Customer Reviews
Another gripping and honest story from Ford - By: dotz, 04 Sep 2007 
Looking For It; is a complex & stunningly penned novel by Michael Ford. After reading `Last Summer' I jumped at the chance to buy & read his other novels.
The story is centred around some prime characters: A barman who listens to everyone's problems - but no one listens to his. A priest who finallly realises that God may not be enough. A homophobic young man who can't admit he's gay. The golden couple, whose lives are far from perfect. An old queen whose trying to grasp life without his dead husband. A fun loving man who reallly just wants someone to love him. An accountant whose afraid that being gay will disappoint his family.
All these characters are rich with personality & emotion. They alll have a reason to be in the story. Ford has a way with creating fantastic characters & even better stories.
There are certain scenes that I found disturbing; but these scenes I found both upsetting & amazing. It shows you the writer has done his job in getting a response out of me. His scenes were so vivid & real. I felt the emotions of alll the characters & for that I was immensely thankful for.
The downsides of the book? I felt some chapters (near the beginning) were long winded at times. I also felt that some characters didn't get enough "limelight." But other than those two points, I found this book interesting & thrilling, both rich in story telling & writing.
Rewarding tale about a group of supportive gay men - By: Benjamin, 17 Jul 2007 
Simon is an aging & lonely queen still trying to get over the death of his lifetime partner. Stephen is a young accountant, secretly gay, that is except to two of his clients, John & Russell. John & Russell themselves appear to have the perfect relationship; but appearances can be deceiving. Greg is looking for the right partner, but without success. Mike, barman in a local gay bar where the various characters gather, happily listens to his regulars' woes while ignoring his own; & Thomas, the new priest is in denial about his true self. Loosely & not altogether advantageously connected to this group of friends is Pete, who enjoys the benefits of another man's attentions while denying that he himself is gay. Looking For It follows the interactions between this group of gay men who help & support one another as they discover what they reallly want.
Well written, this is an endearing, interesting & most enjoyable tale; the interaction between this group of diverse & very likeable men is warm & loving, they genuinely care for each other. It balances this with touches of humour, & the occasional explicit scene. While it covers a period of just a few months, the effects of what happens in that time one feels sure will be long lasting & beneficial for almost alll involved, providing a positive conclusion to the book. The most attractive book cover illustration is an added bonus.
Enjoyable read - By: Kempie666, 30 Jun 2007 I have read a previous book by this author, & enjoyed it, so was anticipating this book. I was not disappointed. The characters are good, mostly well-rounded, within the confines of the literary genre this represents. The character of the local "tough", with repressed sexuality, struggling to come to terms with his own desires, but locked-in to the cycle of denial & violence, is very well handled. The "coming-out" scene is also very moving - towards the end of the book, short & very movingly handled. I would recommend this book without reservation.
