Harrison

Wow. This was a profoundly moving story. I read it after reading Crosscurrents which, for me, was an even more profoundlingly moving story. There are parallels in these storys with my own life. I have come to understand that the three little buckets (straight, gay, and bisexual) in which our society attempts to shoehorn all of us are wholly inadequate. I believe that the vast majority of men (since I am a man, I cannot speak for women or others who identify differently) fall within the bisexual continuum. I believe this not only because of stories like these, but because of my own personal experiences with other men. I applaud Adam Phillips, Sam, and John / Brian for telling their stories. Doing so will help other men become more comfortable with their own sexual orientations. My hope is that, one day, men will become more comfortable being honest with themselves, which I believe will make the world be a slightly better place. Adam Phillips - you are a talented story teller and writer. Whe will we hear from you next???

Crosscurrents is one of the most beautiful love stories I've read. It is very well-written and it boldly goes where few authors - if any - have gone before. According to Mr. Phillips' interview here, it is based on his own experiences from his youth, which makes it even more riveting. This read was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me, and I tend not to be a very emotional person. While my coming-of-age experiences were not directly comparable, elements of a couple of friendships came flooding back to me as I read Crosscurrents. One in particular stands out - my best friend and roommate of several years, who is now married to a woman and has children. I have since built my own life, as well. I have reflected on that friendship many, many times over the years, usually wondering if we missed an opportunity for it to be something more than friendship. Neither he nor I had the words at that time to navigate through it, but it also was a different time - about 20 years earlier than Adam and Matt's time, when it was far more difficult for men to acknowledge their love for other men. Fortunately, we still see one another every few months for dinner or a drink, and our friendship is just as easy as it was back then. Unfortunately, there also is an unspoken barrier between us that I don't think we can cross now. Part of my emotion while reading Crosscurrents was rooted in what I never had with my friend. There were many thoughts and emotions that we left unsaid - either because we didn't have the words to say them, or we were afraid to say them. During Adam and Matt's fits and starts and their ups and downs, I wanted to tell them not to let their beautiful relationship slip away. Relationships like theirs are rare, and even rarer for two men and, therefore extremely precious. Mr. Phillips captures perfectly the intersection of friendship and love, the intensity of youthful passion, the difficulty that most young people have in navigating those turbulent emotional waters, and the realization that life will always contain uncertainty. Art should make one feel. To say that Crosscurrents does that is an understatement. Be prepared to feel a wide range of emotions - happiness, anger, love, sorrow, passion - and keep a box of tissues nearby. But read it - you won't regret doing so.