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A review by cstefko
Mama's Boy: A Story from Our Americas by Dustin Lance Black
4.0
4 stars
So, here's the thing. I think Dustin Lance Black's writing skills definitely lend themselves more to screenwriting (or so I assume... this is shameful to admit, but I still haven't watched Milk. I wanted to see it when it came out, but high school me wasn't chill enough to go to a movie alone and I sure as hell wasn't asking anyone to go with my mostly-closeted self to see that film :P). His writing style reads just a bit (okay, a lot) melodramatic on the page. BUT. But. His story and his family's story are so compelling. I really enjoyed this memoir. It lagged a bit in the beginning, but around the halfway point it became quite a page-turner. It was interesting to read about the marriage equality movement from someone who was both an insider and an outsider in various ways. I don't normally jibe with the idea that we need to "see both sides" in politics, but I appreciate how for this one specific political movement it was a useful strategy. Idk, it's complicated. But Black writes about it with a fair amount of nuance. I think the main takeaway is supposed to be that there are people who can be persuaded and they can be useful allies against the true/unyielding bigots. Overall, a really touching book about the importance of family, the value of hope in life and in politics, and finding the courage to be who you really are. Thanks to Knopf/Pantheon for the review copy! I will definitely be recommending this one to my book club.
So, here's the thing. I think Dustin Lance Black's writing skills definitely lend themselves more to screenwriting (or so I assume... this is shameful to admit, but I still haven't watched Milk. I wanted to see it when it came out, but high school me wasn't chill enough to go to a movie alone and I sure as hell wasn't asking anyone to go with my mostly-closeted self to see that film :P). His writing style reads just a bit (okay, a lot) melodramatic on the page. BUT. But. His story and his family's story are so compelling. I really enjoyed this memoir. It lagged a bit in the beginning, but around the halfway point it became quite a page-turner. It was interesting to read about the marriage equality movement from someone who was both an insider and an outsider in various ways. I don't normally jibe with the idea that we need to "see both sides" in politics, but I appreciate how for this one specific political movement it was a useful strategy. Idk, it's complicated. But Black writes about it with a fair amount of nuance. I think the main takeaway is supposed to be that there are people who can be persuaded and they can be useful allies against the true/unyielding bigots. Overall, a really touching book about the importance of family, the value of hope in life and in politics, and finding the courage to be who you really are. Thanks to Knopf/Pantheon for the review copy! I will definitely be recommending this one to my book club.