Customer Reviews

When I Knew

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robert Trachtenberg's compilation of stories from gays and lesbians entitled, "When I Knew", is a beautiful book. The accounts telling of that special moment when one first knew he or she was gay reflect a wide spectrum of emotion.....some are funny, others simply poignant or moving. Trachtenberg reminds us, especially, of a time when being gay was substantially more difficult than it is today, but it's also a reminder that those difficulties still abound. "When I Knew" should be required reading not only by men and women who have had, or do now, struggle with their sexual identity, but it should also be read by those who wish to make gay people's lives harder. When one reads these mostly short contributions it's hard not to feel empathy, love and concern. I highly recommend this book, not only for its beauty but also for its timeliness.

I knew I was gay when I used to put my sister's black tights on my head and throw back the legs as if they were my hair the way Cher would do on the "Sonny and Cher Show". My mother would grab them from my head and tell me little boys cannot be Cher but I still did it when I was alone!

This book is wonderful because it reminds people that we were once gay and lesbian *children*. You will be thrown back to when you recall knowing and laugh as you read others accounts themseves.

I left this book on the kitchen counter and at least a dozen people have picked it up, thumbed through it or just sat down right there and read it. I caught many of them laughing--even my mother.

This book is just plain entertaining--from the great artwork and photos, to the typography and layout--and mostly for the poignant and often funny anecdotes describing when each writer first discovered that he or she was "other than heterosexual".

A well-designed and -written book that goes beautifully on the coffee table and breaks plenty of ice.

"When I Knew" is as much about graphic design as it is about the literary content, so the oversized dimensions make sense. The anecdotes shared herein are brief and easy to read, printed in large type against colorful backgrounds and often accompanied by childhood photos of those interviewed, many who are minor celebrities.

These brief glimpses into the early lives of gay men and women are mostly humorous ones, interspersed with the occasional poignant or sad sketch.

Unfortunately the entire book can be consumed in one short sitting. It's breezy and entertaining, but I wish there had been a little more depth -- and a lot more material. Even for a "fun" read, the overall effect is thin. Still, pick it up and it's hard to put down.

My teenage niece was confused and did not know what to do and I did not know how to communicate with her, but I knew something was wrong I bought her this book and she not only came out to me but it has made our relationship stronger. She said that it helped her be true to herself.

I'm quite sure I saw this book's author on the Oprah Show. I immediately browsed Amazon to find it because I wanted to give it to my son as one of his Christmas presents in 2006. My son is a 21 year old gay man and "came out of the closet" when he was about 16. Although I made it very clear to him that he is my son and I love him - and that his sexual preferences did not matter to me, I felt that he might have thought that I was somehow ashamed of or even bewildered by him. When he opened this book for on Christmas day, the look on his face and the way he hugged me and thanked me was exactly what I was hoping for. I'm very glad I bought the book...and I'm very glad that I read the book. It is insightful, informative and sometimes humorous. A very good read.

I purchased this book (because) whilst visiting some friends noticed it on their coffee table. Not wanting to be rude and sit and read the whole book whilst there.

I just love it (it's so true)

My best friend 'came out' a few months back, but I always knew. Everyone did, probably before he did. I purchased this book after reading it at a bookstore, and I sat and read the entire thing. I found myself very much enthralled by this book and the poignant stories that are sad, happy, funny, cute and disturbing. I highly recommend this book to anyone you may know who is coming to terms with their sexuality or for someone who may need to understand that gays are human too.

WHEN I KNEW is a humorous, sometimes touching series of accounts by contributors from many walks of life. (The arts are disproportionately represented here, which is hardly surprising.) A very smart and stylish browse through the often wild and wacky process of gay self-identity. Don't expect impenetrable depth here - the focus is on the one-liner - but it's a stunning, lavishly illustrated book safe enough for mother and her guests to browse. My partner and I chuckled frequently as I read aloud several of the book's more memorable vignettes. (My personal favorite was Arthur Laurents' - read it and laugh!) I would love to see an equivalent book for lesbians - only a few are included here.

Many of us can remember our first kiss, our first day of school, even our first memories. But what about the instant you knew you were gay? In a sleek softbound coffee table book titled When I Knew, Robert Trachtenberg has assembled a brilliant collection of anecdotes and short tales surrounding this very topic.

From actor B.D. Wong to stage and screen composer Mark Shaiman (Hairspray), and from comics to agents and producers, dozens of contributors offer their very personal tales, resulting in both a laugh-out-loud and insightful work. While nearly all of the contributors here are in the entertainment and media industries, the stories are poignant and spare, and are accompanied by the masterful and complimentary original artwork of New Yorker illustrator Tom Bachtell.

Readers will recognize names such as Billy Porter, Chip Kidd, Stephen Fry, Marga Gomez, Michael Shulman, Steve Kmetko, and Lypsynka alias John Epperson. The tales that these and others contribute offer up a naked vulnerability that includes freedom, fear, and revelation. Exposed is a certain liberation-either by intent or accident-that is comedic and quietly profound, as if the point of this book was to induce a trip down the memory lane of self-discovery, a bittersweet time in each of our histories that exposed our naivete, our awkwardness, and our determination to be ourselves, sometimes despite ourselves.

Also included are stories about when parents knew, when everyone else knew, and a few coming out stories. Some of the most memorable tales, bound to induce fits of laughter and a few tears, include an anecdote about a father who catches his son with all of his old bowling trophies as he is on his way to play Academy Awards, three friends who catch their buddy rollerskating in drag to the Xanadu soundtrack, a switcheroo of Underoos, multiple trips to see The Sound of Music because of Julie Andrews in a nun's habit, Steve Levitt's European vacation, the Ms. America pageant held in Jake Lubin's backyard, and Brett Freedman's assault on sister Dee Dee's hairstyling skills.

The surprise ending of Trebor Healy's story gives the book heart, B.D. Wong's poem The Ballad of Baby B gives the book style, Eddie Sarfaty's effective tale Second Guessing Grandma gives the book class, while Andy Towle's contribution ends the book on a perfect note.

As an editor, Trachtenberg does excellently by producing a substantive and yet aesthetically pleasing book. Expect this to be the gift to give, gracing coffee tables all across America. It is Page & Author's first choice as a recommended nominee in next year's Lambda Literary Awards.