The Way Things Ought to Be

by Gregory Hinton

Book Overview

Follows King James, a gorgeous gay writer, as he takes care of his dysfunctional family and his pregnant, bohemian best friend, while embarking on his own journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758201745
• ISBN13: 9780758201744
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A beautiful story

Set in Boulder, Colorado, in the 1970s, at the time when gay liberation was relatively young and vibrant, and before the plague of the 80s put a damper on much of the gay life style, The Way Things Ought To Be centres on a twenty one year old student of English, Kingston James, know as King James. King is a slight but clearly attractive young man, but he is something of a loner, with few friends. He is basically shy, and some take this shyness for aloofness, but all he wants is someone to love. Being a very sensitive boy, he very quickly falls in love, in fact he falls in love with almost everyone who beds him, and there are many who want to do just that; unfortunately for him that is all they want to do, a relationship is the last thing they want. He has a tough time of it, with his early religious fervour combined with a love affair that led to his coming out, well meaning friends who are trying to save him or others who have simply dropped him, and being ousted from his accommodation are just a few of his troubles. But he has the loving support of his parents and older brother who is also gay, Jen, a single mother-to -be who befriends him, and a few new gay friends. But will King find the love he seeks, and if so who will it be: his first love Lex who has already deserted in twice; Theo, his student neighbour who can't wait to bed him; the supposedly heterosexual well endowed and very popular quarterback Barry; the gorgeous gentle gay activist Sam; the older and married Matthew who picks him up in a bar thinking he's a hustler, or his tutors boyfriend, the older and arrogant Robert? As King approaches graduation he begins to discover who he really is, and along with it the strength to do what he really wants, and the love that he so much desires. The Way Things Ought To be is a most delightful story, filled with appealing and interesting characters sympathetically handled, along with the occasional rogue, above all King is most sensitively portrayed. The writing is absolutely first class, atmospheric and engaging; a gem of a story.

Reminds me of another Hinton, i.e., S.E.

This fetching coming-of-age novel is set in Boulder, Colorado in the early 1970s. The actions and beliefs of the times (actually, the whole environment) is very well-done and feels authentic. You feel like you're going back to that time. King is trying to become a successful writer (a too-common element of any novel, but we can overlook that) and becomes acquainted with a gay activist, Theo. King's new place in Theo's apartment building opens up the story to show us King's good friend Jen, King's mother (a typical chain-smoking mom of the era), and others. While there are trysts and tears, the story is peppered with the growing gay-rights movement activism. King discovers a surprising truth about his father that heightens the story. The characters are well-drawn, and the story is as well-hewn as a magnificently carved statue. I could actually read a series of books about this character throughout his adult life, which is something I can't say about everything I read.

Engaging "coming of age" novel set in the 1970s

This third novel by screenwriter Gregory Hinton (after "Cahedral City" and "Desperate Hearts") is a coming-of-age story about Kingston ("King") James, a 21 year old gay senior at the University of Colorado, who is trying to reconcile his sexual feelings and his spirituality during the turbulent 1970's. King comes from a working class family outside of Denver, with a controlling, religious mother, an older sibling (Neil) who (like King) is gay, and an alcoholic father. King is a creative writing major, works as a switchboard operator on campus, and depressed over a rough ending of his first love. He meets Sam, a kind of poster boy for gay activism, and through him got involved in the Boulder Gay Liberation Front. The pregnant, former girlfriend of a past roommate enters his life, and Jen becomes a confidant and surrogate sister, especially after King's mother befriends her after learning her own parents disowned her. They become neighbors when they both rent studios in a building owned by Theo, another activist. Like the first two books, "The Way Things Out To Be" is character driven, and Hinton's skilled, almost lyrical writing makes you quickly and naturally familiar with each new character, their hopes and dreams and ... going back to the title ... what they think should be different in their lives. King's problem, which his friends bring to his attention, is that he is too sensitive for an gay man in the free-sex days of the 1970's, and he frightens away guys by professing love to them almost on the first date. He tries to get "with it" more, by going out to the bars in Denver (there were no gay bars in Boulder, apparently) as well as a soon-regretted foray to a gay bathhouse. He also meets two older men, one (Matthew) a married attorney who professes his love to King, and another (Robert) the bisexual fiance' of his favorite professor. The novel takes the characters through the a one year period filled with constant surprises, both good and bad ... ranging from encounters with bohemian poet Allen Ginsberg, a gay marriage, death of a two characters, an affair with the college quarterback, confrontations with ex lovers, a gay rape, as well as uncertainty about their futures.It was a little jarring to read a "new" novel dealing with gay male sex that contained no reference to AIDS or safe-sex, which makes sense since the period (late 1970's) was before the discovery of the disease. Perhaps that was the author's intention for the setting, a time of somewhat innocence and sexual freedom, or perhaps he was just nostalgic for the era for other reasons. In any case, it is a delightful, interesting read, and I recommend it highly ... whether you remember the 1970's, or whether you are too young to do so.