The Man I Might Become: Gay Men Write About Their Fathers

Much has been made of the "cloying mother/ distant father" connection in the development of male homosexuals, but this collection of essays by over two dozen journalists, novelists, playwrights, and poets more truly describes the real range of this often complicated relationship. Indeed, even many of those distant fathers may not realize just how truly influential, for good and bad, they were in their sons' lives. Compiled by the executive editor of Out magazine, this collection runs the emotional gamut from pedestrian confessional to poetic musings that reveal heart-wrenching beauty and tenderness. The best pieces not only describe the father but also illuminate what kind of men their sons have become, although it would have been enlightening to hear more from gay men now becoming fathers themselves. The 28 contributors include Mark Doty, Felice Picano, Bernard Cooper, and many others both well known and not, covering a broad range of geographies and ethnicities. The specificity of the topic might limit this title's appeal, but it is nevertheless recommended for most larger collections.
Jeff Ingram, Newport P.L., OR
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A man's relationship with his father is always complicated--it's the stuff of novels, films, and made-for-TV movies. So what happens when the son is gay? Shenitz brings together an anthology of some of today's finest gay writers to discuss, from a very personal perspective, what happens to the father-son dynamic when this is the case. The writers reflect various generations of gay writing, from the reliable-but-tired stars of the 1970s, to queer theorists and other gay academics, to some wonderful new voices emerging in contemporary gay fiction. The book can be broken up into three categories: dead fathers whose sons never mentioned their homosexuality, fathers who never forgave their sons for being gay, and fathers who have been marvelously accepting. This collection of 28 pieces offers a rich pageant of emotions as sons come to grips with their own feelings about their fathers. Wonderful for anyone coming to terms with his own sexuality, coming out to his family, or coming to realize the importance of a father in his life. Michael Spinella
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