Subjects:  1. Alternative Family    2. Bisexuals    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family Relationships    5. Gay Studies    6. Gays    7. Gender Studies    8. Lesbian Studies    9. Outing (Sexual orientation)    10. Parents of gays    11. Reference    12. Sociology    13. Gay & Lesbian studies    14. Modern fiction   

Editorial Review

In her introduction to this anthology, Nisa Donnelly describes the particular bond between mothers and their lesbian daughters: "We are the women our mothers warned us about and, at the same time, the women they made us." This collection examines the complexities of a lesbian's first woman-to-woman relationship.Linda Smukler's poem "St. Francis" suggests that the mother is the primary object of all kinds of contradictory love: love as a tease, as an unexpected caress, as beauty, as a scream.Lucy Jane Bledsoe's essay "Searching for the Mythic Mother Mentor" describes the author's desire to find a lesbian forebear in her own family. "Poa Poa is Livng Breathing Light" is Kitty Tsui's record of finding such a strong female character in her grandmother.Among the other contributors to this book are Judy Grahn, Hillary Mullins, Donna Allegra and newcomers Terrie Akemi-Hamazaki and G. L. Morrison. Read more

Reviews (2)

I recommend it to everyone and her mother
It was not what I expected and yet included everything I needed. No matter what your relationship with your mother was like or what you hoped it would be like, there is something in this book for everyone. Tears wrapped inlaughter. And vice versa. A fast and fascinating read. I couldn't put itdown and once I finished it, I started again. I recommend it to everyoneand their mothers.

A great collection for all Lesbians...or all Mothers
This anthology contains writings from a diverse group of women with varying perceptions about the nurturing they received. You can feel the emotion of the writers from intense love and gratitude to regretful anger. This work proves that we are molded by how we experience our class, race, gender and relationships with our mothers. Check out my favorite - "Columbus Day Revisited" - by Judith K. Witherow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    2. Lesbian Studies    3. Lesbians    4. Motherhood    5. Mothers    6. Mothers and daughters    7. Sociology    8. Gay & Lesbian studies    9. Parenthood   

Subjects:  1. Child sexual abuse    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family & Relationships / Abuse    4. Incest    5. Lesbians    6. Mothers and daughters   

Subjects:  1. Alternative Family    2. Family/Marriage    3. Gay parents    4. Lesbian Studies    5. Lesbian mothers    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology - Marriage & Family   

Reviews (5)

Rough sledding, but a worthwhile ride!
Baby boomers especially will find much stimulation in these ponderings on learning to manage ageing, infirmity, family strife, duty, and forgiveness.Kate Millett faced a lot in living through and then writing about the lessons of this book.While not everyone will agree with her choices (or her politics!?) she still presents a coherent story that moved and involved me and I was gratified at her success in liberating her mother from the nursing home, as well as liberating HERSELF from many of her own personal demons.Everyone feels SOME ambivalence towards their parents, and if we assume responsibility for their care, there are bound to be unpredictable issues arising.Kate constantly reminds us (and herself!) of her mother's humanity and winds up handling most of her issues with grace, eventually coming to peace with ALL of them - both she and her mother are heroines here!

At the end of the book you love the book and despise Kate M.
This book is really gripping.I started it late at night and couldn't put it down until I finished.Millett's description of her mother and the differences in perception (what the hospital thinks about her mother, what her sister thinks, what she thinks) are fascinating, as is the way that she details how nursing homes aggregate power to themselves.If you are thinking of nursing home care for aged parents, this would be a good book for you to read; it is well written and baldly presents some of the real dangers involved in powers of attorney for the elderly.I have to say, though, that as the book went on I liked the author less and less.She is so uncompromisingly extreme--and I disagree that she earned our respect by what she did for her mother.What she basically did was, come home for a month and pre-empt her mother's care, after her elder sister had been doing it for years.Classic case of the child who is completely not involved in the ongoing narrative of care rushing in at the end to disrupt all of the arrangements.Frankly, if I were her sister or cousin who had been doing the care of their mother I would have wanted to run her out of town.NOthing is ever half way with Kate: the Reagan gov't is evil, the Golf War was an imperialistic measure by the oil interests, etc., etc.Unfortunately she contradicts herself at the end of the book; she spends the first 100 pages bemoaning how little money she earned in her life and then begrudges the fulltime care taker for her mother the measly $1100 she wants to babysit 40 hours a week; in other words, she complains about her financial situation and is hesitant to pay her mother's caretaker the very lowest living wage--and it's not like Kate is stopping her life to take of her mother, oh no.She criticizes anyone and everyone in the book who is concerned about individual success, arguing for a socialist collective, but in the end, it's Kate Millett's individual wants and needs, no matter how carefully they are formulated as an argument for her mother's independence, that take precedence.

Do unto your mother
This book is a powerful testament to the pain and difficulty of doing the right thing instead of the easy thing.I read Millett's Loony-bin Trip many years ago, and found it terrifying and devastating in its look at the powerlessness of those who fall outside our cultural boundary of "sanity."Here she's looking at the powerlessness of that growing American fringe culture--the old and unwanted.It's easy to imagine the dark pleasure of revenge available in this situation.Millett's mother was less than supportive or helpful when she needed support and help.I found myself incredibly moved by Millett's generosity and strength in wanting to save her mother from the very fate that was once inflicted on her.If she takes the moral high ground, it's because she's earned it.How many of us would do what she has done for her aging mother?Look at the population of elderly in nursing homes and the answer seems to be very few. Expect to be humbled by Millett's dedication to her principles. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Case studies    6. Family relationships    7. Feminism    8. Feminists    9. Millett, Helen    10. Millett, Kate    11. Mothers and daughters    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Specific Groups - Lesbians    14. United States    15. Women    16. Women In The U.S.    17. Women's Studies - General   

Reviews (1)

Children's Book Examines Gay Pride, Families, & Homophobia
GLORIA GOES TO GAY PRIDE is a story about a little girl named Gloria's day at the Gay Pride Parade. Gloria begins her narrative with a description of some of the events that occur during such celebrations as Valentine's Day, Halloween, Hanukkah, and Mother's Day. She then recounts the events, colors, people and families who make up Gay Pride Day. She finds this celebration as enjoyable as the other holidays. Various issues are discussed throughout the book and several implicit messages are conveyed. One of the messages which may or may not be explicit to adults and children is that anyone can be gay. One of Gloria's moms, for instance, holds a more traditional woman's job as a nurse while the other is a mechanic. At the parade, Gloria sees many familiar faces, such as her female mail carrier, male music teacher and the male nurse who works with her mother and who is there with his toddler son. The primary message of this story is that "love is the most important thing of all." The book raises the issue of homophobia by including people by the side of the parade holding signs which says, "Gays go away." One of Gloria's mothers explains to her that some people don't think two women or two men should love each other, but that the parade is held to help ensure that people can have a choice. Although that message is appropriate and clarifies that being gay is an adult's choice, it somehow removes the issue from the direct experiences of a young child. It also does not acknowledge that youth may feel and be gay themselves. In addition, homophobic responses and attitudes may be experienced by children raised by gay and lesbian parents. As a way to counter much of the real-world homophobia, the author has included people in Gloria's life who, whether they are gay or not, are supportive of her family structure (the owner of a restaurant they frequent and their shoe salesperson, for instance). The book contains black and white illustrations and is recommended for children ages three to seven. The length of the book is appropriate for threes and the events Gloria experiences are familiar to many children who have gone to parades and, specifically, to the Gay Pride Parade. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Fiction    3. Gay Pride Day    4. General    5. Homosexuality    6. Lesbians    7. Mothers and daughters    8. Fiction dealing with sexuality & relationships   

Reviews (2)

Needed Book Sets the Record Straight
Although the data analyzed in this book are almost 10 years old, this text does provide a timely *empirical* analysis of children growing up with lesbian mothers.The authors discuss a variety of previous research evidence that it is quality of family relationships -- not the sexual orientation of the parents -- that most impacts children's development; but their study adds to this literature in an important way: theirs is a longitudinal study that looks at *adult* adjustment of children of lesbians. On the down side are some editorial issues: typos, repeated annoying use of the redundant term "lesbian women," and worst of all LOTS of material directly from Golombok & Fivush's 1994 book, Gender Development!The greatest contribution of this book is the evidence it provides to dispel ignorant, homophobic myths and sterotypes that children brought up by gay parents are somehow necessarily worse off than children raised by straight parents.I think the authors actually intend this book to be used to change public opinion and even influence court decisions on child custody.I hope it works.

Very informational with many tables of research results!
This book was very informational for research on lesbian parenting. The research was conducted in the United Kingdom, therefore the subjects interviewed were all British. This book gave a realistic overview of theadverse effects on child development as well any postive effects.Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Psychology    2. Child development    3. Children of gay parents    4. Developmental - Child    5. Family Relationships    6. Gay Studies    7. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    8. Lesbian Studies    9. Lesbian mothers    10. Lesbians    11. Psychology    12. Social Science    13. United States    14. Child welfare    15. Family & relationships    16. Psychology & Psychiatry / Family Therapy   

Editorial Review

Carole Maso, an experimental novelist, brings all her imaginative gifts to bear on this fragmented but sparkling journal of her pregnancy and the first weeks after her daughter Rose's birth. Although she was over 40 when she decided to have a child, she and her partner Helen had prayed for one at the Church of St. Clare in Assisi, and in fact all across Tuscany and Umbria, as if the churches of Manhattan were further from God, or it was harder to hear prayer over the traffic. When the sign of a miracle arrives--in the form of a home pregnancy test--Maso is ready to meet it with words. Although she is a far more lyrical writer than Anne Lamott, there is a similar urge in them to tell the truth about themselves, even when it is less than flattering, and not to let a fear of sentimentality choke the expression of what are, after all, some of the most profound emotions a woman will ever feel. Read more

Reviews (6)

Feedback for Mirage Best Buy and ShortReview
I mistakenly deleted the info for feedback to the seller. So I am placing it here.
not for everyone
This book did not meet my expectactions- I found it very pretentious and hard to tolerate.

Beauty in the enigma of self.
To read Carole Maso is to endure and survive much- passion, love, loss, anguish, doubt, and pain. Readers will bear witness to one of the most marvelous, daring writers of our age. This memoir is a celebration of the universe's most profound mystery- the brewing of a human life and the phenomenal vessel that brings forth this magnificence with ferocity and might. Maso's words dance, pulverize, and enlighten. A bold mixture of sweet delirium and mind-shaking realities. Reads like a prayer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Lesbian Studies    7. Lesbian mothers    8. Lesbians    9. Literary    10. Maso, Carole    11. Novelists, American    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Pregnancy & Childbirth    14. Pregnant women    15. Specific Groups - Lesbians    16. United States    17. Women    18. Women As Authors (American Literature)   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Kansas    3. Lesbians    4. Love stories    5. Mothers and daughters    6. Popular American Fiction   

Reviews (6)

way too scary
The book starts off OK, the rhymes my 4-yo loves, cute pictures, and suddenly the straight couple appears - looking normal enough, but trying to steal the boy away from his two moms and give him to a family that they find better suited to have kids.I found myself trying to make up a story line as we read - and having to rhyme too! Being stolen away from your loving family by some normal looking people who turn out to be monsters seemed like a nightmare that could plague us for years, so I did my best to come up with a different story and then hid the book away. I regret having bought this book.

Stereotypical portrayals
I had high hopes for this book.It had great possibilities with lesbianmoms, a young boy, and even a pet monster that looks like a smilingdinosaur.But the real monsters are clearly identified by their bigleering toothy smiles, evil eyes, and grasping paws--it's the Christianfamily of course.I may not agree with their dogma or share theirlifestyle, but I see no benefit in portraying ANY archetypical charactersin such a hateful, stereotypical fashion.We won't get past the prejudicewith this book--and it's not enough for me to use it simply to portrayanother version of evil stereotypes for my son to hate and fear in hislifetime.

I wasn't really impressed with this book.
I read this book and thought that the negative portrayal of the hatefulpeople who wanted to take the little boy away from his parents was not veryuseful.It's possible that it would be a good book for a child who had hadto deal with this type of discrimination, but for one who hasn't yet, Iwould definitely not recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children of gay parents    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family - General    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile fiction    8. Lesbian mothers    9. Lesbians    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. Fiction dealing with sexuality & relationships    12. Picture books   

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Family relationships    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Gays    6. Homosexuality    7. Inspirational    8. Moral and religious aspects    9. Parent and child    10. Religious aspects    11. Sexuality    12. Social Science    13. Gay studies (Gay men)   

Subjects:  1. Fiction / Gay    2. Gay men    3. Lesbian mothers    4. Teenage boys   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Gay    4. Gay men    5. Parents of gays    6. Fiction / Gay   

Reviews (2)

Breathless
You can read these poems a hundred times and each time they will take your breath away. The images are visceral; you feel the heat of the sun, the dryness in the throat, the texture of the cloth. Poems so good, you'll wish you could eat them. This is really an amazing start to what is sure to be a long and successful career. I look forward to more work from Raz.

BEAUTIFUL AND PERVERSE
A magical, breathtaking, wonderful book that captures the complexity and perversity of life in the so-called Holy Land. Through a series of powerful poems that always maintain a fascinating, delicate balance between the personal and the political, Yosefa Raz chronicles the bittersweet adventures of a young girl growing up in a world of historical majesty, dark sexuality, broken promises, familiar strangers, contagious violence, painful memories, mutual humiliation, and intoxicating yet terrifying sights, smells, and tastes. Brave poetry written with admirable precision, sensitivity, and honesty. A must. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Children of gay parents    3. General    4. Israelis    5. Poetry    6. United States    7. Women immigrants   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Family    4. Family relationships    5. Gay Studies    6. Gay fathers    7. General    8. Homosexuality    9. Lesbian mothers    10. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Reviews (1)

Fairy tales world meets distopia
Albert or the book of man: the more earth basd sequel which contrasts thegay paradis country with a distopian view of earth. Trying to merge science-fiction, gay erotica, humanoid alien culture (includinginstead ofthe wellknown third eye an extra lust-spending third testicle) and new agephilosopy this book can be recomended to the collector of gay sciencefiction and fantasy. It has some nice erotic scenes as well. Probablyagood summer read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fantasy fiction    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary    5. Gay    6. Gay men    7. Popular American Fiction    8. Science Fiction    9. Science Fiction - General    10. Children of gay parents    11. Fanaticism    12. Fantasy - Contemporary   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation    2. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    3. Family relationships    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay men    6. Gay youth    7. Gender Studies    8. Homosexuality    9. Lesbian Studies    10. Parent And Child    11. Parenting - General    12. Parents of gays    13. Psychology    14. Social Science    15. Social Work    16. Sociology - Marriage & Family    17. Gay & Lesbian studies    18. Literary Criticism & Collections / Gay & Lesbian    19. Parenthood   

Subjects:  1. Family relationships    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gender Studies    5. Heterosexual mothers    6. Homosexuality    7. Motherhood    8. Mothers and sons    9. Parent And Child    10. Parenting - Motherhood    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. United States   

Subjects:  1. Alternative Family    2. Family relationships    3. Lesbian Studies    4. Lesbian couples    5. Lesbian mothers    6. Lesbians    7. Psychology    8. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    9. Reference    10. Social Science    11. Sociology