Triple bingo!

I feel like there’s some poetic justice in my “underrepresented” selection netting me a triple bingo, I like that a story about a gay couple adopting a baby SHOULD be valued more than the umpteenth story of a basic white dude finding himself and working out issues with his dad. More non-traditional narratives, please, especially ones this enjoyable

There’s not a whole lot to celebrate these days where social progress is concerned, and  god, do we still have a long way to go, but it was nice to read this from the other side of marriage equality.  I alternately couldn’t believe that this was written in 1999 for how close to 2018 that seems and couldn’t believe that it was twenty years ago at the same time.  In many ways this could’ve been written yesterday, for better and worse.

We all know the “for worse,” but I’m gonna focus on the “for better.” Bigotry still exists, but acceptance of homosexuality continues to become more widespread, even if society is now shamefully treating the trans community the way we used to treat gay people.  Matthew Shepard (referenced in this book as a recent victim of bigotry and violence against gays) has recently been interred at the Washington National Cathedral. Dan and Terry are now married (and there’s another good book about it!).

But that’s focusing on the social aspects instead of the book, and that’s doing it a major disservice, because this was hysterical.   It’s warm, and touching, and honest.  Savage is unsentimental about parenthood, but the love for his family – his husband, his son, the birth mother, his parents – suffuses the book.

I don’t want to say any more; I want you all to go out and buy this book, and then buy another copy for the least tolerant person you know.  It’s impossible not to be charmed.