Zack1614

I came to CAP recently and unknowingly started with “Gap Year”. I enjoyed that so much that I went back to the beginning and am trying to catch up and go on to “Freshman”. Mark, reading this is one of the most satisfying and fulfilling literary experiences of my life. I am a nut for historical and social context in literature and deeply admire and respect the ENORMOUS amount of research (down to tiny details like idiomatic syntax) that characterize even decades you highlight. For example the way we spoke and related to one another was distinctly different in the 90’s from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and into the 2000’s; I so enjoy your attention! I have a foreknowledge of some developments and almost dread several but I am addicted and must forge ahead! THANK YOU!!!

Beautiful chapter! Will, Brad, Robbie, Stef, Wade and Jeff all further developed and major self realizations and pecking order positions delineated! BUT… “The only guy who made my body respond EVEN CLOSE TO THIS, WAS MATT”! [in other words Matt’s sexual prowess with Wade is now No. 2 to Jeff’s?] Harbinger of another third party intrusion into a “happy couple” and a potential challenge to Wade and Matt’s open relationship: Wade and Jeff have similar organization and OCD neatness tendencies and they even iron their shorts the same (Jeff just needs to learn to bottom for Wade)! I see trouble a brewin’!

Of course this is similar to the Brad and Robbie situation with outside force machinations aimed at destroying anything Wade and Matt “have”! Let’s not forget possible political enemies of the Senator and his wife as motivators?

Please forgive me for picking nits! It’s just that it is all so good that every once and a great while I trip on something!

Odd observation: Much discussion on these guys’ appetites for food (always eating) and the pretty regular topping and bottoming that so often goes on, yet to my recollection, this chapter has the first reference to cleansing/douching with Will’s use of a bidet! Am I wrong? Great chapter, a little Stockholm Syndrome on Wil’s part maybe?

Okay, beside all this crap from people who are lacking a sense of humor and others with no faith to understand that Mark would not kill off so many vital characters in one fell swoop (aside for a couple of asshole “who cares” characters); I got a kick out of an Italian-American kid calling his mother “Ma” which is a particular affectation of kids of that ethnic origin. Being of that origin on Mom’s side, we siblings always called ours “Ma”!

Every narrator is compelling and complex! To “study” each of them is so satisfying! The differences and similarities strengths and weaknesses make them a master class in character development. i don’t know about others but experiencing this is, to me, addictive and has made me acutely aware of how superficial my understanding of people in my life has, in some cases, been and has me more attentive to delving into their nuances and more open to possibilities! Side effect is my interest in new and different aspects of sex! Deep thanks to Mark!

Mark, BRAVO 👏👏 Just plain BRAVO!!

In the words of Truvy (Dolly Parton) in Steel Magnolias”: ”Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion”!!

“MERDE”! I laughed my ass off!😂😂😂 That is yet another example of a “Mark nuance” of which there are DOZENS!👏👏

When does Ella get her “Steph makeover”?

I’m sorry Mark did not do a bit of commentary on the importance of Rent, the gay themes within and the relevance of AIDS to the plot.

Mark, I call ‘em as I see ‘em and I have an analogy; the way you write is like Penelope, wife of Odysseus in The Odyssey. While he was gone for 20 years, she had 108 suitors that, believing King Odysseus to be dead, wanted her to choose one of them to marry her and become king. To put them off she said she had so weave a wedding tapestry. She worked diligently each day weaving a beautiful tapestry but every night while her suitors slept in a food and wine induced coma, she unraveled the tapestry so it would never be completed so sure she was of Odysseus’ return. My most recent example of your weaving is the “monogamy controversy” between Robbie and Brad! You wove an amazing fabric with their emotional, mental, business and erotic concerns, then unraveled that and have woven it back again! You have done this numerous times with other characters (too numerous to mention) and keeping up with your twists and turns AIN’T EASY!! BUT SURE IS FUN!!

Oh yeah, and Vaseline compromises latex condoms too !!

Mark, please forgive me for a manifestation of my low level OCD: BUT; it is almost 2000, PLEASE, Vaseline? EWWWW!!!😱

Dammit Brad; TELL ROBBIE how much his support bolstered you and made you understand just what he means to you! But then you get into that “I don’t know if it’s enough” bullshit! AAARRRGGG!!!

Robbie is so much more fragile than Brad. Support systems are vital, especially for a damaged individual seeking (sometimes in ill considered ways) to “fix” themselves. If Brad truly understood Robbie he would strive to fulfill his partner’s deepest needs (no pun intended) as he did with embracing Robbie’s need to be fisted!

@PrivateTim is 100% correct AND I theorize that Robbie is the leak, possibly unwittingly but being milked for information he would undoubtedly have!

Wow! I am so enjoying this (on to “The Box”)! Mark, you are a master historian, story teller and social commentator! All that AND great sex!

Ok, it’s 1998; Vaseline? Really? Not even K-Y or Astroglide?? I don’t know about you guys but at this point I would have preferred Wesson oil to Vaseline!!

I really love your insights and commentary! 👍

SPOT ON! Mark, I am a first time reader plowing through and enjoying every paragraph. Would it make you laugh to know I have had to write down characters, interrelationships and family histories so when a character re emerges by reference, I can look at my notes to remember who is who?🤯😄

Thank you for being mindful of that (me over a year later)!

You must be a lawyer (I have a J.D. too). Courts are VERY jealous about their jurisdiction. A California judge would require many hoops for Bitty to jump through before even allowing her to see the boys with an order that came from Ohio! Also, at this point, with the boys being not babies any more, a court would take their wishes into account and with that coupled with Bitty’s past (no matter how much money) her chances of success would be minimal unless the boys were to set foot in Ohio, then Ohio courts could claim jurisdiction, especially with the original custody order originating in Ohio!