Reviews (5)

Not Just For Gender Theorists
Calling The Testosterone Files "insightful" seems like an act of superlative understatement.This memoir is amazing.Not only has Valerio lived as different genders, not only is he a thoughtful and observant chronicler, but he has the writing chops to make this memoir a pleasure to read.
one man's beautifully written story
Valerio's experiences are different from mine, and he understands some of those experiences that we have in common differently than I do. At times, I think he attributes more of his experiences to hormones, and thus to biological differences between women and men, than is justified by any evidence he presents, and probably by any evidence that could be presented. How can we tell, for just one example, what combination of factors leads to the experience he and I shared of finding it much more difficulty to cry after starting testosterone? In those respects, this is an average transsexual autobiography. But, overall, this book is no ordinary transsexual autobiography. It is beautifully written, it is witty, it evokes in me admiration for his perserverance in pursuing not only his personal need to transition but also his goal of getting the book published, and adds to the many reasons I have to hope that transsexuality will be easier for those who take this route in this future. Just the quality of Valerio's prose alone sets this book above the rest. On a more community-minded level, he neither engages in the hardening of definitions, nor in the opposing tendency to revel in a kind of gender free-for-all, that puts so many people off from exploring trans options for themselves. Instead, we are given one man's account of his own experiences, nothing more, and, more importantly given the quality of his writing, nothing less.

Sharp Transgressions
As a child I was told that God never makes mistakes. Tampering with His work is a terrible sin. Max Wolf Valerio is a terrible, talented sinner. What I liked most about his book, The Testosterone Files, is the thread of poetic nuance that wafts through his prose like the smell of sulphur accompanying a matchstrike. This transexual can write!
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Gender Psychology    4. Gender Studies    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Sex Roles (Sociological Aspects)    7. Sex change    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Transsexuals    11. United States    12. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Reviews (7)

Mixed Results
David Wojnarowicz reveals his backstory in layers, throughout the course of this essay collection. Eventually a complete picture is conjured, of Wojnarowicz' dysfunctional family, his youth on the streets, prostitution, and same-sex lust. His writing is very natural; alternating at first between his sexual and suicidal fantasies, before unleashing his wrath for the American politicians who are deliberately withholding information about AIDS from the public (a condition which Wojnarowicz himself is battling.) The information imparted here is shocking; the insidious influence of the church in American government is uncovered here lucidly, and David gets personal -- introducing one of his dearest friends who eventually dies from AIDS. His grief takes on a political significance, as he has lost many friends to the disease, and is aware that this suffering is unnecessary, and could have been prevented.
A Masterpiece: More Timely Than Ever
CLOSE TO THE KNIVES is simply one of the most important books ever written by one of the most brilliant creative minds of the era.This is an AMAZING, STUNNING and thoroughly SUPERB collage of essays surrounding Mr. Wojnarowicz's battle with HIV, dealing with the politics and bureaucracy of the disease, justice, history, the ranking of lives as "important" and "unimportant" by the powers that be, and life in general.FIERCE, POETIC, and INSIGHTFUL these pieces compose a whole that packs an awesome whollop and is nothing short of GENIUS.This book lights fires and breaths fire with the energy of the words literally screaming from the page at points.CLOSE TO THE KNIVES is also sad proof of yet another life lost before it's time due to the AIDS pandemic.It is a call to action with a message that has not dimmed one iota since it's writing.More timely and pertinent than ever.

One of my favorite artists
I first discovered Wojnarowicz in a "Village Voice" article in 1990. Everything about his work intrigued me. He had a passion for life, and a sort of well-placed fury that is invigorating without being negative and worked in almost every type of art medium possible. I did a Master's thesis on his works that include photography and writing in 1994.Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. Aids (Psychosocial Aspects)    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Gay Studies    8. Gay men    9. General    10. Health    11. Homosexuality    12. Literary    13. Patients    14. People of Color    15. United States    16. Wojnarowicz, David    17. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (16)

OMG this book is SO hilarious!
Be prepared to be unable to stop laughing! The title story was my favorite, tied with "Litter String" (which is one of several stories written from the POV of Babycakes the cat). I can't wait to read more by this fantastic writer!

One of the worst books I have ever read
This book is awful. There is just no excuse for it. This collection of short memoirs are banal, tedious and utterly witless. Peck's only qualifications as a writer is the fact that she is female, over fifty, overweight and gay. Her memoirs are so insipid that finishing this book was incredibly difficult. Reading her memories about her grandparent's cows and how she is unable to pee in the woods made me roll my eyes. When she wrote about her cat, Babycakes, she made it sound as if her cat is ingenious and inovative to do all of these things which cats do naturally (her cat likes string? Really? Wow. . .).I kept waiting for this book to become the fascinating, utterly hilarious, insightful, witty literary achievement that all the other reviews claimed that it was. Needless to say, that never happened. I plan on giving this book to someone that I don't like very much.

Delightful!
A humorous, tongue-in-cheek look at life as a "woman of size."Deliciously entertaining!
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Form - Essays    4. Humor    5. Lesbians    6. Mental health    7. Overweight women    8. Peck, Cheryl    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Specific Groups - Lesbians    11. United States    12. Women    13. Women In The U.S.    14. Biography: general    15. Humor / Essays    16. Humour    17. USA   

Reviews (2)

A Guide to What?
I agree with the previous reviewer. I found the book to be something wholly different than the title encouraged the reader to believe that it was. It was more a memoir and truly a very personal memoir - certainly valuable as a journey to the writer - but of little value to the reader, more a chatty diary than a guide to transsexualism. Plus, it was very poorly edited. I felt like I was reading a first draft of a book, something that the editor had failed to review before publishing. In fact, I wonder if the Trafford publishers act as editors at all. Are they simply publishers of texts submitted to them without any sort of review before publication? Many of the spelling errors could have been identified with a decent spell-checker program, and the book was rife with grammatical errors, which weighed down the reader with having to add letters to a text which was already fairly indecipherable.
The Guide that Fails to Guide
I honestly feel cheated having bought this little book. The title is misleading, for it is not so much a guide as a poorly written memoir. I was looking for information and found nothing useful here. If you're looking for a thoughtful and eloquently written memoir see Jan Morris's classic "Conundrum." If you're looking for a source of information for potential transsexuals - well, I haven't found one yet. You'd do well to just skip this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Psychology    3. Self-Help    4. 141204149X,1-4120-4149-X,04-1956,041956,trafford publishing,ritalynn sly,so you want to be a woman: a transsexual\'s guide,transsexual,cross dressing,gender differences,alternate life styles,self help    5. Biography: general    6. Health & Fitness / General    7. Sex & sexuality   

Reviews (1)

Unafraid to Fight
Alexis DeVeaux presents a comprehensive account of self-described feminist, lesbian, and poet warrior, Audre Lorde.The author pulls together a myriad of published documents, unpublished journal entries by Audre Lorde herself, and a host of interviews with personal friends and family members to create a well documented look at the poet's life.The book is divided into two major sections called "lives."The first life begins prior to Audre's birth, and highlights some aspects of her parent's early life, their eventual marriage and move from the Caribbean to the United States.This family background helps readers understand Audre's nearly lifelong quest to come to terms with her relationship with her often emotionally detached parents.This portion of the book also details information about Audre's childhood, educational background, and young adult life.We learn about Audre's marriage to a white, gay, man and their eventual divorce and follow her process of "coming out" regarding her own lesbianism.Her long-term relationship with a white woman, Frances Clayton, and the challenges associated with raising a bi-racial son and daughter in a lesbian household during an era of rampant, overt racism and sexism was also discussed.DeVeaux also takes time to highlight some of Audre Lorde's flaws, thus providing a somewhat more balanced view of the author.Her professional career as a poet develops slowly, and the evolution of her writing career parallels the evolution of her political views and personal growth.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Ethnic Cultures - General    7. Feminists    8. Lesbians    9. Literary    10. Lorde, Audre    11. Lorde, Audre - Poems & Criticism    12. People of Color    13. Poets, American    14. Specific Groups - Lesbians    15. United States    16. Biography: general    17. English    18. Poetry & poets: from c 1900 -    19. USA   

Reviews (4)

Choppy writing; not much insight.
I was disappointed in this book for several reasons.The sentences were choppy and the stories lacked realism--they didn't bring me close to the people the way other similar anthologies have.Then, the majority of the stories were about women who were marrying in the 40's, 50's, and 60's.As a 29 year old woman, I've been wondering why it's so hard to find the stories of younger women.I skimmed most of the book and don't see myself picking it back up any time soon.

Journeys into Lesbianism
These are the remarkable stories of women whose lives have been transformed by intimancy with another woman. Many had lived a very traditional, heterosexual life up until that point - whenever it was - and made a conscious decision to change.
Lots of stories, little insight
There aren't enough books on this subject which is why I'm glad this book exists.If you are in this situation yourself, just reading as many other women's stories as you can will help you feel less alone.The authors seem to have taken care to paraphrase as little as possible and keep the accounts in the women's own words; however, this makes the book difficult to read because the sentence structures are not always as clear as they could be.I think some additional editing for readability would have really helped.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    3. Interpersonal relations    4. Lesbian Studies    5. Lesbian couples    6. Lesbianism    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Women's Studies    10. Lesbian   

Reviews (25)

The Man Who Was Artie
Okay, I'll admit it. I bought Skip E. Lowe's memoir with the idea that it would be a horrendous hack-job full of celebrity groveler and rampant name-dropping. Needless to say, I was floored when The Boy with the Betty Grable Legs turned out to be a compelling autobiography written with panache and a good deal of humility. HOLLYWOOD GREATS.
HE TELLS WHAT HOLLYWOOD IS ALLBOUT. HE WRITES GREAT AND TELLS WHAT HIS LIFES ALBOUT.

Great read, great life, great legs!
This book is a great journey of someone's life.Skip E. Lowe is a true show business character--as much a part of the town as the Holllywood Sign and the billboards of Angelyne.His life is filled with pathos and happiness. From cover to cover the book is a pure joy.You'll find yourself wondering who could possibly play Mr. Lowe in the movie that undoubtedly will come from this fabulous life memoir. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Entertainers    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Television Personalities    8. Lowe, Skip E    9. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    10. Television personalities    11. United States   

Reviews (1)

Reassuring - but not for bisexual women!
As a straight woman - who also happens to be bisexual - I was anxiously looking forward to sampling this book's contents.I was drawn by the title, "My Lover, My Friend" which rekindled for me memories of my own experiences.
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Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Erotica - General    6. Female friendship    7. General    8. Lesbian Studies    9. Lesbians    10. Sexual behavior    11. Sociology    12. Fiction / Erotica    13. General & Literary Fiction    14. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Reviews (2)

Plesasurable reading
Rare and Commonplace Flowers innovates in the scholarly field. A carefully documented biography, it reconstructs step by step the story of Elizabeth Bishop and Lota de Macedo Soares.Carmen Oliveira's literary achievement lies in conveying this research of undeniable academid value in a very agreeable piece of storytelling.A must for Women's Studies, the book is recommended to anyone who enjoys a good read.

At last, in English!
This book is a treasure, a delightful read.It speaks to a broad range of interests.Fans of Elizabeth Bishop will enjoy learning about her relationship with Lota and her experiences during the 17 years she lived in Brazil.If you are interested in Brazilian history and politics, you will find a rare account of the early sixties in Rio de Janeiro, as the country headed toward military dictatorship.It is also a marvelous and tragic love story.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1910-1967    2. 1911-1979    3. Artists, Architects, Photographers    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Bishop, Elizabeth,    8. Bishop, Elizabeth, 1911-1979    9. Fiction    10. Lesbian Studies    11. Lesbians    12. Literary    13. Soares, Lota de Macedo,    14. Specific Groups - Lesbians    15. Biography: general    16. Bishop, Elizabeth    17. Brazil    18. English    19. Individual artists    20. Poetry & poets: from c 1900 -    21. Soares, Lota de Macedo   

Reviews (5)

interesting for many reasons
The whole book is great. As a gay parent myself, I love to see more gay people telling their stories. But aside from that, the most interesting part of the book was the influence of religious conservatives on NFL players. As a sports fan, I found those sections alarming. Not because I think players should not express their faith, but because of the strong-arm tactics that may be in use to influence people's careers.
Esera Finds Peace & Happiness
I give this a 5 because he deserves it.This poor guy was so paranoid and afraid of being caught or outed beforehe chose to do so himself. It is the predominant theme in the book and gets tiresome at times-but I suppose he had a lot to lose being a football player. He's gentlemanly enough to leave out all the juicy stories he could probably tell, but it's always interesting to read how one evolves from a closet case.

read for all
what i got from esera tuaolo's book was so much more than i ever expected.tuaolo's story tore at my heart, the pain of his self identity that drove him to the edge...that in the end became a source of his strength was very powerful.i feel that those, who are in a place where there orientation has to be kept hidden, will now find comfort in knowing that others have been there and that life can, and often is, a wonderful place outside the closet.i see this as a tool to help educate, and make those who feel gays don't have a place in our society, to rethink just how much pain and destruction that they have helped fuel by creating the environment where so many feel the need to hide in the shadows of fear. maybe this man's story will help to bring more people together. the book was a very quick read, the story pulled me in and i felt like esera was reading it to me.his amazing positive energy came through as i read.however, it did not make the darkest parts of the book easy to read.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Football    5. Football - General    6. Football players    7. Gay Studies    8. Gay athletes    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    11. Sports    12. Sports & Recreation    13. Sports - Football    14. Sports - General    15. United States    16. Biography: sport    17. Literature of special Gay & Lesbian interest    18. Sports & Recreation / Football   

Features

• Bargain Price

Reviews (7)

The politics of an Obsession
I loved this book. It was honest, although at times it did teeter on the pretentious. I'm not sure if there really was a valid point to his parallel tale of Romania's last king and mistress and Benderson's affair with the his Romanian hustler. Perhaps Benderson was just trying to displace some of his guilty feelings over exploiting a poor and desperate young man. By the end it really doesn't matter - his rose tinted glasses are off and it's all just grime, grit as dirty as uncut diamonds. I came to realize that everyone is an accomplice in their own undoing.
A smart director would snatch up the rights
I am straight and was wonderfully surprised how "The Romanian" depicted facets of my own love life and how Benderson's relationship with his mother was similar --the same suffocating control and tenderness. Benderson jolts us right out of our outdated heterosexual and homosexual bourgeois notions. Whether it is his mother or a shameful street hustler, Benderson is only too aware that we are all flawed; that we are only all too human. A shocker for sure but almost right from the beginning, we stop judging and start to search, along with Benderson, deep into our own souls.
Beautiful
While I may like this book partly because I know its main locale, anyone who has ever loved a person or a place with pain, obsessed, fantasized, felt exiled, or contemplated history and fate, will find this a fascinating read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Benderson, Bruce    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Description And Travel    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay men    6. Homosexuality    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Relations with men    9. Romania    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Travel    13. Travelers    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    15. Bargain   

Reviews (6)

read "Alan Turing: The Enigma"by Andrew Hodges instead
If your interest is in Alan Turing, and you are only just becoming familiar with him, you would probably be better served reading what many regard as not only an excellent biography of Alan Turing, but an excellent piece of biographical writing in and of itself, Andrews Hodges' ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA.The current copy on the American Amazon site is an expanded and pricey edition, so you may want to go to the the United Kingdom Amazon site to get the slimmer, earlier edition, which not only costs less, but was also the basis for the award-winning play BREAKING THE CODE.After you've read Hodges' work, and wish to read more about Turing and his work and theories from other perspectives, then you may want to avail yourself on some of these other texts.

I wish other reviewers would take a step back
As a dual computer science and English major, I find it refreshing when I stumble upon a computer science book that surveys the field from a more literary and philosophical perspective. (Galloway's "Protocol" is another example of such a work that I've encountered recently.)
Sad ending to a great genius
This book gives a clear and accessible account of the life and the mathematical achievements of Alan Turing and his contributions to the development of cryptanalysis and the modern computer. Turing apparently committed suicide in the early 1950's because the British authorities were hounding him about his homosexuality. He was a man ahead of his time in one too many ways! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial intelligence    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Computers And Society    8. Gay men    9. General    10. Great Britain    11. History    12. History & Philosophy    13. Legal status, laws, etc.    14. Mathematicians    15. Scientists - General    16. Science / General   

Reviews (4)

Lively social justice history
Growing up in the so-called 'post civil' rights era with intergrated schooling, myself and other 'white' liberals do not conciously realize what risks our own involvement with this social change entailed for all demographics.
I Must Respond
I write this review to praise Mab Segrest's brilliant, beautiful writing: stylistically lovely, deeply insightful, politically powerful.This book is a must read for anyone invested in US cultural politics from the perspective of a passionate activist and incredibly talented writer (and speaker -- I had the privilege of seeing Mab live and she's FABULOUS).

Disgusting and contemptible
This book showcases the filthy ravings of a truly degenerate "human being."Read it for insight into the mind of a truly depraved individual. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1949-    2. Biography    3. Civil rights movements    4. Civil rights workers    5. History & Theory - Radical Thought    6. Lesbians    7. North Carolina    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Race relations    10. Segrest, Mab,    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Southern States    14. Women's Studies - General    15. Ethnography    16. Gay & Lesbian studies    17. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Composers    4. Composers & Musicians - Classical Vocalists    5. Composers & Musicians - General    6. Gay Studies    7. Gender identity in music    8. General    9. Great Britain    10. Music    11. Sex in music    12. 20th century music    13. Composers & musicians    14. Music / General   

Editorial Review

Margot Peters had full access to May Sarton's letters, journals, and notes while she researched and wrote this biography, and the result is a book that charts Sarton's personal life as it explores her work as a poet, novelist, and feminist.Peters carefully details Sarton's many love affairs (mostly with women), portraying the writer as an insensitive and self-absorbed lover who was prone to betrayal on the slightest pretext. She attributes this behavior to Sarton's precarious sense of self-worth, developed as a result of parental neglect in her early childhood. That low self-esteem resonated in Sarton's incessant fear--despite publishing 15 books of poetry, 19 novels, and 13 memoirs and journals--that her writing might not be quite up to par. Peters draws this out and, unlike many literary biographers, allows that her subject's writing could have been better.Throughout the book, she points to Sarton's common use of cliché and her tendency toward sentimentality. She suggests that if Sarton had taken more care with her craft and had better editors to guide her, she might have evolved into a better writer. Ultimately, the blend of facts about Sarton's life and loves with the critical analysis of her writing gives readers a comprehensive view of this complex woman and artist. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

unecessarily damaging rather than even-handed
I've read all of May Sarton's journals, many of her novels, and a few of her books of poetry over the years, so I had these as a backdrop before delving into Margot Peter's biography. I had also been forewarned that as a biographer, Peters was purported to be less than kind.Even so, I was unprepared for what another reviewer rightly called the "sniping" and "potshots" she took at Sarton throughout the entirety of the book.There's no doubt that May Sarton had a complicated and sometimes ugly past, but Peters seems to go out of her way to characterize her subject negatively in nearly all accounts--the reason for which is not clear, unles she was hoping for a rather sensational best-seller. It is clear that she did quite a bit of research for this work, which is all the more disappointing in the end result. Overall, the writing itself is good but the biography is seriously marred by a style that is both intrusive and unecessarily harsh. Perhaps in the future there will be enough interest for a more thoroughly disinterested and academic work.

Careless Work
May Sarton's last journal "At Eighty-Two" was a rare view into the poignant grappling with the old age of a self-styled female curmudgeon, and in it she made cryptic references to the woman she had unwittingly agreed to allow as her biographer.
A mess
Margot Peters' biography of May Sarton is a mess of facile psycho-babble and Harlequin romance narration.She reduces the details of this very complex life to pat conclusions ("May compulsively punished those who dared love her.") and achingly bad narrative ("Secretly, like a primrose opening in her heart, there was the thought that if she got abroad, Grace must join her.").Read this book to get a basic sense of the chronology of May Sarton's life, if you must, but do not let Peters' neat conclusions stand as the last word on the subject.Sarton's life and work, troubled as they both were, deserve more careful attention.She did herself a disservice (when she was quite old and ill) by choosing Peters as her "official" biographer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Artists, Architects, Photographers    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Feminists    8. General    9. Lesbians    10. Literary    11. United States    12. Women    13. Women authors, American    14. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (15)

Too little with so much subject material
Author Roger Edmonson takes on the daunting task of profiling one of gay porn's bonafide icons, Al Parker, and starts with enough ammo that the reader fully expects an analytic, in-depth profile of its subject. But at only 210 pages, Edmonson's final work falters but, although we're left not fully satisfied, we're interested enough to hope for more of this incredibly dynamic man. If comparisons are fair, Edmonson's work is surprisingly not the depressive journey into the rise, decline and fall that Charles Isherwood has in his bio of another gay porn giant, Joey Stefano. Parker, who like Stefano and so many other young, young men of their generation and in their profession, had his life ended by AIDS in 1987. Unlike many others, though, Parker's is not the "another tragedy" that befell his colleagues: Parker, instead, parlayed his tragedy of AIDS into a responsible (although career-risky) forum of safer-sex practices, and we come to develop a respect for this man. What makes Edmonson's story unfulfilling, though, is the illusion to Parker, a la pre-gay porn days, apparently out of place in his pre-celeb world. We don't get a satisfying explanation of why, though, nor do we get one as to why Parker supposedly struggled to reconile his public persona to his private self. We get hefty doses of Parker's foray to Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion and the gay bathhouse culture of California in the days before AIDS. Great stuff, but it's more a social commentary on the times and less an explanation of Parker's role in and influence by it. Although strictly narrow with little to no depth, this work nonetheless is good enough to get a hint at what Al Parker might have really been like and that his private tragedy that he took public is courageous by any standard. For that reason, we want and expect more but don't get it here. But it's a good start, and we can only hope that Edmonson or some other writer will pick up and produce a profile that does this brave man the complete profile and respect he truly deserves, even nearly 20 years after his death. One unsettling and almost offensive undeveloped claim in this book: Edmonson writes that Parker, allegedly raped at knifepoint at age 15, found it "exciting" and a sexual turn-on. Left unexplained, victims of such an act of criminal violence may be offended by its stark lack of empathy.

Not a whole lot of insight into Al Parker/Drew Okun's life
The whole point of a biography is to provide insight into the life of someone of interest - this book does very little of that.
A Gay Icon Exposed
This is a fascinating read about a man, a legend in his own time, who perhaps single handedly defined the '70's gay man. Image is everything, the story sordid and sad, and the legend unshakeable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1952-1992    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Erotic films    8. Gay Studies    9. Gay motion picture actors and actresses    10. General    11. Motion picture actors and actr    12. Motion picture actors and actresses    13. Parker, Al,    14. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / General    17. Biography: general    18. Gay studies (Gay men)    19. Individual actors & performers    20. Parker, Al   

Reviews (5)

A hard-hitting, honest account which doesn't pull punches or disguise its humanness
Author Tania Katan was 21 when she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer: 10 years later and one breast less she again faced the same diagnosis. Don't expect the usual story of pain and courage: Katan's raw, blasting memoir is playful and angry alike, covering everything from self-image and post-mastectomy sex to shopping for a mastectomy bra. My One-Night Stand With Cancer is a hard-hitting, honest account which doesn't pull punches or disguise its humanness.
A different book ... a different perspective on cancer
I saw a short article announcing the book's release in a magazine and thought it would be an interesting read, because you seldom see a humorous look at something we deem as "not a joking matter". WOW! Let me say, this book is more than just about someone getting cancer. It's about family and friendships and no matter how quirky your family is and how toxic some relationships are, you can still come out on top even when you've been hit not once, but twice with a life threatening disease. Tania is my hero. Very inspiring story. You'll find yourself scolding her in some parts and emphatically cheering her on in others. I definitely recommend this book. You will not regret it.

Tania Rocks!
This book is awesome!As a cancer surviour myself I could relate to what Ms. Katan has gone through.Although this book is written with humor, it did stir up feelings that I thought I had all ready dealt with.It is extremely well written and an easy read.Even if you have not had to battle cancer, I think you will enjoy this book, especially if someone you care for has gone through this terrible illness.Tania, I hope you continue writing and I will be your number one fan! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Breast    6. Cancer    7. Diseases - Breast Cancer    8. General    9. Lesbian Studies    10. Lesbians    11. Medical - General    12. Patients    13. Specific Groups - Lesbians    14. United States    15. Women comedians    16. Biography & Autobiography / General    17. Biography: general    18. Coping with illness    19. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Reviews (4)

Breathtaking
Here is a memoire of life in Berlin during the Nazi regime from the perspective of a gay Jew. Gad Beck was an organizer and friend to many who lived illegally during that period, finding shelter and food and providing friendship and support.That he was openly gay was not important during that period - there were more important thiongs to worry about.
It captured me the first few pages
Gad Beck brought to life not only the cruelty to the jews but also the cruelty of the gay and lesbian people of the Nazi Era. I had to do a research paper for a Holocaust in Literature class I took my junior year in high school...and I was entralled the whole time I read this book. It shocked me, it horrified me...and I loved it.

A Triumph of the Gay Spirit
Beck gives us a glimpse of a gay man's coming of age in Nazi Berlin. It is not only erotic but holds up a light by which all aspects of love should be measured. Once again, the Gay Spirit has triumphed over bigotry,intolerance, and in this case even the holocaust. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1923-    2. Beck, Gad,    3. Berlin    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Gay Studies    9. Germany    10. Historical - General    11. Historical - Holocaust    12. Holocaust    13. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    14. Jewish gays    15. Jews    16. Personal narratives    17. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    18. 20th century    19. Biography: general    20. Gay studies (Gay men)    21. Jewish studies    22. The Holocaust   

Reviews (17)

Powerful, affecting
I read this tremendous book in 1 day, through tears and laughter.But mostly tears.The young boy could have been me.What Mr. Moran felt, so did I.So do I.And I am 61 years old.I struggled through years of self-hatred and sexual addiction.This book was so powerful, so healing, so pointed that I want to thank God it was written.A must read for anyone.Anyone.This is not just a gay book.It is an affirming book about life and finding inner peace.Wonderful!

A masterpiece of confessional writing.
Author Martin Moran has done a miraculous job of communicating the emotional terrorism of childhood sexual abuse.This book, certainly one of the finest I've ever read on this subject, held me enthralled from the first few pages.Moran's prose is uncommonly rich and fluid, what one would expect from literary lions such as Michael Cunningham and Andrew Holleran.
Stunned Pain Transmuted into Wise Gold by Actor's Writing Skills
I'll bet Moran, an actor, is a one-book man, this is it, no more books from him. But that is a compliment, this book is literature for the aesthetic, it is life for the living, in this he did it, no more writing needed, he has taken the gross crude (and yet exuberant) event of maladroit sexual awakening, a twelve-year-old molested by his camp counselor, truly sour grapes and acid lees and sharp stems, and has skillfully vintaged them into yes literature for our enjoyment but also report for our learning, truly a wine whose aroma and bouquet effectively shares us the experience and its meaning, that is literature. Moran need not write another book, this is his 30-year processing of the experience in the cask of memory so that it is finished and thankfully he freed with it. He has not lived in vain.