“Binding the God: Ursine Essays from the Mountain Top”–Jeff Mann

Mann, Jeff. “Binding the God: Ursine Essays from the Mountain South”, Bear Bones Books , 2010.

Brawny Beautiful Prose

Amos Lassen

I usually give excellent reviews and every now and then sometime comes along that makes me realize I have judged some work too easily because this new book sets a new standard of excellence. That is exactly what happens with Jeff Mann’s new book, “Binding the God…” The book looks closely at the author and in doing so brings us some of the beautiful pieces he has written. Jeff Mann has a permanent place on my bookshelf but I will have to find an extra special place for this book.
Mann gives us an idea of what it is like to be a Southern gentleman and even more than that, a Southern gay gentleman. As a faculty member at Virginia Tech, Mann’s career is academia but his life is a son of the South and I cannot think of a better example to have. I have always been impressed with his writing but when I actually met him last year, I was just as impressed with Mann the man.
In this collection of essays, Mann writes about bear culture—“Beards, Body Hair and Brawn”, “How to Be a Happy Country Leather Bear” and several others and he writes about life and love both in general and personally. He gives us a wonderful look at GLBT life in the South with the piece, “Southern (LGBT) Living” but the essay that really stood out for me was the title piece. “Binding the God”, an extremely personal piece (or so I understood) that looks at the relationship (or lack of) of religion and homosexuality. It is sublimely written and I felt myself tearing up as I read. Mann’s essay is yet further proof that we, the LGBT community, are just like everyone else except for whom we chose to love. It’s not an easy essay to read because it touches on so much of what we have all experienced but it is honest and candid and flows beautifully. I suspect that the entire collection here is personal and really not what I would expect from a big hulky man like Jeff Mann but then I should not be surprised—everything I have read by him has been excellent.
When I first received the uncorrected proof several months ago, I sat down to read it and was extremely moved. Knowing that it would not be officially out until December, I pushed it aside and planned to come back to write my review. That is just what I did today and upon rereading Jeff’s book, I felt if I had been reunited with a dear friend. All those emotions I had during that first reading came rushing back and I was even more impressed the second time. Aside from the variety of topics covered here, we have Mann’s beautiful, luxurious prose. If you are not a bear or not even gay, that should not stop you from having a look here. What Mann says is universal in scope even though it is obviously for the LGBT community.We are not inclusive and we want everyone to understand us and Mann’s book can indeed help. Understanding is a key to acceptance and since Jeff Mann has opened the door, why not walk on in?