THE MAGIC GARDEN OF STANLEY SWEETHEART

by Robert Westbrook ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 23, 1969

This novel, written by a twenty-two-year-old who was first published at sixteen, is youthful, very hip, but faintly annoying. In fact it is so carefully organized, so un-spontaneous, that you might say Mr. Westbrook is a young con artist exploiting the hangups of his generation with a certain skill. Stanley Sweetheart is an alienated Columbia University student who wants to become a film maker. He plays roles and makes out pretty well until he meets the virginal Cathy whom he initiates. They spend some time building a relationship. This also involves hearing all the tedious tidbits about the sex lives of the girls in the dorm. . . including Fran, Cathy's wordly-wise roommate. Stanley decides to use Fran in his film Masturbation and ends up with Fran on his hands. It's a depleting triangle until Cathy splits with a rock musician and Stanley takes to the East Village and a menage a trois with two libidinous lesbians. Stanley's (and the author's) credo is ""Let it all happen"" which does not lend itself to much credence here.

Pub Date: May 23, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1969

Categories: FICTION