“Small Ironies” by J. Peter Bergman is commended by the US Review of Books, remarking that “authenticity shines through this unusual but memorable tale”

Kate Robinson of the US Review of Books highlighted the expertise of the author, J. Peter Bergman: “Bergman’s leisurely rendered yet precise prose meanders through the detail of this unique coming-of-age story. It rides on the waves of both a practical, biographical bent and the elegance of a deeply examined literary stance.”

Despite the Drapers’ unique generational occupation of prostitution, Max Draper, the primary character of “Small Ironies,” has been raised with more honesty, love, tolerance, and grace than most American families. He is subjected to far more candid sexual talk than is customary. Despite his discomfort, he manages to maintain his equilibrium in what could have been a far more traumatic circumstance if his father had been less down-to-earth and his mother and grandmother far less elegant and well-liked by all who knew them.

Max is encouraged to talk to both males and females about his sexual inclinations. He eventually chooses a gay lifestyle, followed by an on-again, off-again attempt at bisexuality, especially in regard to his continued friendship with his childhood friend, Freddy (short for Fredericka).

Here’s an excerpt from the review written by the US Review of Books’ Kate Robinson that underlines:

“Authenticity shines through this unusual but memorable tale. Bergman’s leisurely rendered yet precise prose meanders through the detail of this unique coming-of-age story. It rides on the waves of both a practical, biographical bent and the elegance of a deeply examined literary stance. The story is punctuated by a serial first-person viewpoint that is a bit startling, though the voices of each character are distinct, and their chapters are marked with specific epigraphs. In this respect, the storytelling feels most natural whenever the tale returns to Max’s point of view. Bergman digs deep into the psyches of all his characters, revealing both beauty and flaw with the absolute irony that accompanies the spiral of harmony and tragedy surrounding those Max loves most. The interplay of duty and loyalty, libidinal discretion and indiscretion, secrets and betrayal, and pain and loss play out in the familiar and robust environments of New York City and London, giving the brilliant debut novel a classic, cinematic ambiance.”