Lifeguarding: A Memoir of Secrets, Swimming, and the South

Treading water, deciding whether to sink or swim, Catherine McCall's "Lifeguarding" is a stunning memoir and well worth the read. "Lifeguarding" is about a middle class family leading a country club life but what appears to be real is false. Her father, a mediocre insurance salesman, drowns himself in booze and debt. To keep their lives afloat, Catherine's mother gets a job teaching. As she hides their family secrets, Catherine hides one of her own . . . She is gay. Catherine's struggle to understand her sexuality, her unconventional desires in a conventional time, makes "Lifeguarding" an unusual story. Her feelings and frustrations flow from pen to page. It is beautifully written, poignant and moving. Going into bars to remind her father to come home, or waiting for him to arrive for a day at the state fair, the reader is right there with the writer. Catherine McCall takes us back to the agonies of adolescence, when life was supposedly simple. It reminds me of trying to win in the wrong lane. I'm happy to report . . . Catherine McCall is victorious! Laurie Ames Birnsteel Kahala

I thought i was burned out with memoirs and along comes "Lifeguarding." Congratuulations to Catherine McCall for an honest, truthful memoir written in a straightforward manner, without the strident, over-the-top, self-proclamation and heavy-handed confessionals that have dominated the genre. This story flows gently but strongly and is a blessed change from the norm in this genre. Read it!

I enjoyed reading the author's story and thought the writing was great. It really took me to the time and place. And very clever how she tied so much into water, emotions, etc. Hard to articulate my thought there, but it was brillant in places. Those that have read the book will know what I'm referring to. I will recommend this book to my book club. In reading the back flap about Ms. McCall, it appears she's settled and happy and that's nice to see.

This book stands a part from other family stories for me because of the author's ability to discuss her family's strengths AND shortcomings with such honesty and such tenderness. So often authors who share family stories are skilled at detailing either the tremendous adversity of their childhoods or the greatness of the characters they have known. McCall does an excellent job of sharing the simple humanity of her family members, making them real to the reader, not simply characters to admire or villianize. I also appreciated the honesty with which McCall shared her coming out process and the deep understanding she seems to have of the role of her partners and their importance to her life. A tender, meaningful, and enjoyable read.

Wow! I bought this book to read while I was traveling but got roped in and finished the book before my travels even really got under way -- each chapter leaving me curious to what came next. I read deep into the night (although I should have been packing and cleaning) and then finished it waiting for the first leg of my trip the next morning. I thought the book was a courageous, compelling telling of one family's story. While I didn't have the same experiences as the author, she did an excellent job of putting enough detail on different levels that I am sure many readers,like myself, will be able to connect with the story and the struggles. Silly superficial things like the gold shell/bear/lion belt buckles, oversized glasses, and three musketeers bars at the pool snack bar made me smile and transported me back to those days. Other things like her sister being the bossy big sis made me cringe --that was my role in life. Her various descriptions of living in her household brought tears to my eyes because to a certain degree, that was my life. I read a lot of books about families and family dynamics (both fiction and non-fiction) and usually walk away with some new understanding or lesson. After finishing this book, I found it hard to get into the next two books (both fiction, and both very good books -- Memory Keeper's Daughter and Vanishing Acts). I guess life can be stranger (and much more powerful) than fiction! I thought Lifeguarding was terrific!