Product Description

This collection of ten stories continues to chronicle homosexual relationships in the same manner as the author's previous book "Family Dancing".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2407266 in Books
• Published on: 1992-01-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Conventional American tourists observe uninhibited families in Italy; a woman learns independence when the gay man who is the center of her life vacations in Europe. Other tales explore marriage, fidelity and grief. According to PW , ``Leavitt writes with increased authority and range about love and loss within families and among gay and straight couples.''

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Leavitt's reputation as a deeply gifted writer with a special interest in the gay experience has been established with works like the novel Equal Affections ( LJ 1/89) and the stories in Family Dancing ( LJ 8/84). A few of these new tales move beyond gay themes--"Spouse Night," for instance, in which a bereaved man and woman have an affair after meeting at a support group for terminal patients and their families--but even those in which gay relationships predominate are crafted with such skill, compassion, and sensitivity that one need not have a special interest in that topic to be deeply drawn into their fictional worlds. Objective correlatives and metaphors abound: empty houses, or the death of a cat, trigger sudden epiphanies enabling characters to identify with antagonists and discern whole new patterns in their mysteriously intertwined lives. Sometimes, as in the title story, one spoken sentence can turn a concept inside out in shattering revelation. Witty and elegant without the least conscious artifice, these tales are both entertaining and profoundly moving. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/90.
- Elise Chase, Forbes Lib., Northampton, Mass.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

excellent
I am a highschool teacher of English in Budapest, Hungary. I found only one short story by David Leavitt in an anthology of which title is "Gravity". I found it so beautiful that I gave it to my students to read and I will also buy the whole book. "Gravity" is a masterpiece of short fiction that should be read by all straight people. I also would be interested in translating the book into Hungarian!

glowing spirits
David Leavitt's fabulous collection, opened my eyes and made me feel warm and toasty inside. His stories made me cry as well and smile. Although I do not have an immediate connection with David Leavitt's stories, they did bring back memories of different life situations. I recommend this book to young or old, retired or a student. Life is always handing out situations to think about and Leavitt's collection could help you through it.