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This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews.4.75 starsWhen I picked up Lawfully Wedded Husband, I realized I was already familiar with Joel Derfner. No, it wasn’t from his previous books (Gay Haiku and Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever) but from the cringe inducing reality show he mentions in his story, starting with the Introduction. Yes, I watched that show he and his best friend were a part of, Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, filmed in 2010 for the Sundance C...
Somewhere in the book Joel makes a comment about marriage being for society. Maybe I don't care enough of what society thinks. I think Joel's definition of marriage is brilliant and all encompassing and OF COURSE I think same sex couples should have the same rights as everyone else. I just don't see why any human would want to get married at all. It seems such an outdated concept and with over 50% of marriages ending in divorce, is it really that important of an institution? I think people can c...
I received Lawfully Wedded Husband as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Part (mostly) memoir, part political/social musing, Joel Derfner relates his relationship and eventual marriage to his husband Mike. From the couple's less-than-promising early dates to their engagement, wedding planning, couples' counseling, and beyond, Derfner's irreverent sense of humor, make this an engaging and moving read.What struck me most as I read was that despite the author's clear (and logically laid out) support for...
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5I loved this book. It's sarcastic, hilarious and thoughtful, often at the same time. Derfner's musings can transition from the history and definition of marriage to the search for the perfect ketubah and the perfect attire for his wedding veer off into something completely different. It's a wild ride you shouldn't miss. For my full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-1VO on 1/20/2014.For all of my reviews and thoughts on writing, visit http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewor...
Joel is incredibly funny and clever, who sounds like a wild friend to have, but I'm glad he's not my husband! Then again, like his spouse, I'd prefer to go on the vegetation trip on Curacao than swim with dolphins. What to expect: mostly, it's the story of a neurotic, self-deprecating gay spouse-to-be's angst about agreeing to marriage, and the details of ceremony planning. There's also historical research (which I'd bet was interspersed with plenty 'o' online shopping, but let's not digress) pr...
Not QUITE as funny as Derfner's first two books, but makes up for that with a rather astonishing depth. Derfner not only presents a cogent argument in favor of same sex marriage, but does so by presenting some interesting historical, religious and political facts that are hard to dismiss. Intertwined is his own fascinating story of getting his partner of seven years to the altar (... or chuppah actually!) and all the mishaps along the way ... let's just say that though there is no doubt that Mik...
Among the funnies, there were some great thoughts in here that are definitely worth thinking about. A great read!
I read Joel's other memoir-style book, Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever, and enjoyed it immensely, so I eventually got around to picking this up and read it in the course of a morning.The thing that really captivated me about Swish is that Joel manages to blend self-deprecating humor and thoughtful commentary in a way that never stops in the gross middle ground of schlock. He flows between a trip down Hookup Memory Lane and some deep soul-searching about what his hookups meant wi...
As you can tell, there’s quite a bit of humor involved throughout this memoir. And… I thought my family was sick and twisted. I’m still snickering over the word fertilizer. So, with that in mind, and the fact that someone had the ability to stir up some of that gray matter called my brain, and they reminded me again why I’m still married, I’m giving this one 5 StarsSee the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
I won this book from Goodreads. It was a funny and thoughtful memoir concerning the topic of marriage equality and the author's own experiences leading up to his marriage. I would highly recommend this book. It would be interesting to find out his thoughts on the reversal of DOMA. Maybe that will be in a future book!
I was very excited to read this book. Not for the reasons you may be thinking, though. I was excited because I won the book through a GoodReads giveaway and I *never* win anything. This is a good read for those who want to brush up on gay marriage history, read about neurotic boyfriend fights, and those who just want a heartwarming laugh. Joel puts a lot of thought into this piece about his marriage and the events leading up to it. I love that he is so candid about his thoughts and feelings. It
Joel Derfner tells us the story of his relationship and marriage as a "same-sexer" (rather than gay or lesbian; equal doesn't mean different, he points out) in a way that's humorous (a la David Sedaris), engaging, researched and thought-provoking. The points he makes are good, persuasive even, and I couldn't wait to loan this book to a friend. If you are interested in the "same-sex" marriage issues (see Joel, I got it right!) or are open to being interested, put this at the top of your list. Lea...
Delightful read. Learned a lot about marriage, culture of marriage, history of marriage, Jewish customs, arguments for same-sexed marriage while laughing.
An ability to explore his neuroses on a variety of subjects provides insight and humor.