Disappointing account of a sexually obsessed gay couple in San Francisco in 1970s. For such an important time and place in the history of the gay rights movement, you would think the book could capture some of the excitement of the era. But like its characters, it is trapped in the stunted world of narcissistic, sexual obsession. When the main character gets really down, he climbs to the tallest hill overlooking the Castro and masterbates. This just about says it all. Readers will need to wait for a true memoir of that time and place -- a subject deserving a real investigation. ( )