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troll_mouse_books 's review for:
A Couple of Friends: The Remarkable Bond Between Gay Men and Straight Women
by Laura Rafaty, Robert H. Hopcke
I was delighted when I saw this book on the shelf at my local library! As a psychology student, a huge fan of friendship, and a straight woman with several gay male friends; I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a book with the subtitle "The Remarkable Friendship Between Straight Women and Gay Men"! Naturally, I had to satisfy my curiosity and read it.
I'm glad I did. As the book itself says, there isn't nearly enough literature or research on the subject of Friendship (in any form).
Overall I hold by my 3 stars because I overall liked the book. But I admit it may be that I am more liking what the book stands for and its topic than the book itself.
My criticism:
- This book is essentially popular-psychology. While it was based on several interviews, and co-authored by Hopcke who is a licensed therapist, this book is not a serious academic endeavor. It's more of a 254 page conversation.
- The book was published 15 years ago, and it feels dated. I found myself pining for a new edition or for a new author to write a new book on the subject of straight women / gay men friendships.
- While the book acknowledges the generalizations it makes by focusing on certain stereotyped types of gay men, when for instance discussing the common interests that draw gay men and straight women together... and while the book continually finishes sections by acknowledging the stereotyping it is constantly in danger of falling into by pointing out that not all straight women are the same and not all gay men are the same. It still got tiresome when it quickly became clear that the whole book was going to go for 'consistency' by continually coming back to the same model of a gay male and the same model of a straight women.
- For all the talk of having interviewed lots of people, I began to notice the same quotes being repeated.
I'm glad I did. As the book itself says, there isn't nearly enough literature or research on the subject of Friendship (in any form).
Overall I hold by my 3 stars because I overall liked the book. But I admit it may be that I am more liking what the book stands for and its topic than the book itself.
My criticism:
- This book is essentially popular-psychology. While it was based on several interviews, and co-authored by Hopcke who is a licensed therapist, this book is not a serious academic endeavor. It's more of a 254 page conversation.
- The book was published 15 years ago, and it feels dated. I found myself pining for a new edition or for a new author to write a new book on the subject of straight women / gay men friendships.
- While the book acknowledges the generalizations it makes by focusing on certain stereotyped types of gay men, when for instance discussing the common interests that draw gay men and straight women together... and while the book continually finishes sections by acknowledging the stereotyping it is constantly in danger of falling into by pointing out that not all straight women are the same and not all gay men are the same. It still got tiresome when it quickly became clear that the whole book was going to go for 'consistency' by continually coming back to the same model of a gay male and the same model of a straight women.
- For all the talk of having interviewed lots of people, I began to notice the same quotes being repeated.