The Home For Wayward Ladies Paperback – May 9, 2014

Jeremy Blaustein is no William Faulkner! Trying to write consecutive chapters from the points of view of different persons/voices is more complicated than it seems, and Blaustein does not master the technique. Often, I could not quite tell whether the chapter's voice was Eli, Nick or Hunter! All were equally smarmy, bitchy and insecure! There needed to be a few more shades of characterizations/personalities/voices to distinguish one lady from another, I feel.That aside, the concept is stronger than the actual story. I like the idea of three college friends coming out, growing up, and deciding to share their young adult lives in the theater and in NYC. I also appreciate their desire to remain loyal to one another despite the dramas and turns of their individual lives through the ensuing years. I empathize with Eli's obsessive infatuation with Hunter; I laughed at some of the characterizations of the Poconos cast (though they were a little too "out of central casting" for my taste.)However, I am not sure the conceit of "the ladies" was really necessary, other than for supplying a catchy title. In fact, the incessant, "Lady, remember our pledge...." and "Listen here, Lady" stuff became grating to me rather quickly. Enough with the artifice. Strengthen the story. Differentiate your boys' voices. Bulk up your characters.Speaking of characters...Besides the Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney conceit of "putting on a summer-stock show from nothing," a bit more development of those peripheral personalities and backstories could have bolstered the main story line and given our ladies someplace else to occasionally focus their energies.If the story is a sure-fire plot for an Off-Broadway comedy production, as some proclaim, then it needs a bit more of everything to become a true hit.

This wise and witty book moves gracefully from hilarity to poignancy and back again, taking the reader on an amazing journey. First-time author Jeremy Blaustein conveys an unmistakable sense that he knows whereof he speaks, which makes his characters come alive, and their problems, ambitions, and needs resonate clearly. If I were asked to sum up what this book is about, I would simply say -- Love. Pick it up, read it, you'll love it!

Fun and engaging read. Knowing many in the theater world, made it entertaining and adaptable. I could picture these characters throughout the story.

Jeremy got this audience member to both miss and remember why he's no longer in the theatre, why gays have the best sass, and that I need to lose 30 lbs. All inspiring !

I am just a few chapters in and cannot stop laughing or investing in these characters. I can't wait to see where this story takes me!

This was a fun and enjoyable read! Very funny and I enjoyed the relationship between the Ladies. I definitely recommend this book!

Lacks wit.

There was something wrong with the formatting where there were 2 lines after every paragraph which kept confusing me and making me think I was at the end of the chapter or the end of a thought and wasn't.The first half of the book was an amusing story of three young gay men working in the theatre in Manhattan and I enjoyed that very much. At about 40% though they decide to pack it all up into an unreliable car and re-enact the movie To Wong Foo in the middle of nowhere. This part was less good for me. I enjoyed the aging queen but the mobster's wife part was underdone and overall I felt like the book lost touch with reality at this point and anxiously skipped my way to the end.There were occasional bon mots throughout:"I remain as still as a racoon that's been caught rifling through the trashcans."And several humorous parts:"As chief caveman, it is his responsibility to hunt and gather and mine to call Betty Rubble over to the prehistoric fence so we can pass the time while the octopus does the dishes."I don't think I'd call it a comedy though. It's just gay camp turns of phrase, which I love, but the book needed more to tie them together.Page 30, location 447: "It's a shame the producers hadn't though up that angle;" should be thoughtPage 38, location 582, there's an extra space after the word "sings" before the period.Page 54, location 826: "I hope y'all call make a go of it." should be canPage 78, location 1185: "I am too weak to avoid being hoisting by my own petard." should be hoistedPage 78, location 1186, no period at the end of the sentence "I need your help"Starting at page 152 there are several paragraph breaks missing, where one person talking leads into the next which continues until 215.