Customer Reviews

Burning Point

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Burning Point, a true story, is the most revealing, intimate, profoundly moving portrait of a man's life that I have ever read. The riviting conflicts of his life are presented in the first chapter, which ends in one of the many unforgettable scenes of the book, establishing the suspense that I felt throughtout Burning Point until its dramatic conclusion. The author, a psychologist, writes beautifully about the central issues of his life with amazing honesty and depth of insight. He is obviously a very talented writer. This book is a real page-turner. Best of all, the many emotions I felt helped me to learn about myself.

This book is a memoir that deals with the author's decades-long struggle to understand, and come to terms with, his sexual self. The struggle is described with brutal honesty, against a background of family, the rituals of high school and college, institutions (including the US Army), political life, societal norms, contemporary history, religion, and more. Yet the writing never bogs down, and the reader finds himself impelled along with the author down a turbulent river of discovery. Hinkle recalls or recreates conversations and impressions in an absolutely convincing style. Gay people who read this book will doubtless relate to many of the incidents and emotions he details. Straight people will probably be astonished to discover that what is referred to as one's "sexual orientation" isn't necessarily all that straightforward. All readers will enjoy Hinkle's fine ability to describe his conflict without being either maudlin or self-righteous.

Burning Point is the story of a journey, that moves from the author's childhood and relations with his parents, to betrayal of an early homosexual love, with attendant regret and grief, through a "normal" period of heterosexual marriage and raising a family, and finally into the acceptance and joy of Hinkle's present life.

So this is a story with a happy ending, but it has many dark moments. Hinkle, who is a clinical psychologist, has a great facility with words. Though the situations and feelings he describes are often of the most tortuous and complicated nature, the writing is so straightforward that it is a very easy (though long) book to read. And there's not an ounce of psychobabble present!

Dennis Hinkle's Burning Point takes the reader on a spiritual journey into the forbidden passions of gay love. His powerful true story touches the reader in profound ways as he describes the pains of love and loss and of ultimate redemption.

This book also brings to light the isolation and loneliness most men experience as they struggle with cultural ideation. Dennis Hinkle writes with striking insight as he leads the reader into the depths of his spiritual self. This book is bound to change the lives of all who dare to embark on the journey within.

Denny Hinkle's book gave me back something that I'd lost. It was an understanding of my own journey, replete with valleys and peaks, many joys and many sorrows. Like Denny, I followed society's conventions, was married, and had a family. All the while, denying a very basic part of myself and my nature. When life's circumstances allowed me to begin to be exactly who I was, I found self-acceptance and self-love awaiting me. "Burning Point" is not easy to read. You have to stop often and look inside yourself, get in touch with your own life, and often times utter a prayer of thanks that you didn't undergo some of the family trauma that was a part of his daily existence. I raced to the end of this book and found joy...for Denny and for me. So will you. This book is written from the heart and Denny Hinkle's heart connected with my own.

I found this book at a rummage sale for a buck. I started reading it at the book store and couldn't stop. The language is very touching. While I read this book I stopped often. It's like you have to digest the words to hear their melody. It is really incredible when a book changes you. Changes your perspective and allows you to see through the eyes of another. It did this for me. I just finished reading it, and I want to read it again this time slower. It is one of those books that while you read it you want to tell the world go read it. it's good. maria

In this courageous memoir, Dr. Hinkle weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of sensuality, longing and self-discovery. We are invited into his world by an image that is with me still: Appearing from the mist, ethereal and angelic, a blond boy on a hill, sent to teach acceptance of one's truest self. A clinical psychologist, Dr. Hinkle relates his history with riveting prose in an uncompromising, yet compassionate manner. His journey encourages the reader to discover their own unrealized selves - to challenge their own limits and bravely put one foot in front of the other. I have tremendous admiration for the life he has lived and the love he has found.