God Says No (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Quotes edit see section history

• “"Seemed like the more modern the design of a men's bathroom, the more it tried to prevent the perversions of the male sex."”

  Gary Gray

• “"Somebody sat down in the far stall and did his business. It made me uncomfortable to hear that-it reminded me of the abnormality of homosexuality, how queers had to find partners in the same places where people relieved themselves."”

  Gary Gray

• “"Of course, God was watching. But God never spoke about what He saw. Certainly not to me. How long had I pleaded with Him to help me, to fix me, to show me a sign, only to be ignored? If you thought on it, God let everything happen. God plunked Himself down at a big desk and okayed everything with a fat rubber stamp. Should it be a sunny day? Why, yes! Today, let's wipe out the coast with a hurricane. Great idea! Should there be roller coasters? Yeah let's build a whole mess of 'em! How about a train wreck, Lord? Fine by me! Do we need a snack food called Cheeze-A-Roonies on Planet Earth? Heck yeah, bring on the Cheeze-A-Roonies! Whatsay you create an evil dude named Adolf Hitler? Yessiree! Seemed He didn't even have a rubber stamp for No. He let good and bad stuff happen all the time and didn't care if folks did what they pleased if they could handle the consequences and keep the secrets."”

  Gary Gray

• “" 'Look at me, Annie,' I said, raising my hand. 'He deserted me long ago. This isn't stigmata. This here is my own foolishness.' 'But you're saved, Gary.' 'No, I'm not. I tried so hard. But Christ won't come into my heart the way He's in yours.' 'But I was there with you.' I chuckled hopelessly. 'Oh, I walked up to the pulpit, all right. But in my heart, I felt nothing, Annie. I've tried hard all my life. I've done everything! Should I have prayed harder? Louder? Why, of everybody we know, am I the only one Christ won't touch?' "”

  Gary Gray

• “"The woman said Dios es amor so many times I had to nudge the lady next to me and ask what it meant. She said 'God is love,' and nodded, in agreement with herself. I nodded, too, but I got to wondering. Now if that was true, why would He make you fall in love and then strike you dead for obeying Him?"”

  Gary Gray

• “"Bill counted Dr. Soffione's guidelines on his fingers. 'Learning to express our feelings for other men in a productive, nonsexualized manner. Building bridges back to our father-son relationship, which will lead to what? A full expression of our true masculine nature, culminating in an increased desire for the female companionship God created us to enjoy. Yeah!' He pumped his fist in a masculine manner. 'That's a lot of work, guys. But Rome wasn't built in a day, am I right?'”

  Gary Gray and Bill

• “"'How can George say that God thinks homosexuality don't exist? That's like saying God thinks dust don't exist and then spending your whole life vacuuming the rug.'"”

  Nicky

• “Somebody brainwashed you, son. Your life is your own damn responsibility. You just blame your mama and me because you're weak. Always have been. Fat little weakling. Blame everybody else, that's Gary. Gary can't do nothing wrong, must have been his daddy screwed him up. Much as I hate the other one for what he did, and may he burn in Hell for it, I can't say he didn't have balls.”

  Gary's imagined father

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. James Hannaham (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Stonewall Book Award (2010)
• Lambda Literary Award (Finalist: Gay Debut Fiction)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary