Generation Q

The most striking thing about this book is the way the voices are so different from each other, so well chosen to complement each other, yet the quality is consistent. An honest and exciting book.

The best thing about this book is its consistency. So many anthologies--no matter what the subject matter--fall into the same breakdown: one-third brilliant (however one defines it within the context of book's scope and topic: entertaining, enlightening, educational, well-written, etc.); one-third "okay;" and one-third boring drivel (again defined in many ways: droll, mundane, pedantic, boring, etc.). This book makes it's mark nearly all the way through. The diversity of the points of view exposed is enlightening in and of itself. It was just a great read. Also, I guess by definition I'm a Generation Q-er, and it was heartening to find such a pleathora of potential friends and allies out there. I don't buy the whole "family" designation--and at times even "community" seems like a stretch--but this collection of essays made me feel like (here's yet another cliche) "we're everywhere."

With all due respect to our elders and the tremendouschallenges they faced living as gender outlaws on the fringes ofsociety before many of us were even born, the time has come for post-Stonewall queer voices to rise up out of the chorus to sing our own songs loudly, proudly, and sometimes off-key. At various times funny, sexy, heartbreaking, and inspiring, the stories assembled in Generation Q affirm that children of the 70s are forging ahead with our own struggles and victories to further enrich the queer legacy. Coming out, gender and culture issues, feminism, alienation, discrimination, race, sex, HIV status, and S/M controversy are just some of the themes tackled. From Erika Kleinman's courageous stand to come out to her parents, community, and entire high school (the last place on earth one wants to be different), to Michael Thomas Ford's glorious gay-boy ode to pop culture ("The Village People, Tiger Beat, and Me"), this anthology showcases a richly diverse blend of well-written and thought-provoking dialogue that will surely strike a chord with 20- and 30-somethings. Highly recommended.