Coming Up from the Down Low: The Journey to Acceptance, Healing, and Honest Love (Hardcover)

by J.L. King (Author), Courtney Carreras (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This follow-up to the Oprah-driven smash On the Down Low packs few surprises, but in its relentlessly candid, insistently first-person way, it creates a safe, supportive space in which readers who find themselves "living on the DL" might self-recognize and begin to seek light and air. King careens from anecdote to anecdote, from tales from his own sex-addicted DL existence (and his divorce) to those of readers who got in touch with him following the first book's success. Each of the vignettes contains some small lesson, however, from behavior that unconsciously reflects a desire to get caught to habits that are outright dangerous. There are chapters in which men and women "Speak Out"; AIDS is treated clearly, directly and sympathetically; race is aired complexly. All the issues that King treats, he treats specifically: the discussion of race, for example, is drawn out of an anecdote about a cookout, which is itself embedded in a discussion of community acceptance. So while the book isn't linear, it's completely grounded and centered in King's voice and sensibility. While it may not put up the huge, instant numbers of its predecessor, this one is built for the backlist. 8-city author tour. (On sale Apr. 26)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
King is author of the controversial best-seller On the Down Low [BKL My 15 04], which exposed the practice of apparently straight black men who have sex with other men and yet do not see themselves as gay. In this -follow-up, King owns up to his bisexuality and his willingness to form more than a sexual relationship with another man. Men on the DL are confused about their sexual orientation and are reflecting the strong homophobic feelings in the black community, King maintains. But because of the health risks posed by the spread of AIDS by men on the DL, he advocates a focus on risky sexual practices rather than sexual orientation. King draws distinctions between white gay activists and black gay or bisexual men who feel the need to remain centered in the black community. He also takes issue with broader social pressures that define men in narrow roles as husbands and fathers, creating pressure to present a facade of being straight. By broadening his focus, King encourages analysis of the DL phenomenon beyond his own personal -demons. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Crown (April 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400098467
• ISBN-13: 978-1400098460
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #900,623 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bogus!, May 21, 2005

By	ucytheynv - See all my reviews

This was a book written, because his publisher probably gave him money to do it.
The brother is bogus. he is still living a lie, to himself and others. He admits that even after the last book he had not come totally clean with himself.
Dont believe his "bisexual" crap. He seems intent on proving his own bisexuality by showing stories of confusion in others. That is not a bisexual, that is a gay man in denial!
His comments about how good he looks, and how good he dresses, then gets mad when people say he acts gay. LOL. First. Bro, your looks are average at best, come down off the high horse. Second, Tom Joyner was correct, he does LOOK gay on his book cover and the Jet cover.
If you are expecting insight, or information. Not in this book. if you expect him to state a position, he will not. Only have safe sex. he seems to justify men who sleep around, as long as they tell their women, or they are safe.
This brotha is frontin, and needs to get real with yourself.
sorry, i just dont like fake people, and this brother is as genuine as a $3 bill. he is playing on peoples fears to sell a book.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not in denial as much as before..., November 14, 2005

By	Don Mega (Chicago) - See all my reviews

I give the brotha credit for at least putting a label on himself. In the introduction, he says "I am a bisexual man." That's pretty much would've saved Oprah about half an hour of dialog from his appearance on the show. I mean the man went on and on about how he's living the straight life, but has sex with men and didn't consider himself gay or bisexual. For some DL brothas, "It was the liquor." Personally, I don't think there's enough alcohol on this planet to make me even consider...I can't even type it out.

Anyway, back to this book - I think it's a decent follow-up, but not worth purchasing. There was an, er, interesting story on how he was on a date dancing with a beautiful sister and this, er, well, in his words, "fine brother," walked in and how they were both checking him out and laughing about it. See? Honest Love. Check it out at the local library, if you're interested in his life after the down low.

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars J. L. King does it again!, June 30, 2005

By	Piper "Piper" (OH) - See all my reviews

The second in a series, JL King further clarifies the down low approach. Hear the voices of men who participate in this lifestyle and the women affected thru his poignant writing. Buy this book and pass onto friends so that they can be aware of this troubling issue. JL King has done it again! Riveting!