The Arts Posts

Welcome to our first ever Daddyhunt Book Club! For our inaugural selection, we've chosen to James Baldwin classic homonovela Giovanni's Room. First published in 1956, the tale of a young lad coming to grips with his sexuality in Paris and of course, doomed love. In the interest of engaging those of you who haven't read the book recently or at all, I thought we could talk about the book a little more broadly at first and then get a bit more granular with the details further down. I say this because so much of the book sparks conversations that we can all engage in without knowing all the details of the books. Please discuss any of the following and let's get the comments section buzzing with engagement. So let's begin...

I guess the thing that struck me the most about the book is how much of it is still, in many ways, applicable to our gay lives today. The universal emotions and struggle to come to terms with ones sexuality, that David experiences, is the same in the 1950s as it is today. Sure, things seem easier today with society's growing understanding and acceptance, our more positive presence in the media, and the many outlets and safe havens in which we can take shelter, but at its core, the journey to self acceptance is essentially the same. Our protagonist, David's first gay experience when he's a teen shapes and shames him for years to come. It's a crucial turning point for him and one in which I think we can all relate. In his case, he ran away from it, as far as he could emotionally, and eventually through distance. But as we all know, it's...

Everyone seemed pretty enthused about the Daddyhunt Book Club so let's start off with a classic, shall we? For our first official selection we will be reading Giovanni's Room, the 1956 novel by James Baldwin.

Here's how it will work:

- You have until September 5th, Labor Day weekend, to read the book. That way you'll have all summer to find, read, and digest the novel.

- If you've read the book already, please feel free to re-read or join in on the discussion.

- Come Labor Day weekend, we'll post a few jumping off topics and feelings on the book and everyone can take it from there in the comments section.

- Feel free to leave comments on this post if you finish before the deadline and we'll include them later on.

We'd also like to encourage everyone, that should you want to organize an in person discussion with local daddies and hunters by all means contact us at participate@daddyhunt.com and we will help you get the word out!

Happy Reading!

It's always a pleasant surprise when you come across art that you admire, only to discover that the man behind the art is as attractive as the work he produces. Tim Hailand's been photographing artists, athletes, performers, and designers for the last 10 years. In 2009, he released the first in a series of photography compilations called, One Day in the Life. Each one follows the likes of Harry Potter and Equus star Daniel Radcliffe, Scissor Sister frontman Jake Shears, and Rufus Wainwright for an entire day. These candid photos of the performers in and out of their element give you an insightful and endearing eye into the lives of these otherwise private men. You can see some of his other work here, but to me, the real magic lies in what he captures throughout the course of the day.

If you could choose who Tim follows around next for a day, who would it be and why?

You might recognized Hunter and Daddyhunt model Ivan with his dazzling smile and trim frame. Well, not only is he handsome but he is also very talented and we are happy to share this message he wrote about a play he is performing in. If you're in San Fransisco this weekend, check it out. This is the last week and we've heard good things about it!

Glory Days, is a new rock musical and it's a story about four high school friends discovering what has remained the same, and what has changed when they reunite a year after graduation to play a prank on their alma mater. It seems they've changed more than they'd like to think.

I play Jack— a quiet guy who discovers that college isn't really what he needs right now. He quits school, goes on a road trip, and discovers things he never would have under normal circumstances. The show has been an eye-opening experience for me. It's intimate, quick-witted, and catchy, and even audience members who aren't musical fans leave the show moved by how easily they could relate to the story.

Jack and I hold similar characteristics: I'm getting to the age where my adolescent relationships—no matter how strong— are being tested by distance, changes in ideals, and marriage. My best friend and I have grown apart considerably this year. We don’t fit into each others life like we once did and instead, I have to learn how to form new bonds, and to write my own story.

Jack is only at the inception of this common experience. We all know how our lives change as we grew older. We became confident in our homosexuality...