No Place Like Home: Relationships and Family Life Among Lesbians and Gay Men

By Christopher Carrington

Book Overview

In this rich, surprising portrait of the world of lesbian and gay relationships, Christopher Carrington unveils the complex and artful ways that gay people create and maintain both homes and "chosen" families for themselves.

"Carefully separating stereotype from reality, Carrington investigates family in the gay and lesbian community. Relying upon interviews and observation, the author analyzes the loves and routings of 52 diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual couples in the Bay area. . . . He] closes the work with a discussion of the raging same-sex marriage debate and posits an enlightened solution to this dilemma." --Library Journal

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226094855
• ISBN13: 9780226094854
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Insightful book

I have actually had the honor of studying and working with Dr. Carrington. His book did not disappoint one bit. He is a great thinker and I highly recommend this book if you are interested in LGB issues. As a Sociologist, I found this book right up my alley and even if you aren't, you will learn a great deal about relationships from it.

Idea of kinkeeper new to me

I bought this book entirely on the fact that I spotted the discussion of "kinkeeper" when I skimmed through this book. This idea, though not original to the author of this book, was a real revelation to me when I first saw it in this book. It really blew me away, though in hindsight it seems so obvious. There is a gay couple in my family tree and I always wondered why the half who was my blood kin wasn't the same one who kept in touch with me, rather, it's his other half who regularly does. My other relatives, it's usually the half I'm related to by blood who keeps in touch with me. The instant I saw in this book the concept of "kinkeeper," all of a sudden I realized, my cuz wasn't the kinkeeper, rather, it was his life partner who had assumed that role in their communications with me! I had wondered previously if, on some level, something was wrong re my connection with my cuz. But in fact, all I needed to do in my own mind was, at least for this particular couple, to separate out the role of "kinkeeper" from my other usual expectations of blood kin. As a result of this book, therefore, I feel better now about my connection with my cuz. [Truth in reporting: This is the only part of this book that I've read so far. My rating does not apply to any other part of this book.]

An absolutely fascinating book!

This book offers an concise, realistic look into the everyday lives of gays and lesbians. The dynamics of "our" relationships and how we choose to make our homes, lives and create our families are revealed thru the tales of different couples. I found this book especially fascinating and useful in my situation. My partner and I have an extended chosen family as we live with another couple. We can relate to so many issues faced by some of the couples the book. This is a definite MUST READ for any gay couple!