Review: The Commitment

The Commitment
By Dan Savage
I found this book while doing my usual audio book search through the now six libraries I have cards for on my OverDrive media app. Just like the many times before, I selected this book on a whim and just hit download. Since listening to the audio books from the library is free and easy to do, I am willing to take the risk on just about any book that catches my attention. On rare occasions I stumble upon a book like this one, and it instantly soars to the top of my favorite-books-of-all-times list.

This book is about family. Specifically, it is a memoir written by a gay man who recounts his experiences in love, sex, marriage and family. (It even says so right on the cover) Savages writing style is amazing. I was sucked in and hung on every word. Many times I literally laughed out loud like a crazy person and even shouted out repeats of some amazing quotes. This book is quotable in the way that people quote popular movies. So many one liners that are pure literary gold. Some, more inappropriate than others to accidentally yell out while listening to the book in the grocery store, but all equally memorable. (If the nice family who was shopping at Kroger the other day is reading this...I am sorry for my outburst and the interesting conversation you now have to have with your six or so children.)

This book is not only entertaining, hilarious, and heartfelt, but it is also stocked full of amazing advice and inspiration for couples. All couples, homosexual or heterosexual alike. His beautiful way of storytelling captured all the emotion and personality of each and every person in his family and circle of friends. I could literally see each scene as if I were watching it on TV instead of reading it in a book. I laughed and cried several times throughout this story.

Along with a wonderful story, this book is filled with information about the battle for marriage equality as it stood in 2004/2005 in America. It is changed some now in the years since the book was written, but still we as a society have a long way to go. This book is probably the best argument for marriage equality in existence. It is impossible to read this story and not feel the overwhelming urge to fight for this family to be recognized as just that, a family. In fact, this family is doing more things right than the majority of heterosexual families. Same-sex marriage is threatening heterosexual marriages? No way! This one has actually been an encouragement and helpful to me as a newly-married straight woman. And I am sure I am not the only person that has drawn inspiration from this wonderful families story.


Cheers!