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keen23's review against another edition
4.0
I love Dan Savage's column. I really liked this book. The writing might not appeal to some, especially those who get offended by the word cock.
trin's review
5.0
The story of how sex columnist Savage and his boyfriend Terry come to adopt a kid. Savage writes with great humor, even (especially?) when he's clearly angry: the attitude toward gay men and women in the United States is still so ridiculously backwards, especially when it comes to things like wanting to have a family. Savage does a great job exploring the issues of adoption, open adoption, gay adoption, and modern families in general, and balancing all of that discussion with his own story. This book was unexpectedly, wonderfully moving—I actually teared up toward then end during the scenes where Dan and Terry hold their son for the first time, and when they react to having to take him from the mother who's unable to care for him. The whole book is a fascinating, engaging, political, emotional read. I really recommend it.
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
Dan Savage's hilarious, touching, sometimes surprising story of their adoption of DJ is can't-put-down reading. The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is really a bit of pettiness on my part. I'd love to hand this to several people I know who are on the fence about gay parents, but his language would stop them before they even got started. I'm pretty comfortable with profanity, including my own blue mouth, but even I find it a little over the top. The word he uses most often to describe gays is one that would have some of my friends putting the book down before the end of the first chapter. I want to say, there's no reason for it! He doesn't need it to tell his story! But I do get why he does it--I think, I guess there's no way I can read his mind. But I suspect it's because he refuses to tone himself down to fit into other people's definition of what he "should" do. He probably hears all the time the calm, sane advice that people involved in same sex relationships should be low-key and underplay it until the rest of the world has chance to get used to the idea--and it pisses him off that he should have to underplay his family and his long-term commitment to his husband (I think they've been together 18 years now or something like that). So, I get that. But I still wish he'd write something that I could hand to my more conservative friends, because I love, love, love this book.
yiddish_anarchist's review against another edition
5.0
Touching, funny, and real. Dan's account is well-written, with plenty of chuckles along the way.
While it's no literary masterpiece, it's one of the few books of it's kind (semi-biographical) that has moved me to tears.
Even though you know it is coming, the climax of the story is beautifully written, and it's the quality of the prose that lends the anticipated moment such depth of impact.
A pleasant weekend read, and definitely one I'd recommend to friends.
While it's no literary masterpiece, it's one of the few books of it's kind (semi-biographical) that has moved me to tears.
Even though you know it is coming, the climax of the story is beautifully written, and it's the quality of the prose that lends the anticipated moment such depth of impact.
A pleasant weekend read, and definitely one I'd recommend to friends.
polestarneighbor's review against another edition
Foul-mouthed, honest, and compelling.
turtleofbabel's review against another edition
4.0
The book hasn't aged well, though through no fault of the author.
calfaile's review against another edition
4.0
An honest, funny account on Dan's experience with the adoption process.
sparklethenpop's review against another edition
4.0
We're going down slightly different adoption paths but wow, this book told the story of my life right now.
maryvarn's review against another edition
4.0
I almost want to give this 5 stars, but I guess I have to save 'it was amazing' for, um, really amazing books? But this was really great. Dan Savage is great at making you laugh and cry, but mostly laugh, and all while thinking about important stuff you may never have thought of. Like the affects of adoption on the birth mother, or the decision to have kids, or what's up with street punks. Read this, then read the Committment. Then download his weekly sex advice podcast.