11 Comments
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Brenden O'Donnell's avatar

Ohh the Nicks and Tylers and Wesleys. We’ve all been there.

So good!!!

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James Worth's avatar

they sure do come in endless supply, don’t they? thanks, Brenden!!(:

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JLG Noga's avatar

read this on the train and wanted to get back home immediately to type this up. I am ashamed to admit this is my first James Worth story. But I am unashamed to admit that this is stupendous: a tender queer coming-of-age which bares its heart on its sleeve and bleeds it blue with every line. There is care placed not merely on its deceptively simple story structure but also on the stories' subjects. It is sensual but never sensationalised, threading the needle between realism and pictorialism with quiet yet powerful grace. More than worth your time.

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Lynt Poesy P's avatar

This is quite a relatable feeling; this was my first summer living as a gay man and that feeling of "this is different but the same" and the new founded isolation but also company. brilliant, gave me goosebumps at work

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James Worth's avatar

wow, that’s such a cool perspective to have around this story. we go through so many rebirths as queer people, discovering ourselves and our relation to the world over and over again. thank you for sharing yours, it means so much

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Gaby Brogan's avatar

Wow, I always see your notes but I finallyyyy had time to check out your writing and I am so happy I did! This is so beautifully told. Subscribing immediately!

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James Worth's avatar

thank you, Gaby!!! thrilled that you enjoyed it so much and the comment is so appreciated(:

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Caroline Osella (they/them)'s avatar

Oh yeah. That girl (Tracey! My first and my most fucked up of all!) who spent Sundays in my bed and then publicly teased/ bullied me all week in school so nobody would suspect. She went on to become a police officer, I heard. Naaaasty. Maybe I'll take this as inspo and write her story up. Also, randomly, this made me think of when I went to hear Conor Habib talk about his publication journey with Hawk Mountain. This situation is eternal, mythic - almost a queer rite of passage.

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James Worth's avatar

it really is so ingrained in our culture, it's wild how universal it is. I really enjoyed that Conor Habib novel also!! much darker than what I wrote here but it's all circling that same thing. thanks for your thoughts as always, Caroline!!

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Keith Long's avatar

Wow, this is heavy and beautiful.

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Nick Winney's avatar

Beautiful. the longest ache. the knots. gripped.

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