Kameleon Man by Kim Brunhuber

Kameleon Man was written by Kim Brunhuber, a Canadian reporter and news host. Kim used to be a model, and although he asserts this is not autobiographical, that is the world in which Kameleon Man takes place.

Hoping to make it as a male model, Stacey Schmidt gets a taste of high fashion, higher stakes, sex, glamour, and great clothes when he's suddenly propelled from suburban model to the garment jungle of modern Toronto.

Kameleon Jeans is a big account, and the male models in town are clawing to become the company's new face and body. Stacey manages to snag it, and while it seems like a ticket to fame and fortune, things take a twist, and he ends up traveling Europe, getting back to his love of photography, and ending up in Spain. Of course, there's the drug running as well, but I'll let Stacey tell you about that.

This seemed like an insider's romp through the fashion world, but as he described the streets of Toronto and simple things like searching for an apartment, I felt he was really lonely. Always looking from the outside and not really sure if he even wants to go in. I've read other fashion romps, and they are usually gay in the old-fashioned sense of the word and filled with shoes! drama! glitz! So maybe this one threw my expectations. I felt the last third of the book went off in too many directions. Often it seemed like it should be another book, or rather, the main portion of the book. Not enough going on in the first part, and so much going on in the second that there wasn't time to absorb the changes.Still enjoyable, with a mild recommendation.

2003 / Paperback / 296 pages