The Pharmacist appeared in a different form in Justin David’s collection He’s Done Ever so Well for Himself. That book was reviewed previously in QueerGuru and met with admiration for his finely-drawn, wacky characters. This version appears in the form of a smart, tight novella. Since it is a slim book, I will refrain from spoiling too much. Read it yourself and see if you appreciate the work as much as I did.
Billy Monroe is a twenty-something photographer and painter. While living in Shoreditch while it was quickly gentrifying, he meets an older gentleman, Albert Power, who happens to live in the same building. Billy becomes a little obsessed by this mysterious man who cuts a striking figure in the neighborhood.
Upon meeting, Albert shares that he deals in pharmaceuticals, a euphemistic explanation for his small-scale drug dealing. Though Billy is inexperienced in this scene, he realizes that Ecstasy is a revelation. While experimenting with Albert, the situation becomes potently sexual. They might be viewed as an odd match. Billy is in a relationship with Jamie, a contemporary of similar age.
For many reasons, Billy decides to keep his interactions with Albert secret from Jamie. David manages to write with great skill not only the drug scenes but also the subsequent sexual episodes that result. This is always a challenge and many writers fail to capture it in a believable and sexy fashion.
There are other turns occur before the end of the novella. Revealing too much would ruin the pleasure a reader would have in devouring this book in one setting.
JUSTIN DAVID lives and works in East London. He is a writer, photographer and publisher. He studied Graphic Communication at the University of Northampton and later graduated from the MA Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London.His short fiction has appeared in many print and online anthologies and his full length work He’s Done Ever So Well for Himself was published in April 2018.
His photography collection of nocturnal performers, Night Work, has been exhibited in London at venues including Jackson’s Lane. His photographic has been widely published in magazine and on the covers of books and his photography/poetry collaboration with Nathan Evans, Threads, was long-listed for the Polari First Book Prize. He has been a contributor to Paul Burston’s literary salon, Polari, at Royal Festival Hall, and is a founder member of Leather Lane Writers.
REVIEW: STEPHEN COYQueerguru Contributor STEPHEN COY has been an avid reader all his (very long) life ? and is finally putting his skills to good use. He lives in Provincetown full time with his husband Jim, having finally given up the bright lights of Boston and now haunts the streets mumbling to himself that no one reads anymore …
Labels: 2020, book review, Justin David, Stephen Coy
