Crucify my Love: Gay Book Reviews: [19-ENG] Review: A Pride Anthem

Series: -

Volume: 1/1
Publisher: Self-Published

Genre/s: Literary queer fiction

Length: 20 00 words

Pages: 84

Read in: English
Review copy format: pdf

Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮

Ben, although surrounded by people who love him, has closed himself off some time ago and every day, little by little, he moves away from his friends and the life itself. Rejecting all the chances for a better, happier tomorrow, he sinks deeper and deeper into the moving sands of hopelessness and self-destruction. When on the night before the Pride Parade his ex-boyfriend, who died few years ago, appears in his office, Ben tries to be strong, but in fact on the foundations of walls surrounding him that he built by himself, appears a first crack. Soon enough he will meet three other ghosts that will take him on a journey into himself, at the end of which he will have to make a decision regarding his future.

Without a doubt, there's a lot we could say about "A Pride Anthem", but what strikes us even before we start reading this story is the fact that it was based on "A Christmas Carol". I will be honest, to a large extent that was the main reason I reached for this short story. I was very curious how the author would deal with this topic in the context of the Pride Parade. And what can I say now that I've read "A Pride Anthem"? Oh, my gods! It was a masterpiece! Rob Browatzke not only stayed appropriately close to the original version of the story, but also at the right moments he stayed away from it, thanks to which he managed to make this story fully his. What's more, in a truly fantastic way he has woven the diversity and enormity of the LGBTQ + community into this story. He didn't focus solely on the representation of the "first three letters", but he went further and that's how he immediately won my favor. And his choice of the three Ghosts of Pride? It was not only ingenious but even brilliant, and in my opinion, perfectly matched the topic of the past, present and future of the LGBTQ + community. It was amazing.

I admit that before I even started reading "A Pride Anthem", I immediately knew that this novella will make me cry many times, and although I often try to avoid novels which prove that I'm a wimp, I couldn't say "no" to this one. And I was indeed right about this story. Even now, writing this review, I can't hold back my tears. The story presented by Rob Browatzke is really moving and it touches the heart so much that it's sometimes impossible to avoid crying when we read it, as it's full of little stories that move us deeply. In addition, it deals with the subject of many life problems that affect everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. It is also worth noting that it refers to both good and bad sides of the LGBTQ + community, but it repeatedly emphasize that one should be proud of being part of it. Not without significance is also the fact that the narrator often refers directly to the reader. In this way, it was emphasized that the story we read was created especially for us and whether we want it or not, whether we are willing to admit it or not, it is a part of our life, of ourselves.

However, "A Pride Anthem" is not only a story about the LGBTQ + community and the appreciation of the Pride Parade, but above all it's a story about human problems, one of which is closing oneself off from the world and people, escaping from life. There are countless reasons to close ourselves off from our everyday life, just as there are many ways to do it. However, on Ben's example, the author shows us how much we lose because of it, even if we don't want to see it and accept it. I would even dare say that Rob Browatzke wants us to realize that often we ourselves are responsible for condemning ourselves to loneliness that overwhelms us. We are looking for thousands of excuses to say "no" to the life, when we should simply spread our arms wide and embrace what it has to offer. And I would say that all of this was presented not really to emphasize the meaning of carpe diem, but that of a simple "LIVE!".

An equally important topic of this short, but undoubtedly rich in meaning story is passing time and the changes it brings. The author makes us aware that we can't really stop it. For the past is already irretrievably behind us and the future is unpredictable and fluid, but our here and now is rooted in the present. The changes will take place regardless of whether we want it or not, but it only depends on us whether we will be part of those changes and part of the future. By presenting the less real and very distant future in contrast with the one more possible and probably closer, the author shows one thing not only to his main character, but also to the reader. The world moves forward, as well as people. If we come to a halt, no one will wait for us and we ourselves will be guilty of wasting our tomorrow. As Heraclitus wrote, ta panta rhei, everything flows, so we have to get into our boat and let the current take us in the direction of what is ahead of us, because we ourselves have to reach for what we really want.

In summary, "A Pride Anthem" is indeed only a small novella, but it's extremely rich in meaning and very emotional. This is a wonderfully presented story about life, existence and people. Such a story is impossible to forget.

Headcanon: For each Pride Parade, Ben prepares small gifts or bonuses for his employees.

Fanfiction idea: Ben takes under his wing a teenager whose parents threw him out of the house after his coming out.

AU idea: Ben is a vampire tired of his longevity who is planning to commit suicide. An accidentally met shapeshifter helps him change his mind.

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Here's some more about:

Book Title: A Pride Anthem

Author: Rob Browatzke

Cover Artist: Alex Bischoff

Heat Rating: No sexual content.

It is a standalone book.

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Blurb

Three spirits. One night. One last chance.

Jake is dead. Ben knows that. But when Ben wakes up to see Jake standing over him, he is forced to face his feelings not only about Jake's death, but about the direction of his life. In a big gay Christmas Carol style night, Ben is visited by more spirits, and Pride will never be the same.

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Excerpt

“So what if I do?” Ben screamed, even as Ben-on-the-couch cried. “So what if I want to leave? No one will care.”
The clock struck nine and the office faded away, to be replaced by... the office again. Ben sat up on the couch. Had he been sleeping? Dreaming? Regardless, it was true. He had known for a long time that none of it – bar or community or Jake – none of it really mattered.
“And that's where I come in,” said the smooth-bodied blond muscle hunk in glittery gold booty shorts that suddenly appeared at the foot of the couch. “I'm the Ghost of Pride Present, but that's a bit of a mouthful.” Ben couldn't help but glance down, at what was also a mouthful. A very impressive mouthful. The ghost saw, and smirked. “You can call me Marc.”
“I'm done,” Ben said. “This whole nocturnal spiritual journey is over.”
“It's just beginning,” Marc said.
“It ends now. If I don't go, you can't make me.”
“Oh, that's her rule, not mine.” Marc reached down with a meaty hand and yanked Ben off the couch. “Besides, there’s not a gay man alive or dead who doesn’t want to come with me. Happy Pride!” Marc said, and he kissed Ben on the cheek.