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rusty97015
, February 07, 2008
(view all comments by rusty97015)
While browsing through the stacks at Powell's, I stumbled across this book. I hadn't heard of the author or the book. I'm so glad I decided to buy it. The description and "review comments" on the back of the book were nothing special, but I was intrigued by the title. Judging from it's description, I thought this would be a story connecting me to a child, perhaps giving me insight into my own childhood. That is partly what happened. But, I also gained some perspective regarding parenting and how children, even siblings, perceive their parents differently. Additionally, I gained some insight into how parents with the best intentions can be largely misunderstood by their children (and misunderstand their children!).
I found each of the main characters (a mother, a father, and two sons of an upper-middle class suburban Philadelphia family) likable and interesting in their own right. Peripheral characters, as they came and went, were also interesting and kept me engaged.
I found this book in the gay and lesbian section, but I wouldn't say it is necessarily a gay-themed book. Because the main character is a child through a good portion of the story, sexuality has only a limited role. But, there is a growing up and "coming of age" context that I think gay men, lesbians, transgendered, and heterosexual men and women can all relate to. I think virtually everyone can read this book and identify with the characters and their situations on some level.
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