Review by Choice Review
Both heterosexuals and homosexuals can benefit from reading Burke's compelling narrative of her own lesbian family. She portrays their experience with great integrity and, at times, an almost painful honesty that conveys the idea that "the personal is political." Her use of irony and humor makes the telling of this story fresh and illuminating. Burke describes the process and feelings involved in her partner's decision to give birth, with all its legal, social, and psychological dimensions. The stages of pregnancy, birth, and early months of life are discussed in highly personal terms, as well as the role of a support group of other pregnant lesbian women and their partners. Burke discusses the obstacles she faced in a procedure, eventually successful, to adopt at age three the son whom she had come to love long before his birth to her partner. She relates the daily joys and chores of parenthood in a manner that any parent will find poignant and recognizable. This book also includes a penetrating analysis of the activist gay and lesbian community in San Francisco during 1990-92. Burke writes vividly about important demonstrations in 1991 against the making of the film Basic Instinct in that city. Activists sought to alter the negative and violent portrayal of lesbians in that film. Fair-minded people will be informed and enriched by reading this fine book. The absence of an index and bibliography is regrettable but understandable, given the book's narrative purpose. All levels. S. H. Hildahl; Wells College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Once a moderate, closeted lesbian, novelist and teacher Burke was reluctantly drawn into activism after she moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s. She became irrevocably politicized, however, and slammed the closet door behind her in 1989 when her life-partner gave birth to a son, Jesse. Burke's fight through establishment institutions to adopt and coparent Jesse took its toll in anger, stress, and frustration, but it is ultimately a story of love that broadens the concept of "family." Alarmed by televangelist crusaders propagandizing a religious war against "militant homosexuals," Burke became involved in a number of actions to help set the record straight for Jesse and all the other children. She offers an insider's insight on a variety of gay and lesbian protests and politics from the heyday of the late Harvey Milk to the in-your-face activism of Queer Nation today, and her characterizations of major players on both sides of the issues bespeak the perspectives of both a political humorist and a mother: witness her confrontational, consciousness-raising interview with movie actor/producer Michael Douglas during the filming of Basic Instincts. Burke's memoir will touch a wide-ranging audience; highly recommended. ~--Marie Kuda
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Contrary to its title, this colorful, funny and fearless memoir set in San Francisco's gay community is about a nonbiological mom--novelist Burke ( Atomic Candy )--and how she came out of the closet, became politically radicalized and committed herself to four-year-old Jessie, the biological son of her domestic partner Cheryl, who had been artificially inseminated. At first, Burke thinks of herself only as ``Auntie Phyllis'' in relation to Jessie, but events, richly described here--the humiliating legal process she endures to adopt Jessie, the demonstrations against the making of the film Basic Instinct in San Francisco and the assassination of Board of Supervisors member Harvey Milk--all combine to spur her into political consciousness. Her candid story starts with the couple's decision to have a baby, includes a description of the artificial insemination and proceeds from there, including juicy reportage of Burke's heated visit with actor Michael Douglas as they debate Basic Instinct 's harm to lesbians. Oddly, information about how Jessie relates to his two mothers is sketchy. But there is much to make up for that: wonderful, witty and poignant storytelling. Author tour. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
In 1987, when her partner, Cheryl, decided to have a child through ``alternative insemination,'' San Francisco novelist Burke was not ready to make the commitment to co-parenting. Her planned role as ``Aunty'' changed quickly , however, as she became involved in every aspect of the ``assisted conception,'' birth, and raising of son Jesse. Burke here chronicles her fight against her own internalized homophobia and that of a world which wants to deny her the legal right to be Jesse's second mother, interweaving such episodes as her participation in demonstrations against the movie Basic Instinct , Jesse's fascination with Peter Pan, and preparations for the Black & White Ball into a richly textured memoir. Filled with humor and insight, this intimate portrait of motherhood is recommended for all collections.-- Jim Van Buskirk, San Francisco P.L. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Novelist Burke (Atomic Candy, 1989) juxtaposes the story of her fight to adopt the son of her lesbian partner with an impressionistic account of her involvement in the San Francisco chapter of Queer Nation. Burke's partner Cheryl found a sperm bank sympathetic to lesbians desiring motherhood, underwent artificial insemination, and got pregnant, After Jesse was born, the author began a tortuous legal process aimed at legally becoming the boy's second mother, and, following official discouragement and a visit from an insensitive case worker, a judge permitted the adoption to go forward. Meanwhile, Burke had become increasingly drawn to Queer Nation, the activist group that has used humor and shock tactics- -such as ``queer fashion shows'' at suburban shopping malls and glitter-tossing demonstrations against the filming of Basic Instinct--to propel gay and lesbian issues into policy debate and the media. The adoption saga as chronicled by Burke is rich in drama but underdeveloped. Cheryl is only sketchily characterized; and while some vignettes--especially one in which Burke and her lover comb the house for compromising material before the case worker's visit--are vivid, other potentially fascinating incidents (for instance, meetings of a Lesbians Considering Parenthood workshop) are given short shrift. Meanwhile, the Queer Nation segments are marred by a confusing chronology and overlong profiles of movement participants; the author also fails to spell out whether she's attending meetings as a journalist or as an activist. Burke is rigorously honest about fits and starts on her journey to radicalization, but she's far too sparing in describing the formative experiences in her life pre-Jesse. An earnest, heartfelt memoir, then, but choppy and only intermittently compelling.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review
