The Big Book of Misunderstanding

It's remarkable how this book places the reader directly into the mind of the narrator, Josh. Reading it is like seeing a complicated situation through someone else's eyes; I don't know that, in the same scenarios, I would have interpreted things or been impacted by them in the same way that Josh is, but this novel set me in his shoes with astonishing effectiveness. The relationships between the members of the Royalton family are rendered with the sort of humor and carefully nuanced emotion that made them feel as real as my own family. There seems to be a lot of focus in other reader-reviews about this being a "gay novel". I don't get it. This is just a terrific, engrossing family story, along the lines of books by Jane Hamilton, Michael Chabon, and Pat Conroy (Though much less melodramatic than Conroy!). A real small-press gem.

The magic of literature, when it touches you in some inexplicable way, is exemplified in Jim Gladstone's The Big Book of Misunderstanding. The subtle nuances of family and childhood issues are evoked in the way a scent can revive one's own memories. This book is a sweet, touching memoir that many of our generation can relate to, regardless of their life's path. I highly recommend this as a great read for any audience.

As a therapist, I feel this book touches on the frailties and strengths of a family. With all of the struggles described in this book, the outcome was one of strong character and strength. People survive and move on and the family depicted here allowed us to see them in some of their most raw times. This book would be a wonderful piece for a reading list, in a family therapy course. I appreciated the candor used and the tangible descriptions given the characters. I could see and feel the experiences of the characters as if they were with me in the room. Do not mistake my recommendation for use in an educational program as clinical, but rather a terrific read for pleasure as well as for learning. I look forward to another book by this author. Thanks.

I feel like I have been waiting for this book for five years. Since I was 15, I've been reading books with young gay characters, but I'm dissappointed because they all center on Coming Out as this HUGE trauma, as if being gay was the only big issue in our lives. In THE BIG BOOK... Josh's parents are very cool about his being gay and that's not the central concern of the novel. Some of my friends have had major issues with their parents about coming out, but plenty haven't, so its great to find a book that focuses on other things. Lots of my friends- guy/girl/straight/gay - have concerns about trying to have independent identities apart from their families, and that's what this book is mainly about. Its funny, too, and the retro details are fun to read about. It's not preachy, or touchy-feely, and it doesn't feel like a "Message" book...Just a really true-feeling story that totally pulls you in.

As a huge fan of coming of age stories, this one rates high on my list. It's rare to find an author who is able to speak so beautifully from the perspective of a youngster, a teenager, and as a young man, all in one wonderful book. Jim's novel is poignant, and funny, and touching, and endearing, and all the things that make reading so enjoyable. I can't recommend it highly enough.