A Push and a Shove

A Push and a Shove: A Novel
Author Christopher Kelly
Country United States
Language English
Publisher Alyson Books
Publication date
September 2007
Media type Print (Paperback)
Pages 312
ISBN 978-1-59350-048-1
OCLC 144596584

A Push and a Shove: A Novel is a 2007 novel in the thriller genre by Christopher Kelly. Kelly, an openly gay man, is a film critic and journalist for Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Texas Monthly.[1][2] Kelly developed the story over four years and it is "slightly autobiographical [...] with elements of me in both the main characters."[3][4] Publishers Weekly recommended it as a "combination of revenge and coming-of-age story".[5]

The novel won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Debut Fiction in 2007.[6][7] Kelly is working simultaneously on two other novels; one is "another dark thriller" the other is a satire.[2]

Plot summary

Benjamin Reilly, a high school English-teacher in Staten Island, N.Y., witnesses a fight between two students.[5] This brings him back to childhood years of bullying by Terrence O'Connell, a popular jock he had a crush on at the time.[8] Reilly decides to quit his job, track down his bully and wreak revenge on him.[9] He visits his parents in Indiana, where he also engages in unsafe sex with a Hispanic man. In Manhattan, he meets with Terrence and they become friends. While on holiday in Vail, Colorado, he takes an HIV test - by the end of the novel, he learns he doesn't have AIDS. Terrence breaks up with his girlfriend and slowly admits to being gay, though he won't let Benjamin kiss him. Out of anger, Benjamin pushes Terrence down a mountaintop, sending him off to hospital for several weeks. Terrence proves to be understanding, and they both decide they are now even. Benjamin learns about the circumstances surrounding his sister's death and his brother's runaway streak as a teenager. Finally, Benjamin is invited to Terrence's same-sex marriage with an investment banker in Massachusetts.

Characters

Allusions to other works

References

  1. Christopher Kelly, A Push and a Shove, New York: Alyson Books, 2007, backcover
  2. 1 2 Fort Worth journo wins Lammy: Star-Telegram movie critic honored for Best Gay Debut Fiction Archived August 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Daniel A. Kusner, Dallas Voice Jun 5, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Arnold Wayne Jones, 'Queermancer', Dallas Voice, 18 October 2007 Archived January 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. After 3 years and a little insanity, a novel is born writing Fort Worth Star-Telegram via NewsBank, Oct 3, 2007.
  5. 1 2 Web Exclusive Reviews: Week of 10/22 Publishers Weekly, October 22, 2007.
  6. Lambda Literary Awards Announce Winners 2003-2009 Lambda Literary Foundation.
  7. Previous Lammy Award Winners 2003-2009 Lambda Literary Foundation.
  8. A Push and a Shove by Christopher Kelly Steven J Watson, Chroma: A Queer Journal, September 03, 2008.
  9. Book Mark: Biting the Apple Richard Labonte, Pride Source, originally printed 11/08/2007 (Issue 1545 - Between The Lines News)

External links

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