0:04

Gaze reading where the greats drop by trendy authors. Tell us all the who, what, and why. Anyone can listen. Comes we are spoiler free. Reading from Stars to book club picks. The curious minds can get their picks. So you say you're not gay. Well that's okay. There's something for everyone. Gays rating.

Jason Blitman: 0:33

Hello and welcome to Gays Reading. I'm your host Jason Blitman, and on today's episode I have the fantastic Brad Summerville, AKA. Brad bought a book to talk to me about what he's reading'cause I'm trying something new where I'm just gonna do a little chitchat with someone who I like talking to and ask what they're reading. A few things before we start. As always, if you like what you're hearing, share us with a friend. Follow us on social media. We are at Gaze Reading on Instagram on Blue Sky. You could find us on substack, on YouTube. Yeah, watch us on YouTube. And what else? Oh, the book club. But Brad and I'll talk about the book club. Anyway, all that said, welcome to Gay's reading. Brad bought a book. Hi.

Brad Summerville: 1:20

I, you know, it's always so awkward listening to you do that, like waiting to speak and, so now that

Jason Blitman: 1:28

What do you mean always?

Brad Summerville: 1:29

Like I, I've, okay, this, the two times I've done this

Jason Blitman: 1:33

I did not do this introduction the first time you did Gaze reading. Thank you very

Brad Summerville: 1:36

I had to wait for you to like introduce me'cause you talked about like me being Colorado. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I thank you for the lovely

Jason Blitman: 1:46

it's fine. Welcome to Gay's reading again. Welcome back. Um.

Brad Summerville: 1:51

Be back.

Jason Blitman: 1:52

Brad and I were catching up and we were talking about so many wonderful things, and I hadn't hit record yet because I didn't think we were going to talk about fun things like reality television.

Brad Summerville: 2:06

He missed out on some really great opportunities for.

Jason Blitman: 2:10

I did. Building the band, is that what it's called?

Brad Summerville: 2:12

Building the band on Netflix if you I did not. I'm not a reality show person. I'm not a musical competition person, but it got me, so thank TikTok for that because I saw a group singing and then I had to figure out what it was about

Jason Blitman: 2:29

I have been watching Big Brother.

Brad Summerville: 2:32

Oh, see, I'm not a big brother person.

Jason Blitman: 2:34

It is just such a good social experiment and I'm obsessed.

Brad Summerville: 2:38

I, I'm very behind on Survivor. I love Survivor. And I, I just, I know they're the same TV network, but never, never.

Jason Blitman: 2:49

I think I'm gonna watch Survivor this year with some friends and you can watch, it hasn't started yet. You could watch afar. We could have like a survivor cross country watch group.

Brad Summerville: 2:59

Wait, have you seen every season?

Jason Blitman: 3:01

No,

Brad Summerville: 3:02

Oh, why? Why did you laugh at that? That is not,

Jason Blitman: 3:05

there are 30.

Brad Summerville: 3:08

there's more than that.

Jason Blitman: 3:09

You also don't have to have watched them in order to appreciate them.

Brad Summerville: 3:14

Fair. Although an upcoming season has returning players come back. So you will need to, I hope it's not the season you're planning on watching'cause you might be confused.

Jason Blitman: 3:23

it's fine. It'll be fine. We could keep talking intermittently, but I don't know what books you have to share with me, but I have to know. I'm so curious. Brad, what are you reading? Wait, let me tell, let me explain. Wow, this came to be, so obviously I don't have an author guest today and I have been reading a bunch, not for the podcast. I've been reading for pleasure. Wait, I need to rephrase that. I'm always reading for pleasure, but I'm not, I wasn't reading books to interview people. And so I wanted to just like get on and talk about the books that I was reading and I said. Who would I want to do that with?'cause I don't wanna do it by myself. And I said, I know, let me text Brad and what, and he is reading things and I saw her Instagram that you're reading a bunch of things that I don't typically read. So I feel like it's a good balance.

Brad Summerville: 4:13

Oh, that is true. We have different vibes.

Jason Blitman: 4:15

Yeah. So what's something that you're reading right now?

Brad Summerville: 4:18

What did you see on Instagram that,

Jason Blitman: 4:20

you posted like a, like a little July update image.

Brad Summerville: 4:25

Oh to my

Jason Blitman: 4:25

And I would say 0% of them are,

Brad Summerville: 4:30

You know what's funny is one of those books we actually were going to buddy read together.

Jason Blitman: 4:34

Oh, yes, we were

Brad Summerville: 4:35

yeah. Um, we can start with that one if you want. So I.

Jason Blitman: 4:39

I was definitely excited about it.

Brad Summerville: 4:41

Yes. And the C the second one, it's a trilogy. It's part of a trilogy. It's called Road to Ruin by Hana Lee and my, the book club I'm in decided to read. It was my choice. Although my book club, it was not too happy with me because they don't really read sci-fi fantasy. And it is a sci-fi fantasy book. It's about this girl, she, it's like mad max vibes. Anyway, she is a courier between two cities and she delivers letters between a prince and a princess. And, and that's like really all you need to know, but it's a lot of, like, it leans heavy on like the world building. And my group did not like that because they, their fantasy that they prefer is set in our world. So they have like an entry point. And to be fair, like I, I even admitted like, I would say this is like in middle of the road book for me, I enjoyed it because I love. Sci-Fi fantasy is it, did I think it was the most amazing book I've ever read. No. But I did get something out of it. It is queer too,'cause the main character is bisexual, which is awesome. But yeah, I would say overall like this, if you were on the fence about this, I would tell you specifically know, because this, I don't think that you would enjoy it as much as maybe.

Jason Blitman: 5:56

Yeah,

Brad Summerville: 5:56

or scifi lover,

Jason Blitman: 5:58

that's fair. I appreciate that. There are some fantasies or sci-fi books that I do super get on board with, but they have to be, there's a very specific sort of like entry point for me.

Brad Summerville: 6:09

What are some of those?

Jason Blitman: 6:11

your face. Okay. Entry point is the wrong word or phrase or

Brad Summerville: 6:18

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 6:18

way to describe it, but it's, I think so many fantasy novels or sci-fi novels are are about a vibe or about a plot, and I. Really need to fall in love with characters and need to fall in love with a good story.

Brad Summerville: 6:39

Okay. That also came up in our conversation because a lot of. It's very plot driven, like there are plot points that, and that makes a lot of sense because I just go for vibes too, but I don't really think about I'll go either way. I'll read a really great character driven story or a really great plot driven story. Like if one of those things is suffering over the other, it's not like a deal breaker for me.

Jason Blitman: 7:00

That's fair. It's not necessarily a deal breaker for me either. I think it is harder for me to tap into a world that is confusing.

Brad Summerville: 7:09

Mm-hmm.

Jason Blitman: 7:10

If it's just about the plot,

Brad Summerville: 7:13

That of a hundred percent valid. I

Jason Blitman: 7:16

I give me a thriller. That's just the plot and set in today's world, and I am all for it because I like don't need to also build the world in my brain. Yeah, I feel like I'm learning about myself right now a little bit. Thank you.

Brad Summerville: 7:32

I'm so to be here guide you.

Jason Blitman: 7:37

Yeah, but I was just talking about this because How to Train Your Dragon is one of my favorite movies, and it's not my typical genre, right? It's fantasy, it's dragons and like I'm not a big fantasy dragon person. But the story is so compelling and the characters are so rich that I just love it so much. Have you seen it?

Brad Summerville: 7:55

The new one.

Jason Blitman: 7:57

I actually have not seen the new one. I'm talking about the, like just the original.

Brad Summerville: 8:00

Yes. I thought you were gonna base all of this off of seeing the new movie and not the original, and I was about to. You through the for that, but I'm really glad that you said what you said.

Jason Blitman: 8:11

Yeah. A book that I just read that I loved that I would not recommend to you,

Brad Summerville: 8:16

Okay, great. See I.

Jason Blitman: 8:18

this, I know this is actually a really fun exercise is when the cranes fly south. By Lisa Ridin. It was, it's the winner of the Swedish Book of the Year Award, and it's the story of this like elderly man and the last four or five months of his life, it is quiet, it is slow. It is simple. But you really get to spend time with him and in his brain and it's really moving. And even though I sort of knew, I don't, it's like hashtag spoiler alert, he dies at the end. I think that's like sort of clear, like when you have, when there's a dog on the cover, like, you know. Do you know what I mean? Like the dog is gonna die.

Brad Summerville: 9:10

Did you just spoil every single book with a dog on the cover for me, because I typically don't pick those up.

Jason Blitman: 9:17

I know Franklin too, he does not pick them up. But you, you do sort of, you do see that this is heading to the end of his life. Whether you watch him die or not, like, you know, it's the end of his life. That's very clear. Um, and because, you know, you're at the end, like, you sort of feel like, oh, whatever, I'm sort of in it, I get it. But it really is this you're just, it's beautifully paced. Not very calm. It's very Frederick Beckman. In fact, a bookseller put this galley in my hand and was like, take it and read it. I think you'll like it. And then literally later that day, Frederick posted on Instagram how much he loved the book. And I wrote to him and I said, how funny, I literally just got this today. And he was going on about how, how lovely it was. And sure enough I cried at the end. So

Brad Summerville: 10:03

You cried?

Jason Blitman: 10:05

I did. Do you cry books?

Brad Summerville: 10:07

Yes, but like, I feel like yes, I, I cry.

Jason Blitman: 10:12

Do you not think that I have emotions, Brad?

Brad Summerville: 10:14

No, I feel like, I can't remember. I feel like there was a book we both read that I definitely turned up at. But you were like, it was fine.

Jason Blitman: 10:22

I mean,

Brad Summerville: 10:23

yeah,

Jason Blitman: 10:23

everyone has their thing.

Brad Summerville: 10:24

different vibes. I probably would, would cry if I read that book. I, in fact, I could almost guarantee I would.

Jason Blitman: 10:30

Yeah. So this is so random and so specific.'cause I was gonna say, I can, if a, if a story is beautifully told, no matter what the medium and it's moving, it can move me to tears, even a commercial and immediately makes me think about a Publix commercial. And I know that you're also from Florida, so I am,

Brad Summerville: 10:54

I

Jason Blitman: 10:54

might even know what I'm

Brad Summerville: 10:55

you're gonna say, but keep going.

Jason Blitman: 10:57

but you do or don't know what I'm gonna say.

Brad Summerville: 10:58

mean, there have been many, a Publix commercial that has brought tears to people's eyes, but I am waiting with bated breath.

Jason Blitman: 11:07

It was a Thanksgiving one, I think.

Brad Summerville: 11:09

It's always the holiday ones.

Jason Blitman: 11:11

Yeah. Anyway, I think it was, I think it was like something about salt and pepper shakers. Does this sound familiar to you?

Brad Summerville: 11:20

Are they like moving? Like they're like little, they like hold hands. I.

Jason Blitman: 11:24

I.

Brad Summerville: 11:24

Are they little or am I wrong about this?

Jason Blitman: 11:28

think so.

Brad Summerville: 11:29

I'm gonna,

Jason Blitman: 11:30

Yeah. They're like, they're pilgrim salt and pepper shakers.

Brad Summerville: 11:33

Yes. I know exactly which one you're talking about. I'm gonna have to Google when we're done

Jason Blitman: 11:37

I know. Me too.

Brad Summerville: 11:38

Publix commercial salt and pepper shakers. Thanksgiving tears. That's that. Be my search.

Jason Blitman: 11:45

Anyway, I can be a very emotional fella. Is what I'm trying to say.

Brad Summerville: 11:49

Ah.

Jason Blitman: 11:50

What else are you reading?

Brad Summerville: 11:51

You know what else is on my list this month that you, I, so I have been down like mm, romance, hockey, rabbit hole.

Jason Blitman: 12:01

So I saw.

Brad Summerville: 12:02

Oh, you saw some of those hit a little bit harder than others, but I'm reading, I'm currently reading the Game Changer series by Rachel Reed. It's six books and I'm through the first five, but. last one I the most recent one I read is I, it's, I cannot stress this enough. It is so good. And oh, I love it. I already am talking about it and I'm like getting excited.

Jason Blitman: 12:28

Is it? Is it the hockey aspect? Is it the, that you love these people? Is it romantic? Is it sexy? Is it.

Brad Summerville: 12:38

Yeah, they're all definitely spicy. But I think the reason I really love this one is like the topics it deals with. Each book in the series kind of deals with a different relationship dynamic between the two main characters. And this one is like grumpy sunshine. So like the hockey player is. He is not a nice person. He is kind of like angry all the time. And the other mc is this like out comfortably queer and proud and just like he's so comfortable in his own skin that it, it creates a really great comparison between the two, but the other one isn't out. And so he. Hides behind a lot of like toxic masculinity and homophobia and throughout the whole book, sort of like battles that within himself and like really looks at like his relationship with his father and the relationship with some other hockey players and his like, redemption arc is so wonderful that I just, I cried, I, I cried at the end of that one.

Jason Blitman: 13:47

All right. I. Don't want to get into a debate about this'cause that's not the point of this conversation, but I'm curious having read them or you've read them, I've not read them. You having read them and I feel like you read a lot of a romances in general. And so the, the proportion of them that you read, a lot of them happen to be written by women. There's obviously always a very hot debate about whether or not women could or should be writing. Mm. Romances that's not the conversation I'm curious to have, but I am curious to know if you have like a feeling about why these women are drawn to these stories or having read them. Do you, is there an interesting takeaway, uh, for you as a reader?

Brad Summerville: 14:38

Uh, that is a loaded question. I feel like such like an interesting topic and I it is a hot button topic and I feel like it's very polarizing. I, this is my personal opinion. I just wanna like, preface that before like I get into like the nitty gritty. I think that like, if. You are intentional and like your motivations behind writing and, mm. Romance come from like a real, like, there's a difference between like doing it authentically and then writing an MM romance because you know that it'll sell or you want to capitalize on queer trauma or, uh, the queer experience or like fetish fetishize.

Jason Blitman: 15:19

FET Fetishize.

Brad Summerville: 15:20

Ah, speaking quickly like an MM relationship. And I think that itself is different. I think if you come from a queer story where two men are just falling in love and it's authentic and it's, it's done in a way that doesn't come off offensive, I think like you have a really powerful story and I, what's funny is that. I went to Queers and Quills, uh, recently, which is a queer book convention. And one of the panels I went to was talking about this idea of like, who should write Mm. And it comes up a lot, but I think that there are authors, female authors who get an opportunity when they're writing Mm. To kind of explore their own. Either sexuality or gender and like use that medium to like figure stuff out on their own and like come to terms with like who they are and their identity. And I think that's very powerful and I never really, I had never really thought about it before that conversation about like how writing that medium and writing that content is like an opportunity for them to kind of hold a mirror up to their own sexuality and be like, Hmm, maybe I'm not. As straight or as cisgender as I thought I once was. And I

Jason Blitman: 16:42

I also, you know, and it's interesting, it's complicated, right? You know, on one hand it's like, why should a queer story be the thing? It's, it's essentially a journal entry. You know what I mean? To have them unpack their feelings. I have a lot of conflicting feelings about it and can, and for me, I think the biggest point is. I don't want the paychecks to be taken away from the queer people. So as long as there's sort of room for everyone I'm kind of fine. But when, if a publisher says, oh, we're sort of, we have our fill of male, male romances and all of them are written by women, that's where I start to feel differently. It's about like capacity,

Brad Summerville: 17:28

That makes sense. Well, what's funny is a lot, most of the popular MM romances are all in independently published. Like they're not published through. A trad publishing company, um, which I find interesting. But to your credit, like I do agree. I think that they're traditionally published stories. There is definitely more space for male authors who write romance.

Jason Blitman: 17:58

Anyway, just an interesting thought

Brad Summerville: 18:01

way to throw that

Jason Blitman: 18:03

I didn't, no, it's whatever.

Brad Summerville: 18:05

And I, here's the thing is like, again, I think

Jason Blitman: 18:09

I.

Brad Summerville: 18:10

if you write a good story, you write a good story. And I think for me personally, like positivity, queer positivity, even if it, in my opinion, if it comes from someone who maybe not, might not be queer, but the story still accomplishes, like visibility writing queer happiness and queer joy. I'm all for it. I think the line is really drawn when like you're writing a story but you're using queer trauma to sell your plot or to sell books. That is where I kind of feel.

Jason Blitman: 18:46

So this is sort of, this is an interesting segue because among the books that I read that has, it's been a backlist, it's been on my TBR for. For ages but it's Razorblade Tears by Sa Cosby. And I just had Sa Cosby on Gay's reading a few weeks ago, and he was an incredible person to talk to. And when I asked him about what allyship means to him, his response really moved me. In fact, he actually had a response to a different question that fully unpacked what allyship meant to him before I could even ask him about it. Have you read this?

Brad Summerville: 19:25

Yes, I have, and I loved it.

Jason Blitman: 19:27

Okay. Well, I, I loved it. I loved it so much, but it does fetishize queer trauma or it takes queer trauma and turns it into this book. I don't think it, to me, this is an exemplary example of how it can be done successfully, but it was really a story about. Learning how to be an ally and what it meant and means to be black and gay and what it means to be the parent of a gay kid and really what the book was about. But at its core, it does it's inciting incident. It is gay trauma.

Brad Summerville: 20:09

Yes. However. Doesn't, all that trauma ha all that trauma happens before the book even starts.

Jason Blitman: 20:17

Yes, that's true.

Brad Summerville: 20:19

And so you're not focused on like reading and focusing on the trauma happening to the queer characters. It's like the, what happens after that point. And the story really focuses on the father and the relationship between father and son. That is a really good book. I'm glad you read it because.

Jason Blitman: 20:39

I, I. Everyone loved it. I, it's, like I said, it's been on my list for such a long time. The problem with the podcast is that if it, if a book has been out for so long I don't often have time to read it. But I did and I genuinely couldn't believe how much I loved it.

Brad Summerville: 20:55

That's the only essay Crosby I've read.

Jason Blitman: 20:58

He is great. I, I didn't re so I, his, he was on the show for, uh, his new book, king of Ashes, and I loved it. And so I was like, wait, am I a crime fiction girly now? Because of the event. Then I read Razor Blade Tears, and now I'm in the middle of this book, fog and Fury. By Rachel Hausel Hall and also it's, it's crime fiction and I am obsessed. I love it so much. I'm like, oh my God, this is my new favorite thing is crime fiction. Anyway, that's all

Brad Summerville: 21:36

fiction. I don't have, I'm not reading any crime fiction right now, so I apologize.

Jason Blitman: 21:41

don't, that's okay.

Brad Summerville: 21:43

That's so funny.

Jason Blitman: 21:44

Rachel was at the book festival that I produced this year in Palm Springs, and I'm obsessed with her as a person. But additionally in the conversation that she was having at the festival, she brought up something that was so interesting and has stuck with me for months now. But the concept of we are all a villain in someone's story. That is just interesting. We've all done something at some point in our lives directly, indirectly on purpose, not on purpose, uh, where we are the villain in someone else's story. And it sort of broke my brain when I thought about that.

Brad Summerville: 22:26

I'm, I'm not a villain. I've never done anything wrong ever in my life. I'm only nice.

Jason Blitman: 22:33

I find that so hard to believe.

Brad Summerville: 22:35

Fine. I was mean to my siblings. It's okay.

Jason Blitman: 22:39

Well, and like we all strive to be nice and to be kind and to have empathy and Absolutely. But that doesn't, but we're not perfect, right? We're only human.

Brad Summerville: 22:49

That came from, she said that at the book festival. No.

Jason Blitman: 22:53

Yeah. So that, that has been a thing that stuck with me. And then because I'm on my crime fiction. Journey. Claire Leslie Hall, who wrote the book, broken Country that I loved so much, and Claire was also on Kay's reading. She said, the Death of Us by Abigail Dean is one of her favorite books of the year. And she was like, Jason, you have to read it, you'll love it. And so this is Next after Fucking Fury. But this is also, I believe, thrillery. I don't know that it's crime fiction, but it's definitely thriller.

Brad Summerville: 23:25

Do you typically read those quicker? Like you like can't put'em down?

Jason Blitman: 23:29

I, I think so. And it's, it's funny'cause we, you know, obviously talking about character development and stuff earlier, I think tropes are tropes for a reason. And in rom-coms, in thrillers, in mysteries, you sort of know the plot beats and so it's easier to get to them. It's like driving. When you know the directions you get there, it's easier to get there. It takes the same amount of time, but it's, but it is mentally easier to get there. Do you know what I mean?

Brad Summerville: 24:03

Yeah, but I do, I do.'cause there's a formula to follow and a lot of times I feel like if you do that, you got a good, you gotta, you got a good outline of a

Jason Blitman: 24:14

Yes. And they work for a reason.

Brad Summerville: 24:16

Yeah. I'm trying to think of like really good queer crime.

Jason Blitman: 24:22

There's, um, lavender house

Brad Summerville: 24:25

yes. I was just

Jason Blitman: 24:26

is solid.

Brad Summerville: 24:27

Have you read all, have you read that whole series

Jason Blitman: 24:31

I read the first two. I haven't read the third one.

Brad Summerville: 24:34

and did you like those? I haven't read those yet, but I want

Jason Blitman: 24:37

I did, yeah. I didn't love them. They're a little cozy for me.

Brad Summerville: 24:42

Oh, you like, you like, okay. You.

Jason Blitman: 24:46

Oh yeah. Razor blade tears is so gory and king of ashes was so gory and violent. Listen, I don't love the violence per se, but you know, and sometimes cozy is the right, is the right vibe. Oh my God. For anyone who's just listening, Brad is, he just got up and got, went to his bookcase, rummaging through, what did you pull?

Brad Summerville: 25:15

Okay. Have you heard of the software at all?

Jason Blitman: 25:19

And there he kept her by Joshua Mulling.

Brad Summerville: 25:22

Yeah,

Jason Blitman: 25:23

No.

Brad Summerville: 25:24

he is. This would be like queer crime fic or crime. What were you saying? Crime

Jason Blitman: 26:06

I said crime fiction, but a thriller crime novel, all sorts of, okay.

Brad Summerville: 26:12

Yeah, so the main character is gay and he is a detective and

Jason Blitman: 26:20

Yeah.

Brad Summerville: 26:21

sorry, former police officer.

Jason Blitman: 26:23

Officer, like that's fog and fury too. She's a former police officer and now

Brad Summerville: 26:26

Three books. I think his third one just came out actually, um, in the series. So I'll have to look what it's called. But

Jason Blitman: 26:34

I really am. Okay. I'll have to check that out'cause I am in my crime thriller adventure era. Now if this is like commercial break for the Gays Reading Book Club with Altoa, because nobody know Crime by Tess Sharp is

Brad Summerville: 26:50

I just picked that up from the library.

Jason Blitman: 26:53

Why did you not join the Gays Reading Book Club Brad?

Brad Summerville: 26:56

don't have money. It's a library. Library is free.

Jason Blitman: 27:00

I know. Thank you for supporting the library. Thank you for enriching the lives of the young people of our future. For those who don't know, Brad is an elementary school teacher on his journey to become a principal. We're very proud of Brad. But nobody, no crime is so delicious. I loved it so much, and it's a queer, it's a sic action adventure thriller,

Brad Summerville: 27:23

And that is your pick for all this month.

Jason Blitman: 27:26

Yes,

Brad Summerville: 27:27

Oh, nice.

Jason Blitman: 27:28

I know. And for those who don't know, when you join the Aldo Book Club, you get 30% off the Altoro website. You get the book delivered straight to your door. You get to join the online community of people who are also reading the book, and Alto donates a book to an LGBTQ plus young person.

Brad Summerville: 27:45

All right. You're selling me on it.

Jason Blitman: 27:47

The link is in the bio, in the show notes.

Brad Summerville: 27:51

Little bit at a time, a little. You're gonna break down these walls.

Jason Blitman: 27:54

No, listen I'm also thrilled you supported your local library. That is very important and more importantly, you can pause your book club membership if you want to or need to.

Brad Summerville: 28:05

oh, that is a good, that is a good thing,

Jason Blitman: 28:07

Yes. But I'm the one picking the books, and I promise you're gonna love them.

Brad Summerville: 28:11

right? But also in the same conversation you said, we have very different tastes,

Jason Blitman: 28:16

do. I have sort of branded the Altoa Club as accessibly literary. so there are books that you're gonna feel like you could take something away from it. But and it's maybe a little meaty, but it is not hard to read.

Brad Summerville: 28:33

Okay.

Jason Blitman: 28:34

Yeah. That's my, and not you are, you are, obviously, you can read hard books. That is not, I don't mean to imply otherwise, it'll be, they're fun to talk about. Anyway, uh, I'm excited that you just got it. I can't wait to hear what you think.

Brad Summerville: 28:46

Well, so this is my problem is like the, so the library near us was under renovation for so long, and so I just was driving by'cause I was like, oh, I wanna see the new building and see what it looks like. It's gorgeous. Beautiful. I'm like, gosh, I've never been in a nicer library. And of course I was like, well, I'll just look and see what. They have because my current TBR is literally like a hundred million thousand. But yet I walked outta that library with four books. Now I know good and well, I'm not reading four books, so why did I check them out? I, because I have no self-control.

Jason Blitman: 29:22

What for? Are they, can we help you narrow them down?

Brad Summerville: 29:26

that one the resurrection is by a Ray Dunlap. And that is about, like, it's queer. It's like a body snatcher. I, it's it's set, it's like an, it's like historical fiction, but, I had, this is why I got it. I'll tell you, I had applied on the galley for the arc and it's, I never read the digital copy and I felt, see this is, this goes back to like feeling like you have to read every book that you're given. And I was like, well, maybe if I have the physical copy, I'll read it. And so that's why I got the Resurrection is the other one is the Palace of Eros, which is a queer like Greek retelling. And then I got the book you recommended, and then I got Adam RA's history is All You Left Me, which I heard was really good. But again, I, I, so I went to the library, I got all four of those books, and I started a book that I owned last night. I started gay The Pray Away by,

Jason Blitman: 30:28

Oh,

Brad Summerville: 30:29

Natalie Naus, who

Jason Blitman: 30:31

is. It is. Okay. Wait, okay. I'm sorry. This is this episode. What is this episode? Listeners? You're gonna be like, Jason, what is happening? Okay. On, so Tess Sharp who wrote Nobody, no Crime, she, I had her on two weeks ago as a guest reader. So she told me what she was reading, but she also, we of course talked about nobody, no crime. And one of the books that she talked about re rereading and loving is Gay the Pray Way.

Brad Summerville: 31:02

Really,

Jason Blitman: 31:03

Yes.

Brad Summerville: 31:04

I, it's actually like really good. It's. About a girl who is in a religious cult. And she at the library picks up one last stop by Casey McQuiston and hides it from her family and like, reads it and like slowly comes to terms with her sexuality. But this is, this is why I said, so the author, she does a lot of, like, she's a narrator for audio books and she wrote in here like the note at the beginning that. When she started narrating, she was drawn to queer stories and then like really was like, huh, I wonder like why that is. And then through narrating those stories, realized that she saw herself reflected in those books. And so like, which I thought was really cool. And so like this is, I don't wanna say it's like a her story, but like it's based off of like her growing up.

Jason Blitman: 32:00

Very cool.

Brad Summerville: 32:01

It's really good so far. I'm liking it.

Jason Blitman: 32:04

Part of why I had a freak out about you mentioning that book and the connection to Tess is because Franklin and I have been listening to the podcast, the Telepathy tapes, and it's a little, it's like, inappropriate to talk about other podcasts on your own podcast, but. The telepathy tapes is out of control. It is so fascinating. It's a 10 episode series with some bonus episodes and basically there is how do I want to phrase this? That is like accurate independent. Studies, so not like full-blown, scientifically accurate. So I will just preface with that. But there have studies have shown that nonverbal children or nonverbal people with autism can read minds and can be telepathic. And I, I see the face you just made. And I, I receive that. I hear it. I, I understand it. And this series blew my mind and the concept of us all sort of being connected and these sort of little moments of quote unquote telepathy happening like this. Me talking about Tes Sharp, you bringing up that book specifically, you didn't start a book from the library. Little tiny moments that are sort of mysterious in the world. This unpacks things and I am fascinated by it. Highly recommend listening. It

Brad Summerville: 33:48

I feel like my husband would love that podcast.

Jason Blitman: 33:50

Yeah. Gotta tell him.

Brad Summerville: 33:52

I actually will, I actually might give it a listen. I don't, it's not really like. That's cool though. I think that's like fan fantasy related, like it's hard to wrap your head around telepathy being like a real thing.

Jason Blitman: 34:06

Yes.

Brad Summerville: 34:07

but

Jason Blitman: 34:08

that it comes up, the way that it's sort of suggested in the book is like. Imagine living at a time where everyone believed the earth was flat and suddenly you're like, wait, the earth is round. And we're all like, no. How could it be round? It's flat. Obviously I know the earth is round. I like wanna make that very clear?

Brad Summerville: 34:29

I mean, there are people that still don't

Jason Blitman: 34:33

no, I, I know, I know, I know. But my point being that like, there are, how could we be so naive to think that there. We know everything,

Brad Summerville: 34:43

Yeah,

Jason Blitman: 34:45

right? That's

Brad Summerville: 34:46

very true. That's a good perspective to put like.

Jason Blitman: 34:48

Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, I am obsessed with it. Highly recommend.

Brad Summerville: 34:53

Okay.

Jason Blitman: 34:54

And I read one other thing. I can't believe I read so many things,

Brad Summerville: 34:57

have one more too that I wanna talk about, but you go, you, I can go first or you can go first.

Jason Blitman: 35:02

so I'll, I'm happy to go first, but we. I have been in and outta town and we were had out of town and had lunch with a friend and, and he asked if I'd want to come to his book club a few days later. And I was like, sure, we'll be around. What are you reading? And he said, Giovanni's room. And I knew that it was short and I have never read it. And I was like, sure, I can read that in three days. Let me pick it. Let me go grab it. So I went and bought it from my favorite local IND bookstore. And that is my, my last one, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. I've have never, ever, ever read a James Baldwin book, and it was really special. Have you read it?

Brad Summerville: 35:44

No, but I just recently bought it because someone, I saw someone was talking about it on TikTok, and I was like, it's time I need to read James Baldwin because I've done posts about him before, but I've never actually read any of his work, so

Jason Blitman: 35:56

Yeah. Highly

Brad Summerville: 35:58

myself a service I feel

Jason Blitman: 35:59

It is very literary. There again, I know that that's not a deal breaker for you. Some of it is sort of hard to get through because of that, and obviously it was written in, in the fifties. But there's a lot to talk about and a lot to unpack and so I look forward to chatting when you finished reading it.

Brad Summerville: 36:17

Yeah. So when did you already go to the book club? Or Oh, nice. So did

Jason Blitman: 36:21

Yeah, it was last week.

Brad Summerville: 36:22

I.

Jason Blitman: 36:23

Yeah, it was like bing bang, boom. I read it so fast. I took my notes. I went to the, and let me tell you, Brad, this book club was very intense. I loved it. They, it, there were like 20 people there.

Brad Summerville: 36:36

A.

Jason Blitman: 36:37

it was all gay men and two women, which I've never been to a book club with gay men before. And. They pulled out the study guide from Penguin Random House and asked the questions from the Penguin Random House guide. A guy made Jeopardy for the book and we broke into teams and played Jeopardy. So I feel like I got a very robust Giovanni's room experience.

Brad Summerville: 37:05

Okay. I would be there so fast for the Jeopardy alone.

Jason Blitman: 37:10

Oh my God, it was so fun.

Brad Summerville: 37:12

academic competition and middle school, like accelerated reader program in elementary school where you have to take quizzes on the books. You read let's bring that back. I.

Jason Blitman: 37:24

Yes.

Brad Summerville: 37:25

I wish there was something holding me accountable for remembering what I'm reading.

Jason Blitman: 37:30

I understand that deeply. But Jeopardy really fun,

Brad Summerville: 37:33

did your team win?

Jason Blitman: 37:35

My team did win.

Brad Summerville: 37:36

Oh, it's probably'cause you were on it.

Jason Blitman: 37:38

It did no. It was like, honestly, everyone read the book. It was a very it was intense in a good way. And it was, everyone was so excited to be there and to talk about the book and there were a lot of polarizing feelings about it and, uh, it was a really great discussion and yeah, it was cool. Anyway, I'm curious to hear what, you know, what other people do for their book clubs. Because that was never my experience. My experience is always talk for six minutes about the book and then chat about life.

Brad Summerville: 38:08

I mean, we talk our, I'm in a book club with like four other guys and we yeah, we just go through what worked for us, what didn't work for us, how we felt it is. I do feel like we talk more than six minutes about the book, but,

Jason Blitman: 38:21

I, no, it's certainly more than six months. I'm being slightly hyperbolic, but. What is your last book?

Brad Summerville: 38:26

Okay. So my last book is the Build a Boyfriend Project by Mason Dever.

Jason Blitman: 38:31

Oh

Brad Summerville: 38:32

and I started this for like, not really knowing what to expect, but one, ah, have you read it?

Jason Blitman: 38:38

no, I have not,

Brad Summerville: 38:39

Oh,

Jason Blitman: 38:40

but tell me more.

Brad Summerville: 38:41

a rom-com. Just so you know,

Jason Blitman: 38:43

love a romcom.

Brad Summerville: 38:45

So one of my favorite movies in the whole entire world is how to lose a guy in 10 days. Kate Hudson,

Jason Blitman: 38:52

I just watched it a couple weeks ago.

Brad Summerville: 38:54

of course you did, because it's a masterpiece.

Jason Blitman: 38:57

Yes, I love it.

Brad Summerville: 38:59

and this book is giving me like those vibes, like the main character works for like an online newspaper and he's being forced to write an article he doesn't really want to write because that's what sells. And so he. Is sort of like dating this guy and like teaching him how to date, but is writing an article behind his back too. And so I'm like, this is giving me all of the how to lose a guy in 10 day vibes,

Jason Blitman: 39:28

Wait. This is so good to know because there's another book coming out in December in October called, isn't It Obvious By, lemme Just Grab It. I'm like looking really far away.

Brad Summerville: 39:43

right.

Jason Blitman: 39:44

Headphones, it's called, isn't it? Obvious By Racial Run yet Cats and I believe it is a modern queer, you've got male.

Brad Summerville: 39:56

I have seen that come up. I keep seeing that author come up as well, but I've not, I've not read anything by her. Um.

Jason Blitman: 40:02

Now I'm just so excited. These like. Contemporary queer rom-coms that are inspired by nineties rom-coms. They're made for us, Brad,

Brad Summerville: 40:13

well, I don't know if this is like, I don't know if the author has said this is a direct, it just gave me those vibes and

Jason Blitman: 40:20

regardless.

Brad Summerville: 40:21

loved it more.

Jason Blitman: 40:22

yeah,

Brad Summerville: 40:23

my nineties, give me nineties. I am okay with that.

Jason Blitman: 40:28

Fun. Okay. That's so good to know. Are there more hockey romances on your list, on your coming, coming up? I mean, are you, are you like immersed in the world of hockey?

Brad Summerville: 40:38

Yes, so. Well, that's so funny you say that because that series I'm reading, there's one more left and I'm like holding. I'm waiting.'cause one, I don't want the series to end, but two, the sixth book is. The continuation of another of a couple from Book Two's story. And it's like the most loved couple of that series. Like people go feral for those two, and they're actually making a TV show out of that book in

Jason Blitman: 41:05

Oh fun.

Brad Summerville: 41:05

So I, I'm actually kinda excited for that, but I almost like, I don't, one, I just wanted to take like a little hockey break. I don't play hockey, I dunno anything about hockey. And you don't really need to, when you read those books, it's not like the focus, but I just didn't want the series to end. I don't want the series to end.

Jason Blitman: 41:24

Yeah, I was that person who like wouldn't read the last chapter of a book or wouldn't watch the last season of a series, or would I like, wouldn't want things to, I've still never seen the last season of queers folk. The

Brad Summerville: 41:42

version.

Jason Blitman: 41:43

Yes, I watched all of it except for the last season.'cause I just didn't want it to end.

Brad Summerville: 41:48

Okay. You need to watch that

Jason Blitman: 41:50

I,

Brad Summerville: 41:51

What are you doing?

Jason Blitman: 41:53

I know. Did you watch it?

Brad Summerville: 41:55

Yes.

Jason Blitman: 41:56

Okay.

Brad Summerville: 41:56

used to be, I used to have to sneak watch that show.

Jason Blitman: 42:00

I know. Welcome everybody. Welcome to being a nineties kid. You had to sneak watch.

Brad Summerville: 42:05

And I would have it on and I where this is so wild because we only got that channel at my grandparents' house because it was on Showtime. And where the TV was, you could hear people walking down the hall. So I would be like secretly watching it and I could only like watch it late at night after everybody else had gone to bed. But the se my hand was like frozen on the remote control. And the second I heard any kind of sound, I would quickly change the show to like cartoons or something and be like, I want, hi, what are you doing, awake? I'm just watching. C

Jason Blitman: 42:39

Anything else,

Brad Summerville: 42:41

this infomercial

Jason Blitman: 42:42

right? This

Brad Summerville: 42:43

2:00 AM

Jason Blitman: 42:45

Uh, now that's what I call music commercial.

Brad Summerville: 42:50

or like popup video. Do you remember that? On VH one? I sorry. You music videos. Now I'm thinking about stuff in the nineties. Ah.

Jason Blitman: 43:00

I know. We were at dinner with friends the other night and fell down a similar rabbit hole. Similar time. Brad, thank you so much for being here on this weird, random sort of bonus episode of Gay's Reading. This is

Brad Summerville: 43:16

this was nice. I got to like talk about, I think like talking about this got me excited for. Even like books that I own that I haven't read yet. Like this, you talking about reading crime thriller, like I've actually never read this one, but now I want to because

Jason Blitman: 43:30

now, yes, you have to, you have to report back.

Brad Summerville: 43:32

I

Jason Blitman: 43:33

You need to be like a gaze reading correspondent. Go read it and then report back. We'll cut to Brad in the studio.

Brad Summerville: 43:39

reporting live from New Jersey. That's so

Jason Blitman: 43:43

Oh my God. This is the second to last episode of this season. Next week is my last episode of the summer, and then I'm back the beginning of September and I cannot wait for the people to hear that episode. Um. That's like a cliffhanger for what's to come. Speaking of cliffhanger, join the Gays Reading Book Club with Stora. Nobody, no Crime by Tess Sharp. There isn't a cliffhanger, but it feels like there can be.

Brad Summerville: 44:14

Now I need to, I need to read that book

Jason Blitman: 44:17

read that book. Join the club everyone. Follow us on Instagram. Follow brad on Instagram. He is. Brad bought a book. He also just started a YouTube channel. Go follow him on YouTube. You could follow Gay's reading on YouTube. All the places. All the things.

Brad Summerville: 44:33

all the places.

Jason Blitman: 44:34

And probably about now the closeout music will be starting. And Brad, thanks for being here.

Brad Summerville: 44:41

Yeah. Thanks for having me.

Jason Blitman: 44:42

Have a great rest of your day.

Brad Summerville: 44:44

you too.