This important and diverse new collection by writers and artists who have lived in the Midwest presents a wide range of fiction, poetry, memoir, essays, and photography, adding a vital point of view to the canon of lesbian and gay literature.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
The vision of the "gay lifestyle" conjured up by many Americans is informed chiefly by media and cultural images emanating from the large cities of the East and West Coasts. This vision, however, is limited and limiting. In places like Eau Claire, Lincoln, and Des Moines, there are also queers who possess their own distinct experiences, views, and voices that are often obscured in the bicoastal din. The two works here attempt to right this situation as they explore and celebrate from a Midwestern point of view the diversity within the gay community. Farm Boys presents a series of autobiographical narratives by gay men raised on farms over this century?the oldest was born in 1909, the youngest in 1967. They describe perceptions of and responses to conditions inherent in farming communities and the influence this experience has had on their lives. The roughhewn quality of the narratives (only one was written by a professional writer) creates an ambience that is often powerful and poignant, conveying the sadness of isolation and the strength of self-reliance. Reclaiming the Heartland takes a more literary approach, presenting a diverse collection of fiction, poetry, drama, essays, and photography by men and women who have lived or are living in the Midwest. The works focus on the Midwest as place, the broader issues of desire, and the Midwestern perspective on and in other locations. The goal is to prove that queer identity and cultural practices do indeed thrive in the heartland. The pieces themselves are something of a mixed bag, but the whole is satisfying. Both these works serve as important reminders that gay people do live, work, and love all across the land. They should be seriously considered by all libraries supporting gay studies as well as public libraries throughout the Midwest.?David W. Henderson, Eckerd Coll. Lib., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Karen Lee Osborne is a novelist who teaches literature at Columbia College in Chicago. Among her published works are Carlyle Simpson (1986) and Hawkwings (1991).
--This text refers to the
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edition.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Rainbow children in the Heartland,
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This review is from: Reclaiming the Heartland: Lesbian and Gay Voicesfrom the Midwest (Hardcover)
I am so glad that a book substantiates that the rainbow extends to us here in the Midwest. It is not New York City, then nothing, then San Francisco. However, this book won't feel as compelling as books on gay men and lesbians in the South because the Midwest is not as strongly red (I mean the 2000 election term, not the Lenin-inspired term) as those states.
The entries here are short. Half are from women; half are from men. With contributions from Kitty Tsui, Edward Thomas-Herrera, and Ricardo Garza, the book tries to be racially-diverse. Two major themes come up in this book: growing up gay/lesbian in conservative, rural areas, and first-time experiences now as openly gay adults, usually in a metropolis. This book may feel too Chicago-centered to many. Those still in rural areas and others from Madison, Minneapolis, etc. may feel left out. One of the authors works in Chicago and naturally editors get contributions from those they know, in a snowball sample manner. Despite the logic here, this book may rub people the wrong way by implying that all or most Midwestern gays will eventually find their way to the Windy City. Still, perhaps gay denizenship is regional. Chicago might be the Midwest equivalent to the East Coast's NYC, the West Coast's SF, and the South's Atlanta. Fair enough. I thank the editors and the contributors for their efforts in promoting a possibly needed dialogue.
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