Hold Tight: A Novel

by Christopher Bram

Paperback, 1989

Status

Available

Call number

PS3552.R2817 H6 1989

Genres

Collections

Your library, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Publication

Plume (1989), Edition: 1, Paperback, 288 pages

Description

During World War II, a gay navy sailor works undercover to catch Nazi spies, in this "fast-moving" novel from the author of Gods and Monsters (Publishers Weekly). During shore leave in New York, Seaman Second Class Hank Fayette, a Texas country boy in the big city, finds himself visiting a gay brothel, where he is swiftly arrested during a raid. Facing the prospect of a dishonorable discharge--or worse--he is given another option: Return to the brothel, near Manhattan's West Side piers, and work undercover as a prostitute. Nazi agents are rumored to haunt the area, and Hank is a perfect lure to trap them. This military man is about to risk his life for his country in a way he never expected in "a spy thriller that breaks new ground" from the author of Eminent Outlaws and The Notorious Dr. August (Kirkus Reviews). … (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member dbsovereign

No classic, but an interesting exploration of what things were like in NYC during WW2 for gay folk. Some of the characterizations are rather wooden or sterotyped. Steamy sex saves the day.

1 more

LibraryThing member ocgreg34

While on his first shore leave in New York City during WWII, Hank Fayette is arrested at a male whore house. The U.S Navy, instead of sending Hank to prison for being homosexual, they recruit him to pose as a gay male prostitute in order to crack a Nazi spy ring.

I wanted to like this novel, but for

most of its 250+ pages, the story was bogged down by the constant negativity toward homosexuality, Jews, and blacks. I understand that this was the mindset at the time, but rather than using it briefly to give motive to some of the main characters' actionst. Homosexuality wasn't tolerated in the military during WWII. Homosexuals were deviants, dumb, hicks, perverted, etc., etc. I hoped the story would move on from that, but it felt as though that was the main focus of the story and the tail of espionage took a back seat.

The only part of the story I did enjoy was the chase between Hank and a potential spy during July 4th festivities at Time Square. That one chapter was filled with the right amount of tension and action. Yet, it couldn't make up for the rest of the book.

Show Less

Fewer