This was good. Sometimes pretty hard to read, especially the last few chapters. Lots of stuff about being an imperfect caretaker (first from father to daughter, then from daughter to father). That's hard to read both directions. But also, a real strong sense of places and times. ( )

Lovely and tragic. A bit "Tales of the City" in the beginning with a sharp shot of "And the Band Played On" to finish it. A good read. ( )

C’est doux et tendre. Une histoire racontée par une fille qui grandi auprès de son père homosexuel. Son enfance après la mort de sa mère dans un accident de voiture alors qu’elle n’avait que deux ans.

Et comme deux adultes-enfants dans une barque, pris dans la tempête de leurs émotions, ils tentent de rester à flot. Bousculées entre leurs incompréhensions et un amour indéfectible.

Une enfance chahutée dans le San Francisco de la drogue, des hippies, des gay, de la poésie et du regard des « autres ». ( )

Well written but at times I couldn't stand the girl! She's just describing herself as a teen and showing us her letters which is quite brave, considering what an ass she was being.
I enjoyed her descriptions of San Francisco at a time that I lived through here, (did wonder how a blunder about the location of Loma Prieta made it past editing)and all her vivid descriptions of life here and in Paris, New York's seemed a bit thin. ( )

This is a beautiful book about an unconventional parent and child. But I think most parents and most children can identify with aspects of the relationship between Alysia Abbott and her father. One of the best memoirs I've read in a long time; I'll be thinking about this one for a while. ( )