Adam Phillips

Except, of course, that since "point of view" in literature refers to the author's decision regarding how the story is narrated (first person/second person/third person) and not necessarily who narrates it, there's nothing inherent in the Bridgemont series that would keep Mark from, say, putting one of his stories there in the first person. Or second person. I'd like to see that.

Oh, man. Talk about an embarrassment of riches. Where to start, and what decade to focus on? Or try all of them? I'm gonna interpret this as a challenge to pick bands from my daddy's era. Damn, what a great period for music. And I gotta limit to five? Okay... 1. Cream, "Sunshine of Your Love" --once you get that opening guitar lick in your head, it'll never let go. 2. " probably one of the most arresting musical portraits of addiction ever penned, and John Kay's vocals are gut-wrenching here. 3. ," I almost linked to the obligatory "Piece of My Heart," but I love everything she ever did, and this lesser-known one really delivers the goods. Easily the most tortured and earnest vocals anybody ever ripped from the depths of their heart. 4. Jimi Hendrix, "Fire" Again, how to choose? I'm going with this one since it's not played quite as much as "Foxy Lady" and "Purple Haze." 5.The Beatles, "Hey Jude" and everything else they ever did. Honorable Mention: (sorry, couldn't hep myself) 6. So raunchy. So classic.

If you ever figure out how to do that and let me know, I'll buy one.

Both my hitlist and my hit parade, Jeremy. But seriously, it's been my experience in life that when people can take shots at you without having to be identified, then all of a sudden they're "courageous" about it. Fire off and go hide in the bushes. But if they're out in the open, well, then, the shot ain't cheap, right? It comes at a price. Anyway, The Land Whore. I'm never crazy about it when Stefan narrates. I find myself liking The Box a great deal, even though he does, because the bulk of the narrative is the first-person account from the WW2 era. And I don't care what you say, J--I'm current now, and I effing love Aaron. Although...uhh...I guess that comment belongs in another thread. And by the way, don't sell A Summer Love short.

Yeah, I'm wondering if that whole ratings thing doesn't create more mischief than it's worth. For my part, I've decided I'm only rating a post when I want to give it a "positive." Part of my new resolution not to dwell on negativity. Wish me luck. It would maybe be a more useful feature if you had to put your screen name with your rating.

I've been given to understand that Sharon and I don't feel the same about Sam. Ah, well. Apparently we didn't feel the same way about Jeff either. I gotta say that following 1968 JP was in the doghouse with me, bigtime. I even went to Mark's Yahoo group and opined that I hoped JP died a painful death from AIDS. And man. You'd have thought I shot somebody. I was told what a slime of a human being I was for wishing death on a fictional character. JP, over the long haul, has vindicated himself somewhat as he's aged. The vapid solipsist of the early years really seemed to develop some character. And some of it was pretty freakin' hard-won, which I felt was only right.

With all due respect, I don't think Brokeback Mountain qualifies as a guy movie. I mean, I love the movie. But it doesn't have the kind of elements that typically characterize a guy movie as a guy movie. It's a love story. And almost by definition, love stories can't be guy movies.

Now what did you wanna go and do that for? Do you read the last page of novels ahead of time too?

The Pretenders do it better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-0xAHipuiE

1. Pulp Fiction. I have yet to meet a woman who has any use for this movie, and it's at the top of all my lists, best guy movie included. 2. The Godfather. Marlon Brando. Nuff said. 3. Die Hard. Yippie kai yay, motherf--ker. 4. Fight Club. Most viewers don't register the rich layers of subtext, but it's an adrenaline rush anyway, and a brain-warper at the same time. Also, written by a gay guy. So there. 5. Braveheart. Mel Gibson kicks ass and creates mayhem for family and country.

I go running. Or play some basketball or racquetball or do some boxing or hit the weights. Or I have sex. Or I read. Or I play a little music. Best when I can jam with a buddy. Usually I yell at people, but I've found that that doesn't always relieve stress. :wacko:

Good point. And that's what I meant in suggesting that a wave of good will hasn't swept across the whole land, equal-like. There are pockets. And you're right: the metropolitan areas, I'll bet, are more accepting than the smaller towns. I'm always about as calm and reasonable as Mark.

Uhh...it's utterly beyond me why someone would give your above-quoted post a "negative." People astound me sometimes.

I don't even partake often anymore, and a buddy and I snuck off and had a little down-time in a manner befitting the date.

I don't know; I find it difficult to relate to the question. I don't think of my sexual identity as sufficiently defined by a specific practice to make a noun out of it and call myself that. I've done both of those things, and I like them both in their own way. And I've done other things too that have nothing to do with topping or bottoming. Those things seem just as significant to me and as definitive of my sexual self as topping or bottoming. Also, being on top and being on bottom are different experiences and I sure wouldn't want only one of those. It would feel incomplete or something. Still, I recognize that others' mileage may vary.

Yeah. I was actually trying to keep from tossing out a spoiler there for nightsky...

You will love Robbie, and much later, Matt. Mark manages to make some amends for 1968 farther down the line.

Indeed. And welcome to the Dark Side. Oh, and don't forget to bear a grudge or two hundred against Sam, the would-be murderer who chose to sit there and watch Jeff commit suicide. I was tempted to jump into the story, sorta like in that Stephen King short story (hell, I forget the title), and tell him, "What goes around comes around, bud," but not being the author I don't guess I'd be able to assure him of that.

I appreciate it, but since this is Arbour's forum I think I've taken enough space here already. I'd love it if some of you'd read my story, check out my GA pages, and participate in my forum, but this here place is for Mark's readers. I'll do the same here at Mark's place once I get caught up with everything he's written. I have about 14 chapters to go on Bloodlines, and so of course haven't started The Box. Nor have a read any of the Bridgemont series. Once I'm up to speed, though, I'll hang out here and fuss at him when he kills off too many good characters. Anyway, thanks, Mark, for giving a piece of your forum over to welcoming me here. I'll be back here soon. And you'll regret it.

Boy, howdy. Ain't that the truth. Well, maybe anti-evolutionist know-it-alls don't love ya, but I do, Tiger.

No doubt. But lacrosse doesn't interest me, although I kept up with that story in the news from Duke a few years back.

Hey, Mark. I didn't see this when you first posted it. I appreciate the plug, and thanks for the welcome! And this is probably the first non-smartass remark I've made to you in public in about five years. Mark and I go waaaaay back and I love his sorry ass, and it just doesn't feel right if I don't give him a hard time in public posts. I had to go on sabbatical from Mark's reading team when I got bogged down in finishing It Started With Brian, and at that time he sprinted ahead of me. I'm only now starting to get caught up with his writing. He's going to regret it, because I'm returning to his team to plague him just in case he decides to kill yet another of my favorite characters. Anyway, I'm in Bloodlines and I haven't read any of the Bloodlines posts in the forum, so this may have already been noticed, but I'm stunned at how good the writing is in Chapter 1. Mark has always told a good tale...but here the writing is taut and possessed of a deliberateness and sense of conviction he hasn't even hinted at before now. I was blown away, and I ask his fans, is that opening paragraph not effing superb from a writing standpoint? The first sentence sucks you right in, and the remaining sentences in the paragraph are perfect, in my opinion. Anyway, thanks again, Mark, and I'd be more than pleased to have some of your readers stop by and check out Crosscurrents. Steph just posted Chapter 4 for me and there will be a new chapter up each Thursday night or Friday morning until the whole thing's finished, some 30 weeks down the road.

That's too bad. I had some tense experiences in college when my team found out I played for both teams, LOL, but that was only off the field, and only in the short run. Pretty soon the team esprit de corps reasserted itself and held and I'm friends with almost every single one of those guys to this day. It's too bad it's not always like that. I'm sorry to hear that it soured you on sports in general.

Love sports. In HS I played on the football, soccer, and baseball teams. I went to college on a soccer scholarship. I play basketball these days, I'm in an adult men's soccer league, play some handball/racquetball, and I do a little boxing. Never really got around to learning tennis.

You have to tell her, once, as gently as you can, and then let it go: "He is not good for you, he is not demonstrating the behavior that a guy who cares for a girl exhibits, and you deserve better, and you need to think better of yourself than to put up with that kind of behavior from him. If you don't cut him loose he is going to hurt you again. There; that's my opinion, but I have no control over what you do. We won't talk about this again, and if you choose to stay with him, when he breaks your heart again I will be there for you and will not tell you I told you so, but I'm asking you when and if that happens to remember this conversation. Now, let's go to a movie."