Product Description

In a time when much of the country sees red whenever the subject of gay marriage comes up, Dan Savage—outspoken author of the column “Savage Love”— makes it personal.

Dan Savage’s mother wants him to get married. His boyfriend, Terry, says “no thanks” because he doesn’t want to act like a straight person. Their six-year-old son DJ says his two dads aren’t “allowed” to get married, but that he’d like to come to the reception and eat cake. Throw into the mix Dan’s straight siblings, whose varied choices form a microcosm of how Americans are approaching marriage these days, and you get a rollicking family memoir that will have everyone—gay or straight, right or left, single or married—howling with laughter and rethinking their notions of marriage and all it entails. BACKCOVER: “Hilarious, heartfelt.”
—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“As funny as David Sedaris’s essay collections, but bawdier and more thought-provoking.”
—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

“Most of all, a book about creating and appreciating family.”
—Seattle Times

“I think America would be a better place if everyone on every side of the gay marriage debate would read this book.”
—Ira Glass, host of the public radio show This American Life

“The strongest argument here, which [Savage] brilliantly plays down, is that family means everything to these people: married, not married, blended, gay, straight, whatever.”
—The Washington Post

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36404 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-26
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The author of the internationally syndicated column "Savage Love" brings much-needed humor, and a reality check, to the bitter gay-marriage debate with this polemical memoir. As Savage (Skipping Towards Gomorrah) and his boyfriend, Terry, neared their 10th anniversary, Savage's mother put on the pressure for them to get married. But, Savage notes, there were several other points to consider before deciding to tie the knot: among them, the fact that marriage doesn't provide legal protection in Washington State; Terry prefers tattoos as a sign of commitment; and their six-year-old son declared that only men and women can get married. Furthermore, Savage himself worried that the relationship would be jinxed by anything more permanent than a big anniversary bash, though the one they plan quickly assumes the proportions and price of a wedding reception. While documenting the couple's wobble toward a decision, Savage skewers ideologues, both pro– and anti–gay marriage, with his radical pragmatism. Disproving Tolstoy's dictum that "happy families are all alike," he takes a sharp-eyed, compassionate look at matrimony as it is actually practiced by friends, his raucously affectionate family and even medieval Christians. When he explains to his son what marriage is really about, you want to stand up and cheer, and the surprise ending is both hilarious and a tear-jerker. As funny as David Sedaris's essay collections, but bawdier and more thought-provoking, this timely book shows that being pro-family doesn't have to mean being anti-gay. (Sept.)
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From the Back Cover
"Hilarious, heartfelt."
—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"As funny as David Sedaris's essay collections, but bawdier and more thought-provoking."
—Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

"Most of all, a book about creating and appreciating family."
—Seattle Times

"I think America would be a better place if everyone on every side of the gay marriage debate would read this book."
—Ira Glass, host of the public radio show This American Life

"The strongest argument here, which [Savage] brilliantly plays down, is that family means everything to these people: married, not married, blended, gay, straight, whatever."
—The Washington Post

About the Author
DAN SAVAGE is the award-winning author of the internationally syndicated sex-advice column “Savage Love” and the editor of The Stranger, Seattle’s weekly newspaper. His writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the op-ed pages of the New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Onion, and other publications.

Customer Reviews

Most fun reading in a long time!
I found myself laughing throughout the book. Very snappy writing and a story that I could identify with within my own relationship. The story echos today's society and the struggle (conflict) that a lot of relationships go through whether gay or straight. I think I loved the reactions of his son the best. A must read for anyone conflicted about marriage or a commitment ceremony.

The Commitment: Yes, No, Maybe, Well, I Don't Know...
This one I liked; it was fun reading about D.J. and good to see he has done so well with his Dads. The issues with his mom made my heart ache, and I wondered how that would progress over time. But the theme of the book - commitment - made my head ache. Back and forth, back and forth with the marriage thing. Dan makes the angst sound funny, although it wasn't at the time, I am sure. Still, in the end - I never quite got the point. It was entertaining reading for sure. Dan Savage could write a book about brushing his teeth and it would be funny. It's just with so few heterosexuals caring to get married and half of those who do divorcing, why the yen to do this straight-y thing?

Same-Sex Marriage
Take a closer look at the issue of same-sex marriage with this examination and criticism of both sides of the debate.