Felix d’Eon

The moment you enter Felix’s website, you realize you have discovered a magical place.  Next thing you know, if you ever wished you could live another life, it would be something like his.

Get the picture?  Just read a little about him, or take a look at the pictures of his studio.  He lives in a male fantasy land.

Neil on All Fours

What else could inspire such beautiful images?

Rob in Wait

Rob in Wait

You wonder what it would be like to pose for him, to live next door and get into his mind.  You wonder what’s inside such a talented artist’s head.

Southern Exposure

Southern Exposure

Felix was born in Guadalajara, Mexico where he still spends much of his time.  Some of his work is from his memories and experiences there.

Boys From Chiapas

Boys From Chiapas

The next one is from Felix d’Eon’s Arcadian series.

The Concert

The Concert

Another from the Arcadian series.

Sliding Down

Sliding Down

A sample from Felix’s History Gallery.

A Little 18th Century Decadence

A Little 18th Century Decadence

One from a collection Felix calls Mythology & Folklore.

Dulcissime Study

Dulcissime Study

Felix d’Eon, as fascinating as his work.

Felix d’Eon was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to a Mexican mother and a French father. He moved to America by the age of 5, and spent his childhood and teenage years moving around Southern Californian and Mexico. His mother, a fashion designer, was very accepting of his homosexuality and encouraging of his artistic inclinations, so at 18 he moved to San Francisco where he has lived ever since, with long breaks spent in Tennessee, New Orleans, Hawaii, and Hollywood. He attended the Academy of Art University, a school that emphasizes classical technique, and he graduated 4 years ago with honors. He put himself through school and worked for some years afterwards as an artist’s model, but has recently found some measure of success as an artist, and has decided to devote himself full time to his craft.

Felix at work in his gallery.

Felix at work in his gallery.

For more about Felix d’Eon and his art visit www.felixdeon.com

The Kindly Ones by Johnathon Littell

‘Schindler’s List’  gave you a look at the Holocaust from a benefactor’s perspective.  This book will give you a look from the diabolical mind of an SS officer.

It will also give you an insight into the marrow of human evil that you want to pretend does not exist.  But it does, and it can be found, given certain circumstances, in any society in the world.  The following review sums this book up accurately.

I read this in French when the reviews started coming out raving about it. I dont intend to read the English translation: once in any language is enough. But I found that I could not put it down once started. It is astonishing, compelling, revolting and, alas in all too many places, boring. As I was reading it, I was constantly reminded of Daniel J. Goldhagen’s reminder of the physicality of the Holocaust: blood and brains spattering all over the murderers: you get the point. It struck me that this is where Littell is taking the reader: into the physicality of the heart of darkness. And there is a lot of that in this novel: too much, or just enough? I guess it depends on how you take it. Kakutani in the NYT didnt take it at all well. But I think still there is merit in Littells approach: this is perhaps the thing that art can do best, deliver a whalloping punch to the gut. And that the novel certainly achieves. On the downside, it does tend to go on and on; there are long passages describing Aue’s dreams or hallucinations or whatever that dont succeed well at all, IMHO. I found myself skimming these passages after close reading of the first one. They dont seem to add much insight into Aue’s character, psychology or motives.
The Kindly Ones will certainly not be to everyone’s taste and Littell took a huge risk in tackling such a sensitive and explosive topic in the way he did. I have been haunted by this novel from time to time since I read it, but I dont regret it. There is a case to be made that it’s garbage, but in the end, for me, I found it deeply illuminating in places, and ultimately satisfying as art. Human evil remains a mystery here and that is as at should be.
(A reader review on Amazon.com)

Johnathon Littell

Johnathon Littell

The author gives Dr. Max Aue, the main character (and the narrator), a unique twist: he’s bisexual.  I am delighted about this.  I feel enlightened.  Here we have a masterful author writing an epic novel that sells copies in the hundreds of thousands, delivering an amazing story told by a bisexual man, and who relates his same-sex exploits in graphic detail.  What might be called a mainstream novel.  At long last.  Rest assured I’ll do my part to keep them coming, perhaps not on the scale of ‘The Kindly Ones.

If you have the stomach, plenty of time, and feel like indulging certain passages with tempered patience, I highly recommend this book.

Married to a Bisexual Man

It appears to be a growing phenomena: men allowing themselves to recognize and explore their inner feelings, then ‘coming out’ to their wives.  The affect most often is devastating.

depressed-woman

Most women don’t want to believe their husbands have the capacity for a physical relationship with another man. They feel betrayed: “Why didn’t you tell me before we got married?”.  They feel threatened: “He’s going to leave me for a man!”  They are confused: “How can he be attracted to me when he’s attracted to men?”  Their world is turned upside down and the future looks like a black hole.  Even if a man knows his wife quite well, he rarely anticipates the depth of anguish she feels.  Everything has changed and you are both on a new, complicated, unpredictible path.

unhappy-woman

He is likely to be focused on his own emotions, thereby plunging his wife into even deeper anxiety.   Even though he loves her, wants to stay married and does not want to hurt her, his attraction to men seems natural to him, even innocent.  He often fails to recognize the explanations and reassurances his wife needs.  He often fails to recognize his responsibility to see his wife through one of the most traumatic experiences she has ever lived through.

men-holding-hands

Her amazing capacity to love has been handicapped by confusion, doubt, fear and anger.  When my novel “Five Married Men” was published a couple of years ago, I began hearing from women seeking advice and answers.  Most have been in the confused initial stages after finding out their husbands were attracted to men. I’ve made a number of friends by corresponding with these ladies. Invariably they believed they were in loving healthy marriages until they were handed the bombshell.  Now they’re at a loss as to what direction to take.

dejected_woman-ping-sketch

The saddest aspect of this unwanted scenario is too many otherwise healthy marriages end in divorce.  I personally believe this can be avoided when real love binds a man and wife, though finding middle ground can be frustrating and emotionally difficult.  One has to give more than the other, and in my mind the burden rests on the husband’s shoulders–he didn’t tell her before they got married; he delivered the shock; he is in control of his choices from this point forward, and it’s up to him to make choices that lie within the parameters of his wife’s sensibilities.

Exchanging experiences, ideas and perspectives can help. Post your comments on this subject to help those taking the first steps on this path  find answers.

unhappycouple3a

If you’re a wife:  Has your husband come out as bi or gay?  How did it unfold? Maybe you caught him with another man, or just suspect something is going on.   Maybe you have questions that others can relate to and offer advice, or different perspectives.

If you’re a husband:  Have you told your wife, and if so, how did it go?  Are you seeing a man now,  secretly or openly?  Any advise for other men who don’t know what to do?  How do you think a man should handle his feelings or his desire for another man?

Your thoughts may help others who are going through this.  Your questions may find answers from others who have been there.

Philip Gladstone’s Extraordinary Art

From time to time I come across an artist who creates exciting, exceptional art; Philip Gladstone is certainly one of them.

The Crawl; copyright-Philip Glastone

The Crawl; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Born in 1963, in Philadelphia,  Philip currently resides in rural Maine in an antique farmhouse with his family, where he paints full time.  His studio is a renovated barn attached to the house.

Caution line; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Caution line; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Philip Gladstone paints for the same reason I write – to keep his sanity.  I can see real harmony in being surrounded by this incredible art.

New Years Day; copyright-Philip Gladstone

New Years Day; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Textures, colors, imagination and brush strokes all come together to form delightful, thought-provoking images.

Stumblebum; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Stumblebum; copyright-Philip Gladstone

You wonder if this artist has gotten inside your mind.

Blue Bird; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Blue Bird; copyright-Philip Gladstone

Otherside; copyright-Philip Glastone

Otherside; copyright-Philip Glastone

For more information about Philip Gladstone, to see more of his paintings or to find out what paintings are available, visit www.philipgladstone.com.

A Stool Designed for a Man



Finally, a stool designed with a man in mind.  No more misalignment and awkward sitting positions.  No doubt they’ll be popping up in bars anywhere men like to get naked and slug down a few.  As for me, think I’ll wait for the armchair version.  I’ll put it out back under the shade tree and spend many comfortable hours with a favorite book.