By turns funny, romantic, erotic, and sad, this evocative novel brilliantly recreates the landscape of late adolescence, when friendships seem eternal and loves reincarnate. Set in Arkansas but first published in Amsterdam, Clicking Beat on the Brink of Nada (published in the U.S. as Cody) quickly won praise from reviewers and readers across Europe and North America. So beautiful, brave, and ahead of its time that William S. Burroughs was an early fan, Clicking Beat remains remarkably current and continues to be unique in coming of age literature.
A haunting vision of young friendship shattered by an outrageously cruel world. The novel aches with adolescent first loves. It is tender, funny, and true.
- William S. Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch
Commands much of J.R. Ackerley's honesty, intimacy, and ease of style. Real warmth.
- Jonathan Williams, Musings
A sense of life, the search for identity, intellectual militancy, the ambiguity of human relationships, unsatisfied desire, and weakness in facing existence are just some of the facets of life that the author evokes with precision.
- Livres (Brussels)
This novel is a must.
- RFD (Asheville, NC)
Poetically evokes the pathos of early friendships and the frailty of adolescent dreams.
- The Advocate
The author has given his novel characters with tenderness, wit, and humanity. You should rush to purchase this book--a remarkable novel that deserves wide readership.
- Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco)
Top of the heap of gay fiction.
- Gay Community News (Boston)
The message transcends common reality. ... The author charts the victory of substance over appearance, of everlasting truths over transient physical relationships. His characters give off warmth and forthrightness in equal portions.
- This Week in Texas (Houston)
One of the best of its generation, this novel is beautifully written, exciting (and sexy), and full of incident and charm. Even minor characters are treated with Dickensian relish.
- Gay Star (Belfast)
A novel about individualism, the right to be whatever you want to be. ... This book should be read by kids and adults alike ... A gay teen coming out classic.
- Lambda Rising Book Report (D.C.)
The real triumph of the novel is its portraits of adolescent love. This reviewer can think of no recent novel that has done it better... A very considerable achievement.
- English Language Book Review (Amsterdam)
This book is about being gay, and being straight, and a teenager, in Little Rock, Arkansas, but it is about so much more that it defies definition. ... It contains exquisite poetry, beautiful prose, very little sex, and lots of love. ... I recommend this book without hesitation.
- SAFE teen (London, Ontario)
I urge everyone to get a copy of this book.
- Arkansas Advisor
The realistic loves of young people and the moving plot keep the reader interested throughout the novel.
- Tulsa Week
Evokes the pain, strong emotions, and exclusiveness of adolescence. It deserves a broad audience.
- Voice of Youth Advocates (Virginia Beach)
Packs a powerful punch in its darkly realistic portrayal of adolescent sexuality; it will leave you shaken in its honest examination of the evolution... of friendship. Don't miss this one.
- TLN (Eugene, OR)
This story evolves into a quietly poignant and painful portrait of young love and loss with surprisingly little pretension.
- OUT! (Pittsburgh)
The novel is strongly written.
- The Calendar (San Antonio)
What takes this novel above the pack is its unique combination of teenage angst, political controversy, and male/male love.
- The Weekly News (Miami)
