Outside the Flock

What can I say, I completely agree with the review by Martha Miller (also posted). As I read this book, I couldn't help but see things from Gail's point of view. I am the mother of two pre teen girls. Let's just say my other half and my kids don't always get along so well... and I'm always stuck in the middle. Calhoun always does a masterful job creating characters who seem real. However, I think she cheated the reader a little in this regard in 'Outside the Flock'. When Jo told her husband Mark she was moving out, he rolled over like a puppy, accepted it, and started dating one of HER co-workers. I know their marriage is not the central theme of the book, but I would expect a man who loved his wife to fight a little more to keep her. With her frustrations about Gail's daughter, I can certainly understand the attraction Jo feels for Laura. However, Jo is new to the lesbian "thing" and her character doesn't seem the type to jump into bed with just anyone. Jo's sister, Kim, is another anomally. She has 5 children of her own and seems too wishy-washy to provide a strong shoulder and sound advice for Jo. I'm concerned about Gail taking Jo back without question after their turmoil too. Her character seems too mature for blind acceptance. On top of it all, I'm curious about why Calhoun introduced Jo's estranged father and his lover. The introduction of these characters was brief and inconsequential to the plot. The same holds true for the attack on Carol torward the end of the book. Was Calhoun trying to add bulk? Connie, Gail's daughter, seems to be the only genuine character in the book. Calhoun might have considered writing from Connie's point of view to give the book a more realistic twist. Even with the shallowness of most of the characters and seemingly erratic plot lines, I found this book easy and enjoyable to read. With the introduction of Jo's husband, Jo's lover, Jo's affair, Gail's child, Jo's mother, and Jo's father, the story itself had more depth than many in this genre. I generally like Calhoun. This wasn't one of her best, but it is still very good. Think of it as an enjoyable rainy day time killer...

Anyone who ever was involved or lived with a woman who had kids, especially adolescent kids, will relate to this story. A woman and her children are clearly a "package deal" and you have to work out two relationships instead of just one. Then, suppose the relationship with your lover goes south? Instead of simply filling the U-Haul with your candles and books and leaving, you have all the messy stuff about your relationship with those children. Outside the Flock is the story of Jo who is in love with Gail. The book opens with Jo, who is about to tell her husband that she is leaving him for Gail, when they are in a horrible car crash. After a couple of months Jo suffers no ill effects of this wreck. The thread of the accident is never picked up again. So, I wondered why Calhoun chose to start this way. Jo eventually does manage to talk to Mark who loves her so much that he offers to let her have her women as long as she is discreet. Jo declines his offer and moves in with Gail and Gail's thirteen-year-old daughter Connie. Connie is the first real conflict in this plot. She hates Jo and she is grossed out that her mother is openly having a lesbian relationship. They live together in a small, cozy house. Jo gets to work on the relationship with Connie and things are going better when she meets Laura, a local veterinarian who has a lover named Wendy. Jo's mother, whose relationship with Jo is tense, is sick and Jo visits her in Florida. Laura is on the plane and is visiting near where Jo will be staying. They begin seeing each other. Back at home the affair continues. Gail confronts Jo and Jo moves out. Except, there is this problem about her relationship with the kid.Most of the time Jo seems decidedly immature. She doesn't seem to love Laura, but can't or won't give her up. Once while considering a more permanent relationship with Laura, Jo thinks, "How can I give up Gail when Laura might not give up Wendy?" First of all, I wonder if there are only two choices here. Secondly the line seems a little high school to me. But, based on my own experience, lesbian romance can be pretty high school. I have to say, though I am not a romance fan, this book kept me interested. The thing about the relationship with the child was genuine and convincing-probably the strong point of the book. I give this one a marginal thumbs up.