Like many, my reading during the summer months underwent a radical change during the 1994 season when I discovered and devoured the page-turning novel, Invisible Like, by a relative newcomer to the literary world, E. Lynn Harris. This book introduced Raymond Tyler, a closeted bisexual man torn between his loves, a DL man and a woman. I happened upon the book quite by accident at Lambda Rising in Washington, DC's DuPont Circle neighborhood. After finishing this book, my summer reading patterns would never be the same.
After that initial novel, I continued buying E. Lynn Harris' novels the minute they were stocked on the bookseller's shelves. Regardless of when they were published, I always saved the latest book to read during the month of August. That's when my family would always return to my parent's homeland, Greece. It was my pleasure to read these on one of the bare beaches located within walking distance of my grandparent's home.
Personally, these novels were a perfect read while clothes-free and sunning myself at the beach. Although Harris' works weren't nudecentric, they were always gay-friendly an ideal as a summer reading project.
During the summers, I worked for one of our local recreation departments as a playground site supervisor. During the summers of 1997, 1998 and 1999, I brought my copies of Harris' novels to work with me and allowed my staff at the site (mostly college students home for the summer) to read them during their meal breaks. They were extremely popular with these workers.
I remember exactly how I learned about his death. I had just logged back onto my computer after eating my lunch on the day that he died. The announcement was on the "breaking news" page on MSNBC. I was stunned.
After reading the announcement, I sent a text message to my good bare friend, Jay. Like myself, he is also an E. Lynn Harris fan. We spent the better part of that afternoon sending messages of commiseration back and forth to each other. In both of our minds, the same gender loving literary world just lost one of its' brightest stars. Even to this day we continue to lament the loss of one of our favorite gay authors.
E. Lynn Harris
born: June 20, 1955 died: July 23, 2009
E. Lynn Harris Bibliography:
Invisible Life
self-published, 1991
mass marketed, 1994
Just As I Am
1995
Blackboard Novel of the Year Award
And This Too Shall Pass
1997
If This World Were Mine
1998
James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence
Abide With Me
1999
Not A Day Goes By
2000
Any Way The Wind Blows
2002
Blackboard Novel of the Year Award
A Love of My Own
2003
Blackboard Novel of the Year Award
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
2003
Memoir
I Say A Little Prayer
2006
Just Too Good To Be True
2008
Basketball Jones
2009
Mama Dearest
2009
posthumously released
In My Father's House
2010
posthumously released
Editorial Compilation:
Freedom In This Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay
Men's Writing: 1979 to the Present
2005
E. Lynn Harris, Editor
All ten of E. Lynn Harris' novels published prior to his death held the New York Times newspaper's Best Seller List status. Quite an accomplishment considering that he was relatively unknown in the literary world prior to 1991.
I know that I am not alone in missing E. Lynn Harris.
Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!
Bare With Pride
6 comments:
I loved me some E. Lynn Harris. His work encouraged and helped me come to terms with my identity. Rest in Power E. Lynn Harris.
Amen to your thoughts, Lil Buddy! I appreciate you taking the time and making the effort to comment here. Much love and many naked hugs, my friend and fellow blogger!
I remember quite vividly the first book that I read. "This Too Shall Pass" a friend loaned it to me. I had never read any book like before. I could relate to the stories page by page... There was a scene in the book where the main character was saying a prayer to God where he said "I want my life to work" I cried my eyes out afterwards because my life was going nowhere and I wanted my life to work. This was 2006 in Nigeria where being gay was the most dangerous. I made vowed to make my life work and finding "A Love of My own" I relocated to the United Kingdom 9 years ago and have been in a blissfully fulfilling monogamous relationship with the love of my life. I have E Lynn Harris to THANK for giving me the courage to come out to my family and live in my truth and also to dream and go for it. God bless Lynn. Please God give him rest xx
I remember quite vividly the first book that I read. "This Too Shall Pass" a friend loaned it to me. I had never read any book like before. I could relate to the stories page by page... There was a scene in the book where the main character was saying a prayer to God where he said "I want my life to work" I cried my eyes out afterwards because my life was going nowhere and I wanted my life to work. This was 2006 in Nigeria where being gay was the most dangerous. I made vowed to make my life work and finding "A Love of My own" I relocated to the United Kingdom 9 years ago and have been in a blissfully fulfilling monogamous relationship with the love of my life. I have E Lynn Harris to THANK for giving me the courage to come out to my family and live in my truth and also to dream and go for it. God bless Lynn. Please God give him rest xx
Thank you so very much, my new friend, for taking the time and making the effort to share your comments here. You are absolutely correct, E. Lynn Harris touched many lives in many different ways, both male and female, gay, bisexual and straight, as well as black, brown, white and all the colors in between. He was a talented man who inspired many. Take care and stay bare!
I need to complete my collection of his work
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