Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Future Was Color by Patrick Nathan!

i really didn't care for this. i didn't mind the first part in LA, but everything after that felt tedious and trite. i think the book tried to say something but ultimately got lost in the sauce.

2024 Pride Month Read #2: 2 stars. Was originally going to go with a 3-star rating, but the book was kind of a mess. I'm seeing a lot of 4 and 5 star ratings, and I get why from what those reviewers have written, but the book seriously underwhelmed me, especially in the second half (and maybe even from before that point). Not that "Fellow Travelers" impressed me all that much when I read it earlier this year, but this book seems to want to aspire to tell that kind of story, about our LGBTQ+ ancestors trying to make lives in the Lavender Scare era, and just doesn't succeed for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Patrick Nathan crafts a glittering and affecting story of survival, secrecy, and authenticity. The story follows closeted screenwriter George Curtis who retreats into the mystery and debauchery of old Hollywood while he grapples with news of revolution in his homeland.

The Future Was Color by Patrick Nathan is a novel about a movie writer set in Los Angeles in the 1950s. It deals with Communism, societal issues, and homophobia. While this story was very well-written, I unfortunately was a little bored by it. But it may work for people that enjoy a more literary novel. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Beautifully written and well researched. It took me a bit to get into but I’m glad I pushed through.

A quick moving, closely observed story of a young man and his evolving dreams for his life, both romantic and artistic. Really beautiful book, perfect for anyone who is interested in stories of Hollywood, immigrant life, or queer romance in a less open time, but most perfect for anyone who loves all of those things. Nathan is a craftsman. His words and narrative structure are gorgeous. I bet you'll love it.

I really enjoyed reading this one. Historical Fiction is not my typical genre that I go for, but I do love a good gay literature so that's how this title piqued my interest. George/György is a beyond fascinating character that kept me interested throughout the entire read. I would have blown through this faster if I didn't get so sick about 70% through that I wasn't even reading, just sleeping for multiple days... anyway, I recommended this title to my boyfriend because it is right up his alley and I also recommended it for purchase at my library. This was my first time reading anything from Patrick Nathan and now I'm curious about his previous releases and if he has anything planned for the future.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a rollercoaster and I did not see the ending coming. You will fall in love with the main character. It is a story about the struggle to find yourself.

This was such a raw read! Mixing life and politics in a way that I found incredibly interesting, we get a unique insight into the McCarthy era LA in the 50s.

We mostly follow George, a Hungarian man in the US, running from fear and hatred, only to find a new kind here. Enmeshed in a bright world of art, luxury and debauchery, George is maneuvering through the political climate as a gay, Jewish immigrant.

The stakes become increasingly higher and the impending collapse of George’s world is encroaching… and I couldn’t look away.

This combines the nuance of the writing and graphic and gratuitous sex, which I thought was done so well. This was a really great read, and such a fast one to get through. Once I started I couldn’t stop. Each page was a new intrigue!

"The Future Was Color" is a gorgeously written sensual and dark novel set in 1950s Hollywood. Readers who are interested in historical fiction of the McCarthy era during the lavender scare that uncovers the beauty and depravity of Los Angles will enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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Wow! This book was HOT. A steamy and dazzling meditation on art, destruction, and survival in the McCarthy era and beyond, The Future is Color is prime example of queer historical fiction done right: beautifully rendered with an eye bent toward the present. Embedded in this history is a moving story of a gay man as he navigates queer life through the 1940-50s and on.

This novel really gave me a perspective on how queer people might have moved through the violence of this period with police raids, whistleblowers, etc. However, it also shows how they could have thrived within the secrecy of the margins; hookups, falling in and out of love, heartbreak, losing people - living full and vivid lives in all their fear and complexity. Patrick Nathan brings these three-dimensional characters to the page in stunning detail, most notably the protagonist George and Madeleine, the wealthy actress who lures him into her sphere of parties and fast living. This made the novel feel like a true portrayal of queer lives and stories that were silenced by the prejudice of the era.

Nathan's poetic and cinematic prose also glides the reader effortlessly through the narrative. The way he captures the tone and mood of LA noir - in all its sun, heat and dread, black and white on the silver screen - was pitch perfect and really impressive. If you've been looking for more queer historical fiction like I have, this will be for you. Authors like Patrick Nathan are making sure the lit gays are being fed (lol).

Set amidst Hollywood, NYC, and Las Vegas in the 1950s in a post-war, anti-gay and communism era, the Future Was Colour is a fascinatingly gripping queer, historical fiction. We follow George, a young Hungarian immigrant and movie studio writer, and the decadent, desire-hungry, artistic people around him. This story is incredibly layered and an intricate composite that mirrors the decadence of the Great Gatsby and Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with the nuance and complexity of post-war political fears. It builds a crescendo of suspense and fear, concluding brilliantly. Excellently written.

The writing was beautiful. I love the image he paints of these cities and brings them to life with the characters. It was a great book to read and I loved reading about these characters and their stories

With beautiful writing that feels like you’re reading a classic and a striking atmosphere and characters, Patrick Nathan creates an image of LA and New York that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. This novel says a lot about the politics of the mid nineteenth century without spelling it out for the reader. If you don’t know anything about Mcarthyism I would suggest researching it a bit before reading this book. The writing style, characters and overall vibe of this book really worked for me. While at times I felt like the message of the story meandered, overall I would definitely recommend this to lovers of literary fiction and writers like Eve Babitz and Patti Smith.