Football, friends, and film are the most important parts of Simon Murray's life, likely in that order. Despite being lonely, Simon is cautious about looking for more, and his best friends despair of him ever finding that special someone to share his life. Against his will, they drag him to a party, where Simon barges into a football conversation and ends up defending the honour of star forward Declan Tyler -- unaware that the athlete is present and listening.
Like his entire family, Simon revels in living in Melbourne, Victoria, the home of Australian Rules football and mecca for serious fans. There, players are deemed gods and treated as such – until they do something to cause them to fall out of public favour. Declan is suffering a horrendous year of injuries, and the public is taking him to task for it, so Simon's support is a bright spot in his struggles. In that first awkward meeting, neither man has any idea they will change each other's lives forever.
As Simon and Declan fumble toward building a relationship together, there is yet another obstacle in their way: keeping Declan's homosexuality a secret amidst the intrusion of well-meaning friends and an increasingly suspicious media. They realise that nothing remains hidden forever… and they know the situation will only become more complicated when Declan's private life is revealed. Declan will be forced to make some tough choices that may result in losing either the career he loves or the man he wants. And Simon has never been known to make things easy – for himself or for others.
Review
Tigers and Devils is Australian author Sean Kennedy's novel about an 'arty wanker' who hooks up with a football star.
Simon runs an film festival in Melbourne. His best friends, Roger and Fran, despair of his meeting anyone, mainly due to his penchant for brittle dialog and quick, acerbic comebacks. He seems determined NOT to have a relationship. There is a lot of good-natured teasing, arm-punching, and put-downs between the three friends. They finally drag him, kicking and screaming (metaphorically speaking), to a party where he overhears a group of 'footy' fans dissing Declan Tyler, a well-known player who has been out with an injury. Simon comes to the player's defense and is surprised to find Declan right behind him. Declan, self-assured and beautiful, is amused by Simon's biting humor. They hit it off and soon exchange a kiss, beginning a roller coaster of a relationship which is the heart of the book.
Declan is, of course, closeted. There are no openly gay players in the league. But he can be quite brazen in public and is not overly concerned about appearing in public with his friend. It is often Simon that has the problem of being out with him and argues about it continually. How many times can one question a partner's commitment before the partner gets fed up? Especially when that partner is stunning, rich, famous, and built.
The story does go on a bit with, perhaps, a few too many examples of this particular conflict. It becomes rather episodic, just jumping from one problem to another. But, at heart, the story is real enough -- even based as it is on the geek/god fantasy -- and is sincere, well-written, and winning. Mr. Kennedy creates a certain tension and, though Simon can be VERY annoying sometimes, the reader wants the couple to stay together. The story is about discovery, warmth, commitment, and hope. Fun, and even satisfying, summer reading.
