Secret Love

The main reason I read Secret Love was because its author, Bart Schneider, is my uncle. It’s the first novel I’ve seen that was written by an acquaintance, letting me wonder how much the protagonist and his father are based on my uncle and grandfather. The story takes place in San Francisco in the mid-1960’s, presenting an image of what the city looked like before Vietnam-era protests, the gay-rights movement, and gentrification.

The title refers to the romance between Jake, a Jewish civil-rights activist attorney, and Nisa, a young mulatto actress. Their relationship is hindered by Jake’s desire to keep it secret from his father, children, and public society. Two gay characters, one black and one white, are also entangled in the story.

The characters are distinctive but believable, though they’re all a bit too articulate and Jake sometimes seems too good to be true. Issues like race, religion, and homosexuality percolate throughout the narrative without it becoming preachy. You end up caring about the characters, and the San Francisco atmosphere is an added bonus to anyone familiar with the city.

I enjoyed the storytelling and images of Secret Love, for reasons besides my bias from knowing the author.