Bodies and Souls

"A memorable feast . . . powerful, chilling, moving . . . extraordinary" from the bestselling author of City of Night and The Sexual Outlaw ( Los Angeles Times).   An exceptional novel from the bestselling author of the modern classic City of Night, Bodies and Souls is a portrait of modern Los Angeles on an epic scale, "the most spiritual and physical of cities." Gorgeous, seedy, and striving, the Los Angeles of Rechy's imagination is a magnetic city that draws to it the nation's brightest and darkest energies—characters that include a female porn superstar; a young Chicano punk-rock fan; a Bel Air matron and her tyrannical husband, a Supreme Court judge; an aging male stripper; a black maid with apocalyptic visions; and a cynical TV anchorwoman. Through this rich tapestry of human struggle, Rechy paints a lush portrait of a paradise lost but also a heroic odyssey in search of redemption.   "Masterful . . . one of the most important novels of the year." — Dallas Times Herald   "There's so much energy, ambition, and humor in Bodies and Souls that the phrase 'scarred beauty' might well describe the novel." — The New York Times Book Review   "Brilliant portraits of modern lives . . . superb." — San Francisco Chronicle   "Rechy is very good at evoking the seamier side of the streets, and he is masterful in funny, graphic sex scenes." — Publishers Weekly