Fantje iz gline
(Boys of Clay) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Boys of Clay is the first Slovenian original contemporary gay novel. The book comprises two plots narrated by boys called Mali and Ajk. Mali is a compassionate bleeding heart who hates competition and struggles with coming to terms with his best friend Rok’s suicide. Ajk is a well-built and athletic rower, breaker of girls’ hearts and a staunch homophobe. Eventually, Ajk falls in love with another boy called Kec who trains on the same team. When MAli finds out, he vows to take revenge – Rok, too, had been in love with Ajk, which was one of the reasons why he committed suicide.
Edited by: Mestna knjižnica Ljubljana
Comment:
Ajk’s story appears at first to be one typical of serial winners. He finds success wherever he goes, be it with rowing (which is “not a sport for fags and losers”), girls, style (he dresses to corroborate his superiority), etc. Ajk also exceeds at putting others down, the “riff-raff”, his teachers, but mostly “pussies, fruits, twinks, fudge packers”. However, under his showy façade, Ajk resents himself more and more, which is evident from the way he speaks and acts (he practices self-harm methodically and systematically). He denies his homosexuality until the very end. The story of Mali is the exact opposite of Ajk’s. After losing his friend Rok, he feels a genuine and profound loneliness, which is above all conscious. Pondering Rok’s death also leads him to question his own sexuality. Following Rok’s death, Mali turns rebellious and actively performs the roll of an oddball, rejecting his mother’s support, wanting to be “dirty”, alienating himself – in brief, his entire mind revolves around the deceased friend. That is, until he catches Ajk with Kec. It is at that point that his fear and insecurity become a source of power, which ultimately leads to redemption. The first-person narrations constantly alternate and gravitate to one another until finally colliding. The plot concludes just before the point of no return. The book is targeted at the age range 14+, but it is also suitable for younger readers who are capable of critical independent reading.