Pretzel Logic

I Loved this book!!! It spoke so much to me about what its like on the other other side of the closet. It really made me think a lot about marriage in general and what it takes to hold a marriage together and about love and what it is and what it sacrifices. I read it so fast because I just couldnt put it down. This is a story that you dont want to miss.

I would have never thought to pick up this book on my own sinceit didn't apply to me. But, since I heard about it and am open toreading everything, I decided to read it. What an education. Many ofus do not even think about being in a situation where we findourselves married to a gay partner, but in all reality, ithappens. This is life and nothing to be hidden in the closet. I foundthe book very informative and I am sure a blessing to those who needto know there are other people going through this situation and thatthere is support out there for them. I think Ms. Rogak did a wonderfuljob informing the public of a more common happening than most of usknow about. She writes from both sides of the relationship, althoughMichael, the gay husband, doesn't have a voice of his own. We hear itfrom Emily. We hear from others going through the same thing and theopenness of their feelings. Both Michael and Emily explore theirrelationship, not wanting to lose their friendship, but also realizingthings aren't going to change. You have to be happy with yourself oryou will never be happy. This book is a wonderful public service forthose in need.

I picked up this book expecting to skim it and found it so engaging I couldn't put it down. It was like reading a whodunit, and finished it in two sessions. It is witty, sincere and flowing. The author describes so much with few words, ....the scenes of the straight spouse's support group are both marvelously funny and sad. The character of her detached and confused husband at times is predictable, but it is Emily, the narrator, who holds your interest and draws you in. In that I am a formerly married gay man, long out of the marriage, I didn't expect to response so empatheticly to the wife....but, to the author's credit, I did and the results is, that this book will stay with me for a long time to come.

Never thought this topic could relate to my life but I found myself totally engrossed in the lives of Emily and Michael. I think "Anita" had it pegged for me, it's not just about sex, it's about all the little things we begin to miss in our lives, the glances, touches, special things we do for our partners that count. Truly a thought provoking and well written book.

If anyone had ever told me I would read-no less truly enjoy-a novel about a husband's revealing his homosexuality to his wife, I would have said they were nuts. But Lisa Rogak's Pretzel Logic delighted me on several levels. Anyone who's ever been married or involved in a serious heterosexual relationship would be hard put to fathom what it would be like to learn their partner was gay. Lisa forces us to examine that possibility, which for her was a reality, and describes how her lead character, Emily, who is largely autobiographical, deals with that situation. While one might imagine the novel to be heavy or depressing, it's not. It is, however, highly though provoking. Pretzel Logic hits home on two other areas. Lisa does a fantastic job of zeroing in on what small town life is like in New Hampshire. I know-I live there. And she also is accurate in her depiction of the life of a small town journalist, something with which I again have first-hand experience. Both of those elements are seamlessly woven into the novel and make it more than a simple "husband comes out of the closet" story. Writers are always told, "Write what you know." Rogak has followed that advice precisely and the result clearly demonstrates the wisdom of that counsel. A superb novel.