Ripe: Letters by Alan Semrow - Guest Blogger Book Review
Synopsis
Funny, sexy, evocative,
and brutally honest, Ripe is Alan Semrow’s ode to relationships with
men. In this epistolary book, Semrow writes to the men who have impacted
his outlook, reminded him of basic life lessons, surprised him in more
ways than one, and left him reeling for days. Writing to
one-night-flings, men he has never met, and men he’ll never stop running
into, Semrow touches on some of the most constant human themes—love,
lust, desire, and the yearning for connection. All the while, the book
details a man’s journey navigating and blooming by way of the modern gay
scene. Readers will find familiarity and hard truths in Semrow’s
statements about the intricacy and explosiveness of the intimate moments
we share.
Buy Link
**Thank you to Heidi over at Heidi Lynn's Book Reviews for being a guest reviewer here at Jazzy Book Reviews, and for sending me this review to post on my blog**
Heidi's Review
First, I want to thank Alan Semrow for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
I would also like to thank Jasmine Jordan for allowing me to be a guest reviewer on her blog,
Jazzy Book Reviews.
I would also like to thank Jasmine Jordan for allowing me to be a guest reviewer on her blog,
Jazzy Book Reviews.
RIPE Letters by Alan Semrow was unlike any other LGBT book I had ever read before.
Then again I love when authors go outside the box and do something different.
Alan decided to write letters in this book but to me it felt more like a diary.
There are about 45 letters total in this book.
Then again I love when authors go outside the box and do something different.
Alan decided to write letters in this book but to me it felt more like a diary.
There are about 45 letters total in this book.
I had a few favorites out of the 45 that caught my interest. Dear Peter Pan cracked me up immediately!!
Come on, who wouldn’t crack up laughing when the first line refers “the girls and I had been carrying around
this blow-up doll with an erect penis.” The letter just gets better from there!! I have never read an author say
“we fucked like volcanoes.” That was a priceless line for me!! Well done, Alan!!
Come on, who wouldn’t crack up laughing when the first line refers “the girls and I had been carrying around
this blow-up doll with an erect penis.” The letter just gets better from there!! I have never read an author say
“we fucked like volcanoes.” That was a priceless line for me!! Well done, Alan!!
How could you not like the letter that starts with Dear Ryan Gosling Lover LMAO!!
That letter was beautifully written with detail about a special connection someone has with someone
visually across the room. The physical and mental connection that is off the charts but no action is taken.
That letter was beautifully written with detail about a special connection someone has with someone
visually across the room. The physical and mental connection that is off the charts but no action is taken.
Alan would like to thank Liz Phair, Frank Ocean, Sheryl Crow, and Lana Del Rey for their music that has been
ringing in his ears for so many years.
ringing in his ears for so many years.
He would also like to thank Peggy Benton, Liz Morgan, and Ben Monty for being the family he always wanted,
but never thought he deserved. Unconditionally, he loves you. You have taught him so much.
but never thought he deserved. Unconditionally, he loves you. You have taught him so much.
Thank you for Madison LGBT community, in all its eccentricities, for letting him in.
You have made him feel at home.
You have made him feel at home.
Most of all he is thankful to all the men who informed these letters. You have left a mark on him.
Author Bio
Alan Semrow's fiction, nonfiction, and poetry has been featured in over 30 publications. Apart from writing fiction and nonfiction, he is a professional copywriter, a monthly contributor at Chosen Magazine, and a singer-songwriter. Previously, he was the Fiction Editor for Black Heart Magazine and a Guest Fiction Editor for the Summer Issue of Five Quarterly. Semrow's debut short story collection, Briefs, was published in 2016. Ripe is his second book. Semrow lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
Alan Semrow's fiction, nonfiction, and poetry has been featured in over 30 publications. Apart from writing fiction and nonfiction, he is a professional copywriter, a monthly contributor at Chosen Magazine, and a singer-songwriter. Previously, he was the Fiction Editor for Black Heart Magazine and a Guest Fiction Editor for the Summer Issue of Five Quarterly. Semrow's debut short story collection, Briefs, was published in 2016. Ripe is his second book. Semrow lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
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