Jim Provenzano

Monkey Suits: a Novel Jim Provenzano

The cater waiter is the ultimate illusion; queer posing as straight, liberal posing as conservative, hedonist posing as eunuch. In his second novel, Jim Provenzano (author of the acclaimed PINS, the Lambda Literary Award winner Every Time I Think of You, its sequel Message of Love, and other novels and plays) explores Manhattan society life from the servants' point of view.

Monkey Suits serves up a compassionate and witty tale of 1980s class warfare, and the romantic entanglements of a quintet of tuxedo-clad waiters. Lee Wyndam's work-related affairs lead to more frustration than he'd expected. Drawn to activism, his passion may finally blossom. His ex-boyfriend Brian Burns' foray into "the oldest profession" leads to a strange encounter. Ed Seabrook, Brian's spiritual boyfriend, Marcos Tierra, a sassy club kid, and Ritchie Hurst, a (mostly) straight sculptor, each have their lives forever changed by a tumultuous benefit protest.