Customer Reviews

Piece of My Heart

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This Watts's most specifically lesbian novel. It is about coming out of the closet in college (specifically Louisville, KY) and entering the dating scene. There is a side splitting scene toward the end that ranks as a comic masterpiece. It was also great fun, since I'm from Louisville, to see the city so well used, particularly Cave Hill Cemetery's landmark Peasley Sphinx which even appears on the cover.

I'm not gonna ruin this book for any of you like some other reviews do, but if your comming out of the closet, or even if you've been out for a while you GOTTA read this book! It isnt one of those depressing 'the world hates gays sympathy books', its funny and serious at the same time. I'll definatly be ordering any other book Julia Watts writes, Julia you ROCK! ;-)

This book was not only insightful about life after the "coming out," it was just plain *funny.* I chuckled and laughed all the way through. Even better, our earnest heroine is *young* and there are all too few novels about younger lesbians that don't wallow in self-imposed marginalization. Jess reminded me of myself in my early 20s. I didn't have a clue either, and just made it up as I went along, a hopeful romantic.

I could not put it down. The writing is excellent. The characters feel genuine and the events are sometimes sad, but more often they are laugh out loud-funny. She is a true writer in the southern tradition. I recommend this book highly.

I was browsing in the lesbian bookstore, and came across this book;title caught my eye. i started reading this wonderful book, and before i knew it, it was three hours later, and I wanted more. The story line, and the characters are memorable, most of which we all have met at least once in our lifetime,..or will soon meet. The story left an impression on me that will last for awhile,..this is where I am in my life, and I'm sure others out there can relate to this wonderful story as well. It is a must read for the romantic at heart.

START OF BACK COVER TEXT -Okay, you're a lesbian. Now What?? That's the question that newly out Kentucky graduate student Jess Hamlin tries to answer in this heartwarming and hilarious account of her southern days and nights. From making and losing acquaintances, to finding and keeping real friends. Through bars and coffee houses school and work. Surviving family drama and ex-lover trauma. Dealing with well-intentioned matchmakers and dates from hell. Having crushes and getting crushed. Coping - and sometimes not coping. Falling in lust and, slowly, exquisitely, surrendering to love. In other words, all the stuff that dreams - and real lesbian lives - are made of.- END OF BACK COVER TEXT

`Piece of My Heart' was first published in 1998. In the almost ten years since Julia Watts' writing style has changed somewhat, but her talent has not diminished. I was pleasant surprised at the breadth and depth of this novel, and especially liked following the adventures of Jess as she comes into her own. The supporting characters also lend a hand in making this story complete.

Suffice it to say, if you've enjoyed any of her more recent books (such as Women's Studies) you'll enjoy this one too.

I guess I'm a Julia Watts fan. I've just reviewed all her books so you'd have to say I was. Since I'm not gay I figured this book was the one I'd like least since it has the most explicitly lesbian content (not a lot of sex or anything, but not really any straight characters). I was wrong. This is her funniest book. You owe yourself a good read, if only for the part that builds up and ends with the expostulated name of one of the US Presidents.

I absolutly love Julia Watts. Sadly though I now have all of her books in print and "Piece of My HEart" completes that collection. I can't wait till more. Piece of My Heart actually taught me more about women, lesbians in particular (duh!) than I knew before. Being your sterotypical gay male I confess to know little about women but Julia Watts writes in very vivid, detailed plots that ANYONE is sure to enjoy.