Comments on: Rethinking Seattle’s Gay Book Club

By: Amelia

Amelia — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:18:57 +0000

Hi JP: It’s good to find another person that has enjoyed this book. As a gay woman, it was even more interesting for me to hear about his struggles. Of course, as a woman I’m ineligible to become a Catholic priest, therefore I would never get the chance to experience what the character did, as a gay young man. We often hear about these “horrors” from the victims, however rarely is the experience explained by the “offender”. It’s not written to condone, but as you say, it “examines the person as a whole,and looking at what forces are at work in his life, as opposed to just a blanket condemnation”.

By: JP

JP — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:52:18 +0000

A great book! One of my favorite things about it was the exploration of how so many lives were affected by an unspoken “taboo”. We see each character reveal how damaging it can be to suffer this pain in silence. The characters, as well as the settings, are described in beautiful language and in vivid detail that captures the imagination.
I also like how the book deals honestly, yet tastefully, with a subject of great importance in the Church today. It’s a fresh perspective on an old problem, and it is refreshing to read a story that tries to examine the person as a whole,and looking at what forces are at work in his life, as opposed to just a blanket condemnation. This book is terrific!

By: William Borden

William Borden — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:39:03 +0000

Really, not until January?

By: Amelia

Amelia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:48:31 +0000

A Must Read Novel, “The Hills of Triumph”

Fictional depiction of a Priest’s view of his sexual identity, preference and abuse.
An extremely well written novel for the intellectual reader with an open mind. You may have never read a book about homosexuality and sex abuse in the Priesthood, like this; especially way back in the 50′s and 60′s. It brings this potentially disturbing subject to light in a most fascinating way. I don’t at all feel that the authors’ intention was for the reader to condone this type of behavior (abuse); but to make you understand its roots and how deep they actually are.

This is the confession of a priest who has entered the religious profession aware of his inadequacy and short comings. His twelve years of seminary may have aggravated if not caused his homosexual tendencies. To better cope with his problem he chooses to be assigned overseas – Brazil of the 1950s – where he hopes he will be able to function, if not thrive in spite of his problem. His miscalculation of the risks involved is apparent from the very beginning, when all he faces spells seduction and maladjustment. The explicit sexual content of the story is presented in good taste and is deemed relevant due to the timeliness of the subject.

Read it; it’s pretty deep stuff.

The Hills of Triumph
by Luigi Bresciani

You can get it here:
High Pitched Hum Publishing – Cooperative Publisher Jacksonville Florida