Hailed as “a cri de coeur woven into a utopian vision†by Susan Brownmiller (author of Against Our Will); Ties That Bind is the highly praised work of prizewinning writer and professor Sarah Schulman on “familial homophobia;†a phenomenon that; until now; has not had a name but is nevertheless an integral part of most people’s experience. Ties That Bind invites us to understand familial homophobia as a cultural crisis; rather than a personal or an individual problem. Ambitious; original; and deeply important; Schulman’s book draws on her own lived experience; her research; and her engagement with active social change to articulate a practical; attainable vision of transformation that can begin today. This highly acclaimed and groundbreaking exploration is now available in paperback for countless more to experience a fundamental text that alters our understanding of homophobia and adds a critical dimension to the political landscape of all Americans.
#387152 in Books 2016-04-05 2016-04-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.55 x 1.60 x 6.50l; 1.67 #File Name: 1594204632512 pages
Review
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful. Louisa: A First Rate Biography of A First LadyBy Tina SaysI love biographies; although I feel like I've read more memoirs than biographies in recent years. I also love reading about the presidents and their wives; but have typically read books about recent presidents and their families.Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas gives an in depth account of the life of Louisa Adams; the wife of John Quincy Adams. I'll admit that prior to reading this book; I hadn't thought much about Louisa Adams. Yet; I was extremely interested in her life and did truly find her life fascinating.Just a few tidbits I took away from this book:Louisa's own early life is covered; including the fact that her parents were not married until she was ten herself.She had never been to the United States until after she is married to John Quincy Adams.She suffered from many miscarriages; although the exact number is never known since her diaries may only indicate that she had been sick; so it is speculation as to whether her illness was a miscarriage or a different sickness.For a time she and John Quincy Adams and their youngest son lived in Russia.Louisa knew Napoleon Bonaparte.Louisa had a difficult time forming relationships with other wives in Washington; D.C.Despite the fact that Louisa was frail and often sickly; she found some inner reserve of strength to endure the deaths of her own children and managed to live without the constant help of her husband during challenging situations.Louisa is a comprehensive and researched look at this First Lady's life. Although I hadn't much thought of Louisa Adams prior to reading this book; I thoroughly enjoyed this look at her life. I appreciated Thomas' easy to read writing style and her ability to create a biography that reads almost like fiction and kept me interested up until the last page.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Louisa Thomas has researched and written a wonderful narrative history of a most amazing womanBy Jon HowardLouisa Thomas has researched and written a wonderful narrative history of a most amazing woman. Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams was the wife of John Quincy Adams. Ms. Thomas truly brings her namesake to life. I strongly urge you to read about the important; though little known; strong; intelligent; self-deprecating yet amazing and influential woman.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Woman's JourneyBy rctnycThis is a highly readable; entertaining; well-researched biography of Louisa Adams; the wife of a brilliant; exasperating; difficult man. Born in England to an American businessman and his British companion -- her parents did not marry until they'd had several children together -- Louisa had led a privileged life before marrying John Quincy Adams; a self-denying; self-centered puritan; prone to depression who; although drawn the lovely; vivacious Louisa disapproved of what he saw as her girlish frivolity. His mother; the redoubtable Abigail; wasn't keen on Louisa; either. She'd hoped for a more sober spouse for her son. Worse still; Louisa's father went bankrupt shortly after she married John Quincy; an event that caused her shame and distress for the rest of her days.They were wrong. Although their marriage was difficult; Louisa and John Quincy stayed together until his death over 50 years later. Tried by Louisa's many miscarriages; and other family tragedies; they grew stronger as both individuals and a couple. Louisa matured from a girl who could barely write a letter; into a woman whose letters and diaries were eagerly anticipated and read by both her mother-in-law and; after Abigail Adams's death; her father-in-law; John Adams. Bred for the drawing room; she became an astute politician who often stepped in when her rigid; uncompromising; socially inept spouse stumbled. Insecure and lacking a sense of herself; she grew into a woman who navigated the hazardous political and social waters of Tsarist Russia; Europe and the U.S.; and made an amazing journey from Moscow to Paris; in the midst of the Napoleonic wars; accompanied only by her young son and a few servants -- the latter of whom ran away when the armies of Napoleon drew near.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I had previously read an account of Louisa's journey from Moscow to Paris; this bio put that journey in the perspective of her entire life. All I can say is; she deserved ten medals for putting up with John Quincy Adams. Yet clearly; despite the dissatisfaction that both expressed with their marriage; they loved one another deeply. This bio tells their complex tale without simplifying either member of this interesting couple; while at the same time giving the reader a detailed account of the political era in which they lived.
