Customer Reviews

Pretzel Logic

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lisa Rogak, Pretzel Logic (Williams Hill Press, 1999)

Lisa Rogak has written a pretty darn fine novel, but unfortunately couldn't get it published by a major. So instead she went to a small, regional press with this book, which has probably kept it from getting a wide enough distribution to reach the audience it deserves.

Pretzel Logic is the story of a married couple who move back to the wife's hometown and take over the weekly paper. All is going swimmingly until the husband starts fighting past demons he thought he had conquered in his adolescence, finally capitulating to them and (while masking it in various ways) coming out of the closet.

The storyline isn't anything terribly new. We've all seen it before over the past twenty years more than once. What makes Pretzel Logic worthwhile is Rogak's easygoing style, somewhat rare in journalists, especially rare in journalists writing autobiographical novels and there are quite a few clues lying around to give this away as an autobiographical novel). Rogak is still close to her material, to be sure, but that doesn't stop her from recognizing, and telling, a good story around it.

It is entirely possible that the way Rogak approaches the subject matter is what stopped the book from getting published. Various episodes in the book, from an offhand comment made early on to Rogak's attempt at sleeping with another woman are not handled with one iota of political correctness, which would no doubt cause most publishers to shy well away from this book. At the same time, the political incorrectness of the book doesn't come off as offensive as much as it comes off honest (and if you can't tell the difference between the two, you can both stop reading this review right now and avoid this book like the plague. Those with chips on their shoulders are guaranteed to be offended by this book). In other words, as often happens, the book didn't get a big contract precisely because of the things that make it a good read in the first place. And we wonder why Danielle Steel sells millions of copies. *** ½

I would have never thought to pick up this book on my own sinceit didn't apply to me. But, since I heard about it and am open toreading everything, I decided to read it. What an education. Many ofus do not even think about being in a situation where we findourselves married to a gay partner, but in all reality, ithappens. This is life and nothing to be hidden in the closet. I foundthe book very informative and I am sure a blessing to those who needto know there are other people going through this situation and thatthere is support out there for them. I think Ms. Rogak did a wonderfuljob informing the public of a more common happening than most of usknow about. She writes from both sides of the relationship, althoughMichael, the gay husband, doesn't have a voice of his own. We hear itfrom Emily. We hear from others going through the same thing and theopenness of their feelings. Both Michael and Emily explore theirrelationship, not wanting to lose their friendship, but also realizingthings aren't going to change. You have to be happy with yourself oryou will never be happy. This book is a wonderful public service forthose in need.

Wonderfully told story on how a woman married for years suddenly finds out her husband is [not straight]. The whole book began looking like two friends of the opposite sex out for a night out on the town together. She, wanting to know what his [other] night life was like, got him to take her with him. But they are really married.

Then chapter one takes you back into time to tell the tale from the beginning. It was fascinating to watch Michael come to terms with being [not straight]. I was horrified for Emily as she found out the truth, even though I knew it was coming.

The author shows exactly what I believe it must be like to find myself in this situation. The question, "Where do we go from here?" is not an easy one to answer. However, Lisa Rogak pulls me, the reader, along with her with her humor and was of facing facts. I loved it!

I Loved this book!!! It spoke so much to me about what its like on the other other side of the closet. It really made me think a lot about marriage in general and what it takes to hold a marriage together and about love and what it is and what it sacrifices. I read it so fast because I just couldnt put it down. This is a story that you dont want to miss.

This book was written so casually that I could focus on the story and not concentrate on reading the words. Emily and Michael became good friends instead of characters and I laughed and cried with them. This book also caused me to think about the issues in my own heterosexual marriage and to confront some of the things that have been missing.

I picked up this book expecting to skim it and found it so engaging I couldn't put it down. It was like reading a whodunit, and finished it in two sessions. It is witty, sincere and flowing. The author describes so much with few words, ....the scenes of the straight spouse's support group are both marvelously funny and sad. The character of her detached and confused husband at times is predictable, but it is Emily, the narrator, who holds your interest and draws you in. In that I am a formerly married gay man, long out of the marriage, I didn't expect to response so empatheticly to the wife....but, to the author's credit, I did and the results is, that this book will stay with me for a long time to come.

Never thought this topic could relate to my life but I found myself totally engrossed in the lives of Emily and Michael. I think "Anita" had it pegged for me, it's not just about sex, it's about all the little things we begin to miss in our lives, the glances, touches, special things we do for our partners that count. Truly a thought provoking and well written book.

If anyone had ever told me I would read-no less truly enjoy-a novel about a husband's revealing his homosexuality to his wife, I would have said they were nuts. But Lisa Rogak's Pretzel Logic delighted me on several levels.

Anyone who's ever been married or involved in a serious heterosexual relationship would be hard put to fathom what it would be like to learn their partner was gay.

Lisa forces us to examine that possibility, which for her was a reality, and describes how her lead character, Emily, who is largely autobiographical, deals with that situation.

While one might imagine the novel to be heavy or depressing, it's not. It is, however, highly though provoking.

Pretzel Logic hits home on two other areas. Lisa does a fantastic job of zeroing in on what small town life is like in New Hampshire. I know-I live there.

And she also is accurate in her depiction of the life of a small town journalist, something with which I again have first-hand experience.

Both of those elements are seamlessly woven into the novel and make it more than a simple "husband comes out of the closet" story.

Writers are always told, "Write what you know." Rogak has followed that advice precisely and the result clearly demonstrates the wisdom of that counsel. A superb novel.

Shaw tells a great story that is fiction, though based on her own experience as a woman married to a man she discovers is gay. The rollercoaster ride their marriage goes through and all the thoughts the wife has are so in line with what I am experiencing now while dealing with this issue in my own life. The book deals with the issue with humor and a clarity I haven't found in many other books. I enjoyed it so much I didn't want it to end! Reading it was very thgough provoking and therapeutic.

Even if you aren't dealing with this issue in your own life, you will totally be able to relate to the characters and their relationship.

Although I could not relate personally to this novel, it made perfect sense to me. It is not about a husband telling his wife he's gay, it's about losing and trying desperately to get back the person you married. It could happen to anybody. I felt for Emily and understood her confusion and feelings of betrayal and heartbreak. The ending was how I pictured it...I wouldn't have liked it any other way.