When I Knew

by Robert Trachtenberg

Book Overview

When I Knew is a collection of smart, hilarious, and often poignant stories about that revelation for all gay men and women: when they first knew. In this gorgeously illustrated, cleverly designed, and colorful book, acclaimed fashion and celeb-rity photographer Robert Trachtenberg brings humor and style to the EUREKA moments of more than eighty contributors, including B. D. Wong, Arthur Laurents, Simon Doonan,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060571462
• ISBN13: 9780060571467
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Dey Street Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.1" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

So much for the "nurture" theory

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.

A Heartwarming View

Often humorous and bittersweet, a refreshing point of view on homosexuality. Well written, with engaging graphics-I read it in one sitting. I would recommend it to anyone regardless of their persuasion. Affirming for those of us with gay friends and relatives and enlightening for those without.

Ladies and Gentleman.....Cher!

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.

It helped me

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.

Absolutely wonderful

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.