Blum is a natural, infectious writer and her story is a compelling one. Tracing her coming out, as a professor in a small Pennsylvania town, and her decision to have a child, the memoir deftly balances humor and poignancy. It also makes an important statement. Analyzing how one lives openly and honestly in a society that is still largely homophobic, Blum captures the central dillemma that continues to haunt gay lives--especially those lived outside America's largest urban centers. In some ways, this is the female version of "Farm Boys," and it should speak directly to the large numbers of women--lesbians of course but also single mothers--who are making their own way in small towns and more traditional areas throughout the country.
