#BIR2011: Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

Today is the last day of BIR2011. Kind of sad, but kind of awesome too. Hopefully you guys have enjoyed my favorites of the year, and maybe even found some new favorites of your own! But before we say goodbye, I have one more book to gush about.

Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

I love, love, LOVE male POV books. I love gritty, raw, intense and painful ones. I love ones that aren't afraid to go no holds barred. And this one did all of that. Actually, it did it twice. It's dual POV, between a football player and a gymnast, two guys who find an odd friendship in a seriously rough situation.

This book is definitely one that won't be for everyone, but I still think everyone needs to give it a chance. Yeah, it's rather male and testosterone driven. Yes, there's plenty of swearing and crudeness. But this book is poignant and gutting and gripping. I could not put this book down, nor could I get it out of my head. Even books that are heavily emotional do not always make me physically ache. This one did.

Don't let the cover scare you away, or turn you off. This book pulls in bullying in a big way, friendship, trust, and coming of age. Realistic and utterly genuine, this is a book that will stick with me for years to come.

And if all that isn't enough to convince you to give this one a try, then check out this interview with Joshua, who, by the way, is one of the nicest people I've ever had the chance to talk with.

Describe Kurt and Danny in 3 words each. 

Kurt = Hulking, Disfigured, Tender: Danny = Tiny, Anxious, Driven.

If you could pair Kurt and Danny with any character from any book, who would you pick for each? 

I'd pair Kurt with Ponyboy from "The Outsiders" because I think they're kindred spirits and I'd pair Danny with Lisbeth Salander from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" so she could protect him.

Which character was more challenging for you to write: Kurt or Danny? 

Kurt. His character's background and physicality were the exact opposite of mine growing up so I really had to dig a long time and root around in his head before I felt confident enough to speak in his voice

What god/goddess would be your nemesis? 

I'm going with the Greek God Ares (Aries) for this one. He's the god of war and he's pretty much a d*ck. I mean, come on! He's the god of war and murder! How much more do I have to say? I would love to stamp out war and murder but it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. So, yeah, Ares is my nemesis.

What kind of dinosaur would you describe yourself as? 

I've been doing some Discovery Channel surfing on the internet and based on the following description of the Triceratops, I have to say I'm feeling a bit of a love connection with this triple-horned brute. "Triceratops' brain was about the same size as a human fist, suggesting the dinosaur did not have very acute senses and wasn’t the brightest of beasts. Nevertheless, it was adept at fending for itself, using its scissorlike teeth to slice through vegetation." Okay, so minus the scissorlike teeth, I'm thinking he sounds like the Homer Simpson of the dinosaur world and that's how I kind of feel on a day to day basis. Triceratops, you're my dino!


If you haven't yet read this book, now's your chance! I have one copy up for grabs to one lucky winner!

To enter, just fill out THIS form.

This contest is US Only (No PO Boxes) and ends December 24.

And don't forget to stop by the BIR2011 blog for the last day of awesomeness over there, featuring Delirium and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer!