The Heart's Progress: A Lesbian Memoir

I mostly read fiction but the book descriptions were enticing and the two reviews convinced me I had to read it. I found the book and devoured it in one sitting - now I need to read more by the author. This reads as a very honest and thought provoking story and anyone (race, gender, religion outlook on life) will find interesting.

I like to mix up my reading list periodically by throwing in a non-fiction book from my usual genre (lesbian literature). With "Heart's Progress" I'm glad I did. This book tells the story of many of us who got married before we figured out who we really were (or had the courage to admit it). In sharing her life with the reader, Bepko does an outstanding job of relaying the feelings and complications associated with coming out in an unforgiving society. The book invoked feelings of sadness, frustration, deep-rooted love, absolute anger, fear, and many others. I laughed, I cried, I was both sad and happy to see it end. If you or a friend are having issues related to coming out (or trying to define yourself), this book is for you.

There is so much reality in this book,and so much I could relate to. There's the initial confusion about one's sexual orientation, first recognizing those feelings and then later being passionately, deeply in love, dealing with homophobia, finding a life partner and then all the conflicts and pain that can involve. Claudia's feelings so frequently reflected my own.She tells of the dissatisfaction of a heterosexual marriage. The hard effort of trying to make a relationship with her lesbian partner work.Moving from the city to the country. The trauma of an accident, and losing everything, but eventually rebuilding one's life, and finding love again. Very honestly and well written book. I highly recommend it. This book relates not just to being lesbian, but to being human.

Claudia Bepko has written an outstanding book. Although written as a memoir, it could be more accurately called the life story of any one of us -- gay or straight. Everyone will find some part of this book where they see themselves in similar circumstances. The author used vivid descriptive language that makes it a pleasure to read. I am anxiously awaiting her next book!