A sense of touch Book

Marking the appearance of a masterly literary talent, Christopher Osborn's richly drawn, sexually charged, and extremely lyrical first novel plumbs the consciousness and relationships of the young gay pianist, Robert, on the day of his concert debut. Incited by the beauty and power of Robert's playing, his thoughts and those of his parents, friends, and a few lovers scattered throughout the audience turn to the events and emotions that bind them all together --- whether for good or ill. Through their flashes of insight and recollection, we see Robert's parents, a deeply sensitive, passionate Frenchwoman and a strong, rational surgeon, whose relationship borders on sadomasochism; his friend Flavia, an opera singer who loves him; and Daniel, a middle-aged stockbroker tortured by his impotence and his love for a beautiful young man with aspirations to the priesthood. Robert himself, gentle and somewhat awkward, is transported to the shadowy nocturnal world of the Observatory Gardens, where men cruise for anonymous sex, and to more emotionally charged nights spent in Rome with Johnny, a passionate former lover for whom sex and salvation are inseparably linked. Outstanding prose, unerring candor, and a sense of the comic all his own distinguish Osborn's exploration of the delicate web of emotions that connect people. With particular deftness he portrays the dramatic world of homosexual encounters, and never before has sexual love between men been portrayed with such compelling understanding.