Review of Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad" by Laura Hall.]
In 1975, 24-year-old Laura Hall had been through a teen pregnancy, two marriages, multiple extramarital affairs, and was working on her second divorce. She hoped to point the finger at someone other than herself and had the perfect excuse when she recalled an incident that happened when she was six where she caught her father with another woman. She decided to ask her dad a simple question to conclude her blame game. “Have you ever been unfaithful to mom,” she asked.
“Honey, I’m gay, I’ve always been gay” was the reply she received that shocked her to her bones. In this book, Laura narrates her experiences growing up around her closeted gay father. We also read about how her parents met and the tales of her father’s life before he met his wife, Irene. How did that information affect her relationship with her dad? How did her mother cope as the straight wife of a gay man? How were her parents able to stay married? Read Affliction: Growing Up With A Closeted Gay Dad by Laura Hall to find answers to the questions and more.
I have often wondered how children of gay parents feel about the sexual orientation of their parents, so I was piqued when I saw this book. I have to say that this is an incredible piece that has given me great insights into that. I like how the writer started by telling readers about the history of the family, where they lived, their tough moments together, etc. As a result, I found it easy to appreciate certain events that were described at different points in the later parts of the book. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact that there were some things I got to learn from it. For example, I learned that AIDS was known as the “gay virus” before it was renamed in 1982.
Additionally, I like that several pictures are scattered all over this book. The pictures not only made me feel refreshed but also helped me put faces to some of the names that were mentioned in the book. The writing style is also commendable. The author recounts most of the story in the first-person point of view that made me feel like I was there in person to see things for myself. The writer's narration of the tales her father told of his life before he met his wife was what I enjoyed the most. I felt really sad to read about what he passed through just because he was gay. Another thing I like about this book is that I also got to see things through the eyes of her mother. After reading that part of the book, the effort she put into preserving her family became even more glaring.
There’s absolutely nothing to dislike about this publication. Moreover, the text is professionally edited since I found only a few minor errors. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for its excellent execution. Readers that are interested in reading other people’s memoirs would enjoy this piece. If you are interested in knowing what it means to have a gay parent, this book is also for you.
******
Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad
View: on Bookshelves |
In 1975, 24-year-old Laura Hall had been through a teen pregnancy, two marriages, multiple extramarital affairs, and was working on her second divorce. She hoped to point the finger at someone other than herself and had the perfect excuse when she recalled an incident that happened when she was six where she caught her father with another woman. She decided to ask her dad a simple question to conclude her blame game. “Have you ever been unfaithful to mom,” she asked.
“Honey, I’m gay, I’ve always been gay” was the reply she received that shocked her to her bones. In this book, Laura narrates her experiences growing up around her closeted gay father. We also read about how her parents met and the tales of her father’s life before he met his wife, Irene. How did that information affect her relationship with her dad? How did her mother cope as the straight wife of a gay man? How were her parents able to stay married? Read Affliction: Growing Up With A Closeted Gay Dad by Laura Hall to find answers to the questions and more.
I have often wondered how children of gay parents feel about the sexual orientation of their parents, so I was piqued when I saw this book. I have to say that this is an incredible piece that has given me great insights into that. I like how the writer started by telling readers about the history of the family, where they lived, their tough moments together, etc. As a result, I found it easy to appreciate certain events that were described at different points in the later parts of the book. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact that there were some things I got to learn from it. For example, I learned that AIDS was known as the “gay virus” before it was renamed in 1982.
Additionally, I like that several pictures are scattered all over this book. The pictures not only made me feel refreshed but also helped me put faces to some of the names that were mentioned in the book. The writing style is also commendable. The author recounts most of the story in the first-person point of view that made me feel like I was there in person to see things for myself. The writer's narration of the tales her father told of his life before he met his wife was what I enjoyed the most. I felt really sad to read about what he passed through just because he was gay. Another thing I like about this book is that I also got to see things through the eyes of her mother. After reading that part of the book, the effort she put into preserving her family became even more glaring.
There’s absolutely nothing to dislike about this publication. Moreover, the text is professionally edited since I found only a few minor errors. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for its excellent execution. Readers that are interested in reading other people’s memoirs would enjoy this piece. If you are interested in knowing what it means to have a gay parent, this book is also for you.
******
Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad
View: on Bookshelves |
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