Bodies and Souls — John Rechy

“A memorable feast . . . powerful, chilling, moving . . . extraordinary” from the bestselling author of City of Night and The Sexual Outlaw (Los Angeles Times).
 
An exceptional novel from the bestselling author of the modern classic City of Night, Bodies and Souls is a portrait of modern Los Angeles on an epic scale, “the most spiritual and physical of cities.” Gorgeous, seedy, and striving, the Los Angeles of Rechy's imagination is a magnetic city that draws to it the nation's brightest and darkest energies -- characters that include a female porn superstar; a young Chicano punk-rock fan; a Bel Air matron and her tyrannical husband, a Supreme Court judge; an aging male stripper; a black maid with apocalyptic visions; and a cynical TV anchorwoman. Through this rich tapestry of human struggle, Rechy paints a lush portrait of a paradise lost but also a heroic odyssey in search of redemption.
 
“Masterful . . . one of the most important novels of the year.” -- Dallas Times Herald
 
“There's so much energy, ambition, and humor in Bodies and Souls that the phrase ‘scarred beauty' might well describe the novel.” -- The New York Times Book Review
 
“Brilliant portraits of modern lives . . . superb.” -- San Francisco Chronicle
 
“Rechy is very good at evoking the seamier side of the streets, and he is masterful in funny, graphic sex scenes.” -- Publishers Weekly