Tony Gentry

@logentry

Writer and woods walker. Lifetime lefty. Bon Air, Virginia, US #Harvard #NYU #UVA #VCU occupational therapy prof emeritus. Licensed OT. Photos: @wandering.wow2.bsky.social Writing: #fiction #books #photography #RVA

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Tony Gentry@logentry· 28d

Ahead of tonight's Authors Against Banned Books event here in Richmond, have been thinking about the banned books that have meant so much to me, among them these twelve. Hard to imagine where I'd be without each of them falling into my hands at exactly the right moment. #books #booksky #RVA

Tony Gentry@logentry· 28d

Tonight at @bookpeoplerva.bsky.social, joining in this event, where I'll be reading from the original banned book Lady Chatterley's Lover (the tale that launched a sea of romance novels). #bannedbooks #books #Booksky #writing #bookstores #RVA

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jul 10

Grateful for this thoughtful and insightful discussion of my new novel by uber-reviewer Topher's Library (check out his Youtube channel here: www.youtube.com/topherslibrary/ (in ALT see the longer review I cut and pasted from Fable):

Excerpt from Topher's Library review on Fable:

I’m not sure I can fully put into words what it was like to read Covenant City by Tony Gentry. On one hand, this is a fast-paced, immersive, and highly accessible novel told from the perspective of a 19-year-old. On the other, the subject matter feels so unfortunately plausible that there were moments when I found myself bordering on nausea. This is a dystopian, coming-of-age-esque novel set in Richmond, Virginia, and because I live in the area, the setting made the story especially immersive. I could picture many of the places being described, which made the world of the book feel that much closer and more unsettling. Because the story is told from the perspective of a 19-year-old, it occasionally reads like YA, but I think that is intentional. It does not diminish the impact of what Gentry is doing. If anything, it makes the book incredibly easy to enter and difficult to put down. What the novel captures particularly well is how quickly a society can slide into groupthink and accept ideas that once would have seemed unthinkable. By the time people finally stop and ask, “How did we ever get here?” the machinery is already in motion. The book explores fascism, racism, racial purity, and what can happen when certain beliefs about identity, power, and belonging are carried to their logical extremes. Some of what unfolds may initially feel far-fetched, but history has shown repeatedly that societies are capable of normalizing things that once seemed impossible. That awareness is part of what makes the novel so uncomfortable. That is one of the reasons I think Covenant City could be an excellent book club selection, particularly for a group made up of people with different beliefs, ideologies, and political perspectives. With clear boundaries and a willingness to listen, this could lead to an incredibly rich discussion. This is a book I would encourage almost anyone to pick up.

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jul 4

On the Big 250: One old man's highly personal Top Ten list of pop songs that explain America (see gloss in ALT tag). #4thofJuly #America250 #popsongs #music

10. The great American poet Chuck Berry's most overtly patriotic song, though everything he sang was straight up America
9. The saddest song every sung about American capitalism, and what is America but that?
8. Like Chuck Berry, everything the Band sang was about America, though in the Band's case, its folk history. So could have picked any of theirs - this one will do.
7. Close second to Holiday's critique of capitalism, with a dollop of cronyism thrown in for good measure
6. Bruce, too, is of, by, and for America, the American workingman to be specific. Considered choosing Darkness on the Edge of Town, considered Rosalita, but couldn't not add this one, right?
5. Name me a better song about the American dream and struggling for it
4. I first heard Charles' version on his LP "A Message from the People" I got from Columbia House mail order in high school. That whole album is an overlooked gem from his later years
3. This was Simon's Bicentennial dirge in the wake of Vietnam and Nixon. 50 years later, more on point than ever, ain't it?
1. Tie for Number One. We sang Guthrie's song in grade school, around the time Dylan was hitting his stride. Like Berry, and the Band, and Bruce, everything our nation's two great folk tune bards have sung is about these United States.

Okay, anyone care to play? What would you add or subtract from my little list?

Happy 250 everyone - may we survive to 251.

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 28

Just wow. The thrill of seeing two of my books displayed at a bookstore (here at Book People RVA @bookpeoplerva.bsky.social). #books #writing #booksky #bookstores #RVA

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 18

My new novel, out now: #books #writing #booksky #dystopian #RVA #Resist

cover of my new novel Covenant City with golden statue of fat man in long necktie centered. Caption reads: People keep saying the election will fix things, but what if there are no elections? The story imagines a radical remigration plan put in place after elections are canceled and martial law enacted, with Richmond, Virginia ground zero for the experiment.

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 15

At the launch for my new novel Covenant City, was asked to name 3 other dystopian tales that I admire. See ALT TXT for my comments on them: #books #dystopia #BookSky #writing #reading

color photo, covers of the following 3 novels, side-by-side:

It Can't Happen Here (1934) is a stark reminder of how close America came to white supremacist fascism before WWII, and boy did Lewis nail small-town, small-minded goobers.

1984 (1949) is, of course, the uber dystopia. The jaw-imbedded AI minder in my book is an auditory version of the 2-way Big Brother tv screens in Orwell's. Chilling to think how our devices track us, and how easy it would be for the govt to take over that surveillance to control us.

American War (2017) could be a sequel to my novel; set in 2074, amidst the Second Civil War (this one fought over oil), its horrors - the coastline cities underwater, a pandemic that kills half the population, killer robot drones -- all too plausible.

Your turn - what's your favorite dystopian novel? Movie?

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 11

At the launch for my new novel Covenant City at Book People @bookpeoplerva.bsky.social, this bit explaining the all too plausible MAWA - Make America White-Assed - project the book imagines. Learn more at www.tonygentry.com. #books #booksky #RVA #novel #writing #newbook #dystopian

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 10

Dr. Robert Coles has died (age 97). Today's NYT obituary lists his many accomplishments. Please see ALT TXT for the reading list from his course Literature of Social Reflection, which I was lucky enough to take, and which I now realize changed my life, career and writing. RIP, sir. #booksky #books

Reading list for The Literature of Social Reflection course:

Let Us Now Praise Famous Men
Invisible Man
The Moviegoer
The Road to Wigan Pier
The Death of Ivan Ilych
Native Son
White Mule (William Carlos Williams)
The Displaced Person (Flannery O'Conner)
Tell Me a Riddle (Tillie Olsen)
Gravity and Grace (Simone Weil)
Poor People (William T. Colman

One note - I'm just one of so many impacted by Dr. Coles' work and career. It strikes me now that everything I write is filtered through these books and the way Coles taught them - focus on empathy, caring, dignity, de-othering.

Dear Dr. Coles, may you rest in peace.

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 9

Another of those Trump "I Did That!" stickers, this one on a slab of NY Strip steak that costs $45.20 (at Midlothian, VA Wegman's).

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 6

Here's me, two years ago today, at the launch of my biographical novel The Night Doctor of Richmond at Book People RVA. Back there today to launch my new novel Covenant City. Come if you can! (1-3 pm) Book People is at 10464 Ridgefield Pkwy, Henrico. #books #Booksky #writing #RVA

Guy in blue short-sleeved shirt at a podium in front of shelved books, expression suggesting, "Who me?"

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 3

Richmond book reviewer Topher's welcome take on my book (excerpted from his Youtube post (www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsogHqvpB80&t=340s/). If you like, learn more about the book here: www.tonygentry.com/ #books #novels #writing #booksky #RVA #history #blackhistory

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 2

Saw this corrective flag on a restaurant window in Chelsea, NYC.

color photo - MAKE AMERICA GAY AGAIN rainbow flag stretched across a restaurant window

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 1

Shout out to Richmond's most devoted community bookstore, on the occasion of their hosting the launch of my new novel Covenant City this coming Saturday (they also launched my other two). www.tonygentry.com/post/thank-you-book-people-rva/ #books #bookstores #RVA #writing #BookSky

Tony Gentry@logentry· Jun 1

It's Walt Whitman's birthday; his work has meant so much to me. Here's the clever frontispiece to the self-published first edition of Leaves of Grass (seen at his birthplace on Long Island); note he omits adding his name, letting that rakish etching say it all. #poetry #poem #BookSky #writing

color photo, frontispiece to book. On left page an etching of a casually posed man in shirtsleeves and a hat. On right page title Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York, 1855. (Whitman left his name off, intending the etching to convey who he was.)

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 30

One week from today - come join us if you can! @bookpeoplerva.bsky.social #books #booksky #RVA #booklaunch #novels #

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 28

And batting lead-off for @bookpeoplerva.bsky.social June events, me and my new book! Please come if you can - #RVA #books #booksky #Richmond #dystopian

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 27

Excited to share this screenshot of topherslibrary's brief review. It means a lot when an avid reader gets what you were aiming for: #books #booksky #writing #history #novels #RVA

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 27

A couple miles from our house: #Resist #RVA #BonAir #ICEOut

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 27

First two Goodreads reviews for my new novel Covenant City:

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 23

Seen on a gas pump in Richmond, Virginia yesterday. #RVA #Resist #gasprices

color photo, closeup of gas pump screen showing price of gas. A sticker with pic of Donald Trump pointing to screen reads "I DID THAT!"

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 20

It could happen here. My new novel, out now. #books #booksky #dystopian #novel #writing #RVA #Richmond

poster showing book cover with golden statue of fat man in business suit with long necktie, title Covenant City, a novel by Tony Gentry. On right a QR code linked to a purchase site and blurbs calling the book darkly compelling and heart-pounding.

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 14

There's a bear over there! Wandering Oregon Hill neighborhood in downtown #Richmond, in and out of Hollywood Cemetery. Happily, dude was tranquilized and is on his way back to the woods. #RVA #animals #bears

color photo - shaggy juvenile black bear facing camera behind hedge

cute juvenile black bear climbing a tree, picket fence in foreground

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 14

On the 1st page of my new novel Covenant City: martial law and elections canceled. At the library, picked up Lewis' classic 1935 dystopia (1st ed. protected in a box) and this 2018 set of cautionary essays that reads like a blueprint for what's happening here in real time Can and is #books

Cover of book Can it Happen Here? and title page of It Can't Happen Here (that fragile 1935 first edition book cradled in a protective box)

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 13

Here's another one - this one for "story-telling expert":

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 13

Keep getting head hunter calls for "literary specialist" jobs - teaching the robots to write. This is truly terrifying

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 11

Thank you @bookpeoplerva.bsky.social! They've held launches for my two previous novels, and here's No. 3! This one a tea and cookies chat with mystery author Katy Munger, who's new book is Monkey See Monkey Do. Please come if you can. Learn more: www.tonygentry.com #RVA #books #booksky #Richmond

poster for my book launch, June 6 from 1-3 pm at Book People bookstore, 10464 Ridgefield Pkwy, Henrico, Virginia. Headshots of me and Katy Munger and cover shot of the book

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 8

RIP Phil Caputo. If you can only read two of his ten novels, these. Of the first, John Gregory Dunne wrote, "to call it the best book about Vietnam is to trivialize it." The second, set in war-torn Sudan, reads like a latter-day Graham Greene morality tale. #books #writing #booksky

color photo showing covers of Philip Caputo's A Rumor of War and Acts of Faith side-by-side

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 7

Truth is stranger than satire, I'm learning. The cover of my new dystopian novel, and, well, this: #books #booksky #politics

Two photos, one the cover of my novel Covenant City featuring a golden statue of fat man in a business suit, the other a Truth Social post from the President showing an actual golden statue of him in Miami

Tony Gentry@logentry· May 6

Happy to announce that the Library of Virginia has accepted my new novel Covenant City and has made it available to read on Biblioboard. Here's the link: library.biblioboard.com/content/79221da4-03d4-4aea-b979-683216204dd4/