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Paula Martinac's The Lesbian and Gay Book of Love and Marriage is a crossbreed of a book that offers knowing, humorous insights on love in the gay lane. Crossing romantic advice à la "Dear Abby" ("Meeting Ms. Right") with practical tips on gay weddings that would make Martha Stewart proud ("Right in Your Own Backyard") and homo-child-care cues by way of Dr. Spock ("Are Grandma and Grandpa on Board"), Martinac has assembled a collage of expert interviews, statistics, personal opinions, historical anecdotes, intimate photos, and chats that, while covering an enormously wide range of interests and positions, is quite centered and focused. This is because Martinac understands that there is no one gay or lesbian point of view on any of these topics; each person and each couple has unique needs and opinions. While it does not avoid the controversial (Gabriel Rotello's belief that gay marriage can help stop AIDS) or the sentimental (Mubarak S. Dahir's mediation on what to call his boyfriend in public), The Lesbian and Gay Book of Love and Marriage manages to be both frank and funny, practical and political. --Michael Bronski

From Library Journal
Lambda Award-winning novelist Martinac (Out of Time, Seal, 1990) considers various aspects of gay and lesbian relationships, focusing on "married" couples. Martinac discusses courting, commitment ceremonies, and divorce and reflects on how to deal with finances, in-laws, and blended families; how to adopt; and even what to call one's partner. Each topical discourse is generously leavened with illustrative anecdotes from various couples about how the issue has played out in their relationship. There is a good mix of male and female couples. The book ends with an especially useful annotated appendix listing organizations and resources for lesbian and gay couples and families. This very readable book considers the most important issues for most gay and lesbian relationships and could provide valuable guidance to those who have few role models for successful "marriages." Recommended for all public libraries.?Debra Moore, Loyola Marymount Univ. Lib., Los Angeles
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Its about time!, August 22, 1998 By A Customer Your local bookseller will have entire sections of books all about heterosexual relationships-- how come it took so long to get a true gay and lesbian relationship book that was this good? The good thing about this book, however, has to do with its sub-title: "Creating the Stories of Our Lives." Whereas other books of its genre seem to rest only on their author's self-proclaimed expertise, Martinac uses the book as a sort of collage. She explores relationships though all sorts of interviews and personal stories written by herself and other gay and lesbian people. This book doesn't tell you how your relationship should function, rather it tells how other relationships have, and thus you can relate your life to those in the book. I would definitely reccomend it-- Very inspiring!  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   Wonderful Work!!, August 10, 1998 By A Customer Paula Martinac and Roberta Achtenberg have done the gay and lesbian community a great service in creating this warm and complete look at