In Tongues: A Novel

A recent cultural critic I adore posted this book with the caption “This is the book hot gays are going to be holding around New York.” Two more people I follow posted about it that week. I ordered. Throughout the rather short page count, the story of Gordon’s hunt for attention, in superficial and meaningful ways, left me gutted. The quips placed throughout helped soften the blow, but as I type this having finished a few hours ago, I feel different. Not that a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, but instead shifted to allow myself to re-examine what is the weight’s purpose. An erotic, messy, gay protagonist who is unapologetically an erotic, messy gay. Truly tremendous.

The cover doesn't give away the plot.

This felt like a spotty read. The protagonist is very loosely developed at the beginning and it feels like his atributes are understood by other characters in the book before I, the reader was clued in to who this person was through the narrative. Even with this loose deceleration of the character you feel hid worthiness to others in the book. Though I mostly didn't like the protagonist, I did find myself invested in his arc. It was a sometimes difficult arc to witness but who he became in the end seemed authentic in its growth with still some human flaw.

This slice-of-life novel involves an aimless main character who sees everything, gets involved in most of it, and for most of the novel learns nothing. The author does not provide enough reason for the reader to become emotionally invested in him. The characters are largely caricatures. They often behave for no discernible reason except the demands of the story. Character growth does not satisfy because it happens offstage. The ending includes a deus ex machina. I will say this much for the novel. I get the sense that Grattan has been to the sort of church that he describes. For many gay novelists who mention Christianity, I cannot honestly say the same. Also, it does not fall into the common trap of making intersectionality the only story.

Even though the first 100 pages of the made me feel like this was going to be another reading session that is full with gay cliches where a main character attracts pretty much anyone and everyone, I am glad I didn’t stop reading. After the first 100 pages story became more deeper and each character showed their flaws and insecurities better. Gordon makes way too many mistakes as a young man and he is not even aware of them and also he justifies each one of them in a wrong way but I admire that the author showed us readers that each decision has a consequence and Gordon for sure faced these consequences along the way. In the end he learned from his mistakes and became a much better person in his 30s. Philip and Janice were the most memorable characters in the book . I enjoyed reading about their stories and wished I had them as my friends in real life.

This was a real page turner for me, couldn’t put it down for long. Gordon the main character went through many trials and tribulations finding his own way in getting away from family and entering his early adult life with no help from anyone. His on again off again relationship with his parents was disappointing on their part and his father especially was a ‘real piece of work’! A queer couple he works for like him a lot but end up showing no forgiveness for a few mistakes. Gordon was always well meaning in his own way. This author is great and I also enjoyed his last work the Near East. Gordon’s best friend is terrific and stays with him through the end of the book. I can see why the book has received many accolades.

This book was human, raw, complex and emotional, yet easy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a gay man, so many themes resonated with me in a profound way.

*SPOILER ALERT*!! I enjoyed “In Tongues” and finished it quickly. Several professional and personal reviews describe a plethora of sex, which there is not. I am surprised to see reviewers refer to Gordon as selfish and inconsiderate. In fact, everybody mistreated or took advantage of Gordon in some way. He received minimal quality parenting from his self-centered mother and inept, later born-again father. He was starved for unselfish parental affection. Early in the book he gets a personal assistant job for older art-world socialites Phillip and Nicola, and it saves him, providing much-needed money. One day the bosses tell him to help at a weekend costume birthday party upstate that weekend Janice, his roommate and only friend then criticizes him for canceling weekend plans with her. Busting his balls, even though he had no choice but to work. His job helps pay for their apartment. Following a dinner party where the bosses had him work, Nicola guides him outdoors and imposes on him sexually. Lonely Gordon craves positive attention but knows this is wrong. He neither encouragage his boss nor pushes him off. Nicola imposed this on him. Later other characters, and some reviewers, add this to Gordon’s many supposed transgressions. Gordon's only desire was for a man to care about him reciprocally, for a lover and friend. Later a midwestern dentist he met in a gay bar made the effort to prioritize Gordon’s sexual and personal needs. However, Gordon wasn’t drawn to the rural DDS enough to stay. Throughout, Gordon's need was for someone to love him, a boyfriend. Instead, men used him as their caretaker, muse, and entertainer. He was a companion to Phillip on a trip to Europe. He listened gratefully to the older man’s pontificating. He extended himself to no end by nursing Phillip through “food poisoning” in a European hotel. This was not in his personal-assistant job description. Gordon showed no aversion despite Phillip’s uncontrollable vomiting, fever, and kitten-weakness. Soiled Phillip needed a shower, so Gordon undressed and stepped into the water to hold up the falling invalid. Instead of appreciation, Phillip’s husband accused Gordon of taking advantage of him, forming a separate, dodgy relationship with Phillip. Nicola pushes for Gordon to be fired, falsely accusing him of theft, frequently bringing many pick-ups home, and having multiple wild parties while housesitting. Phillip complies, acting cold and not talking to Gordon as he leaves. Gordon longed for Pavel, his bosses’ self-centered artist friend. Pavel initiates some necking to Gordon’s delight, then abruptly stops and leaves. Pavel continues to throw him scraps of attention and eventually, loveless, self-centered sex. He moves to Mexico and several times invites Gordon to visit him there. Gordon double-checks with P. before buying a ticket and Pavel encourages him to come. When he arrives, Pavel is unfriendly and says he’ll be staying at his new boyfriend’s. He abandons Gordon on with a list of sights and asks him to leave soon. The invitation was “just a thing people say” he quips. Gordon’s motivation is to help people and find affection. He is a victim of others’ selfish actions. Ironically the characters, and tacitly the author blame Gordon for every consequence. Sadly, Gordon blames himself as well. I loved the story despite anger and frustration with the theme of blaming the victim.

This is a novel I shall read more than once so brilliant is the writing and engrossing the story. Gordon, the narrator, is a young gay man from a broken home ("My father now reserved his love for the Lord; my mother treated affection like a recently expired food.") who migrates from Minnesota to New York where his charm, looks and availability bring him plenty of sexual and social conquests. But Gordon is no hero: he is selfish, dishonest, not exactly on the make, since he does not have sufficient energetic drive, but certainly a chancer. At the heart of the book is a candid self-analysis by Gordon himself and an acute awareness of his own mixture of ingenuousness and chicanery. The portrayal of the New York art world is fascinating and repellent in equal measure. Overall, the author has created a picaresque character in which many of us will see aspects of our younger selves.

I really enjoyed In Tongues. Even reading it in 2024, it struck a relatable chord. The plot is well-crafted, realistic, and holds together beautifully, and the characters are genuinely likable and easy to get to know. That said, I do have one small gripe—though it might just be a bias after a steady year of reading mostly André Aciman. I found myself wanting a little more: more of Gordon’s inner world, his reflections and private conversations with himself. The story moves at a quick pace, which I know a lot of people prefer, but I missed that deeper, slower dive into his thoughts and feelings, the kind of lyrical prose that lingers a bit longer. Still, I’m really glad I read it, and I’d absolutely recommend it.