A brilliant novel that explores the complexities of desire and sexual identity. The protagonist, William Abbott, grows from a naïve but unusual and courageous Vermont boy to a somewhat jaded New Yorker. His sexuality is fluid, but so is that of many people he encounters in a rich life. The author and the narrator are deeply sympathetic to the confusions of life. The book is built around a wonderful portrayal of genuine friendship across genders and over time. Sexually explicit, but for good reason.