Crystal Boys: A Novel"Crystal Boys is the first Chinese novel on gay themes. A-qing, the adolescent hero, comes from an impoverished family. His father casts him out after learning that his son is gay. A-qing drifts into New Park, a gay hangout in Taipei, and begins his life as a hustler. He meets other boys living on the street, also forsaken by their families: Little Jade, who is constantly searching for his unknown father; Mousey, an orphan and petty thief; and Wu Min, a shy and tender kid, who attempts suicide when discarded by a middle-aged man. These four boys become fast friends and are taken under the protection of Chief Yang, a fiftyish gay guru in the Park. The boys begin to build a family of their own. Meanwhile, A-qing meets Dragon Prince, whose passionate and fateful love for Phoenix Boy has become a legend in the Park.. The second part of the novel deals with the Cozy Nest, a gay bar run by Chief Yang, where the boys and other homosexual exiles have found a refuge. The bar is sponsored by Papa Fu, whose young soldier son had shot himself when his homosexuality was exposed. In Taiwan, the gay community is known as the buoliquan, literally 'glass community,' while the individuals are called 'glass boys' or 'crystal boys'"-- |
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A-qing arms asked began body brought Buddy called chest Chief closed clothes couple covered Cozy Nest dark didn't don't door Dragon drink eyes face father feel floor front gave give glass ground hair hand hard he'd head heart holding hospital keep lane laughed leaving light Little Jade living looked Lord month Moon Beauty Mother Mousey mouth moved nearly never night okay once opened Papa Fu park Phoenix picked playing pointed pond raised reached rest river Road running shirt shoulder shouted sighed sitting smile someone Sonny sound standing started steps stood stopped Street suddenly Taipei talk tell things told took turned voice waiting walked Wang wearing young