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Late in the Season Felice Picano has been a favourite author of mine for a number of years, ever since I first read his Ambidextrous, the Secret Lives of Children, described as a memoir in the form of a novel - but if this is a normal childhood then I must have slept through the best parts of mine! However what I liked about Ambidextrous and his other books is that his situations and characters are always both humorous and serious, innocent and naughty, and romantic and cynical at the same time. Late in the Season was written in 1981, before Ambidextrous, and as the author points out in the afterward in this edition, it represents a transition point from the rigid, detailed style in his earlier books to the more flowing narrative found in Ambidextrous and later books. The setting is Fire Island, late in the season when the crowds have disappeared. Interestingly, the main characters are a gay writer in his 30's and a teenage girl. The relationship that develops between them has obvious implications for the writer's existing relationship, and his boyfriend's return brings things to a head in more ways than one. The book evokes beautifully what could almost be described as a lost era of innocence and simplicity - Fire Island, post-Stonewall but pre-AIDS. Reading the book now, more than 15 years on, is a refreshing glance back in time. I guess I must be a victim of too many American gay novels, because although I have never been to Fire Island, this book brings back memories of previous (vicarious) adventures there! Even of your literary diet hasn't included as much Americana as mine, read the book for a nice simple story about a very complex situation presented by a very skilful writer. And while you are at it, catch up with some of his other books as well! My recommended selection of Felice Picano books is:
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