? Did he mean Elena was not able to behave in a manner which would have convinced his father to stay? @drsawzall raised a good point that we readers are only acquainted with Giacomo on a superficial level. Given his comment above I speculate it is only Elena and to a lesser extent Dani, who know him a little more than at a superficial level too. This may be a mechanism for self-protection. Unlike Marco who wears his heart on his sleeve, Giacomo's inner-turmoils if they exist, are likely to be very well guarded. Your comment above @James Carnarvon that "abandonment can lead to greater self-sufficiency as a survival strategy, which doesn't necessarily beget empathy" is certainly true of Giacomo. I have always thought him to be lacking in empathy, particularly for Marco and the horrible circumstances of his life with his birth parents. He and Marco would appear to be natural allies, although Giacomo had the benefit of one loving parent at least. I am puzzled by the intensity of Dani's guilt and Giacomo's upset regarding the Dani-Marco kiss. It was only a kiss after all, or is it what the kiss may have led to which has affected them both so much? If it is what the kiss may have led to then both need to remind themselves that it led to the realisation Dani and Marco are not destined to be lovers (as much as I would like for this to have happened). Giacomo's confrontation with Cosmo was stupid to say the least. I have to wonder though if it would have happened had he not been upset with Dani. An intriguing chapter @James Carnarvon. Well written of course, with angst at an all time high. Giacomo's standing with me has improved a little, but not to the point that I fully trust him yet.

I like self-deprecating humour too @John Henry and humour at times others would deem inappropriate or in bad taste. I am an ardent cat-lover and when my first cat died I was devastated. I had a wake for him and invited friends who had known him during his life. One friend, with whom I had house-shared on a number of occasions, did not like my cat as he, my cat, was very aloof with most people other than me and a few select others. I made a little speech, during which my friend contributed with "I hated that fucking cat". I was outraged at how inappropriate the comment was at a time of mourning, but for some reason I found myself laughing to the point of crying (again).

There was plenty of humour in this chapter after a somewhat rocky start, with Bryan still upset after his intimate discussion with Kenny. The love between Bryan and Caleb is a joy to witness. It does not surprise they are so close as before being adopted by Diego they were each others only constant. Caleb is so wonderfully artless. His question regarding marriage between Diego and Steve blind-sided both, but has perhaps installed the idea front and centre in both their minds. It will not surprise me if ultimately their relationship leads to marriage. Even Bryan appears to be warming, or at least is not opposed, to the idea. The description of the motel as the setting for a Hollywood horror film or bad porn film was striking and very amusing, evoking a vivid image of its appearance. The musty smell to their rooms completed the image. A very easy-to-read chapter @John Henry. I enjoy drama in the stories I read, but particularly enjoy the leisurely pace of the odd chapter here and there to counterbalance the drama.

A little more of the onion was peeled in this chapter @John Henry, with Bryan demonstrating without reservation those attachment issues you have referenced before. His bravado is slipping, revealing a far more complex teenager than he presents to the world. Well written chapter again. I liked the fact Steve was there to offer Bryan comfort. He needs Caleb, Diego and perhaps even Steve more than ever.

I love your crafty comments James, keeping everything close to your chest and your readers guessing. Are you an adept poker player?

Not happy @James Carnarvon, but at least my "little mouse" took it well. I just hope it does not cause him to regress. If so, Angelo and Gianni will be better suited than his incubator and sperm donor to helping him overcome his broken heart. I suppose it is inevitable Dani and Giacomo will now reunite. I hope for Dani's sake Giacomo is a far better person than I give him credit.

It seems I am the odd one out again @James Carnarvon. I was feeling sympathetic towards Giacomo until he uttered “But…” , “I crossed the line for you, in front of everyone. I risked everything.” My interpretation of this comment "I did you a favour Dani, after all I am Giacomo. I became Danisexual and this is how you repay me." Oh puhlease, your ego is out of control Giacomo, the real Giacomo reappeared, the one whom Angelo described as “being a bit full of himself”. Yes he is hurt, or at least his ego is bruised, but he will get over it. As much as I am not upset Dani and Giacomo have split up, I am very concerned Marco is a rebound for Dani. I don’t agree Marco is manipulative; he is as you commented James "not terribly good at hiding how he feels and tends to operate on pure, raw emotion. At least in Dani's perception, Marco's concern for him outweighed the jealous aspects of his motivation". I commented in the previous chapter that jealousy certainly appeared to at least partially motivate his character assassination of Giacomo, but I still maintain concern for Dani was at the forefront of his outburst. I loved Angelo’s reference to Gianni as "kitten". No wonder I like Gianni so much. And Angelo, every time he makes an appearance he delights me even more. A wonderful chapter @James Carnarvon. The joy for my "little mouse" may be short-lived if Dani and Giacomo reunite as is apparently the wont of most of your faithful readers. I just hope this is not the case.

Learning a little more of the boys' incubator's and sperm donor's background reinforces my belief the only "decent" thing their sperm donor ever did for them was to abandon them into Diego's care. "Baby steps" for Steve and Bryan, but some progress was made. Resting bitch face. I thought this was something you made up @John Henry but to my dismay it is a "thing" which has been studied by psychologists.

You paint pictures so beautifully, which is why I am drawn to commenting on them so frequently. The pictures also, for me at least, allow me to supplant myself into Ravello, which on many occasions is a lovely distraction from the "real world". Your second comment is rather intriguing I must say. Certainly Dani has expressed doubts on a number of occasions, but you may have fooled some of us at least regarding Giacomo. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that his Danisexual feelings may be a fleeting fancy (or has that been wishful thinking on my part given my desire for Mardani as opposed to Giadani).

Architectural splendour and the promise of a "dirty weekend". You have outdone yourself @Libby Drew. Double the pleasure for Michael, courtesy of the 'sprout eating hippie'. Marvellous.

"Daniele unwrapped the gift and slid it onto his hand. It was a small, rectangular tile with an embossed border glazed with the Italian colours of green, white and red. Written in the middle of the tile in neat yellow italics was the name Dani. “Thanks, Marco,” Daniele smiled. Unexpectedly, he felt a tear spring to one eye, and he wiped it away. The gift was so simple, but so… devoted, somehow. Marco’s eyes widened in dismay. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Was it too much? I mean, I… don’t have much practice at this.” The entire meeting between Dani and Marco was a roller-coaster of emotions, from Marco's unrestrained joy to Dani's feelings of discomfort and to some degree guilt, but nothing prepared me for this @James Carnarvon. My damn allergies returned with a vengeance. Marco's "character assassination" of Giacomo was certainly prompted by jealousy, but was not without foundation. Marco knows only too well what it is like to be "dropped" by Giacomo. The fears he expressed for Dani may have been motivated by jealousy, but I believe he is also genuinely concerned for Dani's wellbeing. I don't believe there is any malicious intent on Giacomo's part, but I am still not convinced he himself knows exactly what he wants, unlike Marco. The beauty of the terrain went almost unnoticed in this chapter due to the building tension at the prospect of Dani disclosing the hurtful news to my 'little mouse", although I almost smelt the perfume of the "sprays of vivid pink blooms" and the "shady gardens, where the summer flower borders were now in full, colourful bloom" (must have been those damn allergies still). The authenticity of this chapter was striking @James Carnarvon, the see-sawing of Dani's confidence in his new relationship with Giacomo all too real. I have found myself in similar circumstances on a number of occasions, but unlike Dani I did not have youth and inexperience to use as an excuse for my uncertainty.