In Every Port

I am so very glad to have found this authors work This novel has all the elements that make this author's work the wonderfully fulfilling experience it is - humor, passion, sincerity, great writing, interesting plot and strong characters. The book flows and you find yourself putting it down when you start racing to see what happens next. I adore the hilarious conversations that Jessica has with herself. She is so interesting to watch come to terms with who she has grown to be, embrace it and reach out for personal fulfillment after obtaining the professional fulfillment she worked hard to achieve. I especially like that the author gave both Jessica and her neighbor Cat (who, lucky for Jessica, is smart, attractive and sweet) rich and fulfilling lives before they met - it wasn't a book where love dramatically saved them all. Instead they were interesting people that deserved to find someone. Another aspect of the book is the author firmly places the reader in the character's milieu San Francisco 1978 - after reading the book I really had a feel for a time and place that I had no personal connection with. Don't miss the warm and witty short story in the author's anthology 'Frosting on the Cake' where you get to see the women years later - you won't stop smiling. If you liked this you will also want to read the author's other novels - All the Wrong Places Embrace in Motion Painted Moon Just Like That Unforgettable One Degree of Separation

Some books set in the past read like history lessons and are just about as dry and dull, too. But not this one. Instead of lots of emphasis on events and who did what, this novel is like a history lesson in the emotions of a burgeoning lesbian-feminist. I take for granted a lot not just how far we've come as lesbians, but also as women. Jessica is the kind of woman who thought of stuff to teach women about work and success that we all take for granted now.But that's all secondary to a nice, romantic plot about two women who fall in love and have to figure out how to show it. It's 1978, you're in love with another woman -- do you propose? There's no gay marriage, there aren't even commitment ceremonies. I liked reading about women who had to think about that stuff because nobody had been doing what they wanted to do, which is start a life obviously together.I had never read this early book of Kallmaker's because it was set in the past, but after reading the short story based on these characters in Frosting on the Cake I started to look for it and it was out of print. Now it's back in print and I'm glad! Every gay person should know who Harvey Milk was. Not as a name on a page but how this book let me see him: as a dream of what our future could be, and the hope that he gave two women (and the rest of us) that there would be a better future for gay people.Considering all that this little romance accomplishes, it's no surprise to me that Kallmaker many years later wrote Substitute for Love, which looks again at the political reality of many gay people. I swear, if the L-Word had this woman writing for them I might start believing their plots!

I loved this book. It is the first of Kallmaker's books and althought I love all her books, I have to say this was my favorite. Given the way the book flowed much of the time, the ending was a bit jarring. If Kallmaker wanted to make a statement, perhaps she should have done it in another book. Jessica is a free-lance assertiveness training speaker and has finally put together enough money to buy a condo in the high interest rate atmosphere of late 1970's San Francisco. Jessica has only had affairs with women but is sure that when she is ready, she will settle down with a man. The internal dialogue between Jessica and Herself are hysterical. You should buy the book just for that. Jessica's neighbor on the 3rd floor of the condo she just bought is Cat Merrill. Jessica is captivated by Cat and she and Cat become good friends. However, Jessica discovers to her dismay that she is very attracted to Cat and has to finally admit to herself that she is a lesbian. Her trip to Texas to visit her friend/lover Marilyn is hysterical. She buys her first lesbian books at a women's bookstore and feels self-conscious. There are many great parts but I think the fact that the ending takes place with the deaths of Mayor Mascone and gay activist Harvey Milk detract from the book. As I said before, Kallmaker should have put it in a different book, if she wanted to write about the deaths of those two men. Still, buy the book. You'll love it and Jessica (Herself) and Cat.

I've read all the books by Kallmaker. This one is were you should start off if you ever plan on reading everything she's written. This is TRUE romance, the characters, the plot, but most importanly, the way she takes you there, ever so gently, slowly, smoothly ... this book is REALLY a page turner. If you are that romantic person that never quite found out what romance was all about, geez, don't lose any time and read this book. Then read the rest. And then come back and read this one again. And if you ever forget what Kallmaker is all about, read it again. This book is what made her the Queen of Romance...she only got to be a better Queen with the others. And she's a better writter nowadays too.

I have read almost all of Karin's books - with only 2 waiting to be read - and they have all been great romance, love stories... exactly what I needed to read! In Every Port is great, very well written - not just sex, it has real characters and a real story - just like all the rest that followed, thanks again Karin.