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coleycole's review
3.0
My favorite essays were the ones I had already read by ZZ Packer and Dan Savage, but there's some other good stuff in here about creating families in a variety of different ways.
allysonbogie's review
5.0
Amazing, beautiful, inspiring, thought-provoking book about some of the many family configurations that people have chosen for their lives. This is a well-edited anthology, and the writers that Walker chose not only have interesting stories but tell them eloquently. One of my favorite books I've read this year.
mrsdragon's review against another edition
3.0
A couple of the essays in this collection spoke to me. Most were okay. I think I read too many blogs and know people with too many ideas of "normal" to find this particularly enlightening. Good problem to have I suppose.
I was also surprised to see that there was no mention of a partnered couple with no kids. It felt like the author was assuming that "family" meant "kids", which I disagree with.
I was also surprised to see that there was no mention of a partnered couple with no kids. It felt like the author was assuming that "family" meant "kids", which I disagree with.
julia0000's review
5.0
I'm almost done with this book. It's an amazing collection of stories that challenge your definition of 'normal' families. Independent stories of a handful of amazingly unique and loving homes this book really has enlightened me to form my own path. Not wanting to do what society says is right simply because it's typical is not how I wish to live so this really has been a great book of other people doing the anti-nuclear family. Whether it's within the tales of alternative 'marriages', open adoptions, house-husbandry, or overly large families this collection really is something to pick up if you're looking for the alternative.
damsorrow's review
5.0
Killer collection. If you're anything like me, skip the embarrassing, childish spite of Rebecca Walker herself and the in-depth tour through what it's like to be boring by Sasha Hom and enjoy the rest of these truly diverse, totally awesome essays about creating intentional family.
athenlyrain's review
3.0
This is a book that really challenged and broadened my perspective on family dynamics. Even though I didn't see myself and my own lifestyle in many of these stories, I'm glad I read it.
starsplatter's review
4.0
Uneven, of course, but some of the essays are really wonderful. Especially liked Dan Savage's piece and the essay on homeschooling.
emilylandry's review
3.0
Continuing my obsession with all books Rebecca Walker...
The Lopate show had RW and two other authors from this anthology on to talk about the book yesterday. I was talking to his producer about the segment yesterday and she offered the review copy to me! Which I gratefully accepted and started reading on my walk back to my desk.
There are lots of great stories in this book, but I ended up just REALLY bummed that there are no two-lesbian-parent stories. No, I don't get enough un/known donor discussions on the lesbian baby blogs I read. I wanted an essay about navigating bio/non-bio momhood. So bite me.
The Lopate show had RW and two other authors from this anthology on to talk about the book yesterday. I was talking to his producer about the segment yesterday and she offered the review copy to me! Which I gratefully accepted and started reading on my walk back to my desk.
There are lots of great stories in this book, but I ended up just REALLY bummed that there are no two-lesbian-parent stories. No, I don't get enough un/known donor discussions on the lesbian baby blogs I read. I wanted an essay about navigating bio/non-bio momhood. So bite me.
renee_pompeii's review
3.0
Kind of reassuring set of personal essays about every flavor of relationship + family situation you can imagine. The gist? Take your situation and make it work for you-we are all just doing our best to get along.
themadmaiden's review
2.0
Some of the stories were good. However a lot of them were annoying.
Some of the story tellers came off as arrogant. And just plain idiotic. And yes, I mean the parents who wander around in a van and decided health care things like vaccinations were too mainstream for their kids. And brag about how they gave birth at home and lived illegally in buildings they didn't own.
A lot of the stories seemed focused on married people. And even the one about the non married couple was one that seemed to be them going on about how much better they were then everyone else. I was also hoping there would be at least one story about someone in an asexual relationship as well, but sadly no.
Oh, and the woman who told her friend in a bad, possibly abusive marriage, to stay married? Because she didn't think divorces did anything but hurt the kids and were only good for the wife, who should stay miserable apparently?
What.the.hell.
No really, what the hell? That was disgusting.
Some of the story tellers came off as arrogant. And just plain idiotic. And yes, I mean the parents who wander around in a van and decided health care things like vaccinations were too mainstream for their kids. And brag about how they gave birth at home and lived illegally in buildings they didn't own.
A lot of the stories seemed focused on married people. And even the one about the non married couple was one that seemed to be them going on about how much better they were then everyone else. I was also hoping there would be at least one story about someone in an asexual relationship as well, but sadly no.
Oh, and the woman who told her friend in a bad, possibly abusive marriage, to stay married? Because she didn't think divorces did anything but hurt the kids and were only good for the wife, who should stay miserable apparently?
What.the.hell.
No really, what the hell? That was disgusting.