HomeShop at BookSurgeBiography & AutobiographyPersonal MemoirsThe Rest of the Way: A Coming Out Story for Parents and Gay Children |
|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 7 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Great read for both parents & adult children Oct 18, 2009
By J. Wright
We purchased Enid's book for our PFLAG chapter in Melbourne, FL. I always read the books we place in our library first. This book proved to be just as helpful for me, a lesbian woman, in my opinion, as it will be for parents of gay children. Enid's story covers not just her struggle with her son coming out but also other issues that anyone in any family can relate to-relationships and self-esteem. Great job, Enid, thank you for all you do!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A Story Of How Committed Parents Opened Their Hearts To Their Son Apr 23, 2011
By DJY51
I am friends with the writer's son Michael, who was the catalyst for this book. I started out despising his mother, and wound up loving her.
This is more of a coming of age story about a middle-aged woman than it is about her "accepting" her son's sexuality. After Michael came out to his parents, his mother went through a depression, thinking the shame, disappointment and embarrassment she felt about having a gay son was the cause of her misery. In working through her feelings, she examined why she felt the way she did, and came to realize that it was she who needed to change and not her son. And change she did. From being homophobic herself, to becoming a spokesperson and writer for gay and lesbian issues, Enid has come full circle.
I came away from this book having more of an appreciation for my friend, and marveling at how patient, loving and kind he was to his parents.
Parenthetically, I have a trans-gender son who self-identifies as queer. I have a tough time when people tell me how proud they are that I "accept" him. I find the language of tolerance and acceptance deplorable, putting a moral spin on sexuality that shouldn't be there. Do I understand my child's choices? No. But I've come to realize that it's not my job to understand my children. It's my job to love them. And Enid does just that. Kudos!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Read For Anyone Mar 13, 2010
By Priscilla Emery
This book is an excellent read for anyone - not just for parents of gay children or anyone in the gay community - but anyone who wants to understand the strength it takes to embark on a tough but awe-inspiring journey of self-awareness. Of course, it delves deeply into issues like homophobia and acceptance of gays not just within the community but within our personal hearts and lives but Enid opens up not just her external personal experience but provides a window into her own soul-baring examination and transformation. This transformative experience is a great message for anyone. And, if you are a parent of a gay person or a gay person having trouble gaining acceptance from your family members this should be on your must read list.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
What a wonderful book! Feb 19, 2010
By David N. Parker
"pflagtnet"
What a wonderful book!
The Rest of the Way refers to the Talmudic story many Christians think of as the Prodigal Son. In the Talmudic version, when the king asks his son to come home, the son replies that he cannot travel that far. The king responds "Then come as far as you can, and I will meet you the rest of the way."
This book is about Ms. Jackowitz' journey the rest of the way when her older son comes out to her as gay.
There are a number of books about coming out by gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender people telling their stories. There are also a number of books by therapists and other professionals dissecting the struggles most gender variant people go through. The Rest of the Way is more about how coming to terms with the her son's gay identity leads the author toward much greater awareness of herself.
Like many of us, Ms Jackowitz' life was constrained by her need to meet other people's standards. This need is deeply ingrained in all of us. We learn from our earliest awareness that some actions and attitudes are accepted (or demanded) in our social environment while others are taboo. Accepting her son's reality meant giving up many of those acceptable attitudes and accepting many of those she was taught were taboos.
The Rest of the Way takes us along on her journey. It is one those of us who love our children must also travel. Our journeys require a great deal of thoughtful insight into our own needs and recognition that we cannot accept changes in someone else without changing ourselves.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
AMAZING! Dec 07, 2009
By Karen Prechtel
This book is absolutely amazing! At first, I was prepared to read a "a coming out story for parents and gay children." Yes, it was Enid's story about her son Michael's coming out and her own story of coming out as a parent of a gay child. However, Enid takes the proactive appoach. Enid, takes us on a journey of her self discovery and how Michael coming out has actually made her a better person. She went back to school, graduated from college with honors and attended many events to which she was constantly reinventing herself versus blaming Michael for being gay. Trust me, this is a book that all of us should read, straight or gay. To me, this is more than a story of a mothers journey when her son tells her his is gay. It's a story that shows us how powerful we are as humans and what we can do when life throws us a "curve ball." We can put our head in the sand, be angry or we can do what Enid did, better ourselves and help those around us become more open minded and loving.
We would all benefit as a person by simply reading this book. Read it, read it, read it.
See all 7 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
|
|
