I am ridiculous
I've been looking for new LGBT YA fiction, and I came across a book called "The Next Competitor." (I admit, I was drawn in because there was a picture of a figure skater on the cover.) But then I read the blurb and had to laugh:
It's the all-important Olympic season and eighteen-year-old American figure skater Alex Grady is discovering that there are many obstacles along the way on his quest to win a gold medal. For starters, he has to get through endless hours of practice under the watchful eye of his stern and slightly terrifying Russian coach.
Then he has to contend with his all-American rival, Tanner Nielsen. Tanner has the talent, looks, poise and picture-perfect girlfriend that make him the ideal poster boy for United States figure skating. Alex has the talent and his looks aren't bad, but the filter between his brain and his mouth is missing, and he definitely doesn't have a girlfriend.
He doesn't have a boyfriend either, although he finds himself thinking far too much about pairs skater Matt Savelli, which is ridiculous, since goody two-shoes Matt is totally not his type. Besides, Alex doesn't have time to worry about dating, not with the Olympics looming, right? Can he find a way to go for the gold and still remain true to himself?
UM, HI? THIS IS TOTALLY A BOOK ABOUT JOHNNY WEIR, RIGHT? Russian coach, all-American rival who's the poster boy for US figure skating (why hello there, Evan Lysacek), a lack of brain-to-mouth filter, definitely without a girlfriend...um. Yes? Am I right?
I kind of want to read the book just to see where it goes and then maybe base a fanfic around it.
It's the all-important Olympic season and eighteen-year-old American figure skater Alex Grady is discovering that there are many obstacles along the way on his quest to win a gold medal. For starters, he has to get through endless hours of practice under the watchful eye of his stern and slightly terrifying Russian coach.
Then he has to contend with his all-American rival, Tanner Nielsen. Tanner has the talent, looks, poise and picture-perfect girlfriend that make him the ideal poster boy for United States figure skating. Alex has the talent and his looks aren't bad, but the filter between his brain and his mouth is missing, and he definitely doesn't have a girlfriend.
He doesn't have a boyfriend either, although he finds himself thinking far too much about pairs skater Matt Savelli, which is ridiculous, since goody two-shoes Matt is totally not his type. Besides, Alex doesn't have time to worry about dating, not with the Olympics looming, right? Can he find a way to go for the gold and still remain true to himself?
UM, HI? THIS IS TOTALLY A BOOK ABOUT JOHNNY WEIR, RIGHT? Russian coach, all-American rival who's the poster boy for US figure skating (why hello there, Evan Lysacek), a lack of brain-to-mouth filter, definitely without a girlfriend...um. Yes? Am I right?
I kind of want to read the book just to see where it goes and then maybe base a fanfic around it.