I Know You're Out There: Private Longings, Public Humiliations, and Other Tales from the Personals

Having been a reader of The Reader and automatically going to the personals to see who wants to screw who or however. Wagers are made between myself and a friend to see how many guys in the M seeking M section will be closeted MWM w/ children from the northwest burbs who need to keep it on the DL. This book was like going to see the wizard. A very revealing look into this guy's job and his life. If a book can make me laugh out loud or cry when I'm on public transportation it's a good read. This book did this to me. In particular the chapter's "Sixes and Sevens" which had me tearing up then laughing in the chapter's ending paragraphs. Those inappropriate jokes following a buried skeleton, unearthed, that only a family can share is something I think many can relate to. Then "Emergency Powers" with one of the best quotes ever from a woman named Estelle. After finishing the last line of the chapter a woman next to me asked if I was okay. I admit it, I teared up a little. I loved the book and if you buy it, you will too.

I enjoyed reading this book and have suggested it to several of my single friends. It offered a very special insight into the world of personal ads and the love life of the author. The tone of the first half of the story and the second are very different. The first more contemplative (I nearly stopped reading it); the second half is more lively, filled with more examples of the personal ads and is slightly cynical. I wished the entire book was more like the second half.

Highly entertaining with consistently sharp prose fitting the book's subject matter. A good, fun read about two of life's universally driving forces: finding love and coping with love, wherever found. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I have to echo what the other reviewer wrote. Lots of laughter and at the same time touching passages which are anything but sappy. Michael Beaumier's approach is dry, insightful and witty. Also, having used internet dating as of late, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to laugh with Beaumier about the absurdity which is ever present in that world.

This book is HILARIOUS and poignant. I loved it! My preferred reading position for all save the driest of textbooks is flat on my back on the couch, which is where I planted myself to explore this book. Not only could I not put it down until I finished, but I had to get up and walk around the house several times to relieve the coughing spasms I had from laughing too hard too long in a prone position. I so needed the laughter offered by this wonderful book as my life has been filled with grief and loss of late. I am deeply grateful and still chuckle when snippets drift back through my conscious mind. My only problem is that I cannot decide which is my favorite... the poignant or the hilarious--it's a toss-up. You will have to read and decide for yourself.